I had been married for 10 years but was newly divorced and on the dating scene again. I was raring to get out there, flaunt my stuff and have fun for once in my adult life. Since I was a bit older than most of my competition at the bars and clubs I hung out at, I had to work a little harder than the 20-somethings to make myself look "hot."
I worked out five times a week, watched what I ate and I didn't smoke or drink more than a few glasses of wine with dinner. All that hard work paid off and my healthy life-style produced a tall, lean, and in good shape woman with a nice set of firm breasts just a bit larger than a handful and a round compact bottom that demanded attention. My long mane of black hair swirling around my shoulders and my vibrant blue eyes completed the look.
I definitely turned everyone's head when I entered a bar or club in whatever slinky dress I'd chosen for the night. Unfortunately, it seemed to attract men that were complete losers. They either didn't have a job, were totally fat and gross, or, even worse, still lived with their parents. I don't want to sound like I'm above everyone else but damn-it! After being in a loveless and virtually sex-less marriage, I deserved someone that could at least support themselves and give me what I needed in and out of the bedroom.
I was about to give up hope and start buying "grandma" panties when Julie, a friend from work, tried to set me up on a blind date. She came over to my cubical after I got back from lunch with a devious look on her face. "Hey Ann, do you have any plans for this weekend?"
I didn't look up from my monitor as I replied with a sarcastic, "Yep, I'm going to go shopping for a grave site for my sex life. I tried to save it but there's no hope and the doctor said it was time to pull the plug."
"Aww! Come on now, it can't be that bad can it!" Julie exclaimed sympathetically as she pulled up a chair next to my desk.
I turned and faced her. "It is so bad that when I woke up this morning I discovered that my vibrator had committed suicide. His note said he couldn't handle the pressure anymore."
Julie chuckled at my corny joke and then replied, "What if I told you I know this guy that is very interested in meeting you?"
"Oh gawd! Not a blind date! Those guys always turn out to be such losers," I whined. I normally didn't go for blind dates, they seemed so cliché and painful when I saw them in the movies or on TV, but I wasn't completely ready to give up so I let her tell me about him.
"No this guy is different. He's young, in great shape and owns his own company. Oh, and did I mention? He's rich too," Julie replied with a big grin.
"Well that sounds nice but money isn't everything and just because he's young it doesn't mean I would like him," I replied, still unconvinced.
"Hang on, let me show you." Julie reached for her phone on her hip, pushed a few times on its screen. "Here, now tell me what you think?"
Julie handed me her phone and I looked at the photo she'd found of him. He was definitely a young, probably about 26, with short blond hair. He was wearing a black tailored suit and I could tell by the way the suit hung off him that it was covering a body of well-toned muscles. What really sold me, though, was his warm and sincere smile. It drew me in and I wanted to get to know him better. "What's his name?" I asked indifferently. I didn't want her to think I was really interested.
"His name is Steve Kolowaski," Julie answered.
"And he wants to meet me?" I asked.
"He sure does," Julie replied. "He was complaining about the women he'd been meeting being shallow and immature so I showed him a picture of you last week when we were hanging out at the bar and told him a little bit about you. He said he would be very interested in meeting a 'lady' like you. He said you were just his type."
I studied the picture and wondered what kind of man he was. "He has his own company? What does he do?"
"Yep! He has a lawn maintenance business and about 20 employees," Julie answered with a smirk.
She could tell from my questions that the hook was set and it was time to start reeling me in. "And this isn't an old picture?" I interrogated. It all sounded too good to be true.
"I took it last week," she said. "He really is a great guy. I've known him for a few years."
"Why aren't you going out with him?" I asked.
"You know I like older guys," she answered with a laugh. "Steve says I have a sugar daddy complex, which is fine by me."
I laughed as she showed off the gold bracelet her latest older gentleman friend had bought her. I thought for a few more moments then said, "Oh what the hell, it wasn't like I was doing anything this weekend anyway. Tell him to give me a call."
"Great! I'll let him know after work. I don't think you'll be disappointed," she said as she took her phone back. She punched a few keys on it and my phone buzzed, she'd sent me his picture.
"Thanks," I said as I looked at his picture on my phone. He was really cute and had a body to die for, knowing he had money and was self-supporting was just the cream on top.
Julie was humming as she headed back to her own cubicle. I stared at my monitor as I thought about going on a blind date with him. If this date was a flop, I was going to give up on ever trying to have sex again.
Later that night I got a call from Steve. We talked about general things for a while then I started on more probing questions. "How old you are?"
"I just turned 25. Is that a problem?"
"No, not if it isn't a problem that I'm older than you," I teased.
"I would hardly say 26 is older than me!" he said. "26! Too funny!" I said and laughed for a minute. I composed myself then said, "I'm really 11 years older. Does that bother you?"
Steve drew in a deep breath and then said, "To tell you the truth Ann, I prefer ladies that aren't my age. Most girls I meet that are my age or close to it are just that, girls. I prefer a woman who is more mature."
I was pleasantly surprised by his answer. "Is that how you really feel?" I asked.
"Yes, it is. I've dated younger, older and those my age. My relationships with the older women have lasted the longest and been the most fulfilling," he answered.
I was really beginning to like this guy. I wanted to talk with him longer but the late hour was brought to my attention when my grandfather clock struck two. I apologized for needing to wrap things up. "If I don't get to bed soon I'll be useless at work tomorrow," I explained.
We quickly made arrangements for a date on Saturday then hung up. I had a big smile on my face as I undressed and crawled into bed. It was nice to have something pleasant to look forward to for the rest of the week.
For the next three days, I was walking on cloud nine. I felt like I was back in high school again and was going on my first date with the captain of the football team after the big game. Julie poked fun at me for it then told me she was happy to see me smiling.
Saturday night finally arrived and Steve picked me up at my house. He took me out to a very posh restaurant for dinner then we caught a comedy play at the local playhouse. Between the wine and laughter, I was feeling mellow and happy. He drove to the beach, which wasn't far from where we lived, and we sat on the soft sand as we stared up at the sky and talked some more.
What could I say? I was completely smitten by him. He was perfect in every sense of the word—smart, engaging, a listener, funny, polite, employed and didn't live with his parents. How could one not start falling head over heels for him?
When he brought me home around 3 a.m., he walked me to the door and gave me a soft, gentle kiss that made my knees buckle. I nearly invited him in but decided that I shouldn't be too eager and I didn't want to look desperate.
Over the next week, Steve and I talked on the phone or went out to eat every night. He even made me dinner at his place one night. I was impressed by his culinary skills. Everything was wonderful and I was floating on air.
The only thing that bothered me was he would only kiss me. Sure, his kisses were very passionate and they turned me on, but he always seemed to stop just when I wanted more. I couldn't figure it out. He said he really liked me, he told me so and I could see it in his face when he looked at me, but every time things got hot and heavy he backed away and would say good night.
I finally asked Julie about it when we were at lunch a few weeks into the relationship. "He told me he's really enjoying his time with you and I can tell he really likes you. Maybe he knows you hadn't gone out for a while and he didn't want to mess things up by rushing into anything?"
"Maybe," I replied. "I've given off the right signals when we've been kissing."
"Well, step it up. Be more aggressive. Maybe he's waiting for you to take the lead," Julie suggested.
I decided that on out next date I would be more aggressive from start to finish. I picked up my cell phone off my nightstand and dialed his number.