by Nella Tyler
The way that the dress clung to her alluring body, hugging her curves in all the right places, only added to the intensity of my feelings.
I felt my heart start to race as my mind returned to the fantasy-laden thoughts that had infested my mind on the way over to her house.
This time, however, having a legitimate and astounding image to perceive in my mind’s eye, both with and without her clothing, I felt warranted in my thoughts.
Her hair was done up elegantly, matching the essence of her attire. Pulled back, it allowed the entirety of her delicate facial features and throat to be visible.
Instantly, I thought of kissing the warm, soft crux of her neck, which was boldly presented to me, accentuated by the cut of the dress.
Trying to force that image out of my mind, my eyes traveled down, unwittingly, her long, slim legs to take in the slight amount of high-heel that she was wearing.
When I realized I had gone down too far and my jaw was hinged in shock, I quickly closed my mouth and snapped my eyes back up to meet her gaze, hoping to God she didn’t notice.
“Hi, Dex!” she exclaimed, rushing out of the door and hugging me.
I was still taken back by the sight of her, extremely sexy and unwaveringly beautiful, that she was already practically knocking me back with the force of her embrace before I found the right words with which to respond.
“Hey…Mazie. You look beautiful!” I stammered, knowing that if I was going to have any success, I was going to need to pull myself together, at least a little bit, and thus, I tried to shift my focus.
However, as I was attempting this, I received a whiff of her hair and the perfume she had put on, which transported me into another realm of intimate thoughts.
I felt my jaw lock as I pushed away from her.
“Thanks,” she replied, her eyes making it a point to look me up and down as well, “You look handsome as ever.”
I grinned as a silence erupted between us that was awkward and slightly strange.
Damn. I should've gone with the flowers… I thought, but I hoped that I would be right in thinking she would forgive me for my lack of dating etiquette.
“Ready to go?” she asked after allowing a moment of the silence to settle between us.
“Sure! Do you need anything from inside?”
Dude, you’re trying too hard! Relax! I told myself, knowing that if either of us got all weird about ‘dating’ that it wouldn’t go well.
“No. I’m good,” Mazie replied easily, standing back and motioning to the dress, which forced me to take in the beauty and sensual intoxication her body seemed to possess me with again. “This dress doesn’t have much storage, so I’m packing light tonight.”
Forcing myself out of the thoughts that were not conducive to making this a fun night, at least not this early, I grinned and offered her my arm, “I guess not. Well, let’s go, then.”
Taking my arm, the two of us walked to my car.
During this time, we talked and joked, settling things into a comfortability that I hoped was genuinely mutual.
“So, where are we going to eat?” Mazie asked as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“We are going to go to my favorite restaurant this time,” I answered.
“You have a favorite restaurant?” she teased. “Is it accessible by car?”
I narrowed my eyes as my glance shifted to the passenger seat. I chuckled.
“Of course, it is. In fact, it’s closer to your house than mine,” I retorted with a sense of pride, as though I had won something.
“Oh really?” Although she was still obviously joking, there was a hint of surprise in her voice that sounded genuine.
“What goes through your mind when you think of me?”
Her shoulders rose and fell as she thought about how to put what she obviously, genuinely felt, at least to some degree.
“I don’t know. I always assumed you were one of those people who, unless it was exceptionally good food, viewed eating as filling a void or something. I didn’t think you actually enjoyed it unless it cost more than some people’s annual salary.”
If she was telling the truth, she obviously didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Holy shit! Do you really think I’m that much of a snob?”
“Well…yes,” she jeered, before bursting out into laughter.
“Wow!” I answered, slightly unsure of whether to be offended or take it as the joke she was playing it off as.
“Oh God, I’m sorry. I was kidding…I mean about the annual salary part. I only meant that I assumed you only liked things…”
“If they are over the top and disgustingly all about me, I get it,” I retorted, feeling a strange sense of relief that she would say something like that to me.
Maybe she can help keep me grounded, I thought. Even though Mazie was dead wrong about this particular subject, there were a few things that perhaps she could keep me from getting a big head about, thus ending up like my father.
“You couldn’t be more wrong, though. If it were really up to me, we’d be getting McDonald's, but since this is a proper date, I think that it’s only fair I take you to a nice restaurant,” I glared at her in a teasing manner as I added, “Not that you deserve it, after that comment.”
She laughed and teasingly hit my arm.
“Oh, come off your high horse, there, Dex. I was only joking…Mostly.”
I shook my head as I turned the corner and pulled into a little Italian restaurant that many people in my father’s circles would never know existed.
“Good! I’ve always wanted to try this place. It always looks so adorable,” she insisted as her eyes illuminated with recognition, “How did you find it?”
“I’m full of surprises,” I teased, “No. Honestly, I was just driving around one night, looking for something different and wanting to get the hell away from my father’s side of town and found this place. I love it! I come here for lunch a lot, and sometimes dinner, but…” I stopped before finishing the thought; most dates I have wouldn’t deserve to come here, because they wouldn’t appreciate it. I continued to try to keep from making this night weird.
