This is My Girlfriend...The Hooker

[The_gladiator]

This is My Girlfriend… the hooker

Daniel “Dan” Thompson paced in his hotel room glaring at the phone in his hand. A part of him hoped that his irritation with the person on the other end didn’t translate into his tone of voice.

“No Mom, I just came into the city tonight, I’m at my hotel now… … no Mom I don’t want to come out to the house tonight… … yes I know my old room is still there.” Dan would have to spend days with his family, in that very room. There was no need to begin the “torture” any sooner than necessary.

“You know how I am Mom, I like my space that’s why I moved away… … yes mom I know this is a very important wedding … … yes I haven’t forgotten about the family reunion either… … yes I know half of the town will be at the wedding.” He rolled his eyes, even more reason not to go there tonight. The town was not very big and if he did he would have to see everyone and he already had a big old weekend full of the whole fam damnly to look forward to. “”Mom, my girlfriend and I haven’t had a night to ourselves in a while, both our schedules have been very busy.” He said trying to make up a plausible excuse for why he wasn’t going out to the old homestead tonight. “Yes Mom I brought my girlfriend, you’ll get to meet her tomorrow I promise.” He assured his mother and finally was able to get off the phone.

Taking a deep breath Dan let it out slowly. He sat down on the edge of the bed telling himself he had to relax. Some of what he told his mother was true; some of it was a lie. He was meeting his “Girlfriend” tonight. However she really wasn’t his girlfriend and it hadn’t been a long time since they had seen one another. In actuality, Dan had placed a call into a high class escort service to hire a woman to come in and be his date. This wedding was a big deal. His oldest brother, the Mayor of their little town was getting married. There would then be a family reunion the next day, and probably bunches of other get togethers surrounding this one huge wedding. Dan of course was expected to be there. Despite the fact that he lived a state away, he was still expected to come home for the occasion. One might ask why Dan was so reluctant, Dan loved his family, but he didn’t always like them. For one they constantly tried to get him to date tons of girls, they all wanted to know why he didn’t have a girlfriend. They didn’t like the excuse that he was busy with work, and they didn’t like the excuse he was awkward around women either. The truth was he had had some bad experiences with some bad girlfriends and just given up. He had chosen to hire the escort both because he needed a date for this all important wedding, and it would silence his family about why didn’t he have a girlfriend.

She was due to arrive any moment. They would have this Friday night to get to know one another to perfect their act so to speak, to become boyfriend and girlfriend, before the big day.

Dan tried not to mess up his neatly brushed brown hair. He was still in his business suit, figuring that it would make a better impression on the woman he was meeting than the jeans or sweatpants he longed to be in. His green eyes flicked from his watch to the door. He had never met an escort before; he wondered what she would be like. He also wondered how much she had been told by the person Dan had spoke to on the phone, or would he have to explain the entire situation to her. The 25 –year-old businessman made himself take a deep breath. He hoped that the woman he met would be at least his age. It would be even nicer if she was a little older, but at this point he figured he really couldn’t be picky. His watch now showed that she was 2 minutes late. He took a deep breath and tried to make himself relax, why in the world was he so nervous anyway?


(ooc:

this thread is closed to The Gladiator and Orithyia, please do not post without permission from the authors.

As always feedback Via PM is welcome, and reading is always encouraged. We hope you enjoy our story.)

 

[Orithyia]

All Hali was told was dress to impress. Well she was told a little more then that, like the guy's name, where to meet him and why she was hired. Other then that she was clueless as to to story behind the man.

Hali wasn't your run of the mill escort, she was a high dollar been serviced to millionaires and celebrities, royalty once and even an out of country president. The wonderful thing about it, was with the company's strict background check she was always provided with great pictures and it was always her choice.

"He doesn't seem your type." Booker questioned when she was picked by the company car.

This man, Dan, wasn't. He was a normal guy with no real money or fame to his name. It was what he wanted and why that had caught her eye. She wasn't what her parents hoped she would end up as. So she could relate with the guy. "Yeah well, lets just say I feel like giving back."

Booker didn't say anything, the reason why Booker was her need to be man, if things ever went south. "I'll be in town. You'll never see me unless you want me to be seen." He had opened her door.

