AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Somebody grabbed me by the scruff of my purple leather jacket and pulled me out of the way at the last second. I was grateful for the assist. I was stunned watching this behemoth of a car sideswipe several others going down the street. Sparks followed in its wake leaving behind an indelible mark which the car owners weren’t going to be happy about.
I turned to thank my protector but nobody was there. Those in the near vicinity had already forgotten what could’ve been a catastrophe. I should’ve been a hood ornament lying lifeless like some kind of trophy. My death would have sent shock waves through my town but I instinctively knew they would move on. It was the cycle of life. Only two things were constant. Death and taxes were things everybody had to worry about.
My knees were a little skinned but no blood was drawn. It just felt raw but I actually enjoyed the pain, which was another reason why I wasn’t about to divulge personal information about myself to anybody. Not even my parents knew of my penchant for burning myself and cutting my skin to feel that intoxicating pain.
I was supposed to be at the restaurant at six and it was almost seven. He would have to be pretty damn desperate to stick around for an hour drumming his fingers incessantly on the table waiting for me to arrive. He probably thought I'd had second thoughts and had done him the discourtesy of standing him up.
My parents raised me to be cordial and kind. I couldn’t in good conscience walk away without making an appearance. Though the accident did give me a good excuse for cutting the evening short. It was a nice place with an Italian flair, followed by spices from the kitchen which assaulted me from the moment I stepped through the door to be greeted by the maître d’. He was dressed impeccably and the ambiance was romantic with lit candles on every table.
He didn’t have to ask before grabbing a menu and making his way over to the table in the back
corner. The first thing I noticed about Daniel was his dazzling white smile. He took my hand and placed his lips on the back of it and then he gave me a curious look.
“I was going to ask what took you so long but I can see it must’ve been a bumpy ride when you came down from heaven. Did I really say that? Forgive me but I don’t know how to turn it off. If you don’t mind me asking…what happened?” He sat back down and motioned for me to do the same thing, until I realized what a sight I had made, making people in the restaurant whisper behind my back.
It wasn’t just my knees scraped but my hands had road rash and there was a tear at the shoulder of my blouse exposing my bare skin. It was mostly superficial wounds and the only thing bruised was my pride.
“I had a disagreement with a car. You can imagine how that went. I would say you should see the other guy but he didn’t exactly stick around for autographs.” My attempt at humor was a good way to break the ice instead of waiting for that inevitable awkward silence to fill the air.
“People in this town drive crazy. You really do need to have eyes in the back of your head. Why don’t you freshen up before dinner and I’ll order us a bottle of wine? Let’s hope the rest of your evening is uneventful and pleasant.” He was the dictionary meaning of tall, dark and handsome, with his suit molded to him like a second skin.
There was no way to hide his muscular physique and broad shoulders busting out of the material. His hair was buzzed to stubble and his face was shaven with just a hint of a five o'clock shadow. There was this bad boy vibe underneath the prim exterior trying to bleed through. His grip was manly but there was a sensuality in how his fingers rubbed almost imperceptibly across the back of my hand to send a shiver down my spine.
“I could use something strong to drink to take the edge off. I wasn’t entirely sure about this evening and what happened only made matters worse. I’m not sure but there’s something about you. I can’t put my finger on it but it has me curious to know more.” I was walking by a table on my way to the restroom when a woman out of nowhere passed me a sewing kit from her purse.
“It always helps to come prepared for anything. Do you want help? I’m sure my husband won’t mind me giving you a hand.” I didn’t give her a definitive answer and continued into the washroom, which was cleaner than most with the smell of antiseptic and bleach to make it spotless.
In the light, I was able to assess my injuries and I couldn’t believe he wanted to continue the date with this train wreck. What did that tell me about him? Did he want to find the nearest exit and would I find the table empty when I got back? I might’ve been a pragmatist but I could always look at the worst case scenario bringing it into focus.
The lady in question was a woman of her word wearing an Italian original in black. Every woman had that little black dress to make them feel sexy in the back of their closet, to break out for those special occasions. I pegged her for being on an anniversary date to keep those home fires burning in the bedroom.
“I know that look better than anybody. I’m afraid the windows are painted shut.” I did make a fleeting glance toward the window scouting out my exit strategy.
