My wife and I began our relationship innocently enough. It started because she was a Yankees fan and I a Red Sox fan. Since we worked at the same company the exchanges started as friendly banter in various business encounters; eventually we began to bet on the outcome of games. Both of us were dark chocolate lovers, so the bets started out at a Godiva dark chocolate truffle for each win or loss, with a truffle awarded for every game - no sense in limiting the treats by offsetting wins and losses!
Since I went into the office early, Dana would come in to find her winnings in a little box on her desk. Mine were delivered by midday in person, usually accompanied by a snarky comment on what was always a "lucky" win. Looking back, it was mild but harmless flirting.
The flirting, such as it was, didn't progress for several reasons. We were both married at the time - that and the fact that we worked in the same company made anything more than casual flirting very risky. And, frankly, we weren't looking for more at that moment even though there was some chemistry there. I was 34 and she was 27; the seven-year difference accounted for me being higher up in the management structure, but Dana didn't work in my area so it wasn't an issue.
The betting in the first season was limited to truffles and, of course, talking smack depending on whose team won. In the second season we added lunch to the bet if one team or the other won a series. I found the lunches very enjoyable and I think Dana did too, but she always seemed a bit nervous. This was when I started to notice her more - she was already my type: long dark hair, nice figure, long legs. She was about 5'8" and I was 6' tall. I noticed and complimented her at lunch; her hair, nails and makeup always looked great, and it always seemed that she had just had them done. For me? I never considered that at the time.
By the start of the third season, we had both gotten divorced and were recovering from the emotions that came with that. We still bet truffles and lunch and agreed that whoever lost the season series would buy dinner as well. It happened that the Yankees won the season series that year, so I arranged dinner at a very nice restaurant in a nearby hotel. On the off chance that I might drink too much I got myself a room there.
We agreed to meet at the restaurant, Dana having gone home to change. I just added a tie and jacket to my business casual work outfit. I was waiting in a chair facing the front door in the lobby and saw this vision of a woman come through the door - long hair falling in dark waves over her shoulders, an elegant black cocktail dress that hugged her curves and showed a bit of cleavage, and long legs accentuated by 3-inch heels. It took a second for my mind to register that it was Dana! I was used to casual clothes and flats at work, not this goddess.
Leaping to my feet I walked over to greet her. "Dana, you....you look amazing," I managed to get out. I was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
"You like?" she asked. "I bought it just for tonight." Probably realizing what she might have implied she added, "This is a high-end hotel and restaurant, so I didn't want to look out of place. You didn't have to splurge like this you know."
"You couldn't look more in place," I told her, still taking in the transformation. Dana always looked attractive, but in an understated way. This - this was amazing.
"Why don't we see if they're ready for us," I suggested, taking her hand and walking to the restaurant. We checked in and were promptly taken to a table along the windows, looking out over the manicured hotel grounds and a fountain. Seated, I found myself looking at Dana and admiring her beauty, to the point where she looked down, making me realize what I was doing.
"I'm sorry," I told her. "I didn't mean to stare at you. It's just....you look so beautiful tonight. I mean.....you always look nice, but tonight you look especially amazing."
Dana blushed, a vivid pink going into her cheeks and neck, a marked contrast to her fair skin.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I hoped you would like the dress."
"The dress looks incredible on you," I told her. "You look incredible in it!" When I saw her blush again I knew I should stop complimenting her. "Let's check out the menu; I hope there's something on here worthy of your victory dinner," I joked.
"And let's see if there's humble pie for the Red Sox fan," she suggested.
That first dig of the night relaxed both of us and returned us to normal. We ordered drinks and a good bottle of red wine and reviewed the menu. Dana fretted about the expense - I told her not to worry, this would
happen only once every decade, so I had nine free meals to look forward to. I got a challenging look at that comment, reminding me that this vision of loveliness before me was indeed Dana.
The meal was excellent, and will forever be in my memory as one of the best few hours of my life. We got to know each other much more thoroughly than we had at work, and found that we had a lot in common. The chemistry that previously had been hinted at was building. By the end of the meal I found myself under the spell of this woman.
Since there were probably two glasses of wine left in the bottle I suggested we go up to my room to enjoy it before the evening ended. Dana was surprised that I had booked a room, but I explained that I didn't know how long the evening would last, or how much I would drink, so it seemed to make sense. No ulterior motives here! She accepted my invitation and we went up to the room.
Pouring the wine I handed her a glass and toasted her triumph once more.
"Thank you kind sir," she replied. "And thank you for a wonderful dinner. Luckily, I won't have to try to match it next year." That with a smirk.
"We will see," I responded. "But I enjoyed this evening so much that I don't want to wait a year to repeat it."
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Dana said with mock shock.
"I suppose I am," I admitted.
"After all this time," she commented. "Did you decide we might be compatible after tonight?"
"I would say that tonight has been very enjoyable and that I'd like to spend more time with you," I told her. "So, yes, I think we're compatible. But I never thought otherwise. The only question is, are we compatible beyond just baseball and talking?"
