I thought he was cute when I first saw him. These things always happen in strange ways. I was out to dinner with my husband Dave. We were at this very famous wonderful restaurant for dinner. I was taking him out for his birthday. We've gone here a few times over the past years after living her forever. We were upstairs in the bistro section, where reservations aren't months in waiting and the occasional out-of-town foodie can score a table, and that's probably how he found his way to sit down at the table next to ours.
I was a bit distracted. Dave and I were in a rather monumental fight, had been going on for a few days, mostly about his trip tonight. He was going back to New York on the red eye, in fact we had to leave in a bit for me to get him to the airport, but since it was his birthday, we were out to dinner. We work together and therefore spend a lot of time together, so when he came back from this conference in New York a few months ago all quiet, I figured he had somehow spent time with his ex-wife, whom he had never quite let go of... I mean it's been 12 years or so. Then he went back there about two weeks later and stayed for most of a week. He's been different, though has denied anything.
Our fight now was because on Monday, two days ago, he announces that he needs to go back to New York to close a deal on some expensive penthouse our company is representing (our company is breaking into that market). He's going on and on about how rich apartment buyers in New York are, they don't quibble, they write a check... but I know underneath it all he's thinking of his ex's wet pussy and how he can crawl inside it and stay.
"Hi, what are you reading?" I ask the stranger next to us as our silence grew annoying.
He looked up surprised, alone, and responded. It was some recent interesting piece of literature I had read reviews about,
"I'm sorry to intrude, but you look so peaceful and content, reading and your glass of wine. I'm Jen, this is Dave."
I was eating this amazing meal and this quite beautiful blonde woman sitting next to me with her date, I think it was her husband and they were in some kind of row judging by the exchanges, turned to me and asked me what I was reading.
Not wanting to insult a beautiful woman, I told her. Normally on my travels I keep to myself, reading in restaurants when I dine alone, savoring my solace from an otherwise overly busy and networked existence. I looked at her and took her all in quickly, the perfect hair, the gorgeous face and shapely body, high forties, maybe fifty with great genes. But her breasts, nearly exposed with an inviting cleavage, smooth and delicate, like that of a much younger woman. An open neck silk blouse that presented that treasure to the world. Her husband was very lucky and the prick didn't even respond to her. OK, that's their problem, but come on!
I think I stared at her tits too long before meeting her face again. That's when she introduced herself and Dave and we began our conversation.
"Nice to meet you. I'm R. You two look so situated, please, I'm good. Wonderful place. What is that you've ordered?"
"Duck for two, it's his birthday. We're celebrating." I said reluctantly, and I know this guy caught everything; the silence, the tension, the unfinished wine.
"Oh, man. Happy Birthday. Congratulations, please don't mind me. You have each other, celebrate."
But I didn't let it go, I engaged him in more conversation. He was in from the East for a few days, on business. He got up and excused himself for a minute. He came back a few minutes later.
"I love it here," he said. "Whenever I'm in town I stay at the Belle. I would love to just live there. The grandness, the swim club, the view, it's perfect."
The "Belle," or Hotel Bellevue, was a gem of the area, a very large Victorian hotel/spa on the hill overlooking the gorgeous scenery. We sometimes went there for massages but never stayed there.
"Oh, we love the Belle," I responded, "We live about a mile from there and pass it all the time. Are the rooms nice? It looks like a very nice place."
"Rooms are fine. But my favorite part is the Prada Bar off the lobby, very old school, no music, very genteel. I end up each night there in peace. Do you know it?"
"I know where it is, I've never been."
Then, a waiter appeared with two glasses of champagne for myself and Dave. I had not ordered them.
"Salute," R said, and lifted his glass to us. I was so touched and thanked him. The three of us clinked and returned to our meals; Dave and I to our awkward silence, R to his book.
Dave shortly engaged R in a conversation about local real estate. R had said he was always looking for a place on this coast, in fact in this area, but only casually and had hardly spoken to real estate people. We all talked cordially as our dishes were cleared and dessert and coffee was brought up.
Dave excused himself to the bathroom, "I've got a flight at 10, I think we need to leave now, honey? I'll be right back."
I turned to R and said, "Are you at the Prada every night, even after such a wonderful meal?"
"Especially after a wonderful meal," he responded.
"What time do they close?"
"Last night I got kicked out around 11," he said, "come by, I'll show you how excellent it is."
"What's so great about it?"
"It makes me think of delicious but forbidden thoughts. It's that kind of place."
"Do you have forbidden thoughts?," I asked him.
"Oh, come on, everyone does, even you. I can see in your eyes, in your interaction, in your movement, you are harboring countless forbidden thoughts."