I had just left the restaurant. An... eclectic sort of outside place. Good for a bite of something. An interesting people watching place. I was crossing the street when a car slowed to a stop in front of me.
"Did you just come out of there?" the driver wanted to know. "What sort of place is it?"
"Well, it's sort of Caribbean food..." What was with this guy?
"Is it, like, eclectic? You know...'
"Well, that's a big word... Around here we only get funky and occasionally cool..." He was not the typical guy I would be interested in.
"Well, me and my buddies..." At that he motioned to the three preppy golfers in the car poking each other and laughing. "We were looking for somewhere interesting to eat."
"This would be the place then." I laughed and started to walk around the car. "I could show you around if you want..."
Where did that come from? I was going home. He is not my type. Sandy brown hair. Tall. Big guy. Polo shirt, open at the neck. Probably perfectly pressed khaki pants and $300 leather loafers.
"Hey, that would be great." Hooting now from the back seat. What was I thinking?
He parks the car and they pile out. A herd of polo shirts and khaki pants. He has these startling blue eyes. A sweet smile.
We find a table on the patio and order drinks. Inside a band is playing. The "boys" are checking out the menu and the bartender. He hands me my drink and says. "When does the tour begin?"
We get up from the table and walk through the courtyard. The party lights hanging from the trees are on and they are even prettier than I remembered. He touches my arm and points at the mannequin lounging by the fish pond. I lose my breath...for a second...what is going on.
We wander through the inner rooms. They are small and crowded. The band is tuning up and the electricity you feel when live music is beginning could be felt around everyone we passed. We stop at the stairs. They lead up to a loft with a wide open space to watch the band from above.
He looks up the stairs then at me. There is a question there but he won't ask it. I smile and start up the stairs.
We stop at the rail and lean over. We have a perfect view of the singer and his red guitar. The bass player starts a line and I feel it shake through the room. We listen. Not talking, not touching.
The room is getting more and more crowded. It is loud and a little hazy from smoke. He is behind me now. Close. The atmosphere in the room has changed. It is heavy, warm. We are so close but still apart. Then he leans closer still. He exhales and I feel his warmth on the nape of my neck ... I can't breathe. The air has caught in my throat. Then slowly I inhale.
That imperceptible shift is all he needs. I can feel his hands on my waist and his mouth against my neck where seconds ago his breath had been. The bass is louder now. But not loud...heavy. I can feel the vibration through my bones. I can hear nothing but his breath.
I feel the strength in those arms wrapped around me. They are strong, restraining. The drummer starts a solo and the muscle fibers in his strong arms become tauter. I could not get away if I tried.