He stood in the aisle mesmerized by it all. He had no understanding of the feeling that gripped him. He was brought out of his daze by a voice.
"Can I help you find something?" she asked with a smile.
He looked at her. She was tall and slender but it was obvious she was all female. She had short dark hair, a cute smile and dark eyes that seemed to pierce his soul.
"I'm just thinking of what else I need," he stammered trying to act as if that was what he was truly thinking.
"I see you have a coil of rope," she smiled. "What else are you thinking about?"
He didn't know how to answer. It was as is she was reading his mind. He found he couldn't look her in the eyes but instead they were drawn to her mischievous smile.
"I was needing some picture hooks, well really the ones that stick on. I don't want to damage the walls in my new apartment."
"You must have a large picture to hang it you need rope for that," she taunted.
Embarrassed he began to explain. "No, the rope is for a friend." He saw her eyes twinkle. "No, I mean it's to tie down a couch I have asked a friend to haul away."
"You're giving your couch away? How nice of you."
"No, not really, I mean I'm asking a fellow to haul it away. You see I can't consider it a gift if I place no value in it."
"So you're paying him to take it?" All the time her dark eyes bore into him as she continued to smile.
"No, he said he would take it. No charge. Think he wants it but...well he's just a co-worker that wanted to help me out."
Her hand touched him as she reached for the coil of rope and he jumped. It was as if she had shocked him. He felt his heart flutter and his body heat.
"Didn't mean to startle you, just wanted to check to make sure the rope was strong enough," she explained. Looking at the package she put it back and got a heavier cord. "Think this will do better. It's nylon, not hemp. Easier to tie and stronger. We wouldn't want to have the couch fall out of the truck would we?"
"Oh no, thanks for your help."
"Don't you want me to show you where the hangers are?"
"Yes, that would be nice."
After she had helped him find the hangers they talked a little longer. He found she didn't work there, but did come often and knew the layout of the store.
"Guess I had better introduce myself, I'm Keira Foster, and you are?
"Oh I'm Stratton Adams. It's my pleasure to meet you Keira."
"Well Mr. Stratton Adams I do need to run, but here is my phone number. Give me a call if you want." With that she winked and turned to walk away.
Stratton Fain Adams walked out of the large home improvement warehouse. He had his purchases and a phone number. He was lost in thought and anyone that noticed him, knew he was a geek. Standing 6' 3" and slender, with short dark hair and brown eyes, all he needed was glasses with tape round the nose piece to complete the picture.
He got in his car oblivious to all around him. He didn't know why she had the effect on him that she did. He would ponder that for rest of the day. He went back to his apartment and waited for the old couch to be hauled away and the new one delivered. It has been his mother's suggestion that he begin to establish his own identity. It was her way of releasing the strings from her son.
Stratton had lived somewhat of a sheltered life and had taken a place of his own just three months earlier. Up until that time he had lived on his parents premises. He had been allowed to move into an apartment above the ten bay garage at the age of 25 as reward for receiving his doctorate in mathematics. Now at 33 his parents felt it was time for him to become more independent.
Stratton was the only child to Blake Archer and Victoria Lane (Mellon) Adams. A family that could tract their ancestors back to the second president of the United States, John Adams. Both his parents held multi degrees. His father held PhD's in Economics, Finance, and Investment Management. As if a contest his mother held PhD's in Accounting and Management and was nearing a PhD in Phycology.
Stratton himself had completed high school by age 13. His parents feared that him going to college at such an early age would be detrimental. Thus he was sent to a prep school where he studied the arts, literature, languages and even culinary arts. Needless to say the young man was well schooled by age 25.
He had begun to work toward a master's in language arts but the excitement of the classes had fallen away. The kids at the college seemed so juvenile and shallow. However he did like his job. He worked at Lawrence Livermore in the Reference and Validation Dept. What he did was check formulas all day long. After he worked them on the computer he would double check them with a slide rule. He had never found the computer at error but, sometimes there had been an error with the way the formula was feed into the computer. That he found did alter the answer.
It had been three days. That seemed the proper time to wait before calling he told himself. But all he knew was what a proper upbringing had instilled in him. He was not a virgin per say but had limited experience with the female sex. He had maintained a girlfriend for several years. Her name was Shelby and their 'affair' was more like an arrangement to bring gifted children into the world. She had a PhD and was more concerned about the quality of the sire, than she was about emotional attachment. Their few and brief sexual encounters was merely practice for procreation. They had parted ways more than a year earlier.
