It was 2006 when I first met Arlene at a Christmas party at a mutual friend's house in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood.
Across a crowded room, with Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan" playing discreetly in the background, I spotted her leaning against the fireplace, lips curled in a half-smile, tall and full-bodied in her late 40's. She had shoulder-length wavy brown hair with little blonde highlights and wore a green silk cocktail dress that bared her well-rounded shoulders and arms. She was nursing a champagne flute and nodding with barely concealed impatience as a 50-something doctor -- whom I knew to be a crashing bore from my work at Swedish Medical Center -- tried to chat her up. Something about her stirred a chord in me.
Finishing off my crantini, I excused myself from the little circle next to the Christmas tree and made my way through the other revellers over to the fireplace. Ignoring the doctor, I approached her from the side and boldly laid my hand on her warm, soft shoulder. "That dress looks lovely on you," I said with a smile as she turned her head.
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed with a delight that surprised me. "It's so good to see you. When did you get here?"
"About an hour ago," I said, bemused but not arguing as she wrapped her arms around me. Her full, heavy breasts felt incredible through the silk.
"Would you excuse us?" she said curtly to the doctor. "It's been lovely, but I have to catch up with my girlfriend." He grunted something inaudible and headed for the canapes.
She gave me an unabashed once-over. I could feel her eyes devouring me. I was dressed to kill in new Italian leather boots, black diamond-patterned stockings, and a round-neck, sleeveless black Calvin Klein lace sheath dress. I'd already been propositioned by two married men, one of whom was a former national rowing team star. My friend Janine, the hostess, was well-aware of my habits and had told me I could use the guest bedroom on the second floor if I met anyone I wanted.
"So...do we know each other?" I asked after a long, delicious pause.
"Ha! No," she said, brushing her hair off the side of her face. "I just had to get rid of that guy. And I think I spotted you before you spotted me. You look like a lot of fun. I don't know what it is. Something about you."
"You've got that little sparkle in the eye," I said. "I can always spot a like-minded woman. I'm Frederika, by the way."
"Arlene," she said. "It's a pleasure. You know, I don't know anybody here but Janine."
"Really?"
"Do you remember she used to own an apartment in Bellevue?"
"Oh yes, not too far from one I own, actually."
"Well, I sold it for her a couple of months ago for a very tidy profit. I'm an agent with RE/MAX."
"All makes sense now. Janine and I work together at Swedish Medical Center. Probably 10 years now."
There was something about Arlene that made me feel very comfortable around her. With a flirtatious touch of my hand on her right elbow, I guided Arlene toward a couple of free seats on the leather couch in the corner of the living room.
As we sat down together, thighs touching, Janine bustled over toward us with a tray. "Can I offer you girls another round?"
"Just water for me," I said. "Perrier would be lovely."
"Same for me," said Arlene.
"I'll be right back," said Janine, who always loved to play the gracious hostess.
The music got louder, something by Gwen Stefani. I leaned in to murmur into Arlene's ear. "I'm not much of a drinker, really. I like to save my energy for other pursuits."