She couldn't believe she was standing here in front of the restaurant at five to eight. She had dressed in her best clothes a long black gypsy skirt that had an embroidered belt at that waist a blue button down blouse that matched the blue flowers on the belt. She wore simple jewelry her class ring on her right hand, on her left wrist was a bracelet that was made up of gold silver and bronze threads braided and encrusted with semi-precious stones that she had bought earlier today.
In here ears were just simple studs. She knew she wasn't anything special but she also knew she could pull of looking good when needed. Her friends had done her hair they had done the top half in French braids on either side of her head then they meet up in back and where braided into one long braid.
But she left the hair underneath loose and had jelled it so that the soft natural curl could show. She waited till eight then entered the building feeling silly. She spoke to the hostess "Excuse me I'm meeting some one for dinner. I'm not sure if he made reservations or not."
"I could see. What is the name?"
"Rafa Nadal."
Heather felt her face warm and the hostess started to laugh. "Nice try he wouldn't be caught dead with someone as plain as you."
Tears of anger and degradation sprung to her eyes. She fought with them when she as she said "Just check the name please."
The hostess checked the book in front of her. "I can't tell you if someone like that is dinning here tonight you would probably just go off and get the paparazzi and terrorize our fine clients. So get out of here or do you need to be escorted out?"
"No I'll leave with no further problems." Heather turned sharply on her heels and with her shoulders thrown back quickly marched away trying to control both her tears and, temper. Most people saw her and quickly got out of her way, which was a good thing because she wasn't seeing anything though the red haze of her temper.
Even the cool night air against her face did nothing to clear her vision. The only reason she saw the taxi cab is because even her temper wanted to be long gone form the place. To her it was just a yellow blob in a see of red.
She walked straight for it. Her ears registered something but it didn't work its ways to her brain. It wasn't until she ran into what felt like a brick wall did her vision change. She felt something circle her waist it felt like a hot band of steel it helped to steady her. She glared at the man who had stood in her way. Of course it was Rafa.
"I know I'm a little late but that's no reason to leave me." He smiled trying to make her laugh.
"Let me go." She said though clenched teeth.
He looked at her inquisitively he couldn't believe his being a few minutes late would make her this mad. He had seen her walking and, just like this morning at the airport his heart had started doing jumping jacks. She was thin and her walk was nimble but it told also of untold strength.
Her walk tonight had been full of determination. He noticed that he felt like he was holding a steel sculpture instead of the woman he was looking at. Her eyes just like this morning took his breath way. This morning they had been a honeyed brown and hinted at secrets that he wanted to know more of. Now they were so dark that he was almost afraid to look into them. They had a sharp and dangerous feel about them.
"Let me go," She repeated though clenched teeth, "You've embarrassed me enough for one night. People are starting to stare at us."
He was confused "How did I embarrass you?" He too had noticed the people looking at them. "Come this way and lets talk," when she didn't move he added a "Please."
He led her into the building and into an alcove with a couch used by people waiting for a table he was glad the space was empty. She sat stiffly on it. He sat next to her and held her hands they felt cold and stiff to him. "So tell me how I embarrassed you. Was by me being late? I'm sorry but my press meet went late I can't help that."
As his words got though the red haze of her temper she lost it but instead of coming out in a whirlwind of fist like she had wanted to a few minuets ago. It came out as hysterical laughter and tears. He looked at her surprised at this reaction who was this woman who this morning was so kind. Tonight when he had seen her she looked ready to kill and, now was laughing uncontrollably.
"It wasn't that you were late." She finally said though the laughter and tears, "It was more a case of you just being who you are." He just looked at her confused. "I asked if you had made a reservation for us and, the hostess basically told me to get lost and, accused me of working with the paparazzi. Saying, "Nice try he wouldn't be caught dead with someone as plain as you." It just got to me. I'm sorry."
"No you had every right to be mad at a comment like that." In fact the comment and angered him something not very easy to do. Guys had made worse comments about him on the tennis court to his face and hadn't roused his anger so why did this one. "Come on lets prove her wrong."
She went into another peal of laughter. It was like music on his ears. "I can't go in there looking like this." She pulled her hand out of his and gestured to herself. "What do you mean?" He looked at her trying to see what was wrong with her. Her cloths fit her nicely and seemed to compliment the personalities he had seen with in her. Her hair, well he was glad he was still holding one of her hands because all he really wanted to was run his hands though it to see if it was as soft as it looked.
Her eyes had returned to their earlier honeyed hue. He had a hard time to look away from them even now that they were sparkling with unshed tears.
"My makeup must be a mess." That's when his eyes took in the rest of her face and it was true that the makeup around her eyes had run with her tears leaving dark trails over her cheeks.
"Can't you just go to the bathroom and fix it?"
"No I don't normally wear makeup I wouldn't know how to put on just right and, I didn't bring any. So I guess I could just wash it off. Why don't you go get our table or else we may lose it?"
"Good Idea." He stood up and by just pulling on her hands guided her up. They were standing so close he could smell her perfume it was sweet but tangy and had a hint of something wild about it. He controlled the urge to kiss her and, let go of one of her hands he gestured with his free hand toward the bathroom for her to wash her face.
He watched her walk away. And then he walked over to the hostess just by the look of her he understood what had upset...the thought that washed over him took his breath away. He didn't know her name. He was having dinner with someone and didn't even know her name. It made him chuckle slightly. The hostess looked up at him as the chuckle brought him to her attention.
"Good evening Mr. Nadal."
"Good evening, I had reservations but, I am late is a table still available?"
