Chapter 14
Alexis and Ned were sitting in the living room of the gatehouse, trying to come to an agreement about where they were going to have the wedding.
“Why don’t you want it in a church?” Alexis asked.
He shrugged. “I’m just not big on churches. What about the house? It’s warm that time of year, we can have it out by the gazebo.”
“I don’t know, it seems kind of casual. Unlike you, this will be my first wedding, and call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always wanted a big wedding with all the trimmings.”
He grinned and pulled her in for a kiss. “I’m sorry, I guess this wedding thing has become too second nature for me. If you want a big wedding, that’s what you’ll get! Wherever you want it!”
“So, you’ll let me pick a church?” she asked hopefully.
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. “Anything for you, my dear.”
“Ooh, I like that answer! Can you talk like that more often?” She giggled as he rolled his eyes, but before he could answer, her cell phone rang. “I swear, this thing has the worst timing. Just a minute.” She dug it out of her purse and flipped it open. “Alexis Davis.”
“Hey, Alexis, it’s Liz. Is this a bad time?”
“Of course not! I was just going over wedding plans with Ned. I finally got him to agree to give me whatever I want, right honey?” she said, grinning at Ned. He just sighed and stood up, going into the kitchen to find something to eat. Alexis turned back to the phone. “So, what’s up?”
“Well, I was going to ask you if you could check with Ned and see if it was all right if I bring Lucky tomorrow night.”
“Only if it’s a date,” she answered, looking up as Ned came back into the room.
“A date? Why?”
“Because if you were just bringing him as a friend, it might seem kind of weird. But, if he was there as your date, since you’ll be with Ned and me, it wouldn’t seem so strange. Does that make any sense? You don’t have to really be on a date, just tell the Q’s that you are. I’m sure Lucky would play along.”
“Um, okay, sure. I’ll ask him. Thanks, Alexis!” Liz said, hanging up. Alexis turned to Ned and grinned.
“Now, why did you tell her that? You know Lucky would have been welcome there as her friend!”
“Let’s just say I get the impression that my daughter has a crush on Lucky Spencer. I thought I’d help her get the ball rolling, that’s all. What can it hurt?” She smiled innocently and Ned pulled her off the couch, holding her close.
“I love the way your mind works, you know that?”
“Maybe, but I don’t mind you saying it again,” she said, kissing him as he lead her upstairs.
~*~
Liz hung up and sighed. “Now how am I going to say this so that it doesn’t sound like I’m asking him out?” she said softly to herself, pacing around her bedroom. After making a few laps around the room, she laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Like they say, just do it,” she muttered, holding out her hand as the phone traveled across the room. She caught it and chuckled. “This witchcraft stuff is so handy when you’re lazy!”
She dialed his number, unaware that she already had it memorized. He answered after two rings. “Hey, Lucky, it’s Elizabeth.”
“Hey. Did you talk to Alexis yet?” ha answered cheerfully.
“Yeah, I just called her. She said it wouldn’t be a problem, but there’s a catch.” She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, hoping he wouldn’t run screaming at the prospect of being on a date with her.
“What kind of catch?”
“She said the only way it wouldn’t seem strange for me to be bringing you was if we were on a date. I mean, we only have to pretend that we’re on a date, so don’t freak out of anything “ She waited anxiously for him to speak.
Lucky swallowed hard on the other end of the line. “Hey, that’s cool. The only person that might be hard to fool is Emily. She’s one of my best friends, she’ll see right though us.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that. Well, can’t you fill her in ahead of time? No one said this had to be a top-secret thing.”
“Yeah, but then she’ll want to invite Nikolas.”
Liz laughed. “He’s your brother, why wouldn’t you want him there?”
“I see him enough as it is! Sometimes it’s nice to get away from my family, you know? Spending a night at the Quartermaine’s will be good therapy. It’ll remind me how good I have it that my parents are only slightly abnormal!”
“Why do I feel like I’m going to be walking into a minefield tomorrow night?” Liz asked warily.
“Nah, they’re not that bad. They just argue a lot. Keep reminding yourself that they do care for each other, deep down, and it’s quite amusing. But don’t get on the butler’s bad side!”
“Why? What’s wrong with the butler?”
“Oh, he’s been known to try to kill people every now and then when he thinks they’re a threat to the family,” Lucky said, trying not to laugh.
“You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding!”
“Sorry, can’t do that. It’s true. Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll like you. If you want, I’ll taste your food first.”
“Why would I want you to taste my food?”
“He poisoned one of Ned’s ex-wives once. Nobody liked her, not even Ned, so it wasn’t that big a deal.”
“I can’t believe my mother is marrying into this family!” Liz said, rolling over onto her stomach. Thank you for going with me. I have a feeling I’m going to need the support!”
“Hey, no problem. Anything to help a friend. Well, my mother’s yelling for me to help my sister, so I better go. See you tomorrow.”
“They’re sending the limo for us, so be ready by 6:30. I think they’re getting me first. See you then, and thanks again. Bye.”
“Bye, Elizabeth.” Lucky hung up and smiled. He had gotten a date with her after all, even if it was only pretend.
“Hey, Cowboy, what’s with the silly grin?” Luke asked, walking into the room to find his son standing there with the phone in his hand, smiling like a fool.
“Hm? Oh, nothing. I told Elizabeth I’d go with her to the Q’s tomorrow night for dinner. I think Ned scared her with all his horror stories about them.” He let go of the phone and Luke watched as it floated back to it’s cradle.
“You just love to rub that in, don’t you?” he asked with a laugh.
“Rub what in?” Lucky asked innocently.
Luke rolled his eyes. “The witch thing, what else?
“What witch thing?” Nikolas asked innocently, coming in from the kitchen.
“How did you get in here? I thought I hung garlic over that door!” Luke said jokingly.
“Garlic’s for vampires, not witches. Get your superstitions right,” Nikolas answered, then turned to Lucky.
Well, did you ask her?
Lucky grinned and shook his head. Didn’t have to. She asked me instead!
“Here we go again,” Luke groaned. “It’s another round of ‘Ignore the Mortal.’ Fine, I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll leave you two alone.” He went upstairs to see what Laura was up to.
Nikolas chuckled. “Works every time. So, she really asked you out?”
“Kind of. She asked me to go with her to the Quartermaine’s tomorrow night with Alexis and Ned. They’re announcing their engagement, and she’s kind of nervous about meeting all of them. Alexis told her I could only go along if I was her date, so that’s what we’re doing.”
“So, it’s not a real date, just a pretend one?”
“I guess, but I’ll take what I can get right now! Come on, Mom’s waiting for us upstairs. Something about Lulu’s new dress.” They climbed the stairs to see what was going on, but Lucky just couldn’t stop thinking about their upcoming “date.”
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