Matt&Applebees

I could have easily sent a courier over with my credit card, or called stores ahead of time, and put my card number on file. Then I wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing Ms. Lily Thomas completely overreact under my thumb. I also want to gage how we would interact over the weekend. I wanted to tell if there was some sort of tension between us.

Lily finally answers the door after numerous knocks.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to take you shopping."

"I don't need a babysitter."

"Don't think of it as a babysitter, but a style contributor."

"I thought you said I had creative control. Really, this doesn't matter to me. I'll wear what I have."

"I'm not bluffing, Thomas. Let me treat you today."

Somehow in our tit for tat conversation we've closed the initial distance from when I first walked in to her apartment. I reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She tilts her head to the side where I touched and looks up at me like she's shocked but feels safe. She breaks the gaze she is giving me.

"Don't go all Pretty Woman on me. You aren't Richard Gere," she insists.

"You're so Julia Roberts with your sass, but you are far more beautiful than she is."

"So, no Pepto Bismol pink? Got it."

"Lily, wrong Julia movie."

"Good. Just testing you. Mr. Bonner might have some geek tendencies after all."

On the car ride to the shopping outlets over in New Jersey, there are definite glances she is throwing my way. She's twirling that pesky, loose strand of hair around her little finger. I can't believe I let her talk me into a place like an outlet mall. For the moment though, I'm content on spending time with Lily. Usually with most women's company, I'm get the I need to ditch right this second vibe. With Lily I didn't feel that. I'm trying to constantly smile at her, and I hope it's not coming across as a big cheese ball grin.

Lily grabs loads and loads of clothes and drags them to each store's dressing room. She refuses to let me help her carry things. She refuses to let me see any options that she tries on, unfortunately.

"Lily, you have to at least let me see one of them. I have to see if you are making smart choices. If we had gone to the boutiques in Manhattan, we could have had a stylist help."

"Just shut up."

"You can't say that to your boss."

"You are only my boss by default for a few days. You need me."

If only she knew me. I'm starting to need those stolen glances, smart ass comments, and banter that Lily brings.

She lets out a big sigh and says, "Okay, turn around and keep your eyes closed."

I turn around and cover my eyes with my hands. I feel her grab my hands from behind me and take them off my eyes. She uses a little nudge to turn me around.

"No jokes, Matt. What do you think?"

Did she just really use my first name? It didn't bother me at all. I don't know where to look first. She's got a one piece black swimsuit that she's testing out. It's not your grandmother's one piece either. There's a long slit down the front. Major cleavage. The bottom is high cut, outlining all the curves of her hips. There's cut outs on the torso. There's absolutely no back except where the fabric meets the seam for the bottom half of the suit. I really want to jump her bones, but I don't dare let her know that! Matthew Bonner- putty in someone else's hands? I would never let a female know that.

"That'll do, Lily. Are we about done? I'm starving and we have a drive back."

Shopping had taken 5 hours and 18 outlet stores to complete. Lily was my cheapest date so far. I've had fancy NYC meals that cost more than the shopping total. When we get in the car, Lily let's out a sigh like she's so glad to be done.

"That was a month's worth of shopping packed into 5 hours. Someone needs to write an article on how to maximize your time and money at the outlet mall. What was my grand total?," she cautiously asks.

"535 dollars."

She gasps like she's totally amazed.

"That's way too much. You'll have to let me pay you back..but maybe in installments."

"Lily, relax. I spend more than that in just food from eating out all week."

"Speaking of that..let's get something to eat before heading back," I urge.

"Okay. I'm so hungry."

"You pick the place."

"Applebee's?"

"What is that?"

"You've never had Applebee's? You know, it's like Ruby Tuesday but better."

"You've lost me, Lily. I'm not following."

"They serve things like sandwiches, burgers, pasta. All American food. There's one about 2 miles from here and it's in the direction we are headed."

Applebee's must be the happening place in this New Jersey town. It's definitely an eclectic bunch in the packed restaurant. Lily is over enthusiastic to chow down on a greasy bacon cheeseburger. I chose a house salad. It seemed like the quickest healthy option.

Trying to not come off too rude, "Where have you taken me?"

"Lighten up. These people have no idea who you are and you'll never see them again. Don't be so snobby."

"I'm not snobby."

Lily let's out a huge laugh. She's definitely finding my discomfort amusing. Just then I felt something wet swipe my cheek. We were sitting at the bar because it was the only thing available when we first walked in. We were sitting right next to each other on bar stools. Lily had dipped her french fry in ketchup before swiping it to my cheek. Her laughter kept getting louder.

"Now why would you do that?"

"If you are so carefree and not snobby, then that wouldn't have bothered you at all."

"Oh yeah, Lily. Payback is a bitch."

I reached for a fry on her plate, quickly grabbing one. I dipped it in the pool of ketchup on her plate. I then swept it across her face.

"There. We are even."

She looked into my eyes and then down at the napkin holder. She grabs one napkin. She gently wiped the ketchup from my cheek. I felt like the whole thing was happening slow motion. I wrapped my hand around her wrist. I removed her hand from me. I lightly kissed the top of her hand. I felt a lump in my throat and couldn't process what to say.

"Let's stop this before it gets started, Matthew."

I dropped her hand and signaled for the check to the bar tender.

"Let's go,"I suggested.

The trip would have been extremely awkward after what just happened, except Lily dozed off. She was leaning her head against the window. She looked like an angel when she wasn't spewing so much attitude. The stop of the vehicle arriving to her apartment startled her awake.

"Sorry for dosing off. I guess I needed that."

"I'll see you in the morning, Lily."

She started to step out of the car and had her back turned to me. I had to say something.

"Thanks for the adventure today, Lily."

I would be counting down the hours until the plane ride in the morning.