Bidding War (9 page)

"I sold Mandy her house," Moira told me. "That's how I learned about the cooking school."

Mandy led us to the best seats for the class then turned to greet her next students. Moira turned me to face her. "Which side do you want me on?"

I laughed. "My arms are over-stimulated, but I don't want you to stop."

"You have two legs," she said mischievously.

I sat down in the left of the two seats we'd been given and Moira took the right. After we settled in, Moira took my hand while we looked around.

The cooking school was a beautiful place of wood, stainless steel, and bright lights. We were seated towards the middle. This was to be a participation class, meaning we would get to try everything ourselves, but Mandy would be demonstrating everything first, and we had front row seats.

One of the attendants stopped by and asked what we would like to drink. "Herbal tea for me," I said. Moira asked for the same. Then we turned slightly sideways to face each other.

She was studying me. I wasn't sure why. I felt she was looking for something. I studied her back.

All this was very strange for me. I was on a date with a woman, a woman nearly ten years older than I was. She was treating me better than any man ever had, and I found myself drawn to her. She had an infectious smile and was very sweet and kind. I loved the way she made my nerve endings tingle when she touched me.

I started to wonder if I had been missing out on something all along. Why couldn't guys be as sweet as her? Had I just gone out with the wrong guys? Or was there something inherently different between how I was going to be treated by a woman. Was it just Moira and not women in general.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Not exactly," I said. "I am having an amazing time."

"Then why do you suddenly look so concerned?"

"I was contrasting this date with all my past dates."

"And?"

"I was wondering if I've been missing out all along."

She stared at me for a minute, perhaps wondering if I were just teasing her. I watched a variety of expressions cross her face. "Are you just flirting?" she asked finally.

"No. That's exactly what I was wondering. Perhaps in more detail."

Then she began to smile, and the room lit up with her smile. "Pamela, that is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

I squeezed her hand. "So then I started analyzing everything," I told her. "There are a lot of factors. It could be I was dating the wrong guys. It could be simply a maturity factor, that if I'd dated guys a little-" I was about to say "older".

"A little closer to my age?" she offered.

I smiled. "Perhaps my experiences would have been more like this." I paused. "But I don't think so." I shrugged. "I can't imagine a date with Bonnie being like this, though. She'd be spending the entire time trying to turn up the heat. She's a lot like a guy that way."

"I've been doing that," she said.

"Yes, but you know how to cook without burning the meal."

She laughed. "That could be maturity."

"Maybe. Maybe it's unique to you. Maybe you're being especially cautious with me tonight." I paused. "I'm babbling now. But that's what I was thinking about. I tend to over-analyze. It's an occupational hazard."

"It's cute," she said. "And thank you for the myriad of complements. They mean a lot to me."

"Did I earn more stroking?"

She laughed. "I thought you were over stimulated."

In response I released her hand and rolled my arm over so my palm was up and my fingers were resting on her leg. She shifted slightly and returned to her light strokes. Somehow they were different from before, giving me a new set of sensations to enjoy.

I enjoyed the stroking then leaned into her and said, "I love that. I don't want you to stop. But I need to get my head back on to enjoy the class."

"I know," she said quietly. "You want me to back off?"

"Enough I can think again." I paused. "For now."

"I make it hard to think?"

"You make it impossible."

"Oh, I am so getting that toaster oven," she said.

I laughed. "Not tonight. Moira-"

"It was a joke."

"I know. If you turn that into a goal, it's going to ruin our time together."

"I know. I am focusing on making sure we have a nice time. That's all."

She went back to holding my hand. I missed the stroking, but I was able to reengage my brain and dig through the information packets we'd been given.

After that, Moira kept things between us on a slow simmer. I don't think we spent more than a few seconds at a time where we weren't touching, but the touches were less distracting.

In the end, we learned to make several types of truffles, ending with a selection of truffles we'd made ourselves on our plates. I waited until
Moira was distracted and stole one from her. When she turned back, I was slowly enjoying it. She looked between me, clearly enjoying her truffle, and her plate, counting the contents.

"Cheeky girl," she said quietly. "Are you going to pay for that one?"

"What do I get if you steal one from me?" I asked between nummy chocolaty bites.

"Stroking of any exposed skin I can find," she said.

I smiled. "You seemed to like the dark chocolate ones."

She smiled and stole one from me.
We stared into each other's eyes while we ate or stolen truffles.

After that, we packaged up our remaining treats and thanked Mandy and the attendants for a fabulous class. Moira helped me resettle my pashmina over my shoulders, and we headed for her car, holding hands.

When we got to her car, I got in her way, stepping into her arms and laying my head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around me.

"Hey," she said.

I squeezed her. "Thank you," I said.

We stood like that for a moment before I pulled away. She held me from pulling very far and lifted my chin. I knew she wanted to kiss me.

I turned my head away. "Not yet," I said. "Not in a parking ramp. This isn't what I want to remember as our first kiss."

She sighed. "You're right. I wasn't thinking."

I looked back at her. She looked a little unhappy.

"Maybe you can think of somewhere better." I paused. "It's too chilly tonight to go very far outside."

She smiled. "I was working on the assumption there would be a good night kiss on your front doorstep."

"That was my assumption," I agreed. I paused. "I don't want our first kiss to be in this ramp or parked in your car. Nor do I want an excessive audience."

