I have had a hard day at work, and on my way home decide to treat myself by stopping off for a quick drink at a very pleasant little wine bar. I walk into the dimly lit place, buy a glass of white wine at the bar and sit down at a small table right up against the wall, and out of sight of most of the rest of the bar area.
I sit, staring into space blessedly free from thought when a movement to my right catches my eye. I turn my head and see a very attractive blonde woman sit down at a table across the room, also on her own. Sheās dressed fairly casually in indigo blue jeans with a soft white sweater, and black leather boots. She pulls a book out of her bag and begins to read.
I try to go back to my previously thoughtless state, but find that I cannot take my eyes off of the woman. I canāt help staring ā sheās beautiful, and seems totally unaware of it. She suddenly looks up and catches my eye, and smiles at me. A bright, genuine smile that dazzles. I blush, and stare down at the table in front of me. As soon as Iām sure that sheās turned her attention back to her book, I look again. The next time she smiles, I manage to keep my head and smile back.
My stomach tightens as I realise that sheās stood up, picked up her bag and is walking towards me. She stops right next to me, and I want to reach out and touch her.
āDo you mind if I sit down?ā
Her voice is soft and friendly. āOf course not, go ahead,ā I reply, simply not believing my luck. She sits gracefully, putting her book back into her bag. Weāre silent for a moment, and then she speaks again.
āI couldnāt help but notice that you kept looking at me, I wondered if you wanted to talk. Iām Emily by the way,ā she says.
āAlice,ā I smile back again, totally captivated by her deep brown eyes. āIām sorry if you thought I was being rude,ā I say, ābut I couldnāt help noticing how pretty you are.ā
She giggles shyly, and I canāt believe what I just said. I worry that sheāll leave, but instead she reaches out briefly and touches my hand.
āYou too.ā She hesitates, then says, āI donāt suppose thatā¦ā she trails off and shakes her head.
āDonāt suppose Iād what?ā I ask, my heart thumping in my chest. Various thoughts are racing through my head, but I donāt dare to entertain any of them properly just yet.
Itās Emilyās turn to blush and she rushes the words out so fast I only just catch them. āI was going to ask if you wanted to finish your drink up in my room. Iām staying in the hotel upstairs, maybe it would be nicer to talk thereā¦ā the tone of her voice raises into a question as she finishes the sentence.
Iām stunned at her forthrightness, but manage to nod dumbly. She smiles again, and takes my hand and pulls me towards a door near our table that leads upstairs to the hotel. I just have time to grab my drink before she pulls me into the hallway.
I see her take a quick look around, and then she guides me gently backwards to lean against the wall, and presses her lips to mine. I grip my glass tighter as I let her take charge. She breaks the kiss without a word, takes my hand again and starts to walk up the stairs.