On this particular day, my husband was due to fly to another city for his work and so that I could be with him as long as possible before he left for a 2 night stopover I decided I'd drive him to the airport and then collect him on his return. We parked in the short stay car park and despite him suggesting I should get off for home I wanted to stay as long as possible. After he checked in, we found a spare table in the obviously popular coffee bar until the latest possible time came for him to go to security, and after a loving kiss and a long hug he went. I returned to the coffee bar and decided to watch the departure screen for a while, with another coffee. I would only be sat around on my own for two days at home so I wasn't in a rush to leave. The weather hadn't been good and I thought the least I could do was wait until I saw the boarding sign before leaving.
As I sat gazing out the window and glancing at the departure board, a man approached me and asked if he could take the seat opposite me. I hesitated but agreed he could, and as I looked around the bar I noticed it was now fairly full although there were a few places he could have chosen instead.
He took off his overcoat and asked me if he could leave his coat and small case by the table while he got himself a coffee. Again, I found no reason why not. I guessed he was in his early to mid forties, a couple of inches taller than my husband and a slightly fuller build. I noticed his hair and eye colouring was also similar to my husband although his grey hairs were far more proportionate than the number appearing on my husband. My husband of almost three years had recently reached the big 30, was an adequate 5'8 and in pretty good shape, and I was 27, 5'3, also with brown hair and brown eyes and a fairly good figure. I met my husband 3 and a half years before we married, he being my first serious boyfriend although I knew he'd had relationships before he met me. I would say my best features are my face, hair and legs although my husband often teases me that any man's opinion of my best features would centre on my 38d breasts.
The man smiled warmly as he returned with his coffee, stating how he hated airline coffee. We began to chat, him explaining how he'd come to be here and me doing the same. We talked about the weather, our home locations (America and England), some flying and airport experiences and generally just passing the time of day. Eventually he introduced himself as Michael Richards as he gently shook my hand as I told him my first name. We then exchanged the customary "pleased to meet you Laura / Michael," as I smiled at the similarity of my husbands first name to his last. He mentioned he didn't want to arrive at his hotel before 4pm or he would be obliged to join a conference call that he wanted to avoid, and asked me if I knew how far away his hotel was. There were 2 ways I could drive home and one was near where his hotel was so it helped me to guess his journey time of around 20-25 minutes.
I made my excuses to leave as soon as I saw Richards's plane had departed and he also said he'd go and search out a taxi.
The rain was coming down heavily as we reached the exit, and we both paused for a while before he broke the silence with "well if there was a taxi I could give you a ride to your car, is it far away."
"Over there," I pointed towards the short stay car park
"Hmm, Ok, I have the English brolly, so let me walk you there," he said. He quelled my remarks about the inconvenience of having to drag his case back and forth and we set off, shoulder to shoulder, across the way to the car park.
We approached my old scruffy little car and I thanked him for being kind. Chivalrous was the word I was thinking of.
"It's been my pleasure talking with you Laura," he smiled as he shielded the rain from me as I opened the car door.
I had become to feel comfortable and safe with him, and despite never having done anything remotely like this before, and knowing the dangers of doing so, I blurted out "I could give you a lift to your hotel."
"Aaww gee, that would be swell, are you sure its not out of your way?" he asked as I smiled at the words like gee and swell that I was only familiar with hearing on TV.
"No, it's ok, I can go that way," I hesitated, not knowing exactly how far I was deviating from my route but knowing I didn't have the heart to change my mind now.
With his case in the boot, or trunk as he called it, we set off, me nervously getting the wipers to work and demisting the screen.
Talk of the roads and traffic filled the time to the hotel and I pulled into the vast parking area and followed the reception sign.
"That's so sweet of you Laura, thank you so much, can I pay you or at least reimburse your gas" Michael commented as we approached the hotel entrance.
"No it's ok, really, its on my way home," I lied.
