Catching Waves

Part Three

An hour later, Caitlin fired up the Figaro for yet another trip into town thus taking away the dilemma of what to drink. After a brief pause at the restaurant door to take a deep breath, she strode into Figleaves feeling a wave of déjà vu wash over her as she spotted Preston in a window seat, waiting for her. He stood up as she walked towards him and Caitlin had to admit, the man was a natty dresser. The dark green of the fine knit V-neck jumper brought out the blue of his eyes and accented the contours of his chest, and the glow from the myriad of fairy lights that lit up their booth made the outline of his face appear softer, less intimidating.  

From the second she sat down, Caitlin had no choice but to be led through the steps of the evening by Preston, who effortlessly directed conversation ("No work tonight, Caitlin, this is meant to be an evening off") menu choices ("Have you tried the ...?") and even "No, I insist - I'll put you in taxi at the end of the night, what sort of celebration would this be without champagne?" Her stomach had belly flopped sickeningly at the No Work Tonight decree but to her surprise, Preston was an engaging conversationalist; interesting and interested. He was not a man you would ever describe as gregarious but his dry humour brought out the sharper side of her own wit and soon they were snorting at each other's quips and sparring confidently. 

Caitlin's mandatory text to Heidi, sent during a hasty visit to the loo, read "ARGH, no work convos allowed BUT never fear, have WOWED him with impression of TedTheInclusionOfficer. Having fun, wud you believe?!" to which Heidi instantly responded with "R U drunk? DRINK WATER NOW. Plus Josh+Si say no more of your impressions, they're shit. Take care xx". Caitlin smiled fondly at her phone, her impressions were awesome, everyone knew that. And she definitely wasn't drunk, otherwise, look - she wouldn't be reapplying her lipstick with such precision. Four glasses of champagne do not a drunkard make. Hic. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her auburn hair was as buoyantly wavy as ever, tamed by her favourite dragon fly hair slide, its turquoise stones given a sparkle from the bare light bulbs that surrounded the mirror. She tidied up some of the smudge from her eyeliner before readjusting her boobs so that they sat just right in the valley of the dress she'd chosen and eventually embarked back out into the restaurant, the champagne bubbles giving a definite wiggle to her walk.  

As she sat down, Preston pushed her refilled champagne glass towards her. "Now, Cate ..." he began, seriously. Caitlin looked at him blankly, his sombre expression at odds with the light hearted tone he had previously been bantering with. "You must have been wondering why I've asked you here tonight." Not really, Caitlin thought - we're just two professionals, talking professionally. About Ted the Inclusion Officer, but still. Even professionals need to have a laugh sometimes. But hey, let him be all enigmatic if he wants. She sipped from her glass and looked at him with an appropriately enquiring expression. He gazed deep into her eyes before huskily saying "I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you right now." Caitlin's appropriately enquiring expression froze as his words hung in the air and Preston let out a sharp guffaw, "This is exactly why I am so attracted to you, you are utterly unfathomable. I have no idea what you're thinking Cate, and believe me, that is a real turn on." 

"What. The. Fuck ...?" was the best Caitlin's beleaguered brain could offer (thanks, Brain) as Preston reached for her hand, turning it palm up so he could run his fingers lightly over her pulse, before carrying on. "I know you've been through a lot lately and believe me, I've held off as long as I could ... but, now you're free - I'm free ... I thought we could ...?" Lest his diction make him sound nervous, it is important to point out that this statement was delivered in as confident a tone as Caitlin had ever heard him use. The pauses, the gaps, were to allow his words to sink in, of that she was sure. Caitlin knew deep down that it was definitely her turn to say something, anything, but truth be told she was somewhat mesmerised by the sight of his fingers tracing a loop over the tissue thin, silk soft skin above her veins. Back and forth, back and forth ... the thought that this poker faced, impassive, contained man - fancied her ... was giving her a serious case of the tingles. She drew breath, it was sharper than she had meant but he had taken that second to deviate from his loop to trace the life line on her palm. "Preston ... I'm flattered, beyond flattered ..." her voice trailed off as he smiled at her (gosh, he'd always been attractive but he was beginning to look positively edible) "Cate, I think I know what you're about to say ..." (and a mind reader as well, it was just a crazy crying shame that since leaving Dan her head could barely cope with her Tesco shopping list never mind the romantic inclinations and attentions of her boss. Thank God he understood) "... and you're right, working together would complicate things" (oh) "but I want you to be the first person to know - I've been offered a job at Whitehall, as an aide to the Education Secretary" (whose surname was still scrawled under her watch strap; Caitlin nearly let out a manic giggle). "I'll be leaving the Unit after Easter." Somewhere in the fog of Caitlin's mind she acknowledged that this probably did change things but suddenly that didn't even matter. The champagne bubbles that had given a wiggle to her walk finally persuaded Brain to give up so that they could do the talking. It's been a long, long time since you've felt really-properly-fancied Caitlin, they reasoned, why not enjoy the man's attentions - see how addictive his touch is, watch as his fingers entwine with yours. Listen to the tingling Caitlin, the tingling! Suddenly the warmth of the restaurant felt oppressive, the lights too glaring and the handful of diners still eating, too much of a crowd. She heard her voice speak, as though it was away on holiday and phoning long distance "Preston, I think I might ... need some air ..." and with that, Preston's fingers gripped hers tightly, his smile positively predatory as he turned in his seat to catch their waitress' eye. 

