“And I do.” Or at least I did. He was worried right now. Sofia was home and had too much time on her hands. If Charlene was right, he might have just blown it.
“Okay, well then all I can say is good luck.”
I hope I don’t need it.“Thanks.”
He ended the call and slipped the phone into the breast pocket of his jacket. Everything was set. In a few hours, he’d know if he’d played this correctly. God, he hoped so. He really believed this was what she wanted. What would make her happy.
A few contracts later, Dylan called it a day. He couldn’t wait to pick up Sofia. This was going to be a night she would never forget.
When he opened the door to the apartment, she was dressed and ready for dinner, or so she thought.
She greeted him with a kiss and said, “I’m starving. Where are we going tonight?”
“It’s a ways off.”
“You mean it’s not in the city?”
“It is, but the wait can be long.” Lying to her didn’t come easily.
“Okay. We can talk while waiting.”
Before long, they were in the limo and pulling up to a small restaurant. This was it. Once inside, the secret would be revealed. She’d made it clear she didn’t like surprises, and this was one hell of one. Either she’d be ecstatic or pissed.
“Are you ready?”
“Starving, but it doesn’t look like there’s a line. Actually, it almost looks like it’s closed.”
“It’s open,” he said. For a private party only.
She stopped. “Dylan, I know food, and if a place is empty on a Friday night, you shouldn’t eat there.”
“Trust me. The place has a great reputation,” he said, urging her forward.
She took a few steps then stopped again. “We can always go to Mama’s Place. You’ll never guess what the special is tonight. One of your favorites.”
Nothing was getting him to turn around now. It took a lot of planning to get this set up. Granted, he could try again another time, but he was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.
“We can go there tomorrow. But we’re here now.”
“Okay, but if I get sick, I’m blaming you,” she said.
You won’t.When they got inside, the tables were empty, all except for one. He guided her over and as soon as they got there, Sofia must have realized the surprise wasn’t this weekend, it was tonight.
She turned to him and asked, “What’s going on Dylan?”
“Sofia, a few months ago, I looked into those beautiful honey-brown eyes of yours and knew you were going to be trouble. I just didn’t know how much. You took my world and turned it upside down. It needed some shaking. I just hadn’t realized it before. But you seem to have derailed in the process. I remember the woman who was so driven that nothing stood in her way. Yet it seems that I got in your way. Your show, even though it was a hit, is over, and you’re sitting home, spinning your wheels. I know life has another adventure in store for you. All you have to do, is grab the brass ring.”
She looked around, then back to him. “What are you trying to say Dylan?”
“That I know you wouldn’t do this, so I made the move for you. I believe you know Paully Jones, the director?”
“I do. What I don’t know is, why is he here?”
“For your audition for a part in a movie,” Dylan said. Dylan thought for a moment that she was about to faint and he stepped closer to give her a supportive arm.
“Movie? Me? How?” Sofia asked.
“I got a copy of your performance in the play and sent it to Mr. Jones. Then I asked him here to meet with you.” There may have been more than just talking, like actual cash exchange, but she didn’t need to know that.