Chapter 2: What Does That Make Me?
The next time I saw Daniella, it was incredibly difficult to maintain a professional relationship around our co-workers. I don't think they noticed since the two of us had been developing a close relationship over the last couple years. They simply thought we were becoming best friends, which was true, but now that we had crossed that line into the sexual realm, I saw her differently. It wasn't as though I'd become this hungry wolf ready to pounce on her at any moment. My self-control is known for being epically enduring. The funny part is, I hadn't even seen her naked, let alone less than fully clothed for work. I was hoping this would change. It's coming up on three years working side-by-side as much as you can in a retail industry, her dominating with accurate closing shifts and me unifying the management team. We were a powerful core to the team. As far as taking things to the next level with Daniella, I was about to get my chance.
I didn't want to rush into anything. In fact, I'm of the belief you shouldn't date co-workers. I've seen too many people break up and cause way more drama than necessary. I wasn't looking for a date, but this relationship simply blossomed out of the intimacy of co-managing our team. We had been through some tough times together and only had each other to lean on. It was mere accident she came across me in my most vulnerable moment and proved her compassion all over again.
It was a couple weeks and things continued on as usual. She had always been so flirty in her casual touches, I could never be sure if she was trying to tease me. I played it off as my own imagination running wild.
One day, the season emerging into the warmth of summer, it was she who approached me.
"Hey, Tony."
She greeted me with a warm embrace and ran her nails along one arm. I returned a squeeze and scratched at her back, fingertips catching on her bra strap each pass.
"What's up, lady?" I started off what I thought would be the usual opening small talk. She had just come in to begin her shift and had a few minutes before clocking on.
"I know you're always working hard and been taking those classes to work on finishing your degree..." She trailed off, the first time I'd seen her nervous, yet alone nervous as a schoolgirl come prom season. Her dark brown eyes could hardly look my way.
"Yeah, I guess I keep pretty busy," I said, trying to coax whatever it was she was getting at out of her.
"Well, I'm heading to the lake tomorrow... and was wondering if you'd like to accompany me?"
"Oh." I wanted to jump out of my skin and tackle her right there, but I had to play it cool. "Accompany you? Like a date?" I paused to soak in the implications.
"Ah. Well, not like a buy-me-dinner kind of date or anything. Just like two friends hanging out at the beach."
"Alright. I can dig it." This was followed by a laugh as we had survived the awkward moment. I hoped she knew I never would have turned down a chance to be close to her.
I finished my shift and checked out with her as I left.
"'K. Call me tomorrow and we'll set up the time," she instructed with a goodbye hug.
***
Sleep was hard to come by that night. For one thing, the two of us rarely had the same day off, so the fact we could spend the day together was indeed special. I phoned Daniella later in the morning since she had worked late the night before. She answered, sounding chipper as ever.
"So, yeah, meet me at my house and we can leave from there, okay?"
"What's the address? I'll be there in about an hour," I responded. I confirmed the directions and went about packing a beach bag. I was feeling pretty confident and decided to do some personal grooming. There was no telling what was going to go down. Besides, I wanted to look and feel good out on the shore of the lake.
She lived a ways out of town, but it was after the morning rush on a weekday, so there was no traffic. That's one advantage of working retail: no weekend competition for days off. In twenty minutes, I was pulling into the gravel of her driveway. I had on my swim trunks and an athletic mesh, sleeveless shirt. Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I spotted my lady friend tending to the plants of her front yard.
"Oh, hey! You found the place. No trouble getting here?"
"Pretty straight-forward, really," I casually responded.
"Great!" She popped up and her feminine charms oozed as she approached me and wrapped arms around my waist. I swept locks from her shoulders and my palm nestled under the back of her head to press her into me. She smelled amazing. A flower amongst flowers. Hibiscus I believe it was.
As she turned to lead me into her place, I noticed her attire. She donned thong sandals as black as her hair, showing freshly painted toenails. I noted she had rather long toes, especially for her short height. Was it weird I really wanted to suck on them? I'd never had that urge before. I followed her smooth legs to some sports knit black shorts with thin white trim. Her top was an oversized, somewhat lacey piece with large half-sleeves. Obviously, it was a loose cover for her swimwear. The outfit screamed beachwear since it didn't really match. A couple tattoos revealed themselves to me: a blossoming flower crept up the bottom of her right calf and a sort of Mandala intricacy was blazoned along the front of her left thigh.
We went inside and she introduced me to her two dogs and gave me a short tour. It was cozy inside, but the backyard blew me away. The house had been her half of a divorce settlement with her ex-husband, Steve. I hadn't known she was married, but I wasn't altogether surprised due to how beautiful and amazing she was. Apparently, he was too absorbed by work and they broke it off before they had kids to avoid custody battles. She had recently passed her childbearing years, not that you could tell from her youthful heritage. She spent her free time on countless gardening projects which had been featured in various regional publications and contests. I was more interested in a specific flower as Daniella led me back out front to her car. I loaded an ice chest into the back.
"I didn't even think to bring something to fill this with," I called through the car as I shut the rear door.
"Don't even worry about it. I know a guy that works at the brewery. He gives me free beer once a month. I'm more of a wine drinker, but it's great for trips to the lake."
"Alright, but I did bring plenty of water."
"Perfect," she cooed as I slipped into the passenger seat.
The drive down to her favorite spot on the lake was only 12 minutes, where we made small talk about work on the way. The usual things bosses talk about behind closed doors, who we liked working with and who we didn't, with the occasional complaints about corporate thrown in. We got along so great because we had the same ideas of respect and leadership qualities, but I wanted to move beyond that and really get to know this goddess of a woman I'd been crushing on since I met her.