"I have 45 minutes. And hot dogs won't cut it buckaroo."
They rode the elevator down together. They were the only two.
She turned to him suddenly, "I'm seen you before haven't I? We've met before?"
"I don't think we've formally met before. I would remember that. But I use to walk through this building on the way to the park."
"Ahh that must be it."
They decided to grab a couple sandwiches and headed to the park. They shared a bench.
"So you are interested in renting some space from me.? Striking out on your own?" Jessica asked.
"Your company has the entire floor?"
She nodded in between bites.
"So you guys use half of it, and rent out the other half?"
She nodded again.
"I guess you could say that I am just examining my career options. I'm 30 and I feel like I maybe approaching a crossroads in my life."
She laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Lucas, you're only 30 and already at a crossroads. I feel ancient talking to you. I've got you beat by 2 years."
She didn't look a day over 25. She was stunning. The light wind blew her hair to me. Her perfume wafted over next, followed by the floral sexiness of her own scent. The woodie was threatening to come back.
"You certainly don't look it." He responded. "I am just trying to see if there was anything that may appeal to me if I were to strike out solo," he continued.
Those damn blue eyes were like sapphire laser. She was trying to reach into his soul to find the truth.
"So you would be looking to start a new business. Consulting? Interesting."
"Yeah, bout as interesting as watching the Church Bingo World championship I'm sure."
She threw her head back and laughed that throaty laugh of hers. The one that made him want to fall to her feet.
"Truly not that interesting." She retorted, leaning in to touch his forearm.
They walked back to her office, joking along the way.
She stopped him before entering the building.
"I don't do this. But..." she paused looking up at him.
"Would you care to have dinner with me, or another lunch?"
I would love to", he responded. "But I can't, I just can't."
His statement sat in the air like a zephyr. Awkward and hovering between them.
"Okay" she stuttered out.
"Are you married?" she asked.
"No..."
"Is it because I'm a woman?"
"No!"
"Is it me? Are you not interested in me?"
"NO!"
"Then what is it? I can take rejection, but you said you would like to, and then you can't? Are you in a relationship or in the seminary or something?" Her tone was incredulous. It made her cheeks warm to a lovely pink, her eyes wide and soft, like lying on blue velvet. He never wanted her so much. He wanted to take her. He didn't want to fuck her; he wanted to make love to her. Rip her clothes off, kiss her until she whimpered, touch her till she was pulling on his pants, and then take her with everything he had to offer.
He gulped over the imagery in his head, waiting to speak until the blood rushed back into his head. This woman was going to kill him. She was straining every part of his body. It was as grueling as a decathlon.
"No relationship, definitely no seminary. It's hard to explain. Well you see. And she. Brunette. Okay."
"What! I didn't understand a word that you said."
"I, uh, swore to myself that I wouldn't date brunettes."
"Excuse me? "
"Brunettes. I don't date brunettes."
"What asinine reasoning is that?"
"I know, its sounds silly. Everyone is more than a hair colour. And it's horrible to simplify a woman to a hair colour. Or debase any human being to something so mundane and trivial."
"Yes it is."
"I was hurt by a brunette once. I didn't consciously do it in the beginning. I just avoided some women that reminded me of her. And then before long, I realized that I was avoiding women with hair that was any shade of brown. Its was some mental aversion. Like getting sick on sushi and never looking at fish the same way again."
"Now that was an analogy that I could have lived without." She said dryly.
He blushed.
"Listen Lucas. Talking to you now was one of the best conversations that I have had since I can remember. I laughed more in the last half hour than I have laughed in the last half decade. I thought we were really clicking."
"We are. It's been an absolute blast. I think you are by far the most attractive woman that I have ever seen. And to learn that you are funny and brilliant. I can't help but enjoy talking to you. I can't think of anyplace else that I would rather be, than right here, right now, with you."
"Then what is the problem."