“Let me guess, this is where he proposed and the rest is history. This place does leave a lasting impression but I was hoping for something a little less romantic for a blind date. I would’ve been perfectly comfortable at a hole in the wall where they made the best burgers. I don’t dress up and these are the kinds of games I try to avoid. The package looks nice but I have no idea what I’m going to find underneath the pretty bow.” She was tastefully made up and she was a few inches taller than I was.
“Isn’t that half the fun of doing something completely crazy and unpredictable? I know I miss the feeling of exhilaration when I’m about to meet somebody new. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband and I would never change the time I’ve spent with him for anything in the world. We still keep things exciting but we will never have that first kiss again. I invite you to look around at how the women have been looking at your date from the moment he arrived an hour ago,” She suggested while administering to my wounds with some alcohol swabs she had in her purse.
There was a virtual treasure trove of different things she was carrying around for emergencies. The woman was indeed prepared and it probably drove her husband crazy whenever she felt like being a concerned citizen.
“You do give me a lot to think about and I appreciate it. I find your generosity a little unnerving. It’s rare to find someone who does anything without expecting something in return. I know it sounds jaded, there are obviously good people in the world, but finding them isn’t easy.” The alcohol did sting and I certainly wasn’t going to tell her to make it hurt more, even though it was on the tip of my tongue.
It was almost orgasmic and my legs twitched to those nerve endings firing on all cylinders. She nicked me with the needle when she began sewing up the tear in my blouse. It wasn’t the same color but I wasn’t going to make any mention of it, after all, she had gone out of her way to help. It gave me hope for humanity.
“Tell me about it. I come from hometown values and the city was a culture shock. Phoenix was where my career sent me and I couldn’t turn down the money. I met my husband on a blind date right here five years ago. I staked out the bathroom the very same way you are doing but I’m glad that I exercised some restraint,” she said, and her recollection of events gave me a good reason to go back to the table to finish what I'd started.
She handed me her card and her name of Natalie Black was embossed on the surface. She was a computer specialist with an up and coming technology company. They were making waves in a big way and I had been investing wisely watching the trends. It was merely a pastime but it had netted me a tidy sum for a rainy day. I was waiting for them to go public.
“I live on the outskirts away from the hustle and bustle on my family farm. We know the value of hard work. I’m going to give you my number. I don’t have a lot of friends but I would like to consider you a new one I just met. You never know when I might need your technological know how,” I told her. She walked out ahead of me and I followed suit back to the table where my date was sitting patiently, cool as a cucumber.
“I thought I would wait to order dinner as I would never presume to know what you might like. If I were to make a recommendation, though, I would rave about their pasta dishes. They make it fresh to order right here in the restaurant. The sauce is a family recipe and the taste will have you wanting to bathe in it. I chose this place for the food. Nobody really wants to go on a blind date but at least this way you get a good meal out of it.” He had the gift of conversation and it came easy for him, making it look like he was going by the numbers.
The waiter was young and impressionable, most likely a family member of the owner. He looked proud and showed his knowledge about the food by suggesting the house special. He made it so appealing that I had to try it. Daniel went a different route choosing linguine with a white wine clam sauce and promised to share.
He was urbane and thoughtful speaking of current events including the plight of the Muslim community. 9/11 made people nervous, and for good reason, even after all these years. It was too bad a few bad apples made it rough on those trying to make an honest living. I had sympathy and I went to a mosque on a regular basis to share in the Muslim faith. Religion was subjective and I delved into different avenues to find out which was a good fit for me. Buddhism was where my heart was leading me to a simpler lifestyle where it wasn’t about want but need.
“I don’t let my life get cluttered with unnecessary things. Daniel, the one thing you need to know about me is that I don’t take life too seriously. I’ve always been a little bit different and I’ve never wanted to be normal. It’s highly overrated to follow the sheep.” I thought for sure I had said something wrong when he flinched noticeably.
“I do admire individuality. I might seem straight-laced but there’s more to me than meets the eye. Wearing this suit is armor against the rest of the world. It protects me from scrutiny. I’ve always been most comfortable in the outdoors. I come from a very big family and we’re all a little overprotective of one another.” He was full of surprises and the conversation came to a stop when the food arrived.