Hali got out of the car, taking Booker's hand. "I think this run I'll be good. Promise." Booker gave her a hard look. "Go." She said just as hard. "Call you when this is done."

Booker only nodded opening the trunk to pass her bags off to the bellhop boy.

Hali was at Dan's door knocking, two minutes late due to the stare down with Booker. "Dan?" Hali called out knocking the door again.

Hali Swan
28 years old
5'7'' 126 lbs 33-23-34.5 ​

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan heard the knock at the door and jumped to his feet. He made himself breathe once again. He wiped his almost sweating palms on his pants and then moved to open the door as her voice floated through it calling his name.

Dan opened the door quickly and stood there in his blue suit with its white shirt. He was built leanly and at 5’11” he was easily a good 4 inches or almost half a head taller than her. He couldn’t help looking her over and found himself extremely impressed. He realized after a second he was staring. She was definitely no girl, but a fully developed woman who was at least his age. He was never sure about women’s ages. However she seemed just what he was looking for and more. She was a little taller, a little slimmer than he was usually attracted to, but her breasts were more than a handful, and her hips curved out nicely too. His eyes moved up to her face and he blushed a bit at the blatant checking out he had just done to her. “Uh Hi… I’m Dan.” He said extending a hand to her after he stepped out of the doorway first giving her space to enter so she wouldn’t have to stand in the hall. He realized he didn’t even know her name; he felt like a total moron and hoped his nervousness didn’t show on his face. H was normally a fairly confident businessman, what about this woman who just seemed to ooze sensuality made him nervous? Was it the fact that she was an escort?

 

[Orithyia]

Hali smiled at the nervous cuteness of Dan. He had done the assets look over before meeting her face, a normal. "It's a pleasure to met you. I'm Hali Swan." She brushed past Dan, her hand trailing finger lightly on his body as she passed.

"So I'm told I'm to meet your parents." She set her bag down under the table in the corner. "Tell me about them. Your family and your life. What should I expect from our time together and what do you expect from me?" It was weird but this was Hali's favorite part about meeting a new client. Finding something to love in the person so that their time together was truly felt and made all the better for it.

She sat at the table waiting, a smile always present on her face.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan followed her into the room and sat at the table across from her folding his hands on the table. He had graceful long fingered hands. He cleared his throat. “You’ll meet my entire family actually.” He said. This whole weekend is kind of a big deal for my family.” He explained. “My family essentially runs the town of Oak Hills.” He explained. “In the land of Oak Hills my family are royalty.” He chuckled at that. “I know that sounds silly… but for the town so far out from this, the nearest city, well there aren’t a ton of people.” He took a breath and continued, his eyes meeting hers her eyes seemed to be a gray blue but then sometimes they looked greenish he wasn’t totally sure what the color was. After a second he continued, “My father was Mayor of Oak Hills for years, and now my eldest brother is the Mayor.” He explained. “I have 4 brothers.” He explained. “I am the second youngest. I am kind of the outcast, you know?” he said shrugging, “I was the one who wanted out, who moved away. I didn’t come here to the city to go to college I went out of state and I really never looked back. Until now.”

“My brother is getting married and is marrying the eldest daughter of old Judge Jackson.” He said, outlining the importance to a town of a wedding like that. “It isn’t every day the Mayor gets married, hell isn’t every day anyone gets married around there and they want it to be a big deal. And since it’s my brother my mother has called in so many family members, the day after the wedding we are having a family reunion.”

Dan took a breath after telling his story and considered her. He was still awkward. “I’m not really sure what I expect of you. I guess I need you to pretend you’re my girlfriend, yes for the wedding and stuff, but also because my family won’t quit harassing me about the fact I don’t have a girlfriend… they’re starting to think I’m gay or something.” He threw his hands up in the air, “Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay, I’m just not so it gets a little annoying having to fend off questions all the time. So I guess you are to serve two purposes, to play my date for the events.” He shrugged, “You probably have more experience than me in those areas. And then to play my girlfriend in the less formal situations… is any of this making sense?” he said.

It was obvious that appearances meant a lot to this small community and that Dan obviously had something to prove to his family. Although he didn’t come right out and say it, he was obviously the reject or outcast of the family who thought he wasn’t good for much, especially when he had no girlfriend or plans to repopulate the family. All that was clearly visible in his body language, and the things he didn’t say.

