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The intimate cabin suddenly feels small, claustrophobic. Her eyes won’t meet mine and she’s shifting uncomfortably.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I apologize, but put the box on the table between us. “You don’t have to take the gift if you don’t want to. I just wanted to show my appreciation for you coming out with me tonight,” I smile, coaxing her out of the shell she had retreated into.
“I appreciate it,” she smiles softly. “It’s the thought that counts right? Not the price tag or the bling. I’m more interested in why you chose to have dinner in the sky. We could have gone anywhere.”
I consider her question, there is no way I could tell her this was my go-to first date when I wanted to make a quick, unforgettable impression on a woman. I can’t tell her it’s because I think she has never experienced anything like this before, because from the way she’s acting she clearly has.
“I thought you’d like it,” I say instead. “Looks like I was more right than I knew. If I had known I was going out with a chopper expert, I would have made more of an effort,” I laugh.
The mood lightens almost instantly and I take the time for some self-deprecation. I read that sharing an embarrassing secret creates an almost instant bond and makes you feel like you’ve known a person for much longer than you have in reality. The research I did into my new business venture turns out to be a lot more valuable than I first thought.
“To be honest, I know very little about helicopters and that sort of thing. I was a little embarrassed by how much you knew,” I smile, but only enough to convince her that I’m actually embarrassed. “I’ve never met a woman who actually knows about these things. I’m impressed.”
It’s a double assault, first I’ve shared my embarrassment and then I’ve complimented her. It works, she blushes. Her cheeks are a warm pink under her light freckles. Her toes curled in her sandals. My research is paying off.
Sitting across from me, I can take her in fully. There’s nowhere for her to hide her petite frame, the round perky swell of her breast settling firmly on her chest. The peaks of her cleavage tempt my imagination from the neckline of her dress.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” I ask, knowing full well that I’ve already told her. It’s worth mentioning again.
“You did, but thank you again. I haven’t had a night out in such a long time. Really, thank you,” she smiles confidently, this time holding my gaze, drawing me in.
The timing was perfect. If I wasn’t playing the long game, I would have happily leaned in to kiss her. Taste the wine on her lips and feel her body pressed against mine.
I lean back and settle firmly in my seat to avoid any further temptation to do just that.
“I’ve had a great time too,” I say honestly.
I really wish I had more time with Cassidy as the helicopter made its last turn to settle back onto the airfield where the flashy red Porsche now looks a little garish and embarrassing. I make a mental note to choose something more classic next time. There will definitely be a next time.
The drive back to Cassidy’s apartment is lighter, the stuffy awkwardness of being stuck in a car with a stranger gone. Now we play jukebox on the car’s radio, mocking each other’s musical tastes and sharing memories of dances and nights gone wrong. Everything is going according to plan: we skip ahead several steps thanks to my research and we’re no longer strangers after just one night.
“And like the gentleman I am, I’ve brought you home safe and sound,” I announce stopping outside her block.
Cassidy smiles, she doesn’t know what to expect, I can tell from the sudden silence. I climb out and open the door, taking a deep inhale as she passes me to stand on the sidewalk. I touch her hand, barely holding it as we walk up the short stairway to the door.
“This is goodnight I guess,” I whisper, leaning slowly toward her. Watching to see the change in her, her eyes closing in expectation.
Only, Cassidy doesn’t move.
“Goodnight,” I whisper, kissing her gently on the cheek. A sign of respect, planting the seed that our date was about more than just sex. It wasn’t a one time thing.
I stand back to watch the effect of my calculated move.
“Goodnight,” Cassidy says, and walks through the doors without so much as looking back.
It’s as if she expected that all along. There’s something about this woman, something I don’t understand and am still not sure I really like. She’s making me question my whole strategy, and I’m going to have to do a lot more than just throw money around.
Sure, she is interesting, she’s different, but there’s no way I’m going to let her stubbornness get in the way of getting one over on Edward.
I’m going to wear her down, one way or another.
5
Cassidy
Ilie in bed replaying the events from last night, from the time Ethan picked me up to the gentlemanly kiss on my cheek to say goodnight.
I didn’t expect much from him, but he surpassed all my expectations somehow. Not that I’m supposed to have any kind of expectations, but I can’t help myself when it comes to him. Leading up to the date I was thinking about where we’d go, what we would eat, and most of all, why me?
