Chapter Seven
Three Weeks Later
Walter wanted to kick himself. He should have read the actual reviews, rather
than deeming the five star rating a good enough recommendation when he had
made the reservations. It had been the only such rating he'd found when he
had searched for "Dining and Dancing" options in the greater Los Angeles
area.
Beside him, Paige was smiling as they observed the people on the dance floor,
not one of whom was under the age of sixty. They had already been out on
two dates and he'd manage to screw up both of them. The first had been at
a restaurant he didn't think he had needed a reservation for and there had
been a two hour wait for a table. They ended up going to a Chucky Burger.
On the second date, he had fallen asleep at the movie theater during a film
Paige had wanted to see. And now they were easily the youngest people in
the room by at least three decades. He could feel everyone staring at them
and he squirmed uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry," he began, "I didn't realize. . .
"No, it's okay," she said, squeezing his hand. "I think it's sweet." She
kissed his cheek.
"I can show you to your table now, sir." The hostess, who looked like someone's
grandmother, led them across the restaurant. The building overlooked the
ocean and utilized large windows to optimize their guests' views.
"This is beautiful," said Paige as he held out her chair. He sat down opposite
and the hostess left with their drink order, mineral water for him and a
glass of white wine for Paige.
"We can leave," he said. He had just wanted to dance with her again. A nice
slow dance where he could hold her in his arms, and touch her, and smell
her hair, and dream about doing more.
"Walter, it's fine," she said, reaching across the table and grasping his
hand. "Do you want to dance?"
"Yes."
She stood up and he had a hard time breathing as he surveyed her dress. It
was low cut and held up by two straps so thin he marveled at their functionality.
As she pulled him toward the dance floor, he saw the pale skin of her back.
And as she walked, he caught glimpses of her leg flashing through the slit
which reached her upper thigh.
His mouth grew dry, he started to sweat, and his heart was beating erratically.
This had not been a well-thought out plan. The dress alone was going to kill
him. Actually touching her. . . He glanced up when they came to a stop and
saw she was smiling at him expectantly, her eyes sparkling.
Furtively wiping his palms on his pants, he then put his right hand on her
left shoulder. Slowly he slid his fingers downward, stopping when he reached
the small of her back. He flicked his gaze to her face as he pulled her closer.
Her tongue darted between her lips and her breathing matched his, telling
him she was not unaffected by his actions.
They began to move to the music, a song he didn't recognize except for the
fact it had a three four beat and he adjusted his steps accordingly. Taking
a deep breath, he could smell lavender and he felt dizzy as all the blood
rush away from his head. He closed his eyes and began reciting the Fibonacci
sequence in his head until he got himself under control.
"Oof!" His eyes popped open and he saw he had steered Paige into another
couple. Everyone had remained upright, thankfully, although they had all
come to a halt.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I. . .uh, I wasn't paying attention."
"That's all right, young man," the elderly gentleman replied. He elbowed
Walter in the ribs. "Can't say I blame you. She's a real looker."
"Uh. . .yeah. . ."
"Now, Clarence, you're embarrassing him." The female half of the couple swatted
the man on the arm. She then turned to Paige and leaned in. "He looks like
a keeper, dearie,"she said. "I wish this galoot had taken me out dancing
when we were younger."
"We were too busy having kids, Rose," the old man said. He nudged Walter
again. "If we'd gone dancing, we'd probably would have ended up with more
than five, if you know what I mean."
Walter had no clue what the man meant. He snuck a glance at Paige and saw
her cheeks were glowing pink. "Uh, I'm sorry," he said again.
"Come on, we're interrupting their date," said Rose. She winked at them as
she led her husband away.
Paige's hand came to rest on his shoulder once more and he realized he still
had his on her back. Listening to the music for a moment, he resumed his
early steps before meeting her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Walter," she whispered into his ear. "It's okay. I thought they were very
sweet." She kissed him on the cheek again.
He managed to get through the rest of the song without another mishap and
they went back to their table. A waitress brought them their drinks and menus.
After they had ordered, Walter stood up.
"Do you. . .I mean. . .May I. . ." Oh damn, he forgot what Cabe and Toby
had coached him to say, a way to ask her to dance guaranteed to sweep Paige
off her feet (and get him laid, as Toby had so crudely put it).
She got to her feet. "Are you asking me to dance?" she asked. Her mouth was
turned up at the corners and she was obviously trying not to laugh at him.
"Only if you want to," he replied, staring at his feet. He looked up in surprise
as he felt her lips on his cheek.
"I would love to dance with you again."
This time he led her to the dance floor. Paige was evidently familiar with
the song as she sang snippets of it. It took all his concentration not to
embarrass himself as she whispered lyrics like, "I've hungered for your touch"
and "I need your love" into his ear. His resolve was further tested when
she slid her hands up his chest and entwined them around his neck, forcing
him to rest both hands on the small of her back.
He was actually relieved when the music ended and they went back to their
table. He wanted her so much. Understanding dawned as he recalled the older
man's words about dancing and children. His meaning was crystal clear now.
It was a little after midnight when Walter walked Paige to the door of her
condo. The rest of the evening had gone smoothly. Well, smoothly if one discounted
the state of arousal he'd been fighting all night.
"Do you want to come in for coffee?" Paige asked after she had unlocked her
door.
Caffeine was the last thing he needed. He was already so overstimulated he
doubted he would be able to sleep for several days. He was about to reply
negatively to her inquiry when he saw a light in her eyes, one he'd seen
there before but had never understood. . .until now
Two fundamental facts hit him at the exact same time. The first was she wasn't
inviting him in for coffee, none of the women who had invited him in had
been offering him just coffee. They had been offering him sex. And he'd been
too oblivious to realize it.
The second was she had been seducing him all evening. It all added up, the
dress, the singing, the kisses, her telling him Ralph was staying the night
at Sly's. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Which lead to a third
revelation, this was their third date. . .
"I love you," he said as he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her
toward him before touching his lips to hers. A gentle kiss which grew deeper
and more passionate with every passing second until he had pinned Paige against
her door, her fingers threaded through his hair as their tongues entwined.
He cupped her bottom with his hands as she slid her foot up the back of his
calf, drawing them even closer together.
A noise from the apartment across the hall caused them to spring apart. They
were both panting heavily and she was staring at him with wide eyes.
"Do you want to come in?" she repeated breathlessly.
"Yes."
With a smile which made his heart beat faster, Paige opened the door and
led him inside.