His to Claim Read Free Page B

fare spread before them was a delight to sight and palate, yet Elaine couldn’t muster enjoyment in any of it. Why she had taken such effort to dress up for this occasion was now beyond her.
    The elegant silver-grey backless dress felt too intimate for a first date.
    Though it was loose-fitting at the top, it cinched at her tiny waist and hugged from there down her flaring hips to end at the middle of her shapely thighs. Her hair was coiled in a coiffure that was in itself an art, while strings of moonbeams dangling, danced from her earlobes.
    “Have I mentioned the time when at my junior year-” Swathed in his dinner jacket, Henry didn’t wait for her approval or denial but embarked on yet another of his stories to self-glory.
    Elaine wouldn’t be surprised if Henry believed he did a great service having accorded his parents the honour of being his parents.
    His lips kept moving in a litany.
    How long was long enough for one to end a date without seeming uncourteous? Oh, God, why was he watching her funny?
    He had stopped talking–a mercy, but disconcertingly specious no less. Did she have a stray crumb sticking to her mouth? Self-consciously, Elaine brushed the serviette over her lips.
    When Henry gave her a cryptic smile, she politely, heavily, tugged at the corners of her own mouth.
    As she rested her bare arms back on the table, an anomaly in his behaviour drew her eye. Ever so often his gaze kept returning to her hands. Specially the left one lying idly by the gravy-boat.
    Before she could have predicted his intension, with the speed of a striking snake his hand shot out for hers.
    However, triggered by something instinctive Elaine moved to a quick defence. She swiftly snatched her hand from its prosaic position, her brain innately rejecting even that small a contact from him.
    But undeterred, Henry gave chase. Elaine feinted reaching for the salad bowl, then dove for her wine.
    Unfortunately, he was just as quick. Their match of tag ended up knocking the Claret glass, and the red wine spilled on the table streaming down to ruin Henry’s fine pants.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Elaine rushed out her apology. There was no excuse for insulting Henry so publicly with her silly skittish act.
    They had both flown off their seats by now.
    As other guests about the restaurant observed them with utmost curiosity, two of the stewards sped up to their table offering assistance.
    “No. No, Elaine. It’s my fault. I startled you.” Henry graciously accepted the blame for her childish behaviour entirely upon himself. Nothing could have burned her more with shame. All he had wanted was to hold her hand. What was the matter with her? They were on a date!
    Nearly an hour later, both sat in stilted silence inside the car Henry pulled in front of her affordable apartment in Sunnyside, Queens.
    Elaine’s eyes wandered down his stained pants, still feeling guilty.
    “Yeah, I’ve gone and wet myself again.” He spoke with great show at a defeated sigh. “I admit, when sitting next to a beautiful woman, I get bladder issues. Would it be too much if I asked you to keep it as our little secret?”
    Elaine examined his face. The expression there was of all sincerity, then he twitched his nose just before his round eyes started squinting in rapid succession, and she couldn’t help but picture him as some over-adventurous bunny looking for its way back to its burrow. Laughter erupted from her unchecked, and his hearty gales soon joined hers.
    That ice breaker worked like a real charm between the two. “I am very sorry, Henry. My behaviour earlier-”
    “I wanted so much to impress you tonight, Elaine.” He confessed truthfully, with eyes almost begging her to believe in him.
    Henry seemed so dejected now, that Elaine wanted to lie and say, he did impress her, just to bring him out of that grey gloom. But he deserved truth in return for his.
    “You just tried too hard, Henry. So we have crossed paths in numerous society affairs,