"The closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat"
-
He was hot. And he was nice. Tanya liked him right off. When he spoke to her she was impressed and when he asked her out she was on cloud nine. She was between relationships and having the attention of a good looking cultured man was an unexpected bonus to a solitary lunch in the park.
He arrived at her door right on time for their first date and he was immaculately dressed. "Smart casual," she thought. "Expensive. Relaxed. Tasteful."
He helped her with her coat and she felt like a princess. She was grateful that there were other people there from her condo building to witness him graciously taking her arm to shepherd her into the elevator. She was glad she'd taken the extra time getting ready. Her hair was a thick auburn mane, stylishly cut, and carefully coiffed to bounce softly around her bare shoulders. She knew that the cut her dress was ideal, carefully chosen to draw attention away from her small breasts and onto her best assets -- her legs and behind.
The cool night air reminded her of how short her skirt really was. Gliding elegantly beside him, careful in her 4-inch heels, the black jersey felt snug across her shapely bottom. She wanted to look her best for him and hoped it didn't look too brash or slutty. Cradled by his confidence, and utterly safe under his protection, she felt relaxed and secure beside him,
The restaurant he chose was elegant, the service great and the food exceptional. He ordered for both of them and chose a bottle of Zinfandel that was like sweet velvet on the tongue. He was attentive in topping up her glass and the giddy tinkle of her own laughter made her realise that she had lost track of how much she'd had to drink.
Comfortably chattering away, answering his questions, she felt delighted that he was interested in her and her mundane life. He complimented her frequently, making her feel pretty and special. When he said she had the legs of a dancer, she blushed, glad she had opted for the mini and relieved that he wasn't another sophomoric boob lover. She sipped away at her wine growing more relaxed and pleased with him, thankful that he was preoccupied with her legs.
"Did you go to high school her in Critchly? He asked.
"At Lincoln," Tanya replied, "Just near Riverside Park."
"I bet you had all the boys chasing you," he smiled.
"Not really," she allowed. "I was a late bloomer."
"How so?" he pressed.
Tanya could feel her face coloring while he stared deep into her eyes. She'd blundered into an area that she seldom reflected on, and one that still brought her considerable discomfort.
"What ... sorry...what were you asking? I lost my train of thought for a minute."
"I was asking in what way were you a late bloomer."
His eyes seemed to drop below her neckline when he asked her and she thought she detected a slight smirk.
Color rushed to her cheeks and she stammered defensively, "Nothing. No ... I didn't mean anything, really." She desperately tried to regain the comfort zone that had existed moments before and she was grateful when he changed the subject and suggested they order a nightcap.
Tanya grasped the opportunity to escape to the washroom to touch up her makeup and regain her composure. When she returned a green apple martini sat waiting for her and she raised it in a toast to a lovely evening. Robert watched amused as she took a large swallow from the glass.
The string trio finished their set about the time Tanya finished her drink. She felt a little queasy and was amazed at how the drinks had crept up on her so quickly. She tried to recall how many glasses of wine she'd had, but her mind didn't want to focus. Her lips felt numb and her legs were rubbery. The last martini had gone down too easily. There was a tightness in her scalp that told her she'd had too much. Her own voice seemed tinny and far away and she leaned against him as he helped her through the door into the parking lot.
