Evelyn sighed as the maite’d walked away after seating us. I concurred. He was very good looking and charming. Although I was with three very lovely ladies, I always got the lion’s share of attention because I was the only one who possessed a naked left ring finger. My sister Elizabeth, who had just turned forty, and my two sisters-in-law, both in their mid-thirties were definitely head turners. I was sure I could hold my own with them, but, as I said, I had an advantage. I was single!
Sandra, my Brother Ed’s wife, looking at the back of the retreating maite’d said, “Catherine, I don’t know whether to envy you or feel sorry for you.”
I gave her one of my, what does that mean looks.
“It must be wonderful to be free to date any good looking man that comes along, but I’m not sure how that kind of freedom could compare to what I have with your brother and the boys.”
She had an excellent point. I loved my life, but I did sometimes envy what Beth, Sandra, and Evelyn had. Loving husbands, great children and they always seemed very content with their lives.
“It’s nice. But it’s not all it seems.”
“Bull,” Evelyn answered, “You know darn well you could have a date with that guy before we left the restaurant tonight! What man wouldn’t want a date with a tall, blond, blue-eyed beauty with a figure most women would sell their souls for?”
She was probably right. I never had trouble getting a date when I wanted one, and the maite’d in question did seem interested, but it truly wasn’t always as fabulous as it seemed.
“Maybe, but, I’m on a hiatus. I decided to take some time off. My last date didn’t turn out too well.”
I got inquiring looks from all three of them, but I wasn’t about to ruin our monthly sister’s night out with a sad story. I made light of my comment and as always, we had a good time together.
But I did give some thought to my life. I was thirty-three years old. I had a very comfortable two bedroom apartment that was my oasis away from the world. I drove a mid-sized car that was less than a year old. I loved my job and the people I worked with.
I made enough money to allow me a comfortable if not extravagant lifestyle. And, as Evelyn intimated, I always seemed to have a date when I wanted one. There was only one love affair in my life and that was many, many years ago and ended in disaster. Since then, I had a few brief romances and a few short-lived affairs but had never gotten serious with a man.
I was not free with my virtue, and I choose the men I sleep with very carefully. And, never on a first date. Well…almost never. There had been a few occasions, including Jamey, the last man I dated.
His was good looking and charming, but it was our first date and there was something about him that made me uncomfortable. I was having a good time with him, and the discomfort I felt wasn’t a serious problem, but there was no chance we would share a bed that night. But, I did wind up in a hotel room with him that very night. I’m still not sure why, and I’m not all too clear on what happened in that room, but when I woke up the next morning with the mother of all headaches, I also felt used and just a little ashamed.
That’s when I decided to take a little time off from the wonderful world of men and reevaluate the criteria I used to decide who I would date. I didn’t expect it to last this long. It had been two months since that night with Jamey, and I still felt no need to rush back onto the playing field.
When the maite’d passed our table again, I naturally glanced in his direction. I wasn’t the only one. But my attention was drawn to the man he was escorting to a table. He was probably the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on. Tall and handsome. He had a confident air about him and the girl with him was exactly what you would expect to be with such a man. She was spectacular.
Now that is something I would break a few rules for!
Little did I know the changes that were about to take place in my life would be controlled by this very man. My job, my life, my entire future would be affected by this man and I would be the one to initiate it all.
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