"I wasn't speaking of those."
He laughed.
"You make me sound like a Palm Springs
walker. like some international gigolo hovering
around wealthy available women whether it be in
Paris, on the Cote d'Azur, or on Rodeo Drive." You speak French. Italian, Spanish. You know
wines, and you've traveled all over the world. You're
like someone trained to escort sophisticated women.
Thatcher. It would be a waste to have you sitting at
home. I can't imagine you ever becoming a couch
potato."
He laughed.
"Well, from now on. you're the only woman
I've been trained to escort. Willow De Beers." We tapped glasses again and sipped our
champagne. He poured us each some more. Then the
music became a little louder and we ordered our food
and nearly finished the bottle of champagne before
starting on a bottle of wine. Thatcher was right about
it all. The food was delicious. and very soon I felt as if we were in some private place. The rest of the world
drifted away. The music was just for us.
Afterward. he talked me into leaving my car in
the restaurant's parking lot and going with him to his
friend's beach house.
"I don't want you picked up for DUI. I would
have to defend you, and the judge would quickly see I
have a personal interest in my client." he told me. We kissed in his car and held each other closely
before we drove off. I felt like someone being swept
away, but I was allowing it to happen. I was caught in
the wind of our passion. Resistance was futile. I hadn't
realized how much I wanted to surrender to its power.