“Did I cover most of it? Or am I leaving stuff out?” he asked, “There was a lot to outline and he wasn’t sure he’d gotten it all.

 

[Orithyia]

As she listened to his story she watched Dan. Read his face, his body and the ticks that emotions brought on. To pull off a relationship like theirs would have to be, she needed to know the man better then his own family. Already there was a great amount that she had gathered. Hali had a good grasp on how he shared and his feeling towards his family and his place in it.

Hali smiled. In a off beaten way his story was similar to hers. "I'm from a small family, the only child in fact. My Father is a big name lawyer in New York and my Mother is a political manager. From my birth they had big plans for me. Plans that when I got older I didn't agree with. But I went to school, like they wanted, for language interpretation and studied seven languages. When I graduated I was employed with the government and for a short time with the military. It was challenging but that was the only part of it that I liked. The people were cold, guarded, over calculated and viewed everything as a game. I quit because of it and it threw my parents into a rage. Even more so when I branched off, moved to a different city and became an escort. I'm not a slut or strung out as most people would like to think about escorts. I'm just a people person. There is nothing more vital in a person's life then happiness and I'm blessed with the intimate chance to get to know a person in a way very few often do."

There was a lot to learn about a person on how they listened and absorbed information. The way Dan listened to hers was pleasing. This weekend mattered to him. More then just introducing a girl into his family life but because he cared about them and wanted them to see him, not the life that he had failed to grow into.

Hali stood up and crossed over to Dan. This was also very important and had no right or wrong answer, just reviled more about the man. She caressed his cheek, traced his jaw and rested her hand at the nape of his neck before lowering her mouth to his in their first kiss. The tell of how a man reacted to passion, it was the breath that was stolen at love's first glance. It wasn't a ravaged kiss that left lips puffy with lust but a unlimited caress of lips upon lips in a dance of passion.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan listened to her story, the way his hands folded and unfolded were sure signs that he was nervous, something that seemed uncomfortable for him. However he listened attentively and already could identify with the things she said.

He seemed surprised when she rose and walked towards him. Her words that she wasn’t a slut had made him wonder if she was an escort that did not sleep with her clients. He hadn’t known how to handle that part of their relationship, so had tried to avoid thinking about it. Although after seeing her, and knowing how long it had been for him, the idea had been somewhat intriguing. However her words had made him think that perhaps she was just there to be his companion. However he had to again revise what he thought when her touch slid along his cheek and then to his neck. He almost shivered at the touch.

It had been a long time since a woman had so casually touched him. He loved to be touched, loved the emotions that touch could convey. His last girlfriend had actually called him clingy because he touched so much. He was surprised she would touch him so soon; however after a second he realized they had just one night to become as close as lovers, in order to fool his family.
Surprisingly, her touch made him feel nice, nowhere as awkward as he had expected it to be.

In the next second, all those wonderings about whether escorts or prostitutes kissed clients were answered as she pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft and sweet and he was taken aback by it. He stiffened slightly with surprise under her touch. Not that he didn’t want her, it was just surprise, and he had never been in a situation like this where things moved so fast. Granted if she was any average prostitute, she would probably already have him in her mouth. Fortunately this was not the case, and the gentle kiss seemed perfect. He made a soft noise in the back of his throat somewhere between want and need and found himself returning her kiss, all be it somewhat awkwardly his surprise still ruling him. He felt the heat rushing into his cheeks…

After a breathless moment he pulled back slightly his eyes fluttering back open from where they had closed involuntarily when he kissed her back and his eyes met hers very close to his, green gazing into the stormy gray blue of hers. He didn’t know what to say so finally managed to close his surprised mouth.

 

[Orithyia]

"You have the most amazing eyes." Hali complimented when the kiss was broken. Dan was adorable, a gentleman and soft. But there was a need in him that possessed the possibility to answer every want that a woman might have. Standing she back away from Dan and returned to her chair. A satisfied smile on her lips. The sound that he had made tugging at her strings in a way that way almost dangerous for Dan. He hadn't had any in a while and if she was a conniving woman it could something that could be transfered into power to be used against him. But she wan't and just enjoyed the unguarded moment of their kiss.

