True Nature (4 page)

Chapter 5 HIM

Wednesday, the night I wanted to meet up with her again...hmmm, wonder what her plans might be tonight. I rub my tense neck, the frown I've been wearing all day starting to wear on me. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this girl....the way she smiled, the feel of her skin and hair, the sweetness of her mouth...the way she looked down at her hands over dinner.

I haven't been this excited about a girl in a long time...hell, since Natalie...and that was almost 5 years ago. Dan reminded me of that over lunch yesterday. He kept trying to get details about Lucy to see how serious I am. I played it off, but I think he saw through me....kept telling me to take it slow. Like I need advice from him...he moved in with Becca after that first semester.

But he does have a point. Things ended pretty badly with Natalie. I need to be sure about this girl before I make any real moves.

I keep going over our date in my head....how she responded to me. There's definitely something there. She may have a few bad habits to break, I smile thinking of this, but she's really a sweet girl. And that body! My cock stirs just thinking about her.

Looking at my watch, it's 8:30...let's see how sweet she is. I call her...voicemail. Her voice is as soft and high as I remember. My pants get a little tighter again. I hang up without leaving a message. Bad habit #1...she should've answered her phone. I sigh heavily, a cross between a sigh and a growl really.

Time to concentrate on something else again. The piles of paperwork delivered this afternoon sit on my coffee table. LPE business, rental agreements, renovation plans, and hiring policy changes I recommended last month. Pouring a glass of Glenlivet, I absently eat Malnati's pizza and dig into the pile, the Cubs in the background.

Chapter 5 HER

Coming out of the bathroom stall, I see I missed a call from Max. No message though...hope he's not cancelling our plans.

Tracy is still talking through the door of the other stall. "..and I told Josh that I can't go with him to a cabin in the woods next week. It's the Fourth of Juu-ly and I need to part-tay with my girlfriends." She's already a little tipsy. Hell, so am I. Italian wine really goes to my head fast.

I hand her a paper towel, "Bet he liked that. Didn't you promise him last year that you'd go away with him this year if you guys were still together?" 

"So?" She puts a fresh coat of lip gloss on, "Besides, we haven't been together the whole year...so it doesn't count." She sticks her tongue out at her own reflection. "And it's his roommate's party...it'd be rude not to go!"

I laugh.  "Well, the fireworks just wouldn't be the same without you...so I'm glad you're blowing him off."

"No, I told you! I
won't
be blowin him off silly, that's why he's mad." She slaps my butt as we leave the bathroom laughing.

This is our tradition. Get together on hump day, eat too much pasta at the small Italian restaurant around the corner from our office, and complain the next day that our fuzzy heads must be somebody else's fault for ordering too many carafes of Chianti. 

We also love the free cheesy breadsticks and tiramisu that "Romona" would send to our table.  Her real name is Rosa, but she and her husband didn't change the name of the restaurant when they took over, so we always call her Romona to tease her.

Tracy pushes me into her chair, between Josh and Bullet, and takes mine a little further down across the table instead. She's anything but subtle.

Laura has been flirting with Steve since he didn't invite Kalli. She's hopeful that this is a permanent thing, but I can see that he's really not into her that way.

Maybe it's something I've picked up being in HR, a recruiting specialty...being able to get to the heart of a person quickly, what makes them tick. I take the opportunity to assess Bullet...gotta start calling him Billy...can't take him serious with that nickname. He's above average looking, but not my usual type, last blond I dated was in college I think. I have my type...Max instantly pops into my head...tall, dark, broody. Ahem.

I snap myself back to the table. Tracy and Josh are arguing over a six-way split of the check, "Guys, it's family-style, so why don't we all just split it equally?" Is Bullet/Billy's suggestion...a real peacekeeper.

And he does smell nice, like a scent I'm used to. "Thanks again, Luce, for your help with my interview. I'm supposed to hear something by Friday...unless you know I didn't get the job already...in which case," he play rubs his nose, sniffing and leaning back, spreading his arms wide, landing one arm on the back of my chair. "Aah, ya know, that's cool." He's funny too.

"I'm sure you did fine, but I really don't know where that team is at with the position.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you," crossing fingers on both hands. Yeah, he's okay.

Tracy has been trying to get us love-crossed all night, suggesting future foursomes...I think we're booked until Christmas in her mind. She's working on Steve now, trying to get him to take Laura home tonight. Poor Laura is shrinking in her chair, but not saying no.

I glance again at my phone, realizing I haven't put it away since the bathroom. What would I do if he called again right now?! Smiling, I know I'd be happy to juggle that problem.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about Max for the past two days. He monopolizes my dreams. I have even been daydreaming about him, imagining his hands on me again with those small touches. My boss hasn't noticed, but work has been the last thing on my mind lately.

Outside, everybody waiting for cabs. Josh is pawing at Tracy and they take off together in the first one. Laura lives my way, so we're going to share the next one, despite Tracy's attempts to pair us all off tonight.  Billy yanks my sleeve, "So think we can get together sometime, grab a bite to eat or something...lunch even?"

"Um, sure, that'd be nice." His hesitancy is just what I don't like about guys my own age....can't help but compare him to Max...so decisive.

I glance at my phone, still showing no messages...but maybe he didn't mean to call me after all and just hung up before it went to my voicemail. Billy is asking me about Saturday, "We can meet early, around 11, bike around the lake, then grab a bite to eat?"

"That sounds nice," is that all I can say?

He's pulling out his phone, "Give me your number, I'll call you Saturday morning to firm up a spot to meet." I give him my number, but wonder why...I'm not very enthusiastic.

Laura babbles about Steve in the car, alternating with questions about Billy and our date. "Maybe we can make it a double date if Steve asks me out too?!" 

