“Sorry, I was just thinking.”
“Why, isn’t that a novel thing to do?” He laughed. “Most girls I know in Hollywood chatter inanely about their makeup and clothes.”
“But I’m sure you still want to date them.” I laughed.
“Well you know.” He grinned at me. “That was the old me. The new me is ready for a girl of substance.”
“Oh yeah?” I studied his boyish face and smiled at him warmly. “You know I feel really weird driving in a car with the Braydon Eagle.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“It’s not every day that an every day girl like me goes to dinner with a Hollywood movie star like you.”
“Well then, we should get some champagne at dinner to celebrate an extra ordinary day.”
“This is an extra ordinary day.” I nodded in agreement, thinking more about the agreement with Zane than her date with Braydon.
“I like your honesty, Lucky.” Braydon laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever met a girl like you before.”
“I’m not sure I’m this exotic breed that everyone keeps saying I am.” I laughed self-consciously.
“You are all that and more.” Braydon pointed to a high-rise as we drove. “I live over there.”
“Oh yeah?” I peered at the window, but didn’t see anything other than a bunch of tall buildings.
“You ever come to Brickell?”
“Not really.”
“It’s boring.” He laughed. “I’d much rather live on the beach.”
“So you can party all day and night?”
“Something like that. Though my manager wouldn’t like it if I did.”
“Probably not.” I agreed.
“So Lucky. Tell me the name of your favorite movie.”
“Of all time?”
“Of all time! Oh and it can’t be one of mine.” He laughed. “Just in case you felt obligated to name one of mine.”
“Well you know …,” I giggled. “I think my favorite movie is My Fair Lady.”
“Oh.” He paused. “The rain in Spain—”
“—is mainly on the plain.” I finished for him. “I love Audrey Hepburn. She was such a classic actress.”
“Yes. She was. It’s funny that you chose My Fair Lady because her co-star, Rex Harrison, is my favorite actor.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes, I love Alfred Hitchcock movies and I thought he was superb in Midnight Lace.”
“Oh I’ve never heard of that movie.”
“It’s not Hitchcock’s most famous piece of work, but I loved it. Doris Day is in it as well.”
“I’m not sure who Doris Day is, I’m afraid.” I looked at him apologetically.
“You don’t know Doris Day?” His voice was aghast. “Maybe we should skip the restaurant and just go and watch movies.” He laughed.
“That could be a plan.” I smiled.
“Doris Day was probably the greatest actress of her time. She starred in tons of movies with Cary Grant and Rock Hudson.”
“Ooh okay.” I still had no clue who she was.
“Okay, she sang that song about whatever will be will be, you know the one, Que sera, sera.”
“Oh, yes. I love her.” My voice was loud with excitement. “I had forgotten her name. My mom used to watch her movies all the time.”
“Okay, phew.” He laughed. “So you like My Fair Lady then, huh?”
I nodded, my head filled with happy memories. “I don’t know why, but I always watch it when I’m down. It’s my go-to movie.”
“I see.” He stopped the car and I looked at him in surprise. “We’re here.”
“Oh wow, that was fast.” I looked out the window and saw the Yacht Club. “I’ve never been here before.”
“It’s a pretty cool place. I’m not sure why they call it the Rusty Pelican though, there’s nothing rusty about it. We’ll get a table outside and stare out onto the water.”
“And the bright lights.” I grinned.
“Well of course, if there were no bright lights, we’d be sitting there scared that a gator might come out of the water and attack us.”
“I certainly don’t want to be attacked by an alligator.”
“Me either. Have you seen my face?” Braydon grinned and I laughed.
“I sure hope you’re hungry.” He continued, happy I was laughing at his jokes.
“Oh I am.” I nodded my head. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Zane had dropped me off after we had eaten and he had been slightly peeved that I hadn’t told him whom my date was with. I was annoyed, but upset when I got to my room because Zane had been so dismissive when I had gotten out of the car. I didn’t understand him. His moods seemed to go back and forth so quickly. I sighed. I was meant to call him when I got home so he could tell me what time he would picking me up to leave the next day. Everything was going so quickly that I barely had time to think about everything. I was starting to feel overwhelmed and had spent the afternoon in my bed watching TV instead of packing.
“Lucky, are you home?” Once again, Braydon interrupted my thoughts of Zane.
“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”
“I can see that. I hope it’s not another guy.”
“Oh no, of course not.” I blushed and turned away.
“I like your dress by the way.” Braydon looked me over and smiled. “It’s very chic.”
“Uhm, thanks.” I smiled gratefully and tried to hold in a laugh. I had gotten the dress from Target for $24.99 and I was pretty sure that Braydon was the only one who had used that adjective to describe the dress.
“Let’s go eat.” He grabbed my hand and I followed him through the restaurant and then through a door.
“Wow.” I stepped out of the door and saw the candlelit tables overlooking the great expanse of water that was lit up by the huge condos on the other side. “This is magnificent.”
“I had to make our first date special.” Braydon smiled and we sat down. “And let me recommend the Strawberry Mule to drink, it is delicious.”
“Done.” I grinned. “Alcohol and strawberries sound good to me.”
“I love a girl that is easy to please.”
“Well, that’s me.” I laughed.
“On our next date, I’m going to take you on my boat.”