Again I want to thank my editors, MrWhiteTiger and autoplot, for their wonderful editing and help in making this a bit more interesting than it was before. Sorry T, for not putting in the part about Torture methods in Turkish prisons. I just didn't think it fit. For all my readers, thank you so much for your comments and the 'fun' chapter is next after this one.
_________________________________
They had dinner at a little French restaurant near the park. He learned more about her over candlelight and wine, which was comical in the seduction sense. He'd been shocked when he'd noticed her sitting in the coffee shop with her hair pulled up into a sleek chignon, glasses perched on her nose and wearing a white blouse and sleeveless pullover vest along with a black pencil thin skirt and high heels. She looked like a smart business woman or an efficient secretary. And to see she'd been reading a vampire romance book. He found it charming.
It turned out she was a secretary for one of the board members. She'd been offered the job of modeling by Professor Sharp last semester and since then had modeled for a few other art professors too, in different forms: clothed, nude and in motion.
Hugh asked if she enjoyed modeling and Lucy admitted she did, saying she found a thrill in being the center of attention. He asked her why. She thought for a while and then replied that being a secretary was quiet work. You didn't get noticed for it. You didn't get recognition. Not that she wanted it per se, but it was nice to have the attention, to be the center of focus. It wasn't that any of the students knew her name or where she worked, but during that time in class she was in command, so to speak.
What an intriguing thought, he mused. Hugh had been an important figure in the architectural world and he was well known. She'd asked him about his work and architecture, resting her chin in her left hand while she swirled the Merlot in her glass. With her gaze focused on him he felt drawn into the depths of her eyes. Their color was darker now, like the deep green of a tropical sea. He felt mesmerized and forgot for a moment what he had intended to tell her.
When she arched her fine brow, he laughed lightly and shook his head to clear his thoughts, sorting through the many projects he had worked on. The buildings he had designed. The years he had spent with a building company, designing stylish homes. As he described his work to her, he could see the awe in her eyes. She was amazed at what a distinguished and influential architect he was, and he couldn't help bragging a bit just to see her eyes widen and her luscious mouth gape a little. She seemed fascinated with his work, and in turn he felt the heat of desire grow more strongly in his gut.
Each smile, each laugh, each time she reached up to brush a curl away from her face, it was like a punch dealt to his stomach. He hadn't felt like this in a long time; certainly not with his first wife. He hadn't felt that rush of adrenaline pulsing through his body. Even when he had been dating his wife it had never been this potent.
They discussed the normal 'date' conversation starters; movies, books and music. He was surprised when she divulged her love of Neil Diamond, James Taylor, and the band Chicago. They were artists he happened to like, and it was interesting that someone from her generation was a fan too.
During a lull in the conversation, Hugh had an idea he'd once seen in a movie.
"Beatles or Stones?" he fired the question at her.
"Um, Beatles, but only sometimes. And preferably their number 1 album."
"Movie or stage play?"
