Legend

I'd gotten the results of all the inquiries I'd made for Colonel Rhodes and had talked to Tony about the exoskeleton and the War Machine suits. The news wasn't good. Even with supportive therapies like physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture, Colonel Rhodes' superheroing days were coming to a close unless he chose the nanotech treatment in Korea, and even that wasn't a sure thing. Tony came down to be with his friend when I broke the news. He took the news stoically and went upstairs to double-check with the doctors and think about what I'd said. I sent the more detailed information on the treatment to his email and sighed.

Tony had stayed behind. "Do we have any massage therapists on staff?" he asked. We did not. "Acupuncturists?" I shook my head.

"But I can make some recommendations," I said. Tony frowned and took out his phone. I waited patiently. He started flicking things from his phone to the areas defined by projectors and I sighed as I saw details for educational programs and accreditations pop up.

"Look here," he said. Like I had a choice. Panels of data now filled my treatment room. "Pacific College of Oriental Medicine has a campus in the city. They have one of the best programs in the country for acupuncture. You could probably get credit for anatomy and physiology, it wouldn't take quite as long."

"It is going to take time, though," I said gently. "Colonel Rhodes is still going to have to find some specialists."

"Yeah, but if you get started, you could take over his care. Plus it would be good for your business. I'll pay for the courses of study and any licensure fees," he said intensely. Tony's loyalty is the thing I like best about him, even ahead of the ideas that gestate in that brain of his and spring forth fairly well planned. And while part of his concern was to keep his bestie in the War Machine suit--both as his most trusted comrade but also because Colonel Rhodes was clinging to it--he would also want to ease his transition out of the suit and maintain as much quality of life as possible.

I caved. "You do realize that it's too late to apply for this semester," I warned. "Damn. I was just starting to really enjoy being out of school."

Tony smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll take care of the application. Most of the information is in your personnel file, I'll call for the rest," he said, and bounced to his feet and out the door before I could say anything. And damned if he didn't have it ready for submitting in under an hour.

The next night I walked into the Bar Room of the 21 Club; Damian had already been seated. He was early; I checked my watch discreetly to be sure. He jumped to his feet with a smile on his face which brought a smile to mine; it's always nice when somebody is so glad to see you. He held my chair after kissing my cheek, cutting out the maitre d', who perhaps wasn't best pleased at the usurption of his duty but wasn't about to make a fuss.

"You look beautiful as always," he said, watching me over his menu. I'd raced upstairs after work and was wearing an LBD, a little cliched but appropriate for the room.

"Thank you," I said. "That's a lovely tie." It really was, I wasn't being superficial. It had been woven of lustrous silk and shaded through blues and purples through the length of the tie. He patted it a little self-consciously. We ordered oysters for an appetizer and discussed our days. When the waiter returned, I ordered the famous creamy chicken hash and Damian the 21 burger with a side of sauteed spinach.

"So somehow Tony got the school to expedite my application," I said ruefully, loosening an oyster. "I start next week with massage classes, since that will be a lot faster than the acupuncture." I slurped the oyster and reached for another. Damian was staring at me.

"No more oysters," he said hoarsely. "It's ridiculous to be this turned on by the sight of you swallowing seafood." Attempting to control my laughter, I choked on my oyster. He got up to pat my back and I was able to observe the tenting effect a little more closely than he realized. I stored the information away in case I wanted to rile him up some time.

The waiter took the dish away and we moved on to safer topics. He was studying the different divisions of Wayne Enterprises to familiarize himself with the empire and was just finishing up with the massive manufacturing division. "I'm moving on to Medical next," he said as our entrees were served. "I think you're coming for a meeting next week, right?" I nodded. "Would you like to go to dinner afterward?"

"Very much," I said smiling. He looked smug, and we chatted about a compact tissue accelerator that was being made.

"Dad will be sending you one," he said absently. Then he put his burger down. "Shit. That was supposed to be a surprise."

"I can still be surprised," I said, smiling. He was cute when he was flustered. We ordered crepes Suzette, flambed tableside, for dessert, then he escorted me to his car, insisting on taking me home. I was kind of surprised to see he was still driving the car he'd had in high school, but he explained that he hadn't driven it much up in Cambridge and he was fond of it. We kissed when he pulled up to the tower, and I got out, resisting the urge to fan myself. Then he jumped out of the car and handed me a long box.

"Almost forgot," he said breathlessly, and I opened it, inhaling spicy carnations, heady light and dark pink roses. That got him another kiss. When I got up to my room, I scrounged a vase and texted a pic to Aslyn and Margaret. Aslyn had been amused when I'd said I was going to start dating Damian, given our history in high school, but she loved the flowers. Margaret said that the pursuit was on. I said I wasn't really running away, and she said that I should make him work for it, but I don't like games like that. She suggested further enticement, but I wasn't sure what turned him on besides oysters.

