He cinched up the old winter coat and pulled the hood over his head, scrunching down slightly in the back row of the bus. This was the stop. Sure enough, he watched her board the bus behind another passenger. Not looking around, she chose a seat next to the window and sat, adjusting the fur trim of her black wool coat up around her ears. She breathed on her fingers to warm them against the cool. He smiled to himself, staring longingly at her profile. Just another few blocks.
He tore his glance away from her to watch the passing streets. Almost there. Just as the bus pulled to the right lane to stop, he stood up and palmed a folded piece of paper. Walking towards the front of the bus, he stopped even with her seat. She looked up at him briefly, leaning back as he suddenly bent down in front of her seat. Brushing her coat, careful not to actually touch her, he touched the floor in front of her seat, then stood slowly, obviously enjoying the view as he rose. Her perfume stole across the distance to tease his senses. Her eyes widened as they met his, and her lips parted to speak.
"Excuse me Miss" he said, interrupting her. "I believe you dropped this." He handed her the note, which she accepted blindly, staring at him.
He turned abruptly and continued his walk to the front of the bus, the last one off at the stop. He felt her eyes on him as he walked determinedly away from the bus stop, not altering his course until he heard the bus pull away. He then quickly swerved to the parking lot, to jump in his waiting car, the one he's strategically dropped off there earlier this afternoon. He'd been waiting for today for weeks. Working out every detail. He dropped the car into drive and pulled out into the road, following the path of the bus. 7 stops. He had 7 stops to get everything ready. The bus had been crowded, he was sure it would stop at each of the seven stops. His car slowed down at an intersection, and he looked over at the bus as he passed it, dreading the possibility that she would glance over and see him. Through the window, she was holding his note in her hands, re-reading it. He smiled to himself and sped up. About 2 miles later, he pulled into a parking lot of a local pub, took off his ratty coat, and threw it in the back seat. He then donned his sport coat over the silk shirt and tie he'd been wearing underneath. Walking in, he found a spot in the rear against the wall, where he could clearly see the entrance. He ordered a drink and sat down to wait. She wouldn't be long, he thought. She'll come, he reassured himself.
About ten minutes later she walked into the bar confidently, the light from the doorway framing her profile in a perfect silhouette. She went to the corner coat rack and hung her coat, revealing a purple sweater with a plunging neckline that displayed tempting cleavage. The sweater clung to her waist, curling above a black skirt that was just short enough, just tight enough, that you wondered if it was really appropriate for business attire. Dark stockings clung to her shapely legs. Diamond earrings winked through her hair which curled softly behind her ears. She went straight to a stool at the bar. She did not scan the crowd looking for him, or give anyone else any sort of signal that she was either looking or available. Good girl, he thought to himself. He waited until she'd ordered her drink, and then picked up his and sauntered over to take the seat next to her.
He leaned over her shoulder as he sat down. "I was hoping you'd come" he said quietly.
"With such an invitation? You hardly gave me the opportunity to decline politely" she replied with a bit of asperity, belied by the twinkle in her eye.
"I was obviously appealing to your better social judgment , and the associated guilt that would prevent you from leaving me here to sit by my lonesome, waiting to see if you'd come. I'd likely wait until closing, you know" he replied in all seriousness, then winked conspiringly.
She placed her hand on the bar in front of him. The diamond winked up at him. "I am married" she said with attempted firmness.
He met her eyes, undaunted. "Then your husband should take better care of you than to make you ride the bus." He paused, then smiled wickedly "you never know what sorts of trouble you can find on the bus, you know."
She frowned, slightly. "My husband said he had to take my car in to the shop for repairs today".