“But what?” she inquired in a genuine fashion that told me she wasn’t going to let me off the hook so easily.
“But…” I thought, trying not to sound as though I was having too much trouble amending my original thought and to, above all, keep from lying to her, “Let’s just say that most the people I go to dinner with wouldn’t appreciate it like I know you will.”
“Because I’m a teacher who is lucky to go out to eat once a month?” she inquired, raising her eyebrows. “Is that a dig at me. Did I really insult you before?”
“What? No!” I insisted earnestly, “I don’t give a shit about how you think I enjoy my meals, considering I want to show you. I know you’ll appreciate this place because of who you are, Mazie. Who you’ve always been. You're…different. Unique.”
I watched as her eyes averted my gaze and her cheeks reddened slightly.
“Oh,” she answered, apologetically. “I’m sorry. Thank you.”
I grinned, realizing that she was as nervous and unsure about this whole thing as I was and in some way, that made me feel better.
“Listen, Mazie; I’m not going to lie to you. I can be a dick and sometimes, I think I’m even worse of a person because I kind of enjoy it, but I will never purposefully be a dick to you. I can’t guarantee that I will do everything right, or that I will never hurt you, but I have never and will never do anything purposefully to upset you. I want to be honest with you, Mazie, which is why I’m even giving this thing a shot.”
“So, you’re not taking me out to ensure I haven’t told anyone about your secret Santa gig?” she grinned and spoke in a teasing voice, but there was something about the way she spoke that convinced me that there was an element of truth to her words. Despite the air she put on, she genuinely wanted to make sure this second date was not my idea of fucking with her. While that bothered me s
lightly, it was simply more motivating to show her that I wasn’t the man she seemed to be convinced I was.
“Seriously?” I demanded, a little harsher than intended. “Mazie, you know me. I wouldn’t do that to you. Who the hell has been telling you this shit?”
“So, I guess, that’s a no, then?” she grinned, now seeming a little more hopeful.
“Hell yes, that’s a no!” I insisted, “Listen, you and I have known one another a long time, but we have grown apart. Even though I think our friendship is still as solid as ever, we need to get to know one another again. So, if you could put all of these preconceived notions out of your mind, if only for one night, I’d love to get to know the woman you’ve become and give you a chance to get to know me.”
Damn, could you get any more fucking pathetic? Wear your heart a little lower down on your sleeve, why don’t you? I thought, but strangely, I didn’t feel uncomfortably vulnerable and from the expression my words incited, I was even more convinced after saying them that they needed to be said.
The way her expression lit up made me happy, and I found it easy to be honest with her, where it wasn’t so simple with anyone else in my life.
“Thank you,” she answered finally, brushing her hand against mine, causing a pulsing in my groin that I wasn’t exactly comfortable with, but also didn’t want to deter.
God, I want you, I thought, staring deeply into her jovial eyes and imagining what it would feel like to kiss her.
“Come on. Let’s eat. I’m starving!” I insisted, breaking the connection for fear I would do something she might not be ready for and ruin the moment completely.
I got out of the car quickly, begrudgingly breaking the contact between our hands, and rushed over to open the door for her.
“Thanks,” she replied, stepping gracefully out of the car that she seemed far more comfortable in than my other vehicle.
I gave her my arm again, and we walked into the restaurant.
The hostess smiled when she saw me and asked if I wanted my regular table.
“Wow,” Mazie seemed impressed, “I guess you really do come here a lot.”
“Often enough,” I agreed, “But it’s a family-run restaurant, so it’s not difficult to start to know the owners. Stacy, she’s the owner’s daughter.”
“Oh?” Mazie replied as I pulled out her chair for her.
“That’s right! For the most part, it’s a family business. In the summer, we hire outside help, but during the slower periods, it’s just us,” Stacy joined in, handing us our menus, “Which means that I will also be your waitress.”
“Thanks, Stacy,” Mazie answered, taking the menu, “This is such a cute place. The ambiance is great!”
From the way she was grinning and glancing around, taking everything from the candles on the table to the wall décor into careful consideration, it was obvious that she was being genuine.
I hoped that meant that I gained a few brownie points.
“What would you like to drink?” I asked Mazie as the hostess/waitress left the table, promising to return shortly after she’d given us a minute to get settled.
“I don’t know. Red goes with Italian, right?” she giggled, though I wasn’t quite sure if she was having fun or slightly embarrassed.
“Generally, but I like beer, so…” I grinned as she shook her head.
“You are classy as ever, Dex,” she insisted.
“What did I tell you? I’m a real winner,” I grinned.
When Stacy returned, Mazie gave her order of merlot and linguine with clam sauce.
I ordered a steak and received a strange look from both Stacy and Mazie.
Maybe next time I shouldn’t go somewhere where I am severely outnumbered.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head at the pair of them, but decided that I was not going to apologize for what I liked.
Finally, the strange stares from the two women stopped when Stacy left the table.
There was a moment of silence between us before Mazie stared at me in a serious manner.
“So, I have to ask, is something bothering you?”
“What?” I asked, trying to figure out if I was genuinely that transparent, “Why would you ask me something like that?”
