Apprehension: Part One

IS THIS A DATE?

She walked into the restaurant. Shawn watched the door like a puppy waiting for its human to come home. She looked around and saw him subtly waiving over.

She looked beautiful. He took all of her in. She had her hair down, and it was in large barrel curls. Her makeup was subtle and only enhanced her natural beauty. She was in a beautiful blue dress. It was tight in all the right places. Her breasts were cresting out of the top respectably. Her stomach was perfectly concave with the slightest impression of her abdominal muscles. Her legs were tan and seemed to go on forever. She was actually in a pair of heels. From what he remembered, she never liked to wear heels, but holy shit, did it make her legs look amazing. As she approached the table, he stood up to greet her.

"You look breathtaking," he said.

She blushed. She always did when someone called her breathtaking. It always reminded her of the first night she made love with Malibu. She was already deeply in love by the first time they were together. She didn't know he felt the same way. They both did an excellent job hiding it from each other; they had a serious job to do together.

"Why are you blushing?"

"Involuntary reaction when someone calls me breathtaking. That's all," she said.

He went to hug her. They shared an awkward hug. Neither of them knew what to do.

He pulled the chair out for her.

"Someone is on their best behavior tonight."

"I have a lot to make up for."

"I really don't think that will be possible with one dinner and a polite gesture."

"Is this a one-time thing? Have you made that decision already?" he asked.

She shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

"I am so sorry. I have already stuck my foot in my mouth," he said.

"Let's have a drink. See if we can lubricate that foot to remove it from your mouth."

"Sounds good. I hope you don't mind, but I ordered a bottle of wine. I hope you still drink Moscato," he said.

"Yes, I do. This isn't really where I had expected you to invite me. I never even knew this place existed. Maybe because it's so exclusive." She looked around. "Thank God for Google Maps."

"I would take out a loan if I needed to to be with you. Anywhere."

She blushed for the second time that evening.

"Shawn. Come on. You don't have to try so hard. I'm already here."

The server brought the wine, and they ordered. They started with oysters, joking about there supposed aphrodisiac qualities. They ordered another bottle of wine and were on their third by the time the dinner came. The awkwardness had eased immensely. By the time they were finished and the dessert came, Shawn's hand was resting on her hand on top of the table.

He moved closer to her, took a chance, and put his hand on her thigh. He braced for her to swat it away or break it, but she didn't. She just continued the conversation.

The server came back to the table.

"Can I tempt you with dessert or another bottle of wine? Or would you like me to bring the check?"

Shawn looked at her.

"What do you think? Dessert?"

"I don't know. Do you want dessert?"

I would like you for dessert, he thought.

"You only live once," he said.

She couldn't choose between two of them, so he ordered her both. She tasted both and still couldn't decide which she liked best, so she fed him a bite of each and took another bite.