The next week was kind of brutal, fitting classwork in the schedule. J thought it sounded like great additions to our practice, but reminded me not to let Tony push me around. Easier said than done, when I could see that there would be benefit for the clients. For the meeting, I wore a jade green silk pantsuit--my first big attempt to build a more professional wardrobe for when I wasn't working with clients--that really wasn't warm enough for the winter conditions but was great for dinner. Sure enough, Bruce announced the donation of a compact accelerator to my clinic PLUS a portable one. I didn't have to feign enthusiasm and Bruce's normal reserve thawed a bit. After the meeting, Damian drove us to dinner at Asiate. I loved their soothing decor of espresso wood, white, and a plummy sort of pink. They had a tasting menu that we tried; caviar, big eye tuna sashimi with eggplant, lightly smoked Maine lobster with celtuce, Asian pear, and Thai basil, basted foie gras, Waygu beef prepared two ways with sweet potato, and chocolate dacquiose with hazelnuts and banana ice cream. It came accompanied with wines that were perfect, even for a non-wine drinker like me. I was in a stupor afterward.

"I can't remember a meal I've enjoyed more," I said as I set down my spoon. It was true, too, from the salty pops of flavor from the caviar (I hadn't ever had caviar before, so it was a new experience) to the crispness of the dacquiose, it had been a masterful symphony of tastes and textures. He smiled and trailed his fingers over my hand; I turned my hand under his and his light touch crossed my palm, causing a jolt low in my core.

"I'd like to take you to dinner next," I said, and he agreed promptly, but there was a problem. He was leaving for a business trip, going to China and India. "Two weeks?" I asked in disappointment. His eyes lit.

"Yeah, that was my reaction too," he said. "I leave Saturday afternoon." My face fell.

"Well, are you free tomorrow night?" I had plans with Margaret and Aslyn, and I hated to be that woman who broke plans in favor of a man, but on the other hand, I'd never done it before, so I would probably get a pass. Plus, it was an opportunity to entice.

"For you, I'll make time," he said, his baritone dropping into something really sexy. I said I'd text him instructions, and he caressed my palm with his thumb. He drove me home again, and he presented me with more flowers, this time not forgetting. I opened the box to find pretty spikes of unfamiliar lavender pink flowers, white and green tendrils of ivy, white lilies, and lavender roses. I kissed him goodnight, a proper kiss, long and deep.

"I can't wait for tomorrow," he said, sighing, and for that he got another kiss.

The girls gave me a pass on the evening's festivities and oohed over the flowers. Margaret did an image search and discovered that the spikes of flowers were called mezereon.

"Never heard of it," Aslyn said, and Googled it. Margaret and I waited. She laughed. "What else was in that bouquet?" she asked, and I ran it down.

"In order, desire to please, anxious to please and affection, it's heavenly to be with you, enchantment," she said mysteriously.

"Huh?" I asked blankly.

"What was in the other bouquet?" she asked, ignoring me.

"Um, carnations and light and dark pink roses."

"Fascinatation, thankfulness, and grace and joy."

"Yeah, but what are you talking about?" Margaret asked, as puzzled as I was.

"When I looked up the spiky flowers, one of the links went to this Victorian enthusiast website where they have a list of different flowers and colors and what an ascribed meaning was. Looks like Damian is sending you secret messages," she said, cackling. Naturally, we all had to look. Some of the flowers we'd never heard of and some didn't seem like anything you'd want to find in a vase of flowers, but it was fun, and we amused ourselves coming up with our own bouquets full of meaning.

The next day between classes, I made a reservation at Craft and then an online order. I had to work right up to the moment, so I met Damian at the restaurant. I gave him a quick kiss, then put a creamy white camellia with a rosy heart through his button hole. He looked at me in bemusement as he placed a hand on my back. "Admiration, good luck," I said, touching the white part of a petal. "Longing," I sighed, touching the pink. He took my hand and kissed the palm. The hostess called my name for seating before he could say anything, though.

He held my chair, thoughtful as always, and we ordered salads and aged Rohan duck breast for two before continuing the conversation.

"When did you figure it out?" he asked curiously.

"I didn't," I confessed. "Aslyn did. I wanted to play too," I said, batting my eyelashes at him. He leaned in. "But all the best meanings were attached to flowers not in season or they don't ever carry," I said wryly. It turned out that we were using the same website.

"It sucks that I have to leave," he said. "Damned business."

"About business," I said, playing with the stem of the wineglass. "I wondered if I could ask you a favor."

"Anything," he said promptly. I sent him a wicked look, and he blushed. OMG, so cute. He laughed. "I was looking through the course of study for this stuff," I said. "I'm going to be able to get out of a lot of it, fortunately, the anatomy, physiology, biology, general studies stuff. But they have some business courses, and I honestly don't know that much about running my own business," I said frowning. "I've been relying on Tony and Bruce's people for advice. It's not that I don't trust them, but--"

"It's your business," he said, nodding, taking my hand again. "You'll be bringing your brother in, too, so you want to be sure you have the background to make the right choices according to how you envision the future."

