(Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. All characters and events are fictitious).
Paul.
"Yes." I replied, nodding my head in agreement to what Heather had just said.
It was nice here. The Restaurant was nearly full but yet quiet. It was as if everybody had a secret that could be spoken of in more than a whisper.
Heather was nice. She had a very pretty face. Her lipstick was just a shade above natural. I watched her lips move as she spoke.
"Thank you for dinner." She smiled at me.
"It was a pleasure."
It was as well. It had been excellent.
"What shall we do next?" She asked.
"I'm for bed."
"Paul." She sounded shocked. "It's our first time out together. You should build up to it. Not spring it upon me like that."
"I'm sorry." I stuttered. "I didn't mean us, together."
"You couldn't have meant us, alone."
"No." I was getting flustered. "I meant we have a long day tomorrow."
"And a long night in bed would set you up for it?"
"Yes. No. I didn't mean that. I'm a married man."
"Shush." She placed a finger against her lips. "Just teasing."
Phew. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"It could be fun though." She continued, looking at me through lowered eyelids over the rim of her coffee cup.
I looked at my watch. It was ten-thirty. Not too late for a Saturday night in London. What would I be doing if Jenny were with me? We would go back to the apartment and open another bottle of wine. She would squeeze onto the piano stool next to me while I played for her. Her fingers unbuttoning my shirt and undoing the top of my trousers. I would continue to play one handed, my other around her waist, a feel of her ass then a squeeze of her breast.
"We'll go back if you are tired." Heather spoke, gathering her things together.
I think I must have upset her.
"We can stay and have another drink if you want to."
"No thank you."
She seemed a little short.
She was standing up. I rose to my feet.
"Are you going to see to the bill?" She asked. "I need the ladies."
"Of course." Sitting down and motioning to Leonardo that I wanted the bill I tried to watch Heather's ass as she weaved her way through the other tables to the toilets. She stopped for a moment and spoke to a man in his forties who was dining alone then she disappeared into the ladies.
Leonardo presented me with our bill on a small, round silver tray and left me while I sorted out my money. I did a quick sum to work out ten percent to leave as a tip, added that to the bill and placed enough notes on the tray to cover it.
"Was everything to your satisfaction, sir?" Leonardo asked, picking up the tray.
"It was very good. Thank you." I assured him. "Keep the change."
Heather was coming out of the ladies by the time I had reached the hooks by the front door where we had hung our coats. I found hers and held it out for her to place her arms in the holes. Three-quarters length, light grey. Heavily padded. Made her look a little like a Michelin Man. She looked great in it.
I put my own coat on and held the door open for her.
It had stopped raining and the wind had dropped. The traffic was still quite heavy on the main road in front of us and I made to turn down the side of the Restaurant to the apartment block.
"Let's go and see the river." She suddenly suggested.
"Ok." I agreed.
Why not? It wasn't that late. She linked her arm through mine as we waited for the traffic lights to change to red.