"I'm sorry if that was out of line." She apologized once back in her seat. The surprise was read in both his body during the kiss and his face afterwards. "I hope you were okay with that." Some men read that as a invitation and took her at the kiss. Others it left dizzied and off balance. Pretty Woman the facts on which they based their knowledge from. It was a good place to break the bounds that they would have made before meeting her. "As far as this weekend goes I want you to see my as your girlfriend and not as a paid woman." It was sadly back to business. "I'm here for you and will be here for anything that you need. Trust is a hard thing to give to a person that you just met but it's needed. It may sound naive of me to say so but I trust you." In every person was a thing that you can love. Just as there was a side that you could trust, it just required you seeing the best of a person.

She was starting to feel a little peckish and wondered if Dan had eaten anything. "Would you like to go on a walk with me? Get a snack and you can tell me all your likes, talents and the dreams you had as a little boy?" She wanted to get him out and around people, learn more about him. Hali loved to look into a person's soul, it moved her and was the largest reason she did this. "Then I'll thrill and delight you with my skill at river dancing." She was teasing him, her mood light and playful.

 

[The_gladiator]

He could feel the heat rise up his cheeks at her compliment. He smiled at her, his face lighting up. “Thank you…. Yours are pretty amazing too.” He said softly his eyes never leaving hers.

Part of him was sad when she stopped touching him and stepped away, another part of him was relieved. He couldn’t believe how worked up he was just from that unexpected kiss. Had it really been that long for him? “No it’s no problem I… I enjoyed the kiss; you just caught me off guard. I really didn’t know what to expect… I’ve never done anything like this before.” He almost blushed more when she said that she would be available to any need he had. He was a guy; he couldn’t help some of the images that flitted through his head at that comment. He needed to get his mind out of the gutter.

He did not totally understand how she could trust him, but realized that he would have to, if they were to at all pull this off. Briefly he thought of calling the whole thing off and then he took a deep breath and reminded himself this was what he wanted to do.

Her comment about food came as a welcome distraction and his smile returned, replacing the contemplative look he had adopted when she discussed business. “I am starving actually. There’s a real nice restaurant that’s along the river. We should be able to walk there, I thought I saw it on my drive in.” he said. He stood and buttoned his suit jacket, a habit he had, buttoning it when he stood and unbuttoning it when he sat. “Is it alright for me to tell you that I think you are beautiful?” he said lifting his hand for a second almost as if he were going to touch her face, and then simply offering her a hand to either stand, or to hold when she was up.

His smile widened at her comment about dancing, "Sure that's what kind of dance you want to show me." he said winking, trying to tease her a little back.

 

[Orithyia]

Hali took the compliment with a smile. Seeing Dan blush was cute and it made her wonder what else made him blush and what she could do to make him do it again.

"It's okay most people don't know what to expect in a situation like this." Hali half shrugged with a tilt of her head. "And for every meeting it's a new experience for me too." She had a couple of regulars but even with them it was something different. A small smile spread over her lips as she thought of the nights to come with Dan and wondered how his first night would be. A hand down her neck and rested over her pulse, it's steady beats a calming effect on her racing mind. "It'll be great to get to know each other." Hali chirped excitedly with a huge smile.

Hali watched his body move then correct itself as he stood. She wasn't sure what he was going to do but it wasn't going to help her any in getting stuck on the thought. "Every girl likes the hear that they are beautiful." She took his offered hand and stood. "You're pretty handsome yourself, if it's not too bold of me to say so." With his arm still out, Hali stepped closer to his body so that her body touched his with her arm about his back.

"Well river dancing is my specialty but I know a few other moves that might thrill and delight you in other ways." She winked back at him, laughter in her voice.

 

[The_gladiator]

As they walked out of the room Dan slid his arm around her shoulders wanting to get used to touching her. He enjoyed touch so suspected he could adapt to this fairly quickly. It would be necessary for them to be comfortable with one another, to convince his family it was not faked. “Oh you do, do you? Maybe you’ll have to show me some of these moves.” He said making quotes in the air around the word moves smiling.

