Just a simple but unexpected hook up. One-off characters but a little romantic. Slow start by my usual standards, especially considering how short it is. Explicit but tame.
****
The evening wasn't going as planned, but that was a good thing. It was supposed to just be drinks after work but it had turned into dinner and now they were still lingering in the restaurant hours later.
David looked around the little steakhouse. The couple at the last remaining table was putting on their coats. He sighed. "This has been so much fun but I guess we're going to have to call it a night," he said, returning his gaze to the table-mate.
The young woman looked around, surprised for a moment. "Oh, wow. What time is it?" she dug into her purse for her phone.
David smiled, "Nearly ten, I think." Neither of them had touched their phones since sitting down. There'd been no need.
David had not expected much from this meeting. The dating app scene had proved to be a drag. Everyone was so casual and so determined to be cool and aloof about it all. David knew he was guilty of it too. Don't seem desperate, don't be creepy, talk yourself up just the right amount.
He watched her check messages now. Her barely contained auburn curls caught the soft lights of the restaurant so nicely.
A moment later he realised she was giving him a little grin, looking up at him from her phone. She'd caught him staring at her. He smiled and just shrugged.
The bill was already paid and the waiters were giving them the eye. There were no more excuses; it was time to leave and part ways. This was their first meeting, it was supposed to be just for drinks after all and had already gone further than planned.
David stood and grabbed her coat, holding it for her. She gave him the same smile and let him help her with it.
When they had planned this, it had been such a polite and staid negotiation. She'd began as "TrafficCone91". He was "Glider007". They'd communicated through the app. She worked downtown where there were a lot of choices and he wouldn't have much trouble getting off a little early on Friday so they'd agreed to meet near her work.
No flirting or seduction, just an agreement to meet.
He found her at the restaurant bar she chose. She looked just like her profile picture. That big auburn hair had been like a beacon. She'd still been in her coat when he arrived. They greeted each other and took stools at a high bar-side table. He had a chance to get a good look at her as she took her coat off. She was in navy dress slacks and a form-fitting dark grey sweater. The sweater was a vee neck and she wore a white turtleneck under it. She had a lean figure but seemed broad through the shoulders.
David was pretty sure she gave him a good once over as well as he settled in. The high stools weren't his favorite and it took him a moment to climb aboard and get his feet secured on the railing.
At only 5'4" he tried very hard not to be self-conscious of his height. According to her profile, "TrafficCone91" was 5'9". His own black hair had a natural wave and he'd been waring it down to his collar in back recently. He thought is looked too debonair to be called a mullet.
Past the initial greeting and after ordering drinks he asked, "So, why TrafficCone?"
She puffed through her lips and answered, "Isn't it obvious?" Then she grabbed a handful of her hair on each side and pulled it down and away from her head. "I look like a traffic cone!"
"Oh, but I like it! Your hair is what first got my attention on your profile."
And the night had progressed from there. After such a dull set of digital exchanges, it was a surprise to both of them how well they clicked. When they decided to move from the bar down to a real table and have dinner, they took the opportunity to exchange cell numbers.
But now the night was over. Looking around at the tasteful garland and small clusters of Christmas lights in the restaurant as they meandered to the exit, David felt a little wistful. He knew better than to try to invite her to his place or anything... but he wished he could.
They were both in for a shock when they stepped outside. They stared at what greeted them for several long seconds and then Linda said, "Shit. What the hell?" There was no humor at all in her voice.
The downtown street was a winter wonderland. Big, lazy flakes fell steadily from the sky. Streetlights and Christmas decorations created glowing halos in the air. Both looked up at the steakhouse's awning, blinking at the fat cornice that had built up over the sidewalk.
She turned to him. "Did you know it was snowing?" There was an unhappy edge in her voice
He shook his head. "No. Didn't have clue. We weren't supposed to get anything till morning, were we?"