"That's it exactly," I said, only slightly distracted.

"Happy to tutor you," he said promptly. "Might as well put my Ivy League education to practical use." He grinned. "And payment is convenient and on the installment plan."

"Really?" I asked, trying for a sultry look. Must have worked, it took a moment for him to get his head back in the game.

"Kisses," he said huskily.

"You might be selling your tutoring sessions a little too low," I said. "I'm a former tutor, I know the value of one on one instruction." I brushed the back of my foot along his ankle, careful not to spike him with the heel of my pump.

He looked dazed, and just then the server showed up with dinner. It was delicious, but I decided right then not to order the same thing anymore. It was more fun to give each other tastes off our forks. For dessert, we had hot cider spiked with calvados and orange and frozen vanilla mousse. I behaved myself til the last bite, licking the thick white creaminess off the spoon seductively. His eyes almost crossed.

After that, we went dancing for a few hours and we left the club. "Want to come for a nightcap?" he asked as we pulled away from the curb.

"That better be some very fine booze," I murmured.

He burst out laughing. "I meant, 'would you like to come up for a nightcap?'" he said. "Freudian slip."

"Sure," I said, happy to extend the evening. I was surprised when he pulled up to the St Regis, though. He offered me his arm as he came around the car and the valets claimed it. "I wanted some space from Dad," he said, shrugging. "The company owns the hotel, so it wasn't hard to make arrangements."

"Handy, that," I said, amused. He grinned and pressed the button for the floor selection in the elevator. He unlocked the door and held it for me. I looked around in wonder at the Imperial Suite, with its elegant red paneled walls and window seats below the bulls-eye windows that overlooked Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and 55th Street. I drank some of the cognac he offered, then put down the snifter and reached for him.

"He wouldn't sleep with me," I reported the next day, still a little cross. "Said he'd rather wait til he got back so there wouldn't be a two week gap."

Aslyn and Margaret laughed. "So what did you do instead?" Margaret asked.

"Made out," I said, sighing. "Not that that was terrible. At all. There's this amazingly fluffy, soft duvet on the bed, and we rolled around on it. Not a stitch came off, unfortunately. But to be honest, it was still a really good time."

"Dry humping," Aslyn diagnosed.

"No comment," I said primly, and listened to the explosion of laughter. They had dates that night, so I told them to have fun and hung up. I was settling down to study when the front desk called and said I had a delivery. Mystified, I went down. I hadn't ordered anything. When I went to the desk, there was a bouquet of yellow lilies. The card read "First meaning--D" . I'd have to look it up. There was also a bag that contained a small bottle of absinthe. Huh. I took my bounty and went upstairs. The first meaning for that color lily was 'I'm walking on air." I grinned and texted him thanks for the flowers and the absinthe, adding 'trying 2 get me drunk? works better when ur here." I found a picture of a wax plant; it was pretty, tiny waxy flowers forming hemispheres. I sent him that with the identification so he'd know that I meant to send 'susceptible."

I was powering through my studies, it was more straightforward than what I'd studied in college but I suspected practice would be the key here, when my phone blipped to indicate a text. There was a pretty picture of an herb and the caption 'wormwood.' I looked it up; it meant absence, do not be discouraged. I smiled. Then another text. "Long flights suck. Can't wait 2 be back with u."

'By then should need volunteer for massage study. Anybody?"

He texted me a thumbs up, and I went back to studying with a smile. Periodically we'd text; his trip was going well and I was busy. The classes soon had us practicing on each other as we learned bits and pieces. Most people used too much oil, which was gross and drippy. Colonel Rhodes decided in favor of the nanotech treatment, and Tony got him the next available appointment. He couldn't go himself, so one of the doctors got an all expenses paid trip to Seoul to accompany the colonel and report to Tony. Probably every five minutes. I didn't envy him. Damian had texted, suggesting some reading material for small business owners; we'd discuss when he got back.

I was seeing a moderate uptick in my enhanced clients; word was getting around and I finally needed a receptionist. Tony sent Doug down; he was enthusiastic and had the sunniest personality. He was also trained as a nurses assistant, so he was comfortable assisting clients if they needed wheelchairs or other basic personal assistance. And there were a few who did, either untreated injuries or lack of effective PT after an injury. It really felt good to help people and get some insight into different mutations and how they affected people. Hank was starting to send in some new genetic analyses, so I was really busy. Not so busy not to be disappointed when Damian said in a phone call that he'd be late getting back.

"How late?"

"Two weeks," he sighed. We were both disappointed, but there was nothing to do about it. He sent me a low vase like a cream ceramic donut with feet and a trench cut in the top, filled with fragrant purple violets--'you occupy my thoughts.' I sent a photo of different color zinnias--'thinking of an absent friend.'

'Just friend?' he texted back.

I sent a picture of beautiful tulips. 'First meaning.'

'Perfect lover?'

'Girl can hope.'

Red poppies. 'Pleasure.'

I smiled and went back to work.