She nodded, squeezed me once more, then opened my car door for me. I slipped in.

As soon as we were clear of the parking ramp, I slipped my hand over, setting it on her leg. She lowered her hand and placed it over mine for a moment before returning both hands to the wheel.

She took me home. I was slightly disappointed she hadn't come up with something more interesting but decided it was okay. We climbed out of the car, and she took my arm, leading to the door. I didn't turn to her when we got to the door but immediately unlocked it. I looked over at her. She was watching me carefully, perhaps judging my body language.

I spoke in a low voice. "Please come in. Would you like a cup of tea?"

She smiled. "Yes, I would."

I stepped inside and held the door for her, closing the door after she was inside. I set my shopping bag from Kitchen Window down and turned to her, shrugging so the pashmina dipped from my shoulders to college in the crooks of my arms. I stepped closer and looked up at her.

My heart was pounding as she stepped closer. From inches away we stared into each other's eyes, and I saw her swallow once. She reached up and caressed my cheek. I leaned my face into her hand, earning a smile.

Then she stepped closer, her other hand coming up to cup the back of my head. She had one hand on my chin and the other behind my head, and slowly she pulled my lips toward hers, lowering her head.

I leaned forward and closed my eyes.

"Is this my goodnight kiss?" she asked from inches away.

I shook my head slightly.

She pulled me towards her slightly more. I felt my lips part slightly, and I caught my breath as our lips touched.

As soon as I felt her lips touch mine, my brain shut off, but my body responded to her immediately. I wrapped my arms around her. My heart began pounding even harder, and I felt myself grow flushed.

It was a soft, sweet, gentle kiss, but she let it last, stealing my breath before she finally pulled away.

I stood there on the verge of a swoon, but finally my eyelids fluttered open. I found myself staring into her eyes, still only a few inches away. I looked through my eye lashes at her, smiling softly.

"Did Sam ever kiss you like that?"

"No. Bonnie has been trying, She even successfully got me drunk once and tried, but I fended her off."

"Was that your first romantic kiss from a woman?"

I nodded.

She pulled me into an embrace, and I laid my head onto her shoulder, my nose buried in her neck and my arms wrapped around her neck. She held me like that for a while.

"What kind of tea would you like?" I asked her.

"As much as I would like to stay, I need to leave your second kiss for Gwendolyn."

"But I owe you more," I said.

"I will collect them next time."

Had I disappointed her? I pulled out of her arms. She let me slip away from her. I stood in front of the picture window, looking outside, my back to her and my arms around my elbows. I realized I was disappointed and embarrassed.

"I understand," I said finally.

She stepped up behind me, wrapping her arms around me. I tried to shrug her off.

"No," she said firmly. "Let me hold you. You don't understand."

She pulled me against her but I remained stiff.

"If I collect those kisses, I'm not going to stop," she said. "And Gwendolyn deserved the first kiss. She paid more. At the very least, I need to leave her the second one. I am not rejecting you."

I thought about it then leaned against her. "Moira, this has been the best date I've ever had. Thank you so much."

"Oh honey," she said, tightening her arms around me.

I slipped my pashmina off my arms entirely, dropping it to a nearby chair while still leaning against her. I had to wriggle a little to do it, and I heard Moira catch her breath.

"Sorry," I said.

"Don't be sorry," she said directly into my ear.

"Could I have a little more stroking before you go?"

She kissed my ear. "Yes." And her hands began lightly caressing my arms while I continued to lean against her. I closed my eyes and sighed.

I was very confused about what I was feeling. All I knew was I wasn't going to figure it out tonight. I didn't know if I was attracted to Moira exactly, but I certainly loved the way she treated me, and I wanted more of it.

I soaked up the attention for a minute or two before capturing her hand. I pulled her back to the door, then turned around suddenly so her arms were around me. "Gwendolyn can have the third," I told her. "Please give me one more kiss to remember."

She smiled and immediately lowered her lips to mine.

I felt my knees grow weak right away, but her arms were wrapped around me, and I clutched at her. I parted my lips slightly, but she didn't take the invitation, so I teased her lips lightly with my own tongue. She mewled into the kiss and pulled me more tightly against her.

Eventually, with us both breathing hard, she pulled away. I opened my eyes and saw she was flushed.

"Thank you, Moira," I said. "You've given me an amazing evening and are leaving me very confused."

"Confused? I thought I was clear."

"You were. I'm confused about my own reactions." I laid my head on her shoulder again. "You were amazing. Best date ever. Thank you."

"You are welcome, Pamela.
I had an amazing time, too."

"Will you call me?"

"Yes." She paused. "Now you have to let me go."

I slipped out of her arms but smiled at her, then opened the door and held it for her. As she slipped past me, I caught her hand and squeezed it once more. She squeezed back and smiled, and then she slipped out the door.

From the doorway, I watched her walk to her car. She turned around at the driver's door and saw me watching her. She blew me a kiss before climbing into her car. I stood there watching while she drove away then slowly closed the front door.

I leaned against the door, happier than I'd been in a very long time. I sighed, kicked off my shoes, and dug through my purse for my phone.

It was late, but I sent a text to Sam. "Do not tell Bonnie!" Then I sent a second text. "Best. Date. Ever."

My phone rang thirty seconds later. I answered it and said, "Thank you," to Sam.