Him Her Them Boxed Set (13 page)

I get up from my desk, having just shut down my laptop. Grabbing my black cardigan and purse, I push my chair into my desk.

"Well, Ryan, have a great evening. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ryan, my office mate and another assistant professor, doesn't look up from his computer.

We work on different subjects, his research focuses more on age related memory loss, but he keeps me company. Sometimes we have lunch together and talk about all the bureaucratic nonsense involved with working for a University. I have a feeling he is attracted to me, but he respects his job too much to ever try anything. If he didn't work with me I might have taken interest in him. He looks to be about six feet and built, not like Pierce, but attractive none the less. His thick, wavy sandy blond hair gives him the appearance of a surfer, not a professor.

He has the typical professor personality, though: straight forward, few filters and a bit shy. I can't complain as I am the same way, except for the shy part. I see no point in being worried what another might think of me. If they don't like me, they don't have to be around me.

"You too Jos. Have a restful evening."

"Can't say as it will be restful, but I think it will be good."

I tilt my head to the side trying to imagine what Pierce has planned. Ryan looks up and gives me a confused look.

"Is something happening tonight?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just have a date."

I see a flash of anger flare in his eyes, but he immediately looks back at his computer.

"Oh, well good luck, I guess. You don't go out much, I'm a little surprised."

"Yeah, that's true. But he's been pestering me for a while, so I finally gave him my number."

Ryan clears his throat.

"So, he's a bit of a pest huh?"

"No, I wouldn't say that. I wouldn't date a man based on sympathy or just to get rid of him. That wouldn't be very nice."

"No, I guess it wouldn't. Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. See you tomorrow Jos."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow."

I walk out the door and swear I hear Ryan yelling "Shit" from behind the door. Perhaps he wants to take me out. But, the only way to come close to doing that is to ask me, which Ryan has never attempted to do.

I leave campus and drive home with about a half hour to spare to get ready for the date. I decide to wear my coral halter backless dress that cinches at the waist and has a swing short skirt. It's comfortable, can be dressed up or down easily and sexy all at the same time. Perfect for a date.

I pull up my hair in a slightly messy, loose up-do that has a few short strands falling toward my face. Then I apply the 1950's style makeup, which I know he likes based on his love of pinups. I realize as I gaze at myself in the mirror, I look like the woman in the card he gave me and I smile.

I hear a faint knocking sound coming from downstairs and I realize he's here. Quickly, grab my navy strappy espadrilles and matching navy wristlet. I do a quick double check and detangle some hair from my long dangly gold chain earrings.

I race down the steps as the knocking starts again and pull open the door. He looks surprised as he is mid knock.

Wow! He looks amazing. His hair is pushed back with a slight wave to it. He's wearing a dark brown fitted blazer with handkerchief, white linen button up shirt and tan pants. Finally, I look down at his shoes and he's wearing white bucks. I shut my eyes, moaning slightly. For some reason and I know it's totally nerdy of me, but I have a thing for bucks on men. There is no reasoning behind it, it just is.

I pull my eyes away from his shoes and look up at him as his eyes are on my bare feet.

"Would you like to come in Pierce?"

His eyes shoot up to mine as he smiles, while walking past me and I move to let him in. I lead him over to my couch.

"Please have a seat. I have to put my shoes on and then we can go."

He turns to look at me as I struggle with my sandal. After adjusting my shoe strap I look up to see him staring at my back as I turn to pick up my bag and stand up.

"You ready?"

He grabs my hand before I have a chance to turn away towards the door.

"Always, my dear and I have to say you look beautiful tonight."

I look at his shoes and then back up into his eyes.

"You are looking hot as always my good sir."

I tug his hand and lead him to the door knowing if we stay here we will never get outside. We walk out the door and before I know it we are in his car as he starts the engine.

"Are we going far?"

I ask being very curious about the evening.

"Not very far at all, I was debating walking there, but I think with your shoes we should drive."

"Oh."

After a few turns of the car we pull into a parking garage on the other side of Federal Hill by the harbor. He hops out and hustles over to help me out.

"You weren't kidding when you said not very far. I don't even think that took five minutes."

He guides me toward the water and we walk up to the Rusty Scupper Restaurant which is situated on the harbor. But we keep walking around the building, not going inside.

"At some point we have to stop walking or we will end up in the water."

I gaze up at him and he just looks down at me and smiles. We finally stop in front of the water taxi sign.

"Oh, we're taking the water taxi. You should have told me, your place is closer. I could have met you at your apartment and we could have walked here."

"No, I'm taking you out. It's my job to take care of you, not come over to my place because of convenience. Besides I like surprising you. You are cute when you don't know what's going on."

He leans down and kisses me on the cheek. I can smell his cologne; it's woodsy with a hint of spice and makes me want to do all sorts of dirty things to him.

After a few minutes the water taxi arrives and we board. Looking out over the water from inside he wraps his arms around me from behind and leans down to kiss my neck.

"You look so beautiful tonight Josephine. It's going to be real hard keeping my hands off you tonight."

"Well, I'm hungry, so you have to keep your hands at bay long enough for me to have dinner."

I can feel him smile into my neck.

"I liked the gifts you left in my mail box this week. I see you have been writing more poems. I have to say that really turns me on."

"Then maybe I should write poetry to you during dinner."

The taxi stops across the harbor.

"Come on this is our stop."