"OK, well its really sweet of you, looking after a Yank in this damn English weather, hey how about I buy you dinner tonight?"
I knew I couldn't accept, what would the implications be, a woman meeting a guy and visiting his hotel? Or maybe it was just a meal, with no strings attached, after all.
"We're both alone tonight, this hotel is miles from anywhere, they have a good class restaurant, my treat, unless you have other plans?" he went on.
It was true I would be alone tonight, again, as my husband worked hard at his job. If only he could earn the same without working away from home as much.
"I, I don't know," I hesitated, trying to think things through. He seemed a nice genuine guy, but what would my husband think if he knew?
"Say, I apologise for not letting up. I don't mean to put you under pressure. I'm eating alone tonight, you're eating alone tonight, I just thought if I could thank you for the lift with dinner then I'd sure appreciate that," Michael explained.
I considered it further. Do I want to pick at something in front of the TV tonight, alone, or do I want to change from my jeans and pullover into something nice and have a nice meal even though it means joining someone who I have only just met, even though he seems very nice. And would I be able to keep it from my husband? Who would know? If it was nearer to home or in the city centre then maybe I'd be recognised, but here?
"Well I suppose I could come across just for dinner, but I'd need to set off for home before it got too late" I slowly reflected my thoughts.
"Laura that would be awesome, shall we say seven? I'll meet you in the lobby."
"OK," I smiled, almost sheepishly, before saying goodbye and driving home.
By the time I got home I knew I only had little more than an hour before I needed to set off again.
I decided to have a bath to reflect on the day. Richard rang to confirm his arrival and tell me he was going out for dinner with a few guys. I wondered if there would be any females present, of if he was only going with one female even, or with guys on a boozy leery night out. This hardened my resolve to also go out and enjoy the evening. And possibly led to some clothes being included in my selection options that otherwise wouldn't have made it.
In the end I decided to wear a black dress with a little pink bow at the front, the next choice was whether to wear a bra or not, the options being a bra with clear shoulder straps as the dress straps were thin bootlace style, a strapless bra or no bra at all. I quickly tried it on without a bra and then with a strapless bra, but then selected a bra with thin shoulder straps which I felt was better. I then selected a pair of stay-up stockings, and a pair of panties that matched my bra. I wondered if my black heels gave the impression of a dull lady, all in black, although convinced myself that my appearance had a touch of elegance and style.
Before putting my dress and shoes on I applied a little makeup and my red lipstick, admiring my looks in the mirror, telling myself there was no need to admire my underwear as no one was going to see it, yet it made me feel good anyway.
Complete with my small black and silver clutch bag and short black jacket I set off on my lonely journey to the hotel, beginning to worry that I was going to be late as I hadn't left enough time.
I parked as near to the entrance as I could, the car park looking a little crowded, and left my jacket in the car.
I hurried in, seeing Michael pacing near the entrance as I got inside, greeting me with a warm smile and casting me an approving glance up and down.
"Hi Laura, you look amazing," he said as he then went on to hold my shoulders and kiss me on the cheek. I know I blushed as I said thank you, and thought he looked nice too, dark trousers, a lighter jacket and an open necked white shirt.
"We're through here, apparently there is a Christmas party here tonight and guests are welcome to join in if they want to but will be served separately," he began to explain.
As I saw the layout it looked very impressive, a section of the restaurant laid for guests, an open plan larger area laid out beyond that for the party goers with a bar to the left and a dance floor to the right.
We had a romantic setting of a table for two and began with a cocktail drink as we studied the menus. Looking at the prices I was glad I wasn't paying. I wondered if my husband was dining somewhere as plush as this.
Our three course meal was brilliant, and our conversation was friendly and interesting. I knew Michael was paying me attention as it would have been easy for him to look at the partygoers in the adjoining room instead, obviously enjoying themselves as they seemed to get louder as the drinks flowed and the night went on. We finished with a coffee as Michael signed the bill, and then he asked if I would like another cocktail while we listened to the music.
