Chapter Twelve: A Date to Remember

A brisk, evening sunlight was as beautiful as anything that Luke Lancaster had ever seen. This autumn day was as red and delightful as any honeycrisp apple. Quiet trees, long emptied of their blooms, stood beside thousands of orange and red smiles across the wide grass. 

The day had come for another time out together for the spy and the cheerleader who loved him. He drove over hills of background around Philadelphia, noticing many of the local neighborhoods, taking his time in driving, while retaining his aviators over his eyes...feeling cool not just by fall's appease, but the excitement building inside him. 

The agent, removing his glasses, then headed toward Anne's apartment. His gray suit and blue tie complemented his blonde head well. His brown oxfords stood out as he paced closer to Miss Miller's room. He looked away at the buildings before him, just before a sound occurred which caught his mind's total focus.  

Suddenly, Luke heard sharp shoes touch the steps as Anne headed toward him. He turned to face her, seeing the young woman descend the steps from her apartment. She was dressed in a black suit and skirt, as professional and as gorgeous as he had ever seen on any young woman. Today, Anne appeared not as a cheerleader, but as a sexy secretary for a high corporation, though her smile was as flirty as any man could ever dream of seeing on a female face. 

The spy's eyes were drawn open, and his teeth were forced to withhold the inclination of his tongue from falling out of his mouth. Anne walked in a manner worthy of notice, and ever wrenching of his chest as she approached his person. 

The young woman's jewelry at her ears and her right hand was silver and as charming as her red lips, where bright lipstick had been applied. Her brown hair was teased, just as her sight teased Luke's persistent watch. Perhaps most breathtaking was the dark eyeshadow that made Luke as anxious to behold her as he felt derious to gaze on her forever. 

Anne's black heels finally landed on the stone floor not far from where Luke also stood. Her refined look helped to define her beauty today, as the Ivy League student retained an academic look, contributing to her gorgeous appearance. 

''Wow, you look gorgeous,'' he praised. ''I knew you could cheerlead on Lincoln Stadium Field, though today, you also show me how well you carry the professional look. Am I gazing at the same girl?'' 

Anne smiled. ''You are,'' she said. 

''Then I witnessed the presence of a lovely academic,'' Luke returned again. ''You light the world with your bubbly touch, though today, you are most beautiful in your current style.'' 

''Thank you.''

Anne slowly approached Luke as the agent continued looking upwards at the girl and reached for her hand---she settled in agreement. He was nearly choking by the time that her figure had reached him, and breathing not from the anxiety of a test, but a man in adoration with a beautiful love. His voice suddenly changed, became lower and deeper, and sounded less like a gentleman and more like a rascal. ''You are gorgoeus,'' he praised. 

Anne grinned once more. ''I do my best to appease your eyes,'' she said. 

''You have done that well.'' 

They walked down together before Luke brought Anne to his personal vehicle for the first time. The green colors startled her and appeased her sight. 

''It's lovely,'' she said. ''What type of vehicle is this? I see by the location of its wheel that it must be European.'' 

''It is.'' 

''It is, and it is a Ferrari Amalfi,'' Luke returned. 

''It's sporty gorgeous.'' 

''And fit, I think, to escort the sexiest cheerleader that the Philadelphia Eagles have to offer.'' 

Anne responded with a smile, flirtatious and teasing, to Luke's gaze. 

''Well, then, Mr. Lancaster, today is your opportunity to honor this eagle.'' 

''I will try my best.'' 

Luke opened her door before Anne sat down. He then went over to the right side of his vehicle and drove. 

                                                                         *      *      *

The two headed into the restaurant before being greeted by a friendly smile at the front desk. Within two minutes, the couple was escorted to a table and approached by a waitress who asked, ''Good evening, my name is Lois, what shall it be for both of you to drink?'' 

Luke looked to Anne, motioning her to answer first. 

''A Cru Beaujolais shall satisfy me,'' Anne affirmed, facing the waitress. 

''I would prefer a French Chenin Blanc,'' Luke returned. 

The waitress wrote the drink downs. ''Of course, and I shall return soon with your refreshments,'' she said, before exiting to the kitchen. 

Luke turned to Anne and pondered the immortal beauty that her figure had impressed on him for the last twenty minutes. ''The evening is young, as is my heart when being around you,'' he said. 