The sun was lowering in the sky as they stepped outside the hotel. A faint breeze brought the scent of food to them, brought on the air from nearby restaurants. Dan took her hand in his, feeling the slender fingers and soft skin. Hands were one of the things he was attracted to and he found himself raising it to his lips in an almost absent gesture. It didn’t seem forced. Somehow she had already connected with him on some level to allow him to be so comfortable already. It seemed that Dan could get into the role, and relax when he was not thinking about his actions. When they were up in the room he had been thinking too much about what he should or shouldn’t do. Now he simply found himself enjoying the feeling of her small hand in his.

He occasionally stole glances at her as they walked part of him unable to believe this was really happening. He cleared his throat but did not really know what to say. “Lovely weather isn’t it?” he said finally.

 

[Orithyia]

"I don't know." Hali said slowly with doubt in her voice. "My 'moves' might be a little too much for you to handle." She teased. "I don't know if you can keep up." She smiled.

It was nice to see Dan relax and react without thinking. It was one of the reasons she got him out of the hotel room so quickly, people tend to have ideas already in their head about how things will go and if they are met with something they didn't expect they get stuck on thinking more then just being. The kiss was sweet and he hadn't pulled back when he noticed what he was going to do and there was no tensing afterwards from worry about the action. Hali curled herself around Dan's arm and sighed in relaxation.

"It is. I love the colors in the sky as the sunsets. The night isn't too cool. The breeze is warm and gentle. If I was home I would be under a tree watching the sunset with a glass of wine, a book and a lantern. When the sky goes dark I would watch the fireflies dance and twinkle in their desperate want to be chosen. I would sit there until there until darkness swallowed everything and the night came alive with sounds and life. I love just listening. Sometimes I would get so wrapped up that I fall asleep out there but most of the time I make my way home by lantern light." She had bought a house far away from the city. It was the other side of the coin to the loud and busy city life she worked in. "What would you be doing on a evening like this if you were home?"

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan walked with her, his hand in hers; he slid his thumb back and forth over her knuckles as he listened to her paint a picture in his mind with her words. The detail which she used to describe things was fairly breathtaking. “You actually make the country seem nice.” He said with a small smile, “I grew up in the outdoors, but was never as much of a fan as the rest of my family.” As they walked he seemed to think about her question.

“I don’t know, I guess what I would love to do is b with a woman, someone to touch, cuddle with. Go out to hear live music with, or just take long car trips driving for hours listening to music and holding hands.” He shrugged. “What I would actually be doing is probably more like sitting at home listening to music, or reading a book.” He said, “Sometimes I’ll play a video game or watch TV, but my passions are books and music.” He explained.” He chuckled a bit, “It pissed my father off to no end that when I was a kid I didn’t play for the football team, I shudder, was in the band.” He said with a smile. “He would call it mamby pamby bull shit.” He said. “But I’ve always loved music. That’s why I went into radio. I am not a DJ or anything, although I’ve done it in the past. No I am more the businessman behind the scenes… I have also done some work managing bands.” He said shrugging, “I make pretty good money, but my father and brothers still don’t see it. If it wasn’t politics, law, or medicine, or something like that it wasn’t good enough. He doesn’t even appreciate that I am actually in business one of his approved fields, I’m just in a type of business that he thinks is not good enough… He’s not into art.” He said with a small laugh.

As he told his story he walked towards the restaurant with Hali on his arm. “My family is that mix of small town pride and power, and redneck.” He said, “If that makes any sense. You know what I mean perhaps, where there is one family which rules an entire town has all the influence…sometimes there’s a few families… but there are parts of the family who the others try to deny for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s because you have that crazy uncle who drinks too much and spends every night in jail, but is never kept there cause of the family influence. Well I’m the other sort; I’m not accepted because I don’t fit into their bloody hierarchy. I’m seen as the black sheep as it were… all because I won’t “Mary a nice girl and settle down at home.”” He said obviously quoting a family member with that last.

 

[Orithyia]

"It's a nice place to relax after a busy stay in the city. Life needs an equal balance of things and the country is mine." She simply told Dan, tracing patterns on his arm absentmindedly. "You might enjoy it more if you were given more positive reasons to."

