Paul smiled at the irony of it all. For so many years his parents had warned him away from talking to strangers, and now he wanted nothing more than to talk to a stranger. More than that, he ached to talk to her.
He had seen her every night, sitting in the same chair by the fireplace at the hotel. Every night he came down for dinner, she was there, reading a book. Every night when he stopped into the bar after dinner, she was still in her seat, still reading the book. He guessed she was here for the same convention as he was and was also here alone, like he was. He didn't want to guess anything about her though—he wanted to know for sure.
Tonight he'd had an early dinner and was already sitting at the bar, looking over at her in her usual spot. She wore a blue skirt that her beautifully curved legs emerged from and led down to a pair of casual shoes she had hanging off the end of her feet, relaxing. Tonight she was wearing a plain cream blouse that fit wonderfully around the ample mounds of her chest and tapered down to her slim waist. She was blonde, but far from platinum, her hair was a little longer than shoulder length and hung down to frame her face with the lines her natural wave created. Her features were clear, well defined and had a definite European look to them—her slim nose, high cheekbones and gentle, full, lips that carried only a hint of red lipstick. Paul was yet to get a good look at her eyes.
As he watched her silently turn the pages and occasionally sip at her drink, he increasingly found something incredibly sensual in her solitary figure. As he put down his empty glass on the bar he stood up and decided he just had to go against his parents' wishes and talk to this stranger.
"Hi." His heart was pounding as he arrived at her side and looked down at her.
She looked up at him with powerful, blue, eyes that shone out an inquisitive smile.
"I, er... I've seen you here all week, like me, alone. I don't want you to think I'm coming on to you or anything, I promise I'm not, but I was just er... well, wondering if you'd like to get out of here for a little while. There's a movie theatre across the parking lot, I wondered if you'd like to share some popcorn and watch a movie with me?"
Her eyes widened as Paul stood there, almost stammering. Her expression didn't change much, if anything it softened a little as she took in his words.
"That's a nice offer," she flashed twin rows of incredibly white teeth as she started to answer, "but I've been really happy sitting here with my book. So I won't accept, if that's okay. I do hope you have a good time though."
Paul, nodded, wished her a good night also and left her hoping his disappointment hadn't shown too much. He hadn't expected any more than he got, but he knew he had to try. He had no intention of going to see a movie on his own, and sitting at the bar had lost its appeal, so Paul turned the corner and headed to the elevators and a night alone in his room.
He had pressed the call button and heard the elevator start down towards him when she came around the corner. "Excuse me." Paul looked up to see her coming towards him with her book in one hand and her hair bouncing on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I was a little taken aback. That must've taken a lot of nerve. And you know, I've read enough this week, so if you're still game for a movie, I'd love to come. Is your offer still open?"
"Well, yes, of course." Paul beamed as the elevator arrived and he made no move to get in. "I er, I'm Paul." He held out a hand to her.
"Stacey." She shook it. "Let me get a coat and I'll be with you in a minute."
Paul watched as she got into the elevator, smiled widely at him and disappeared behind the woosh of the doors. Paul kicked his heels a little while he waited near the reception desk. In one way he couldn't believe his luck, but in another he knew he'd promised he wasn't coming on to Stacey and he was an honorable guy, so he wouldn't. Still, the company of a beautiful woman for the evening was never something to be sniffed at.
Stacey was in no rush when she walked into her room and threw her book on the bed but there was nothing to detain her longer than grabbing a light cotton jacket and heading back downstairs. It had been a surprise when Paul approached her and her initial reaction was that he was just another stranger away from home looking to get laid. She had replied before she'd had time to weigh him up more thoroughly though and when she came to the conclusion that he seemed sincere enough, she was now glad that she'd caught up with him. Much as she really didn't want any male attentions right now, he was cute and where was the harm in enjoying a movie with a cute guy?
She sized Paul up as she walked towards him. He was tall, at least six feet, slim and had boyish good looks, even though she was sure he was in his late twenties. When he smiled he reminded her a little of Mathew Broderick, with longer hair. "So," she arrived in front of him, "what shall we go see?"
They settled on a comedy, both thinking that was "safe" ground for two strangers to be on at the movies. Paul insisted he buy the tickets, so Stacey loaded up with a huge bag of popcorn and a soft drink each. They chatted a little before the program started and when the movie was on their only communication was a couple of shared looks at the funniest moments
As they emerged with the crowd into the warm summer night and walked slowly towards the hotel Stacey thanked Paul for the evening, and his thoughtfulness at asking her to join him. Paul smiled at her calm, kind words.
"You want to get an ice cream?" He pointed to a store in the strip mall that ran between the hotel and the theatre.
With that same, considered, smile she gave when she agreed to see the movie with him, Stacey nodded. "Yes. I would."
