First the weather, then the traffic and finally the hassle at the airport. The weather snarled the traffic making me late to the airport. Then the process of being allowed to board the flight, the long line to get through the TSA screening, finally, the long walk to the gate all contributed to my being stuck in the middle seat. On the aisle was, to be kind, and overweight man who could not help but take a portion of my seat as he sprawled into his. His apology didn't ease my discomfort at being crammed in for the two-hour flight. On the window, thank the gods, was a slender but tall woman. Unfortunately she had her I-Pod fixed in her ears and remained oblivious to the situation.
So here I was for the next two plus hours, cramped between the fat guy and the frumpy quite woman. I will admit, perhaps because of the discomfort of the fat guy that I spent some time stealthily examining the woman during the long flight. She was tall and slender, her hair was pulled back tight and with the glasses she looked like an accountant or librarian. Judging by the clothes she wore she could have even been a nun. So I sat in my discomfort drinking the weak airline coffee and wonder how screwed up my day would be. I had meetings planned all day and with the way the day had started I could only envision running from one late appointment to the next.
If I could predict the lottery or the weather as well as I foresaw that day I'd be a very rich man. As it is I am a middle-aged man trying hard to keep up with not only the Jones, but with everyone else for that matter. As it was the word retirement the same to me as death. The collapse of my IRA's meant I would be working until I physically couldn't. So I rushed to meetings, barely caught flights and beat the bushes for clients.
By the end of the day I was exhausted I had to drag my suitcase into the motel to check in. At least my reservation was intact and I plucked the keycard from the clerk I headed for the elevators, looking forward to collapsing on the bed in room 450. Of course the elevator was down for service so I trudged up the stairs, dragging my suitcase by one hand and holding on to my laptop in the other. Of course room 450 was at the opposite end of the hall. Sliding the key into the door and pushing it open I stepped into the room only to crash into a towel clad women emerging from the bathroom.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?"
I shut my eyes immediately and held out my keycard and envelope showing the room number.
"Jesus, lady I had no idea. I just checked in and this is where they sent me."
"You're kidding. I think I'll call the desk and then the police!"
"Hey lady, call the desk, please. Have them send up the correct room and key, I'm exhausted and the thought of going back down the staircase with my bags then coming back up is just too much for this old man. I'll just sit in the hall and wait." With my eyes closed I backed out of the room and sat down in the corridor to wait. Jesus what a fuck up this had been. After a few minutes the door to 450 opened and the woman, now dressed, stepped out and said.
"OK the desk admitted their error, so I guess I should apologize and at least let you come in and sit in a chair till they get here."
"It's not your place to apologize Miss, and if I get to a chair you might not be able to move me out of it."
She laughed and in that laugh I realized it was the woman from the plane. With her hair all wet and now dressed in a skirt and blouse she looked totally different. I began to wish I was much, much younger and that I wasn't so tired.
"Didn't I sit next to you on the flight in this morning?"
She looked at me closely then laughed and said.
"You're the guy the fat guy was sitting on!"
I had top laugh too as I struggled back to my feet and held out my hand.
"I'm Kevin nice to meet you!"
"I'm Katrina, now come on in and wait for the clerk to send up your key. I told him you'd be waiting in here anyway."
So I went in and sat in the chair while Katrina busied herself around the room. We spoke a bit here and there and I learned she was here on business and spent her day much as I had hurrying from one meeting to another. She told me she had been listening to notes she'd made about her potential clients on her I-Pod. She also admitted that she had been assigned to the middle seat and because I'd showed up so late she took the window and felt bad about me getting stuck next to the fat guy.
I said, "It's not always how our days begin, but how they end that matters. I had some success today and now a story to tell. So all in all, now that I have a soft seat I feel pretty good about the day."
"Well, since I stole your seat on the plane, the least I can do is buy you dinner. Once you've had a chance to relax a bit and get cleaned up from the day, meet me in the lounge downstairs."
"Normally, I'd crawl into my room and crash but I am hungry and a drink sounds too good, but let me buy."