"That's what I thought too." She zipped her coat up higher and pulled up her collar. It was a good coat but had no hood. She had no hat and was wearing sensible but light shoes. "I am screwed!" she said mournfully.
"Not used to driving in snow?" he asked.
"I didn't drive!" she was agitated now. "I'd be just fine in my Subaru but I took the bus today."
"Oh." he said.
She looked at him. "This time of night the bus only comes once an hour and I've got blocks and blocks to walk." She kicked at some of the snow. "It's nearly six inches already."
There was a pregnant pause. He put a hand on her shoulder and said, "No problem, I can give you a ride home. My 4Runner's just over in that garage there." He pointed across the street.
She looked at him for a few moments. Any sensible woman has to be careful in this world. On the other hand, regardless of how very real the dangers were, it was also easy to exaggerate them. She'd gotten nothing but a good, comfortable feeling from David all night. She'd enjoyed herself just as much as he had.
Bus and freeze her tits off (or more likely run the literal risk of loosing toes), try her luck with Uber or trust this fireplug of a man. He was short but Linda had definitely noticed how he carried himself. David moved with a smooth steadiness that had fascinated her all night. She couldn't believe how much she had enjoyed watching him cut his steak. The way his shoulders shifted and the sure grip of his surprisingly broad but shapely hands with neatly trimmed nails. She'd even asked him if he was a wood worker or sculptor or something but he'd just laughed. Claimed he could just manage to drive a nail straight but she still wondered.
She knew then that she didn't have to give it any more thought. She'd trust herself to those hands. "Okay, prince charming. Take me to your chariot."
The parking garage was nearly empty. Linda berated herself for letting time get away from her so badly. Even without the snow, getting herself home at this time of night would have been a bit nerve-racking.
They piled into the little SUV. Linda noted that it was tidy inside, though not very new.
"Where to?" he asked.
The streets were snow-packed but there was no traffic to speak of. They wended there way out of downtown and were soon in one of the old turn-of-the-century neighborhoods. Elm and sycamore lined the streets, bare branches reaching overhead. Snow was sticking thickly to them now and falling flakes still swirled through the air.
The houses here were all along hills above the street, set well back. Most were brick with high, gabled attic spaces and big front porches. Scattered among these old matronly homes were old cracker-box designs on smaller lots. And occasionally, there were looming edifices of aluminum siding were older homes had been scraped and replaced.
Many of the homes were festooned with Christmas light. David bent over the steering wheel, staring. "It's beautiful."
"I love this neighborhood." She answered. They sat in silence a bit longer as they crunched down the road. "About two more blocks."
She guided him to a spot of pristine white in front of one of the tall, old brick houses. There was a simple string of red, white and green lights along the porch and a beautiful tree shining in the front window.
David had decided he would kiss Linda. He was certain they would see each other again and he wanted to start breaking the ice more. Also, he wanted to feel her lips on his.
But before he could make his move, her hand gripped his thigh. He tried not to show that it caused that funny twinge in his groin. "How about you come in, David? Help me start a fire."
He raised hi eyebrows. That was the closest thing to a double-entendre either had offered all night. Belatedly David realised that as pleasant as the evening had been, there'd been no flirting. It had felt intimate without suggesting anything sexual... even though he was very much attracted to this woman.
Linda found she still didn't want the night to end. She'd thought about it and found a hundred reason not to invite this man in but none of them had matched her simple urge to be with him.
"That sounds nice." He said.
They shooshed their way up the stairs, Linda searching for her keys. "I do have one confession to make. This is my parent's house."
"Oh." He said, stamping snow from his boots. He couldn't quite keep the disappointment out of his voice.
She just grinned at him. "But the good news is, they're in Arizona for the winter. I've got the place to myself." She unlocked the door.
The old house had a tiny vestibule with a row of coat-hooks and an inner door. "Could you take off your shoes? Don't want to track snow everywhere." She said. She started shrugging out of her coat and he followed suit.