His eyes. My father's eyes dipped down from mine to my chest as we spoke. There was no mistaking what had happened. God, why had I chosen this dress? I guess I had wanted to look sophisticated. I'd noticed dad's tastes since the divorce. I guess I knew what he liked. I suppose I can't complain if he reacted. I had accepted his offer of dinner without a second thought after all.
I had tried on most of my wardrobe in a panic two hours earlier. Discarding ones that were too plain, girly or everyday. I wanted to look every bit the 22 year old woman I was - curves and all. I pulled the eventual winner, a floral print jersey mini dress, over my head, and smiled at myself in the mirror. I didn't even register how low cut it was, until the moment I caught my silver fox of a father catching a glimpse as we talked.
He had suggested pushing the boat out at The Metropol out of guilt, I had supposed. I hadn't seen him all year. He worked so hard flying round the world. New York. Tokyo. London. All the money, of course, meant he was used to luxury and kept himself in incredibly good shape. There was no denying that.
We continued to make small talk. As daddy and daughters do. I updated him on my work, he was very sweet and kind about it. There was an embarrassing silence when he asked about boyfriends, but again, he might light of it. He is a gentleman, is my father. But through it all, I couldn't shake the sense he had noticed my breasts. The shape of them, the cleavage, oh god, the hint of a hardening nipped through the fabric of my dress. This wasn't right. It wasn't supposed to be happening.
He poured me more of the expensive red wine he had ordered. Was it to help me relax? I didn't question his motives too much and drank it quickly. Another giggle from him. He suggested I slowed down, calling me kitten which went straight to me heart. I was his kitten. I always had been.
His hazel eyes matched mine across the table. He proposed a toast. To us. To the future. To our special relationship. Special? He had never said that before. I was totally confused, by my thoughts and feelings now. There was no question I felt a real woman. Sitting opposite a man who seemed to like what he was seeing.