He glanced at her across the crowded room, what a sight for sore eyes. His date had stood him up and he was feeling a little out of sorts. She looked good in that dark suit. She wasnāt stunning in any sense of the word, yet something about her eyes kept drawing him back. They seemed to say to him ācome take a chance-I know what we both need.ā
He lost her in the crowd that began to move towards the doors leading into the theater. Damn heās thinking, all I did was glance at my ticket to see where I was to be seated. He slowly moves to his seat, glancing around in hopes of seeing her again. He finds his seat and sits down, hoping the play would take his mind off a missed opportunity.
There was movement to his right. He looks in that direction and sees her moving down his isle, he canāt believe it. She sits one seat over from him; the seat next to her is empty. The lights start dimming-he waits for someone to sit next to her. No one does. He glances toward her; even in the dim lights her eyes show her passion.
Throughout the 1st half of the play he exchanges looks with her, he canāt keep his eyes from paying more attention to her than whatās going on on stage. The lights come on. Intermission. He stands and turns towards her. āHi, my name is Carl, would you like to get a cup of coffee?ā he says.
I can tell sheās looking me over; Iām wearing my dark navy suit, I think I look pretty damn good tonight. āMy names Jackie, and Iād love toā she quietly says and reaches out her hand. I take it in mine, canāt say that sparks flew, but I was definitely getting warm under the collar.
I put my hand on her back and lead her into the center isle. Her suit is dark blue also, but with very fine pink stripes. I hadnāt noticed that before. We head into the crowded foyer. āYou know Carl, I actually havenāt been paying attention to the play tonight.ā My eyes light up, āTo be honest neither have Iā. We both laugh.
āWould you like to leave and get a drink, or are you hungry?ā āI know a little place around the corner thatās pretty nice.ā Carl says. āIād love that,ā Jackie says looking at me with those challenging eyes. āWould you mind walking?ā I say. āNot at all, it sounds relaxing,ā she says.
We head out of the theater, turning left. The night is quiet and warm, just right for this. āIt seems you were in the same boat as I was tonight, my date stood me upā, I say. āWell Carl, thatās a story for another day, and Iām enjoying the company I have.ā I glance at her and can see she has a wicked little grin to go with the eyes. āI am too Jackie, I am tooā, he says.
Itās not far to the restaurant, and we sit at a table outside. Iāve always liked the feel of a French cafĆ© on a warm spring night. We order coffee and both get a small roll. My patience is wearing a little thin. I canāt help it, I want to know whatās behind those eyes, and not knowing whatās under that suit is about to get on my nerves. She crosses her legs and all I can do is stare at where they meet. What is going on with me, this doesnāt usually happen. I tear my eyes away from her legs, look up and meet her eyes across the table. Thereās a fire in her eyes and I know she saw where I was looking; yet her grin shows it didnāt upset her.
āThis is a nice cafĆ© Carl, thank you for bringing me, Iāve never had French coffee before.ā āYour welcome, thereās also a nice place on the roof to dance, would you care to join me?ā I wait for her to say the words. In the background we could hear piano music softly playing. āCarlā she said āIād love to but I donāt dance very wellā. āNeither do Iā I say, āweāll learn togetherā. I stand up and take her hand, leading her inside.
We go through the front door, around to the side stairs and I lead her up two flights of steps, opening the door to the roof. You could still hear the music quietly playing below. I take Jackie into my arms; she places one hand on my shoulder and one on my waist under my jacket. The feel of her hands on me and her eyes looking into mine was making it hard to concentrate. āItās been a long time Carlā she sighs. āToo longā I say.
We slowly move to the music, our bodies molding into one. She reaches out and places her hand on the back of my neck, slowly stroking it. I in turn pull her closer. āI think you dance just fine.ā I say smiling. āIād like to know how you taste, may I?ā She looks up at me, a grin forming on her lips and says, āTake a chance Carlā. I donāt hesitate; I bend down, my lips taking hers slowly at first then harder, my hands pulling her body tighter into mine. She responds by pressing closer into me.
I break away if only to say, āIād like to continue this dance-will you join me?ā She doesnāt speak, only nods her head. I take her hand, leading her from the roof; we go down lone flight to the door at the next landing. Her eyes look into mine and her grin gets larger. I open the door and we step inside.
I hadnāt left a light on when I went out tonight, now only the glow from outside lit the room, but in it I could see the dare in her eyes. The music was just loud enough to keep the mood going. I took her in my arms again and moved slowly to the sound.