Read Ribbon of Steele: A Romance of Suspense for Free Online Page B

Steele?", she asked, smiling and winking in his direction . Did that come off as too flirty ? She didn't know where her confidence was coming from, but she took another small sip of her wine.
     
    "I just took care of dessert," he said smiling. "They stopped letting me cook at this restaurant years ago."
     
    Lizzie shook her head. "Well, your restaurant makes a hell of a first impression," she said smiling. "Tell me about Pemlilly," she said.
     
    Mackenzie swirled his wine and looked up at the ceiling. "My great-grandfather bought the land. Actually, the legend is that he won it in a poker game, but either way...," Mackenzie said laughing. "He built the main estate. My grandfather was a pilot in WWII and he basically just used the estate for hunting," Mackenzie said, pausing to take a sip. "And my father had to bring the estate back to where you see it today. It was a real wreck, but he put it back together brick by brick." Mackenzie paused, appearing to be deep in thought.
     
    "When my father passed away, he left me Pemlilly and the antique Duesenberg you rode in tonight."
     
    Lizzie remembered what James had said earlier as he left to park the car.
     
    "Who's Dizzy?", she asked after a moment.
     
    "I was hoping you didn't catch that," said Mackenzie smiling. "It's a bit embarrassing."
     
    Lizzie laughed, "Ok, now I have to know."
     
    Mackenzie shook his head.
     
    "Yes!", laughed Lizzie urging him on.
     
    "Ok," said Mackenzie throwing up his hands and grinning.
     
    "When I was a little kid, I couldn't say Duesenberg and I called it a dizzy. I guess the name sort of stuck," he said.
     
    "What?", he asked Lizzie after a moment. She was studying him with one eye closed and a thin smile.
     
    "I was just wondering what you were like as a little kid," she said. "I bet you were a terror to your poor mother and father."
     
    Lizzie studied Mackenzie further . He was probably adorable as a kid.
     
    He laughed, "Maybe a little. I've never been what you would call a calm person."
     
    "Well, you seem pretty calm to me," Lizzie said as she looked deep into his eyes.
     
    She hadn't thought about what they might talk about or how she would feel. If she had, she might have been more worried, but the conversation seemed to come so naturally.
     
    Lizzie listened as Mackenzie talked about being a kid at Pemlilly. He had Lizzie rolling when he told her about riding down the main staircase in a pedal car. For all of the opulence, it seemed like Mackenzie had a pretty normal upbringing.
     
    When he had asked, Lizzie told him about school and how she fell in love with design.
     
    "I just sat there one day and realized that it was how I wanted to spend my life," said Lizzie. "Wow, that came off as really corny, didn't it?", she said laughing. "It's true though."
     
    Lizzie talked about the museum and how she had worked tirelessly on designing the ceiling.
     
    It was if he had a way of bringing things out of her. It made her feel confident and sexy and she liked it. She didn't even hear James enter the room calling them to dinner.
     
    Mackenzie rose from his chair and extended his hand. She took it, and remembered its warm strength from their first meeting. He didn't release her hand this time, and led her from the sitting room into a smaller more intimate room towards the rear of the house.
     
    The windows extended from floor to ceiling, and she could see the skyline of the city twinkling far below the expanse of the estate. A small candle lit table was immaculately dressed in fine linens and china. Mackenzie followed her to her chair, and pulled it out for her to sit.
     
    James entered and placed their plates in front of them. The chef had prepared bacon wrapped fillet mignon, seasoned mashed potatoes and a spinach salad. Lizzie placed her napkin in her lap and looked across the table.
     
    At first, she had been nervous about coming here for a first date, but now she couldn't imagine it any other way. She had to keep