"If you're going to join me then give up this whole guy thing and accept my invitation!" She said that seriously and I could only nod.
"Ok, you win Katrina. Give me an hour after I finally get a room."
Just then the clerk knocked and after apologizing over and over for the room mix up handed me the keys to 444 across the hall. I thanked Katrina for her kindness and said I'd see her in an hour then made the clerk open my room and check for other guests. There were none and I settled in the room before taking a long hot shower. I felt great and revived but still wanting that drink. So I dressed and went to the lounge. I was early but Katrina was already there with two Martini's on the table, one in front of her and the other in front of the empty seat across from her.
"I decided you would be here sooner and that if I hadn't already bought the drinks you would try my patience with more of the guy stuff."
I smiled and said.
"Yes, Miss! May I sit?"
She smiled at me and nodded. I sat down and lifted my glass and said.
"Here's to screw ups, may they always tune out this nice."
We both drank to that and spent the next hour or so consuming that drink and one more. I took the time to look closely at her and liked what I saw. She was much younger then I, probably still in her twenties and she filled out her skirt and blouse very nicely. What I could not tell on the plane and even when I saw her in the towel amazed me. Her hair, down and brushed now was a dark brunette and shone in the soft light of the lounge. Her face bore some Asian features but it had to have been generations ago. Lost in my examination I barely heard Katrina say.
"Let's go Kevin it's time we eat."
Not waiting for my answer Katrina stood and walked towards the lounge door. I gulped the remainder of my Martini and followed her out of the hotel and into a cab staring at her ass swinging to and fro as she walked in her heels. She gave the driver the address and settled back into the seat. She didn't speak at all during the ride until we arrived at the restaurant.
"I hope you like your steaks Kevin. This is one of the best steak house I've ever been to."
"Love steak, I can't wait to sink my teeth into one. I hadn't realized how hungry I was."
Dinner was great, we'd shared a bottle of Cabernet with our steaks and baked potatoes and then after some delicious cheesecake Katrina ordered us both an after dinner drink.
"I want you to know Kevin that I expect you to show me to my door like a proper gentleman when we return."
"Of course Miss!"
I said into her smiling face. True to her word she paid the bill and I stayed quiet not wanting to incur her wrath. She then grabbed my hand and pulled me from my chair leading my outside and into another cab. She gave the driver out motel address and once again settled into her seat without a word. The only difference in the ride back was that she kept a hold of my hand. Her gesture reminded me of my youth and how excited I would be on a date, especially when on the way home a girl held my hand. I tried to shake those thoughts from my mind and remind myself that this was not a date but my body was still reacting to her and her touch. I noticed for the first time her scent and found myself becoming addicted to the smell of her perfume.
Back at our motel she continued to hold my hand as we entered the now working elevator and rode in silence to the fourth floor. At her door she handed me her keycard saying.
"This time you have my permission to open my door."
She smiled at me as she said that and I opened her door then stepped back to allow her to enter. As I was about to say good night she reached out and grabbed my hand, dragging me into her room.
"Sit down Kevin."
Her words sounded like an order but not wanting to spoil what had been a great evening I sat.
She stood right in front of me her knees were inches from mine as I sat in the chair.
"Kevin, are you ready to pay for your error earlier?"
"What error Katrina?"
"For walking into my room and spying on me while I was naked!"
"But Katrina, you know it wasn't my fault, and you weren't naked either."
"Kevin I believe in being fair. You did come in my room and save that flimsy towel you did see me naked. Are you saying I am a liar?"
"No, heavens no Katrina. I'm just saying it wasn't really my fault."
"Well Kevin, the way I see it you slid in the key and opened the door. You stood their gaping at me before you claim to have closed your eyes. Is any of this a lie?"
"No, but..."
"So now it's my turn. I want to see you naked."
"Me, naked. Good lord Katrina I'm nothing to look at. Compared to you..."
"See you did look at me."
She continued to harass me to strip for her and was becoming more and more adamant that I do so. Finally I gave in and said," Well you asked for it, don't complain."
She stood back and allowed me to strip.