Wishful thinking my friend, but I just shrug and hug her as I get out, leaving my portion of the cabfare with her.

Chapter 6 HIM

I have my back to the door, but a good view of everyone entering from the mirrored cabinets behind the bar. She comes in just behind a couple, looking around before she spots me on a barstool. I glance at my watch...she's 17 minutes late.

I don't turn around, enjoying watching her walk up to me. Tight black skirt, not too short but showing off her legs, short sleeve white top showing a small amount of cleavage, hair pulled tightly back. She puts her hand on my left shoulder. "Hey stranger. This seat taken?" She sits on the barstool before I turn around, her knees brushing against my side. "Oh, wait...is someone sitting here?" She points to the glass of red wine in front of her.

"No, that's for you. This place fills up quickly for happy hour, so I took the opportunity to get you a drink and save you a seat at the same time." I place my hand on her leg.

"Very thoughtful of you!" She takes a sip, "This is yummy...what is it?"

"A Cote du Rhone blend. One of my favorites."

"Do you know alot about wine, Max?" Two good signs...she hasn't moved away from my hand...and no bullshit for ordering a drink for her. 

"Sort of a family preoccupation really. My Dad's family came from wine country, back in Italy, long time ago...but the tradition of enjoying wine is alive and well today." I clink her glass, "Salute, bella."

"Cin cin," she responds.

"Nice...have you been to Italy?"

"Too briefly...with my college roommate and her family. I haven't travelled nearly as much as I'd like. How bout you?"

She hasn't stopped smiling, leaning on the bar with her whole body turned towards me. I remove my hand from her leg for a second. She crosses her legs, left over right, skirt rising a little higher, offering more of a view. I return my hand, rubbing my thumb across the top of her knee, spreading my fingers fully across her exposed skin. She lowers her head, but keeps smiling.

"...and I still try to get to Italy once a year if I can get away from work. My Dad really spoiled us with a love of travel." I haven't even paid attention to what I'm saying, so distracted by the liquid electricity of touching her.

We talk more about travel, mine mostly about places I've been, her's about places she'd like to go. The conversation is easy.  The whole time, keeping my hand on her; she tentatively responds now and then by placing her hand on my arm.

The bartender interrupts to ask if we'd like anything more. I answer before Lucy, "Two of the same, thanks...Do you want to get some food here, they have pretty good burgers...or go someplace else?" I ask as the bartender pours more wine into our glasses.

"Um...here's fine."

"Can we also get two burgers...cheese on yours?...ok, no cheese, and an order of curly fries? Thanks." The bartender walks away to add our order to the computer.

"Ya know...that's the second time you've ordered for me?" Her head is tilted to the left side, her lips pressed together but still smiling, eyes narrowing a little. Here we go.

"Is that a problem?" Keeping my voice low and calm, still rubbing her knee. I resist the urge to swallow hard, keeping her eye contact.

She continues to look at me narrowly before slowly responding, "No...I guess not...just not used to a guy...ya know...being that..." She's clearly out of her element here, shrugging with each pause.

"What...that decisive, take charge?" I try these words out, testing her reaction again.

"Um...well, yeah." She gives a little shake of her head and small laugh, "Most guys don't want to make any decisions...ya know...leaving all the choices of a date up to a girl...at least most guys I've known."

"Guess I'm not most guys then," I tip my drink to her. Her smile remains tight, but her response so far is good. "And some girls would take offense at a guy ordering a nice dinner for them..."

"Guess I'm not most girls then," her hand goes to my arm again...a very good sign.

"No, you are definitely not." She returns my big smile.

We're off to a good start.

Chapter 6 HER

He holds the door open as I walk outside. Looking at my watch, I can't believe it's 11:00. We talked and laughed for so long, I completely forgot about my early meeting tomorrow.

"Does that thing work?" His eyes are twinkling as he indicates my watch.

"What?" My face actually hurts from smiling so much.

"I just thought maybe that's why you were late tonight...that I need to get you a new watch." He continues smiling and twinkling, but his jaw is more squared.

"Oh...yeah...sorry. My boss likes to talk alot and I couldn't get out of the office on time....and you might as well know now that I'm habitually late...my friends all make fun of me for it." We walk arm in arm towards Jeff across the street.

"I'd appreciate you being on time in the future, Lucy." His crooked grin only makes his jaw appear even harder from my sideways glance. He smiles more and winks at me as he walks around to the left side of the car.

"Good evening, Lucy," Jeff has the door fully open for me. I'm too distracted thinking of a response to Max though to do more than smile at Jeff's politeness. I feel chastised...he didn't say it jokingly...he said it bluntly...he meant to chastise me?

And the strangest thing is...I'm not angered by this. He was so soft-spoken, matter-of-fact...like a boss telling me what to do. And I'm not angry...huh?! I can't say how it makes me feel, just strange.

By the time we're pulling away from the curb, I'm unsure if I should respond to his comment after all. He thankfully changes the subject, "My friend, Dan, you met him and Becca the other night...it's his birthday tomorrow. Becca is throwing a not-so-surprise party for him, she does this every year...I'd like you to go with me."

"Sounds like fun...as long as it's not black-tie again!" I squeeze his hand over my knee.

"Definitely not."

                                                                                    .....

Our goodnight kiss is just as steamy. Same routine...opening my door, but not trying to come in.  I lose track of time in his kisses, lips travelling from my cheeks, lips, neck, lips...I feel the heat of his breath on my face, the pressure of his hands on both sides of my ribs.

He pulls away after a final kiss on my cheek. "I'll pick you up at 8:00 tomorrow." He squeezes me a little more, tickling a little. "8 sharp." His lips playful, one brow cocked. I just smile in response and go inside.