Pierce pulls away, but grabs my hand as we exit the taxi. Walking up Aliceanna Street we enter the Four Seasons hotel. My eyes drink in the cool elegance of the lobby but we move past it and walk into a warm, inviting tavern of Wit & Wisdom. It's a contrast to the modern décor of the hotel, with its rustic meets art deco design. He talks to the hostess as I continue to take in the room.

"Josephine, this way."

I look over and he's guiding me, placing his hand on the small of my back and unknowingly sending shivers through out my body. The hostess leads us to a table by the window. Pierce pulls out the seat for me allowing me to sit. After, he takes the chair beside me and our hostess hands us the leather bound menus. She finally gives us privacy after explaining the specials.

"This place is nice. I didn't even know this was here."

"Well, it's not like you would be staying in a hotel across the harbor from your home."

"That's true. So, tell me Pierce why me?"

I know his perplexed expression is not from the choices displayed on the menu he just lifted his eyes from.

"What do you mean why you?"

"You asked me that question on Saturday and I gave you my answer. Now I want to ask you the same thing. You could have any woman you want, why me? What makes me so special that you would want to wine me and dine me?"

His arm stretches across the wooden table and he entangles his fingers into mine. They are soft and warm distracting me from his words at first before I force myself to listen.

"At the beginning I thought it was because you are so gorgeous. You looked just like one on my pin ups on my walls, so incredibly sexy and all woman. But, the more I talked to you I saw your personality and it blew me away. There have been many times I have been talking to you and become so captivated by what you have to say. Whether it's joking with me about asking you to stay the first night we met or your observation of me at my mom's place last week or your ideas on Johnny Cash songs. You are like that one breathtaking red flower in a sea of yellow and green. Finally, you challenge me and no one has done that, except for my mother. I have always been the smartest guy in the room, but you my dear run circles around me and I try so hard to catch up."

Words escape me and I stare at him not knowing what to say. He smiles at me then turns back to his menu, still holding my hand. I want to stand up and tell him to order a cab because we are going back to my place so I can tear off his clothes, but I don't. Why is it so hard to focus on anything but his body when I am with him? The more he opens up like that, the more I want to jump him. He's looking back up at me in concern.

"Is something wrong Josephine?"

"I just shouldn't have asked you that."

There is worry in his eye
s
.

"Did I say too much? I don't mean to scare you."

"No you didn't scare me, quite the opposite in fact. I am so turned on right now I can't look away from you."

His eyes grow dark and I hear him start to pick up his breathing.

"You can't talk like that to me right now Josephine. I really want to complete this date but if you keep saying things like that to me I'll end up renting a very expensive hotel room instead of a meal."

"I understand Pierce. Let's talk about other things. Um, how about your father?"

The darkness in his eyes morph, becoming cold and distant. I suspect this subject is just as sensitive as he lets go of my hand.

"I don't have a father."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you never met him."

He grabs a bread stick from the basket on the table, but just twiddles it in between his fingers, never placing it to his lips.

"I never said I never met him. I said I don't have a father. He is not a man I wish to talk about, ever!"

His tone went up, way up on that last word and a couple at a table near us look over. I have never seen Pierce angry, he's always been so silly and sexual, but never like this. It makes me want to take him in my arms and soothe him, fluttering kisses into his hair. I turn to him slightly, resting my hand on his neck, rubbing circles into his hair. Bringing my head to his neck I give him some kisses as his arm wraps around me.

"I don't wish to upset you. I won't bring up the topic again."

He sighs and I feel his hand cup my cheek.

"Oh Josephine, I am so sorry I snapped like that. You weren't to know. He wasn't a good man. He did things to me, to my mom, that I can't ever forgive him for. I don't want you to ever feel anything in regards to that man."

The waitress interrupted our moment. We both order something from the special menu and she heads off.

"Why would I have any feelings for him?"

"You might hate him or feel sympathy for my mom or something and those are feelings he caused. His actions would cause those feelings in you and he doesn't deserve anything from you."

I lift my head from his neck and ponder at the anguish behind his eyes. What did his father do that would cause this reaction, these thoughts from Pierce?

"It's alright Pierce, you don't have to tell me anything if you aren't comfortable. But, I do want you to know I am here for you if you do wish to talk. I will never judge you."

I have a feeling his father was abusive in some fashion. Usually abused victims blame themselves in some way, despite all the hostility they show to the victimizer. I don't want Pierce to ever feel guilty for his father's actions.

"Pierce, I am only going to talk about this once and it's not to get you to open up. It's because I trust and care for you. I want you to know all of me, the good, the bad and the horrible."

His eyes widen and his hand moves to my lap, taking mine.

"Okay."

"My parents hated each other."

"I sort of got that from what you have told me about them."

"No, I mean it consumed them. They hated each other so much they didn't have any feeling left to love me. I think I would have been better off not having parents at all. I cooked for myself, cleaned for myself, and taught myself how to figure out any problem that came my way. At five years of age I was making Mac & Cheese on the stove for dinner because mom was out taking some new class she was into at the time and my dad was usually so deep in his depression he couldn't get out of bed."

They never came to a play, a spelling bee or anything I was doing. I was unloved for most of my life, until I met Luna. I was very angry, but a focused teenager. She saw that and helped me deal with the anger. She started to help me in life when my parents never did. Luna is the only other person who knows what my life was like with my parents. I don't talk about it because I spent far too many years letting it eat away at me. Now, it's just a fact to me, like the fact I like the color green. I woke up about five years ago and just let it go. That's the past, I am the future."