When he called Keira, she was as enchanting on the phone as she had been in the store. After a few minutes she asked if he would like to accompany her to an art exhibit that Friday evening. The date was arranged.
Stratton arrived to pick her up at her parent's home. They wished to meet him before the date. The home in a gated community and he found her parents were well up in management. As they chatted he learned Keira still lived at home. She was nearing her Master's in Computer Science and would be getting a place of her own as soon as she was employed.
The parents walked them to the door and watched as Stratton helped their daughter into his Mercedes. They waved as the kids drove away.
"I'm sorry to have put you though that, but Mom and Dad were worried when I told them we met at The Lumber Warehouse. Think they were expecting you to drive up in a pickup truck, be dressed in overalls, have a ponytail out of your give me cap and be painted with tattoos. Mom pulled me aside and accused me to fibbing about where we met." She concluded with a giggle that made his pulse quicken.
"I am glad they approved. I did think it was a little old fashioned but it did feel good to meet your parents and know they are concerned about your wellbeing."
She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. "I was afraid you wouldn't call."
"Why?"
"Because I like you and think we clicked from the get go. I mean I just felt like I knew you and your needs and all. I was afraid you didn't feel the same."
They continued to chat but the term "needs" puzzled him, but that could wait.
When they arrived he used the valet. Inside they began making their way through and found they both enjoyed art. They were admiring a piece together when a voice interrupted them.
"Stratton Adams?"
They turned. To his horror there stood Shelby with man who looked to be a Middle Easterner.
"Shelby, how nice to see you?"
Shelby looked at Keira and did little to hide her distain. Then she began to speak to Stratton in French. "Where on earth did you get that gutter trash?"
Stratton answered back in French. "Shelby that isn't polite and I won't have you speaking that way about Keira. She is a wonderful person and from a good family!"
"Oh sure, bet you picked her up on the street in West LA. Had to buy a date so you didn't have to come alone? But no matter. You see I have landed myself a member of a Royal Family."
"Well I'm happy for you, now if you will excuse us we will be moving along."
"Bet you will, I'm sure you are paying her by the hour. Have fun and do get your little self off afterwards."
Keira stepped up with a smile.
"See the bitch thinks we are complimenting her. What a..."
"The bitch speaks French, Shelby. And I can go from 0 to full bitch in about 20 seconds. Now if you want to keep your peroxided hair and capped teeth, you had best take you friend and scoot along. And you are right about one thing. I am from West LA and I'll kick your ass in a heartbeat!" But Keira said it all with a charming voice and kept the most pleasant of smiles on her face.
It was a toss-up as to who, Stratton or Shelby, was most shocked by the exchange. Shelby's date stood by politely waiting to move on. His only hint that something was wrong was the strange look on Stratton's face but the date attributed that to the fact he was seeing his ex-girlfriend with another man.
"Well I was right, she is gutter trash. You had best watch your wallet and be sure to use condoms...several!"
"That's enough Shelby. I won't have that talk. I will expect an apology. Now good night." He said the works in a proper tone but with conviction. That said Stratton took Keira's arms and moved along the hall.
He tried to act natural but she could feel his discomfort. After a few minutes she looked at him. "I guess that was an old flame?"
With a little embarrassment he replied, "The only, I mean...well she was...my first...girlfriend."
"You still care for her?"
"Oh no, not at all!"
"I think from her reactions she still has some feeling for you?"
He was curious, "Why do you say that?"
"It was the way she acted. She didn't flaunt her date, instead she attacked me. Attacked verbally that is."
"I'm sorry for what she said. I don't know what came over her."
She smiled. "No need to apologize for her. She's just not a nice person. I wouldn't have put you two together at all."
"Why?"
"She's haughty, rude, self-centered, arrogant, and without any charm. You however are very sweet and respectful. You feel good with who you are and see others as people with as much value was yourself."
"Really?"
"Yes really. Now, how did a nice guy like you get hooked up with a girl like her?"
"It's a long story."
"Well let's go somewhere and you can tell me the whole story."
With that they left and found a park. They stopped and take a stroll along the pathway. It was well lighted and there were many others enjoying the cool of the evening.
