I'm crawling North on 100. Yes, the traffic is slow, but I've got the radio on and it'll only be minutes before I am relaxing with a cold beer. I have reason to be irritated, at least with myself. After all, I wouldn't be traveling 45 minutes from home in rush hour traffic had I not forgotten my leather jacket the night before at a business conference. Marcia has agreed to watch the kids and give me some extra time to pick up a few things at the mall. She understands the need to escape the kids for a few hours every now and then, and she'll get her turn soon. I pull into the lot at 394/100 and throw the Durango into park. Two steps in the door I see an attendant. " I left my leather jack-" The attendant turns and opens a door to a storage closet and steps inside. Seconds later he emerges with my brown leather jacket.
"This the one?" he smiles.
"Yes" I reply, and within a minute of arrival my task is complete. I press a five into the attendants hand, thank him, and B-line for the bar.
The hotel lounge is about half full. Typical business travelers having a drink and watching the evening news. I grab a stool at the bar and order a tap of Summit. I lift the tall glass and take a drink. I spot you over the rim of my glass as I lower it to the bar. The red silk blouse, the dark hair, the pretty smile....mmmm. In an instant, you have my full attention. Funny, but I don't think I could turn away if at gunpoint. Suddenly you look my way and our eyes lock. The energy transmitted between our eyes could light Vegas for a month. You smile and look away. My heart forgets how to beat for an instant, then begins pounding. You appear to be alone...I had not given a single thought to talking with anyone other than the bartender, especially not an attractive woman. My mind races for what to do, my corpuscles have just gone from zero to Mach 5 in 2 seconds. "Beer...take a drink of your beer Dave and relax," my brain instructs. You turn and look my way again. I find myself walking over to you at the bar as if on automatic pilot.....
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The business associate that I was supposed to meet is, of course, late, and I'm assuming that she will be unable to meet me, I curse my mind for forgetting my cell in the car. Here I am all dressed up, favorite silk blouse. To bad it's being worn with a skirt, thigh high hose, and heels instead of jeans, boots, and a blazer. I see you walk in. Thinking to myself, maybe I'm glad that she didn't show. I am a little shocked at my thinking, because normally I don't notice my surroundings when focusing on work. I think to myself, what a great jacket, I love a man that wears leather. You sit down and order as I try to refocus on business. Our eyes meet. I feel that electric charge immediately.
A smile creeps onto my face and I'm sure you can hear my thoughts, "Please don't show Lisa, please don't show." I feel a tingle I'm not sure I can explain. Here I am, sitting in a bar, dressed to kill, and meeting someone, when in walks one of the sexiest men I've seen in a long time.
"Oh, please Lisa don't show. I look up to see you walking straight towards me. Oh god, he's walking over to me. That tingle turns to butterflies. The guy with the jacket wants to talk to me. Somewhere in my mind the image of you, naked, over me drifts through. The tingle is back along with a little wetness. You stop at my table and smile. I ask you if you'd like to join me all the time hoping that you'll agree, and not just need directions to the men's room.
You smile and say, "I was hoping you'd ask"....
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"My name is Dave" I offer without any further explanation of my visit.
"I'm Anne" you respond and extend your hand.
Our hands meet. We both look down at the connection, then up and into each others eyes. An unspoken understanding passes between us, and still without explanation, I take the seat next to yours. It isn't until I'm seated that I notice I still have your hand in mine....
"You are a very attractive woman," I hear myself say without thinking. " I love the blouse". "I'm just here on an errand, but I am in no hurry and would love to have a drink with you. What would you like?"...
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Well, I don't normally drink when I'm working, but that beer looks great. Inside, I'm wondering if it will quench my latest thirst. I'll have whatever you're having, you, err... it looks great. I smile nervously. Sitting this close to you is having a strong affect on my body. I have the strongest urge to lean over and kiss you. The kiss would be like fireworks I'm sure. As I'm running this thought though my mind, I feel your hand squeeze mine. I forgot completely that we were still touching, it seems so right. Two more drafts it is, as you get the waiter's attention. You turn back to me and smile. I'm sure you can hear my heart pounding, hear my thoughts and I blush slightly knowing I'd love for you to know I wanted to kiss you. God, I hope you can't hear the thoughts I had earlier. I feel myself leaning into you, waiting for you to tell me what drew you to me, waiting to feel your lips on mine, waiting to see if that instinct deep inside me is right: the one that tells me we will be lovers....
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Since I've never been known as much of a womanizer, and since I'm not very comfortable approaching women I don't know, I'm confident Anne won't peg me as some creepy lounge lizard. In fact, something about this moment has me completely at ease. An hour passes like seconds while we talk and laugh about whatever comes to mind. Every once in a great while you click with someone and its this easy.....Suddenly reality strikes and I think to look at my watch,
" Looks like your friend is not going to make it."
You turn you head to the entrance to lounge and see no one, but the breeze created gives me a wonderful dose of the scent of your hair and perfume. You raise yourself slightly off the bar stool to look further into the hotel lobby for a better look, still empty. With your hand still resting on my forearm, I rotate my wrist so that your forearm is resting in my palm. I feel your soft skin. Our eyes lock and our knees touch. You slide your hand down my forearm to where our hands meet.