Hali smiled at the image painted in her head of a younger Dan in his school band uniform playing at town fairs and parades. "I know this is a bit off the tracks but did you have one of those adorable fuzzy band hats?" She wasn't being mean, it was just a question. "And as far as your family is concerned, I learned a long time ago that doing things that make you happy is more healthy then doing what they want from you and being unhappy." Hali stopped walking pausing Dan with her. "If they can't see what an amazing person you are being you." She cupped his face with her free hand. "Then it's their loss. Don''t let their selfish wants for you get you down. I like you and I only just met you. Imagine how mush that would grow if I knew you longer. Count the blessings in your life and weigh them against your falls." Hali released his hand and kissed him lightly on the lips. "You'll find that you have more to be thankful for then the linger on the faults that people place against you. And if that's not the case, I'll help you find the good to ease your troubles."

The moment she said it this weekend became more then just a job for her. She was going to make Dan see the man that he was and prove it to his family. If they saw him for him or not, it would be their choice. She dropped her hand from Dan's face and picked up his hand again. Maybe it was because his case was too much like her own family but she wanted him to be accepted by his family and loved for who he was.

"So." Hali smiled. “Lovely weather isn’t it?”

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan nodded at her statements about the country shrugging bit non-comittally to her statement about he might enjoy it more if given more positive reasons to.

Her question about the band hats actually made him laugh. “No actually we didn’t, we wore these 3 cornered hats, we were the pilgrims or some such stupid mascot… the hats sucked.” He said grinning. Her question lightening the mood just a bit for that moment. “God they were awful.”

She then turned the subject back to all the rest he had said. She said a lot and Dan frankly wasn’t sure what to say, how to respond. He could feel emotion welling up just at that exchange. She already made him feel things in ways that were new and different. He gulped, “Wow, that is really, you are a rare person Hali.” Was all he could say. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was feeding him one glorious line of bullshit. He really hoped she wasn’t her words seemed so kind, so genuine. They were truly moving. How could a woman that barely knew him already believe in him so much? It was apparent that he really had heard her words, just that he really did not know how to react to them that she in a sense, had rendered him speechless.

The tension was again broken by her comment about the weather, mimicking his earlier comment when he had found the mood needed lightened. His face split into a smile again the smile reaching his eyes. “You seem to know just what to say.” He said feeling relieved they could find their way back from the really deep subjects. He couldn’t believe they already felt close enough to go there, but sometimes it was good to retreat to the known and the easy.

“I hear this restaurant has really good steaks.” He said finding a subject that was less emotional for the moment. It wasn’t that what had just happened had bothered him, or if it did, it hadn’t in a bad way. It was obvious though that Dan did not wish to go too quickly with things that he could only take so much outside his comfort zone at once. He pointed at the restaurant ahead of them as he spoke. “Doesn’t look too busy either, I think we have missed the bulk of the dinner crowd.” He said sounding pleased.

 

[Orithyia]

"Oh my." Hali tried to hide her smile behind her hand but was unsuccessful. "When I meet you're Mother please don't be upset when I ask to see the family albums. I have a desperate need to see you in this hat." She lowered her arm and it landed on Dan's, moving back and forth. A simple gesture of wanting to touch him.

"Seems we are in luck." She said cheerfully when there was no wait at the door. "A place with really good stakes and no wait. What more then a bottle of decent wine could a girl ask for?" Hali stood there besides Dan with a smile on her face. She looked over Dan and her smile grew. He was a kind soul and their time together she knew would end too soon for her. A random thought then ran thru her mind. He was the sort of guy that her parents would have approved of.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan Chuckled, “I have this feeling that this restaurant does indeed serve wine. Actually if the wepcite is to believed that’s what they are also known for.” He says.

As they waited for the host to come back and seat them he thought back on her words. He inwardly cringed at the thought of her seeing his childhood photo album, finding that he was strangely a mix of embarrassed and pleased at that prospect.

As they stood waiting Dan was very aware of her arm resting on his, and he found he enjoyed the feeling. He longed to feel her hand in his again, feel the soft cool smoothness of her skin on his. He shifted his other hand to cover hers on his arm trying to keep his face from blushing.
When the Host returned they were lead to a nice corner booth. Dan Paused before he sat down, unsure if she wanted to sit beside him or across from him. Across would allow them to look at one another more easily when they talked, but beside him would allow them to touch more easily. He decided to leave it up to her sliding into the booth leaving enough space for her to sit to his left, or across from him.