“You seem a little bit…distracted? I don’t know. I just get the feeling that something is bugging you and I want to make sure you are okay,” she offered.
“Okay…” I offered, trying to figure out what to say next.
“I mean, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay. It’s just, if it’s about me, I’d like to know. I mean, I know this whole thing is a little weird, but…”
“Wait. What? No. Mazie, trust me, this has absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“But there is something bothering you?”
“A helpful hint, more often than not, something is always bothering me. I live my life in a constant state of aggravation.”
She chuckled, “Well, if it really doesn’t have anything to do with me, I’m not going to press for any more information. Your business is your own, I guess.”
“Thanks,” I offered but instantly felt bad for not opening up to her. What bothered me most was that I wanted to be truthful with her, but I didn’t want to feel that vulnerable. Still, I recognized this as a perfect opportunity to try to start to build a relationship with her and so, after enduring her stare for longer than I was comfortable with, I started again, “Alright…if you must know, it’s my father. He’s being a dick…more of a dick than normal, and you’re right, it is really bugging me.”
“I’m sorry,” Mazie offered quietly.
Grumbling, I started to let it slip, but staring into her eyes, I realized that I wanted to explain what happened. That way, she would understand and feel assured that my aggravation genuinely had nothing to do with her. I explained the whole situation about my father’s request and eventual ultimatum.
The whole time, Mazie sat quietly, shaking her head and growing more passionately outraged by the situation the more that I talked.
“That’s not right, Dex. Your father, of all people, should know how hard you worked on this project and he should want you to have the opportunity to shine.”
At this, I burst out laughing.
“Yeah. Maybe that’s how most fathers are, but if I’m not making money for my father, he likes to pretend I don’t exist and if he thinks I’m going to lose money for him…” I shook my head, “God, if I come back without that deal, he might not stop at firing me. He might actually kill me.”
“Dexter, he’s still your father. I’m sure he cares about you.”
“No.” I sighed, “Unfortunately, if it isn’t worth its weight in gold, nothing is ever useful to my father. He’s a greedy old man. The only regret I have is it’s taken me too damn long to realize that. Now, I have to deliver or face his wrath.”
“Dex, you’re good at your job, and I have faith in you. If you say you’re going to do something, you have always found a way to get it done. I am certain that if you think you can land this deal, you will, and if your father can’t see that, after all this time, it’s his loss.”
“Not when the noose is tightening around my neck and my father is itching to kick the chair out from under my feet,” I grumbled, and in showing my annoyance, I threw my hand through my hair and looked away from her until I could take a deep breath and calm myself. “I don’t know,” I finally admitted. “If I hadn’t stood up to him, if he hadn’t made such a selfish request, I would have options if I lost the deal and my father flew off the handle. If I don’t come through now, though, I’ll still be filed as a spoiled child who bit off more than he could chew and my career would be ruined. No one is going to put up with the insubordination my father is going to claim I demonstrated. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he flat-out lied just to be certain that I was going to feel the same amount of loss that he felt he suffered.”
“No, Dex! You can’t do this to yourself,” Mazie insisted, reaching her hand ou
t and grasping mine gingerly.
I looked at her when she did that and met piercing, serious eyes.
“Do what? Acknowledge the truth? It was a stupid move, Mazie…”
“What? Standing up to him? No. That was probably one of the best things you ever did. This way, not only will you get your deal, you will prove to your dad, whether he wants to admit it or not, that you aren’t gonna take his shit anymore. You freed yourself, Dexter,” she insisted.
“Yeah, from any hope of employment,” I retorted as we both backed away while our plates were placed in front of us.
“No, Dex,” she insisted when Stacy left the table, “You freed yourself from doing your father’s bidding. This is your chance to prove to him that you aren’t a kid anymore and that you can do this job, probably better than he can.”
I grinned, feeling uplifted by the confidence she had in me.
“Okay,” I answered after taking a few bites of my meal, “So, I lose the deal.”
“You won’t,” she answered simply, staring at me, almost as though she was reprimanding me for thinking negatively.
“But, let’s say I do…I would have won the battle but lost the war. If my father makes good on his threat, and I am confident he will, I will have absolutely no job prospects whatsoever.”
Mazie shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.
“If all else fails, you can come live on my couch,” she gave a wicked grin as she teased. “Who knows, if you play your cards right, you might even make it into my bed.”
Again, I felt a rage of excitement coming from my groin, which I shifted in an effort to try to ignore.
“Well,” I joked, shoving the dirty thoughts that invoked my mind out of my head, “At least it would make our personal lives a lot less complicated.”
She giggled as she sipped her wine and gingerly put the glass back down on the table.
“That’s true, but honestly, I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about that. I know you’re going to score this deal and get the opportunity to react in any way you see fit.” I must have looked as doubtful as I felt because before I could give any of the many smart-ass answers I was contemplating, she continued, “You aren’t being a spoiled child, Dex; you are sticking up for yourself. You worked hard on this project, and you deserve the credit, not to mention the commission that comes with it.”