will be able to do this again.” She was making
excuses and she knew it but her head was spinning and she needed time
for it to stop spinning.
“I
am not taking no for an answer,” he told her with a slight
smile.
“I
don’t expect you would,” Rosa said dryly. She was getting
back to her old self again and she wanted to give them a little
distance. “It’s getting late and I have work tomorrow.”
“Okay,”
he started packing up the things and she helped him. “You don’t
mind me calling you?”
Rosa
told him no and they gathered up the stuff with the intention of
leaving. “Can we look at this place one more time before we
go?” she pleaded.
He
nodded and he tagged along behind her as she went from room to room;
lingering as if assessing where she would put what.
“I
love my work,” she murmured, running her hand over the solid
door jamb. “But I hate working for someone else, living their
dream. I want my own, you know what I mean?” she turned to face
him and to her consternation he was right behind her.
“I
know what you mean, I want my own too,” Rosa had a feeling he
was not talking about the same thing as her and her heart rate
quickened. He was taller than her and even in her heeled boots she
came to his shoulders. “I want to kiss you, may I?”
She
nodded wordlessly and as if in slow motion she watched his head
descended. He was not touching her otherwise and she felt his breath
feathered on her face. She did not touch him either but lifted her
face to his. His mouth touched hers lightly and Rosa’s lips
parted as she leaned into him. His tongue delved inside and his arms
went around her waist to pull her closer to him; she splayed her
hands against his solid chest and he deepened the kiss. Rosa felt her
knees going weak and she curled her fingers into his sweater as she
held on for leverage.
His
mouth moved over hers hungrily and Rosa felt her body responding; on
fire for him. She pulled away from him and would have stumbled
backwards if he had not reached out to steady her. Her mouth stung
where he had kissed her and her body was vibrating.
“You
feel it too,” he said it like it was a statement, not a
question and without answering Rosa pulled her arm away and headed
for the doorway.
He took
her home and did not mention it again; maybe giving her time to catch
her breath. He told her about the neighborhood he lived in and Rosa
realized how far apart they were; not only to do with culture but to
do with the way they were financially.
He
dropped her off at home with the promise to call her soon.
*****
“I
hope you are not going to blow him off Rosa, the man is trying and
you can’t do much better than John Yang,” Hayley told her
friend reproachfully. They were in the restaurant where her friend
had come over to find out how the date went yesterday. It was past
the lunch hour and the place was a little slow so she had time to sit
with her friend.
“We
are different,” Rosa protested. She had told Hayley he had
prepared a picnic dinner for her and they had talked.
“You
are supposed to be different,” Hayley told her. The girl oozed
self confidence, which she should. She was very attractive and was
one of the kindest people Rosa knew. “John happens to be a nice
guy, not like some stuck up rich dude who thinks the world revolves
around them.”
“He
called me last night to make sure I was fine.” Rosa admitted.
“We kissed Hayley.”
“Give
me details!” Her friend grabbed her hands and leaned forward.
“I
am absolutely not going to give you details,” Rosa said firmly.
“Only to say that it was one of the most mind blowing kisses I
have ever experienced.”
“Oh
my,” Hayley said fanning her face, pretending to be hot. “So
you see, you two were meant for each other.”
“We’ll
see,” Rosa muttered, looking up as the chef indicated for her
to go into the kitchen. “I have to go.”
“Wait!”
Hayley held her hand. “When are you going out with