“Want to finish these drinks and go somewhere quieter?” I nearly choked on my drink. Placing the glass down, I had to stare at her for a couple of seconds. “As I said, I approached you for a reason. Physically, instant attraction. You’re devilishly handsome. So now it’s the getting to know you part,” she explained with a smile.
Chuckling, I replied, “Seems the dating game has changed. Can’t remember a time a woman approached me first.”
“Don’t ask, don’t get. Grab the bull by the horns. You know, all those phrases about thinking positively and taking action.”
“Let me message my friends.” Pulling out my phone, I sent them a message on the group chat we used. No surprise they both appeared out of the crowd within half a minute. Chris has his arm around a young man, Mike was still alone. Probably wouldn’t last much longer. He never left without company.
“You going home already?” Mike asked.
“No, I’m leaving with Cindy.” I turned towards her. “Cindy, these are my friends, Mike and Chris.”
She offered her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
After shaking hands, Mike gave me a curious glance. “Where are you going?” he asked.
Shrugging, I admitted I didn’t know. Cindy mentioned a quieter bar so we could talk and get to know each other. Mike returned another curious glance before he seemed to shrug to himself. “Okay, well, I’m assuming you’ll find your own way home then?”
“I was assuming I’d be doing that anyway, Mike.”
“Fair enough. Well, see you at work on Monday.”
The evening was still warm and Cindy didn’t have a jacket. Once outside in the cooler air, realising how heavy the air had been inside, she took my hand and led us away. She was shorter than me, perhaps no taller than five-nine at most, the small heels she was wearing adding an inch or two at most. I let her take the lead as I figured she probably had somewhere in mind, amused when we ended up at a cafe. “I don’t want a hangover tomorrow morning,” she said.
“Not a bad idea. Let’s get a table inside.”
I ordered our drinks and joined her in a small booth. To my surprise, she stood up and slid into the space next to me. I glanced at her and smiled. We made small talk before our drinks arrived, and the idea of finishing off the night with a coffee was certainly relaxing. I learned more about her. She was twenty-five, worked a dull office job (her own words), and lived in an apartment in a suburb only a short drive from where I lived.
“Why were you in that bar tonight? You’re not a lesbian… or at least I think you’re not.”
She laughed lightly. I’d learned to really enjoy the sound already. “No, definitely not a lesbian. I just like the vibe of those places. And I can enjoy a drink or two and not be harassed. Let’s be honest, the majority of men in such places are not interested in me. And most women are not interested in me either.”
“Because you’re not a lesbian.”
“That and one or two other reasons.”
I was ready to ask what they were but I noticed her hands were shaking, as if she was nervous. So I took one of her hands in mine, ensuring her fingers were between mine as I squeezed. “Something wrong?”
She turned to look at me. “Not yet. I haven’t done anything like this in a long time. Shared a drink with someone. A stranger really.”
We continued to chat as I drank her in some more. Her brunette hair went as far as her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled in the low light of the cafe. Her lips were full and definitely the sort I’d probably enjoy kissing. She had a slight tan and her skin looked flawless, that I could see. Her breasts were full, around a C-cup at a guess, and to my surprise, looked a little fake. I had no problem with fake breasts. Some women with smaller busts liked to enhance what they had to feel more confident in themselves.
Finishing our drinks, she asked if I’d like to go home. Checking the time, it was after midnight and I had consumed quite a few drinks earlier. “Want to share an Uber? I’ll make sure you get home safely then just take it the rest of the way home.”
I booked one that was only five minutes away, waiting outside, continuing to chat away about anything that came to mind. Mentioning my kids made her smile, eventually opening my phone and showing her some photo’s, mostly of my daughter. My son didn’t really like having his photo taken. Natalie was a little model whenever I had my phone out to take pictures.
The ride home didn’t take as long as usual as there’s little traffic at that time in the morning. Pulling up outside her apartment block, I got out and walked her to the door. “I live a few floors up,” she said.
“I’d like to see you again, Cindy.”
She smiled. “I’d like that, Mark,” she said softly. She took my phone and put her number in mine, and I did the same to hers. Then I took a chance and kissed her. First woman I’d kissed since my divorce. She tasted of mint, having slipped a piece of chewing gum into her mouth after our coffee. Her perfume was fragrant and wonderful. The Uber driver beeped his horn. I groaned before I broke the kiss.
“Two more minutes, mate!” I yelled out, “I’ll give you a bigger tip.”
Then I kissed her again, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her to my body. Part of me wanted to stay with her that night, but I didn’t feel in the right mind to leap into bed straight away. Finally pulling apart, she looked up at me with a smile. “Well, that’s a hell of a way to wish me goodnight, Mark.”
“I’ll call… tomorrow…”
“I’d like that too.”
I kissed her again a final time before wishing her goodnight and walking back to the Uber. Getting home ten or so minutes later, I headed straight to the bathroom to pee. Looking in the mirror again, I saw a grin on my face for the first time in months. A genuine grin.
Hearing my phone buzz, I wandered out to the kitchen and opened the app. It was a picture of Cindy already in bed, thanking me for a great night. I replied, stating I’d had a great time, and that I’d like to do it again. To my surprise, the next sound was my phone ringing. It was Cindy.
“Let’s have lunch tomorrow,” she suggested.
“Okay. I can drive over and pick you up? Say around 1pm?”
“Sounds great, Mark.” I heard her yawn. “I’m bushed. Sweet dreams, Mark.”
“Goodnight, Cindy.”
Disconnecting the call, I headed to my room and undressed, having a quick shower, before getting into bed. I lay back and thought about the evening. I certainly hadn’t expected to meet anyone that night. There was something joyful about her though. Some real joie de vivre. But, at the same time, she didn’t seem troubled, but like when her hands started to shake, I think she perhaps had problems of her own. Just like all of us, to be honest.
After breakfast and a visit to the gym the next morning, I sent Cindy a message when I was ready to go pick her up. Arriving outside her apartment block half an hour later, she buzzed me up, her door already open after I stepped out of the elevator. She was waiting for me, wearing a gorgeous red summer dress that highlighted her curves, the hem high enough to show off a great pair of legs. I definitely gazed at her in silence. “You like?” she asked softly.
“I definitely like. Any man where we eat is going to be jealous you’re on my arm.”
“Well, aren’t you a charmer.”
That made me snort with humour, setting off a giggle from her. “Ready to go?”
“Yes. I got us reservations at a place nearby. You’re a man. I assume you eat meat?”
“I do.”
She grinned. “Good. Let’s go eat.”
Lunch was fantastic but her company was what helped pass the time. Before we knew it, we’d eaten three courses and the conversation had been incredibly easy. Both of us feeling rather full, I suggested we just take a walk in a nearby park. She loved that idea, so taking her hand, we strolled around the man-made lake, passing by plenty of other couples and families soaking in the warmth and sunshine.
Leading her off the path to the shade of a tree, I leaned back against it as she settled back between my legs, her head resting on my chest, cuddling her back against me. “I could fall asleep like this,” she said softly.
“Hmmm. Been a while since a young woman fell asleep with me.”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing.”
“Would you like to come to my place?”
“I’d love to.”
She sat forward before turning around, straddling my lap, her blue eyes looking into mine. Chewing her bottom lip, she seemed to be thinking about something, before seeming to make up her mind, leaning forward to give me one hell of a soft but sensual kiss before cuddling into me again. God, I’d known her for maybe eighteen hours by this point and I was already thinking a lot of things.