 

[Orithyia]

"Well I hope you know your way around a wine list. You do get graded on the choice and how well it compliments our meal." Hali teased knowing full well that she had no knowledge at all in wines to know what goes with what. As far as she was concerned as long as the taste was fresh and crisp and the flavor delightful then she was more then pleased with it.

Hali was again watching Dan as he gave her the choice to either sit next to him or across from him. A smile crossed her lips and she thought about it for a moment. Normally she wouldn't have needed the second to think upon it but the freedom he was giving her caused her to pause. Most men would guide her to the spot that they wished her to be in but here Dan was letting her pick. Most of the time she would just slide into her own booth across from the man but there was something about being touched every so innocently by this man that made her heart race just a little bit.

"I hope you don't mind." Hali said sliding next to Dan. Seated next to him she let her hand rest on the table top unconsciously waiting for him to take it.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan found himself laughing at her words, “Are you kidding? I’m originally from a family whose only wine requirement was… red, or white?” he said with a grin. “You actually think I’ve mastered much beyond that?” he asked with a laugh. “I’ll just let you pick. He said with another smile.

He liked this growing to be casual feel they had between each other. It didn’t happen all the time, but was happening enough that he was really growing to enjoy t. He settled himself in the seat and watched her seem to ponder where to sit. There were obvious advantages to either possibility and he would enjoy either. That being said he found himself pleased she had chosen to sit beside him. It made the possibility of touch between them that more likely. He opened the menu and as he began to scan it, he noticed her hand rest on the table. He loved her hands, delicate yet strong. Looking at it made him unconsciously want to touch it. As he spread his menu out he found his hand finding its way over to hers, resting atop it. He couldn’t really describe the thrill just a simple touch like that shot through him. This was all so new to him, yet equally exciting as it was nerve racking.

The server approached as he scanned the drink list. “Evening Folks, what can I get you to drink? My name is Marcus and I will be taking care of you this evening. You’ll find a complete list of our specials in the front of your menu. Can I start you off with wine, soda? We also have a full bar so I can get you anything you might want.”

Dan gave Hali’s hand a squeeze and pointed to a type of red wine, a cabernet on the wine list, “Does that look good?” he asked.

 

[Orithyia]

Hali cringed at having the responsibility of choosing the wine land on her. She gave Dan a weak smile and admitted to being just as bad with wine. "You were going to get an A no matter what." Hali started. "Because I have just about as much knowledge of wine as you seem to have." She laughed easily. "So it seems we will have to put our trust in you good sir." She said turning to their server. "I hope you're not too disappointed." The ever present smile on her lips weakened just a fraction at the possibly that Dan just might be.

It shocked her that what was meant to be a joke suddenly worried her. There was a moment that felt like weakness that Hali didn't understand but it had her staring at Dan's face as if with new eyes. She wasn't sure if what she saw now was any different that what was had seen before. Her hand moved on it's own to lace it's finger with his and it didn't even register in her mind that she had moved in such a way to feel more connected with him. In a world that every look, touch and word had a meaning, Hali suddenly felt lost.

"I'm sorry." Hali blushed looking away from Dan's face. She wasn't sure as to how long she had been staring at him but hoped he didn't take it as her being rude. A quick breath and a rein on her strangle frazzled thoughts and Hali changed to subject or rather returned to it.

"The Chilean Sea Bass keeps catching my eye." There was a lot to chose from and even though Dan had said that this place had really good stakes the fish just wouldn't leave her alone and seemed to place itself in front of every other thing on the menu. "What were you thinking about?" Hali asked.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan found his eyes meeting Hali’s and laced his fingers with hers seeming to not notice it either, lost in her eyes. “Sorry for what?” he asked softly licking suddenly dry lips.

He willingly transitioned back to the safer topic of dinner, “Probably just the filet,” he answered. “I’m kinda simple in that way.” He said, “Well yes it’s the most expensive steak on the menu, but it should be the best one then, right?” he joked with a smile. “I think I’ll get a baked potato and the corn. Should get used to corn again, it’s in season I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it at every meal this weekend.” He said with a sudden grin... “I do actually like it but… sometimes my family goes a bit overboard with it. You should see them all eat it, it’s like a typewriter, perfectly straight rows, I have no idea how they do it.” He said with another smile. He squeezed her hand, reveling in the feeling of her soft skin in his. He couldn’t believe she was letting him touch her like this. He had paid her, yes… but somehow this felt like something more… was she just that good?

