Page 34 of Keeping Lilith

He hadn’t issued the instruction in a controlling manner like she’d been used to at Hopeful Sunshine. Instead, when she’d brought up the subject of attending to it, Julian had explained that he would feel better if she waited until he was home to do that. As unlikely as it could be, he’d seen so many things in jobs where people were taken from the unlikeliest of places, including front yards. He wanted to keep her safe, and after he’d explained, she’d agreed to his request. Honestly, the idea of being out in the open in the front yard, no matter how much she wanted to fix it up, scared her a little. She was still finding her footing being out of the confines of the compound.

“You look like you need this.” Julian’s voice startled her, and she dropped her bottle. “Shit, sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You could’ve made a noise or something,” she grumbled, secretly glad to see him.

Over the past three weeks, their co-habitation had gone really well, surprising Lilith. Having never lived with a man before, she’d thought it would be awkward. Not that they were living together as if they were a couple. They were roommates. Or housemates.

“The garden looks good,” Julian said as he held out the glass of iced water. She took it and greedily drank it down.

“Thanks. I’m happy with how it’s coming along. It keeps me busy. I still have had no luck finding a job though.” After thinking about it for a couple of days, she’d decided that she would not try to find a job that she didn’t want, just to get money. She was going to find a job that she enjoyed, something that entailed working with plants or in a garden. Something outdoors.

It went against everything within her to take charity from people, especially from Julian, but this time, she accepted the help. Accept the financial assistance living with Julian was giving her.

She’d suggested that she’d fix up his garden as a way of paying for food and utilities. Julian had told her it wasn’t necessary, but she didn’t want to be seen as a sponge who sucked up everything that people offered. In the end, Julian had agreed, although he insisted on giving her some money to buy whatever she needed in terms of plants and fertilizers, things he would’ve had to pay for should he have employed a contractor to do the work.

“I’m sure something will come up. Don’t give up. Maybe you should start your own landscaping business. Go around the neighborhood to see if you can drum up some business.”

Lilith stared at him. “That would entail me leaving the house,by myself, something you’re not happy with me doing,remember? You don’t want me to work out front without you being there.”

Julian didn’t say a thing, just continued to look at her, and she wasn’t sure what was going on. Normally, he would have a quick comeback when she mentioned what he asked of her. It was becoming a running joke between them.

“Have dinner with me,” he blurted out.

“Huh? We have dinner together every night.”

She stood her ground as he closed the distance between them and brushed his thumb across her cheek gently. Her skin tingled from the touch, and she wanted more. “No, I mean, let’s go out. Have dinner in a restaurant.”

Was he asking her on a date? Or was he just asking her out to thank her for the work she was doing?

This was where she wished had some more life knowledge. Skills on reading between the lines of what was being said to her. She didn’t want to assume it was a date, but she really hoped it was.

“Okay.”

Julian smiled big. “Perfect. I’ll go make a reservation. Six thirty sound good to you?”

“Umm, sure.” She really needed to start wearing a watch or something so she knew what time it was.

“It’s four thirty now,” he said, as if he knew she wanted to know what time it was. “It will take us about half an hour to get to the place I’m thinking of going. Can you be ready by six, then?”

“Of course, why didn’t you just say to be ready by six instead of saying six thirty? A girl just needs the time she has to be ready by.” Lilith had no idea if that was true or not, as she’d not been on any dates.

Oh my God, I’m going on my first date!

Nerves and a smidgeon of excitement bubbled to life in her stomach. She didn’t know how to act on a date. Could she call Cass and ask her? Would her friend think it silly that she was asking for date advice when she didn’t even know if Julian thought of this as a date?

“Hey, what’s going through your mind?” he asked gently, and she realized her fingers were digging into his arms.

When had she reached out and grabbed him?

“What is this?” she whispered.

“Dinner?”

She nodded, unable to voice the true question she wanted to ask.

“It’s whatever you want it to be.”

Her excitement fizzled out. She’d gone and got herself worked up over nothing. He didn’t see this as more than getting some food. As not having to cook for the night. He didn’t see this as something special.