The Park Bench Chronicles ... 8

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Warning  --  bxg


Fuck, I was nervous, why was I so nervous, I can remember thinking.  A date, it was just a date with a man I've known on and off for years.  Maybe that was why.  He knew stuff about me, and I knew stuff about him.  We'd talked about our personal lives on occasion, but there was always that line that we never crossed.  But we'd never had a problem finding conversation, or things to talk about, so that bode well.  Until the conversation dried up, and all I wanted to do was jump his bones, and maybe I would see the same thing in his eyes too.  Oh, my giddy aunt .... 

I chose a simple little black number, a low neckline, but not too, that showed just enough of a teasing hint of cleavage.  The hem, just above the knee, with a small side slit, let's not get too crazy here, shall we ?  Large silver jewelry, hair up in a ma'am type bun.  Yes ma'am, he would whisper in my ear later that evening as his huge hands grasped my waist.  And I remembered just how weak my knees, and everything else, became. 

We went to Pamplemousse, my favourite restaurant, with the gift card that Laurent had given me, and it was sublime.  All sage green, silver and soft greys, subdued, but very classy.  Huge natural flower arrangements everywhere, the ceiling dripping in crystal rain drops.  Absolutely beautiful.  The food, equally so.  And the company, well .... 

I met Dan there, just in case I had to make my own getaway.  Just in case all these years of banter ended up in an evening of droll mediocrity, for either of us.  I shouldn't have worried, because it didn't.  He approached me as I stood on the bottom step of the restaurants entrance, smiling as other couples came and went.  As I spied him crossing the parking lot, I could hear a feint jingling that got louder the closer he got.  I frowned at him, but still trying to stifle a smile.  This man should not be encouraged at all, I told myself.  He shook his leg, and it jingled like it was Christmas.  I shook my head, realizing now what was going on.  

"Well, I said I'd be here with bells on ... "  I saw no evidence of said bells.

"Where are they ?"  

"Ah, well, you'll have to search for them, won't you ?"  He moved to open the restaurant door for me then.

"Oh no, you get rid of them now."  I almost yelled at him, still laughing though.  He smiled at me, not breaking our eye contact, the mischievous glint in them now unmistakable, as he dug his hand into the front of his pants.

"No .... you didn't.  Dan !"  

See what I mean ?  Trouble .... 

***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   

Dinner was amazing, as was only to be expected.  Laurent's gift more than covered anything and everything we could possibly want, bless him.  Seared scallops with a minted pea puree', a classic surf and turf cooked to perfection.  A trio of deserts, shared of course.  Good wine, great conversation, and even better company.  

Dan was exactly like I thought he would be.  Like I've always known him, but more of the same.  What I saw, was what I got, and he said the same about me too, which was nice, because I've never purported to be someone I'm not.  We toasted Laurent, thanking him for our dinner, his part in our amazing evening, which, of course, led to questions about him and Larry. 

"Bourgeois, he's some big attorney, isn't he ?"  Dan asked.

"He's a very good, very well respected attorney, yes.  And a lovely man.  He and Larry are so good together."  I told him their story, well, as much as I knew they'd be comfortable with me telling.  They'd probably be meeting each other one day, and I didn't want Dan to know too much about their personal lives, whereas they knew everything about him !  One day, I thought, I might be as protective of Dan as I was of Larry and Laurent.  My inner lioness came out to play when it came to Mssrs Bonner and Bourgeois, and their two little lioness cubs.  Cassie too, but I knew Cassie had her own inner lioness fairly well tamed.  She was a cardiothoracic surgeon.  She ripped peoples hearts from their chest, for fucks sake, then put them back together again, sometimes with a better model.  I was sure she could look after herself.  

FREE FLYING HEARTS  --  A collection of short stories from Tonig73Where stories live. Discover now