 

[Orithyia]

Hali smiled a faint blush on her cheeks. "I was always told that staring was rude." She admitted turning back to Dan.

"One would only hope that the most expensive thing was the best but I've found that not everything is worth the price you pay and most often it's the humbly price thing that makes the best impression." Hali had started talking thinking about food but somewhere in there her mind had traveled to other things, things that had happened to her in her life. Embarrassed that she had lost control and said something about her life she just shook her head and smiled.

It was funny that Dan's family was like that about corn. "My family is like that about green beans. It's in every meal and when it's not in season it's okay because the Aunty had jarred some so we can have green beans all year around." Hali sighed and she recalled all the dishes you could make out of green beans. "I'll make sure to brush up on my cob eating. Maybe we can start a race or something fun like that." Hali's hand tightened on Dan's. "I'll make you proud."

Just then the waiter came back with a bottle of wine. Opening it he poured two glasses and set them in front of Hali and Dan. "May I take your orders?" He asked his hand clasped behind his back.

 

[The_gladiator]

Dan shrugged, “It doesn’t bother me, I enjoy when you look at me.” He said softly flushing at the admission. Had he really just said that?

Fortunately the conversation moved on saving him further embarrassment as he listened to her words. He didn’t quite understand what she meant about the expensive thing, but he listened nonetheless. His smile widened as she told more about herself, as they discussed things their families ate. He really enjoyed listening to her talk about herself. He chuckled at her words, “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” He said softly.

Before he could say more, the waiter returned poring their drinks and requesting their orders. Dan didn’t let go of Hali’s hand as he reached to open his menu to the page he needed. Dan nodded to Hali to order first, “Ladies first.” He said with a smile. After she ordered he told the waiting man that he would have the steak and baked potato and opted for the mixed vegetables rather than the corn. When he walked away he smiled at Hali again. “I’m really enjoying spending time with you.” He said softly, he felt silly telling an escort something like that, but dammit it was true. He might have paid for her company but she was still a beautiful sweet woman and he did really like her, she was either a good actress or a genuinely kind woman. He had a feeling that her personality was much less of an act than most realized.

 

[Orithyia]

"Good." Hali said shyly looking down knowing that she was blushing. Blushing. It was odd to feel to giddy and girlish but that was how she felt and there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing she wanted to do. "Because I have a feeling that this won't be the last time you catch me staring." She confessed looking back up at Dan.

When he assured her that she would do just fine, Hali just smiled and thanked him.

With the waiter back she ordered the sea bass with the chef's freedom with sides. She liked giving someone who cooked the food the freedom to pair it with what they thought would be best.

'Why am I blushing so much?!?' Hali screamed at herself when she felt her cheeks heat again. "I really am too." There was no denying it even if it did hold a sour note. 'Why can't I find a man like this outside of my world?' She wondered as she leaned over and planted a soft kiss on Dan's cheek. "I don't know what it is about you but I've never felt so relaxed around someone. Or been with someone who can make me blush like a bride so easily."

 

[The_gladiator]

With the brush of her lips on his cheek Dan found his own face lighting up. A smile graced his lips and color crept back into them. His words surprised her. Because of his embarrassment he didn’t just accept the compliment; rather he opened his mouth and proceeded to put his foot in it. “I bet you tell that to all the guys you work for.” He said. As soon as it left his mouth he knew he had said the wrong thing and his hand actually rose to cover his mouth as he got an oh shit look on his face.

“Forgive me, that was, that was uncalled for and highly insensitive of me… I just…” he struggled to find the right words, “You caught me off guard, and I was flattered and…” he broke off knowing that he couldn’t rationalize his words, couldn’t find the right words. H was not inherently glib; he couldn’t seize the moment so to speak and pull his own head out of his ass. He found himself biting his lower lip, a nervous habit he had as he waited for her reaction, hoping he hadn’t totally offended her, but even more he didn’t want to ruin this growing connection between the two of them.