Anne blushed before lifting one of her hands to her seat, where she squeezed it awkwardly. ''Tell me more about yourself, Mr. Lancaster,'' she replied. ''What exactly do you do for your profession? Surely you don't spend all of your time riding around on your uncle's inventions and playing with his gadgets?'' 

Luke shook his head, laughing. ''No, though my uncle has a lot of cool things that I use on occasion,'' he said. 

''Oh, then what do you do?'' 

''Anne, stand still.'' 

''Why?''

''I like how you suddenly sat forward with your arms crossed like that. May I take a selfie of both of us?''

''I see why not.''

The camera flashed on both of them from Luke's phone. 

Anne then sat back, smiling confidently. ''You never answered me,'' she returned. ''It feels like you are diverting from my question.'' 

Luke's cheeks slightly flushed red. ''I'm not sure this restaurant is the best place to tell you,'' he said. ''It's highly confidential.''

Anne's confused perplexion demonstrated her wondering what this meant. ''Are you Batman?'' she asked. 

Luke laughed. ''No,'' he returned. 

''Well, I wasn't certain---I mean, you know all the gadgets and cave and all...''

''No, Batman is more self-reliant and immortal than I can ever be,'' Luke returned. ''I am but a mortal man trying to live my life often in privacy, except from those I love.'' 

A long silence followed. Anne wondered about the person of Luke Lancaster, who was too secretive to be a local policeman and yet too normal to be a superhero. Finally, Anne's suspicions drew closer in light of the actions that she had witnessed him do. ''Are you like a James Bond then?'' she asked. ''My father loves Goldfinger and used to leave The Spy Who Loved Me often playing at the house when there were no Philadelphia Eagles games to watch. Yes, I think you have a bit of Bond in you or perhaps Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan.'' 

Luke merely smiled and answered, ''Bond is far more successful with the ladies than I am.'' 

''His womanizing gets in the way of his missions,'' Anne returned. ''You seem too disciplined to frolick with such things and too noble in my view.'' 

Luke noticed the waitress coming. ''I am and have always been a one-woman man,'' he returned. ''I just haven't found the right girl yet, at least until now...''

''We are, by necessity, sensitive to our pain and heartbreaks, though far too often, we lack the just empathy that others also deserve as they suffer. Over the years, I have observed human nature, have seen people's loneliness and lack of love, and realized that therapy is needed, though only true healing comes from one's faith in Christ.'' 

Anne looked down, pondering Luke's words. 

Possible following chapter 13 deals with drama with Anne's family after Robert confronts her mom, while chapter 14 deals with Luke and Anne at his uncle's party for charity. Chapter 15 then concerns Luke finding intelligence leading him to believe an attack on Philly is on the way. Chapter 16 concerns the attempted bomb during the Philadelphia Eagles' game at Lincoln Stadium Field and Luke saving Anne. 

Chapter 13: Luke Finds Out Information

Chapter 14: The Stadium Attack

Chapter 15: Robert confronts Anne's family

Chapter 16: Luke's uncle hosts a chaity occasion with Anne presiding over a table. 

Chapter 17: Luke and Christopher return to Washington

Chapter 18: Both Head to England to meet with an insider to help them. 

Chapter 19: At an opera play that night, Luke and Christopher find out more information. The president of the United States is at the play before another bomb is attempted by the Soviet Reds, and Luke must save the president's family. 

Chapter 20: Luke and Christopher track down the group to a rural region in New Mexico. On the western plains, they are pursued by horse before boarding a train where the Soviets are present. 

Chapter 21: Their new venture takes them to Cuba, where they are still pursuing the Communist group, and leads to the final showdown with Dr. Rose. 

Chapter 22: Luke and Christopher return to Washington; mission seemingly accomplished. 

Chapter 23: Luke reunites with Anne and Penelope. 

Chapter 24: Christopher's villainy is learned

Chapter 25: Luke has to defend Anne and Penelope in either a house or home against Christopher in a deadly fight. 

Chapter 26: Luke tells the ladies he wishes for them to meet someone as the three grow closer. 

Chapter 27: They meet Michael Glasgow and Samantha Stone. 

Chapter 28: The return to Philadelphia for another game 

Chapter 29: Owen picks up on Penelope 

Chapter 30: A Double-Date