I had met her in my favorite local pub, she being behind it and serving me my favorite libation. She was just back from graduate school for the summer. Kate poured a strong drink and melted me with her beautiful eyes and outgoing personality. It seemed that when things got slow, she would gravitate to me for conversation. Why I did not know, but I graciously accepted her company.
As time went by, Kate grew on me. We were separated by 15 years in age, she being about 26. She carried a mature conversation with perceptive riveting thoughts sprinkled with the occasional flirtations comment. Kate was a 'plain' but attractive girl. She stood just short of me, her body being long, slim and fit.
Unexpectedly, one day she suggested we go out to diner and a book reading. Kate was studying English in grad school and was looking for someone to join her at the event. I agreed and we had a great time. The evening ended without expectations and we had a cordial parting for the night.
Through the summer we found ourselves frequently together, more than I ever imagined. Occasionally, she would drop by my office or my home just to say 'hello'. I expected her to return to school in the Fall. She never expressed to me that she wanted anything more than a friendship. Occasionally she would mention a guy she was seeing at school. I did not pry and I took it as a hint that she was interested in him.
As her presence in my life grew, I found my attraction to her slowly growing. Retrospective has a way of clarifying reality. Perhaps I did not notice it when we were first getting to know one another, but I did towards the end of the summer- there was an underlying simmering unspoken tension between us. It was real, it was there and it was becoming unavoidable.
One night I was loathe to go out and I invited Kate over. I just needed a quiet night in with a friend and some good conversation. Yes, there were other women who I could have invited over for company, ones more my age. But, Kate was young, effervescent, inspiring and mature beyond her years. I knew there were only two more weeks before she returned to school, which was 500 miles away, and knowing that her company would be soon gone, I wanted to spend time with her.
When the doorbell rang, my heart jumped a bit, excited to see Kate. She entered, dressed in a knee length sleeveless black dress, sandals with short heels and a hat with a cute pink flower. Women in hats are very sexy.
"My, you look beautiful," I said complimenting her, "I did not know we were going to dress up tonight."
"Thank you, you are too kind, " she replied, "I just wanted to wear something a bit nicer than usual."
"Come this way, to the deck. I put out a bottle of red," I said directing her along the way.
My bedroom has a fairly large and secluded balcony with a great view. On a summer night there is a breeze off the ocean makes it a perfect place to relax.
We had light conversation and many laughs. After a few glasses of vino, I noticed that she stood closer to me than normal and touched me affectionately- she grazed my arm, placed her arm across my shoulders, bumped into me when I made a joke, gave me cute smiles and flirtatious glances. Her body language and affection were never as open and assertive. Men like having their egos stroked. Who does not? I did not question it.