They left the warmth of the restaurant to wait for Caitlin's taxi outside. It would be another 15 minutes the waitress had warned; wouldn't they rather sit in the lounge area with a coffee? "No, thank you" murmured Caitlin, the slight pressure of Preston's hand on the small of her back urging her on. The chill in the air as she stepped outside only served to heighten the heat she felt below her stomach, she was going to do something outrageous in a minute, oh yes she flipping well was. She felt lightheaded from the surge of power that came from being wanted, being desired, and she valiantly battled the grin that fought to stretch its way cat-like across her face. "Look at this, Dan!" she wanted to shout and twirl and spin, "look at this, look at me!" 

Arriving on the pavement, Caitlin leant insouciantly against the nearest lamp post. Partly to feign nonchalance, partly to be able to look at Preston in the way she was doing now. She remembered this trick from the days BD (Before Dan); looking up from under her eyelashes had guaranteed good night kisses from all her University boyfriends (BRAZEN CAITLIN, Brain spluttered weakly but the last remnants of champagne bubbles soon soothed it back to sleep). She held her breath as Preston rested an arm above her head, meaning that his curved lips were inches away from her own. He narrowed the gap between them, shutting his eyes right at the last second but Caitlin didn't, she wanted to take in every crazy second of this ridiculously sexy moment. His eyelids fluttered, she noticed, and the frown line between his eyebrows relaxed. She finally closed her eyes as she curled her fingers around the lapels of his coat, revelling in the intake of breath she heard as she pulled his body closer to hers. She locked her arms around his neck just as he brought his other hand up to caress her cheek, sending shivers to mingle with the tingles that were running riot around her body. He slowly moved it down to her side, skimming fleetingly against the side of her boob, adding goose bumps to the shivers to the tingles. His kisses were like a bar of the darkest chocolate, she decided hazily at one point, one that you'd been sitting on for the first ten minutes of Holby City so that when you remembered it was in your dressing gown pocket, it was verging on the positively molten. Both his hands were running up and down her sides now, there were yet more fleeting boob grazes that made her press against him and even the occasional foray to brush over her bottom. She was just wondering if she could sneak a hand under his jumper when an attack of polite throat clearing finally filtered through to both of them and drew the kissing to a close. Embarrassingly, the cabbie didn't even try to pretend he hadn't been watching; it was only the thought of catching last orders that had forced him to interrupt this racy episode he'd been quite enjoying.  

"Right, well. Fabulous evening Preston, really enjoyable" Caitlin offered breezily, gamely ignoring the prickle that told her her chin was a vivid pink with the burn from his stubble. Preston cleared his throat and shifted imperceptibly so his raging erection had less chance of taking the nosy cabbie's eye out. "Yes, great fun Cate, thanks. Um - are you sure you don't need seeing home?"  

YESYESOHGODYESSEEMEHOME "No. I think I'll be fine. But ... brunch perhaps, tomorrow?"  

"Sorry, no can do. I've got a couple of meetings to prepare for. I'll see you on Monday though"  

"Oh. Of course" 

"Of course" 

And with that, he closed Caitlin's door. The cabbie, realising there was nothing else to see here, time to move along, put his foot down, leaving his passenger to throw her head back and catch her breath. Suddenly she sat up "Wait! Can you take me to Ocean Rise instead? Number 15 please" and texted Heidi to say she was on her way.