Daria Chapter Ten

It's been awhile but here's the long awaited Chapter Ten. Unedited. Enjoy.

Daria’s Dating Dilemma, Part Ten

By: Jennifer Feuerstein

I pulled my hand slowly away from his and reached for my purse. I pulled out my notebook and flipped to a blank page. I began to write my ideas for rules as I casually chatted with him about his recommendations for dinner. If he couldn’t give me any options that didn’t cost a fortune, I’d be forced to use the Cesaer Salad trick.

“Daria, do you always take notes on dates.”

I looked up from my list and smiled. “I meant to do this earlier and lost track of time. I’m coming up with some rules to follow during this little competition. I mean if I get to be the trophy, I should set the rules of engagement.”

“Sure, I guess so. Is that how you see yourself?”

“Well, I am a prize to be sure.” I gave him a cheeky grin and set my pad aside as the waiter came for our orders. I went with an iced tea and some chicken dish, suddenly really glad I didn’t have any food allergies to worry about.

The pad momentarily forgotten, we talked about childhood and school, jobs and friends. I shared my boss’ reaction to all my flowers and gifts which seemed to amuse him. We made jokes and small talk until our food arrived. Between sharing bites of our dishes and giggling about the wait staff, my Daria senses started tingling. I had the distinct feeling I was being watched and not by my date.

I excused myself and made for the somewhat safe haven of the women’s room. While I pretended to freshen up with the other ladies, I thought about my suddenly paranoid behavior. Of course my first worry had been that Marcus was watching. It aggravated me that I couldn’t get the man out of my head. The thought was absurd. He’d have no idea where I was going and the place was really not his style.

My phone buzzed and I had to catch my lip gloss before it disappeared into a germy sink. Pat had sent me a text message, unusual since his noisy wife was usually watching every word he sent. The message sent chills down my spine, which were immediately followed with red hot anger.

Maggie said her friend saw you on a date with Keith. She’s giving Maggie all the details, pretty fancy place I take it. Anyway, hope you have fun. Just wanted to give you the warning that you’re being watched. Good Luck! <3

The nerve! I could hear the two dimwits swapping stories about me. Probably picking on my outfit, the fact that my date was attractive, and something along the lines of not being able to afford a place like this. I jammed my phone back into my bag, tousled my hair and grinned wickedly into the mirror. Well, best give them something interesting to talk about.

Goal set, I marched out of the restroom with a sexy swing to my hips. I smirked and winked at Keith as I approached and moved to sit next to him instead of across from him. I leaned in close and put my hand on his arm, purring the old ‘did you miss me’ line into his ear.

“I’m always amazed what a powder room can do to change a gal.”

I pulled out my phone and slid it with message in view, giving him time to read it before I grinned wider. “Would you like to play a game, Keith?”

“I think you know I love games.”

While talking about casual stuff, we played up every movement and caress. At one point, he even leaned in to nibble my earlobe between talking about business. It was ludicrous how at odds the two were, but the action still sent shivers down my body. The meal done and my body squirming from the sudden heat, we made a quick escape outside.

“Do you think that did the trick?” he laughed and took my hand.

I nodded and leaned into his body. “Sure did. I noticed her friend Betty at a nearby table with a man old enough to be her great-grandfather. Her fingers were working madly over her Blackberry, but her jaw was hanging open.” I laughed heartily. “Her date is probably spoon-feeding her as we speak.”

“Oh no, I do hope she doesn’t choke on the humble pie,” he answered with mock sincerity.

My laughter pealed out again and once under control I asked him what was up next. He shrugged and kept walking. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“Well, I was planning on leaving this part up to you.”

I looked up at the sky and the bright lights around us. “We could try that new park, the one with the dancing fountain?”

Really, it was a simple fountain with lights and controlled jets, but I’d heard it put on quite a show at night time. The sun was setting so by the time we walked there, the lighting would be perfect.

“You want to go to a park, in the city, at dark?”

I shrugged. “One, I have you with me and two I have it on good authority the community group hired private security. It’s probably safer than my townhouse.”

“Oh and who’s your good authority?” He stopped. “Wait, let me guess…”

I could tell what station his train of thought was moving into and stopped him. “It was not Marcus. I oversee the financial dealings of a member of the community group and that person told me.”

It was sweet actually and I explained the story to Keith. The city had run out of money to care for the small park and had planned to demolish it. The community had banded together, formed an affluent group of benefactors, and collected funds to save and beautify the park. The children and adults now had a safe place to gather. They were even putting in a large community garden this year for community members to use free of charge.

“Amazing.”

“Which part?”

“How your face lit up as you talked about it. Whoever your client is must have made quite an impression on you.”

I smiled. “She’s a delicate client and only I can seem to manage her. Actually, I respect and like her for the stands she takes. She was my first big client.”

“Looks like she did an excellent job and we’re in luck. Looks like they’re playing a blanket movie tonight.”

He pointed at a sign and I read it - Casablanca under the stars. We’d done things similar in college, groups hanging sheets from buildings and projecting movies onto them. Although our campus had always seemed to favor Beuller’s Day Off. He was the unofficial mascot of my graduating class.

I nodded and pulled him along to a table renting blankets and chairs for the event. “Which would you like?”

“Blanket, and keep the change as a donation for the community group.”

“Thank you, sir. Better hurry, show will start soon and the good spots are running low.”

I walked with him as we picked our spot. He laid out the blanket and I sat as gracefully as I could, reminded of my rule to wear pants from now on. Tucking my legs under me, I leaned against him as a vendor passed out complimentary popcorn. I smirked at the label on the bags, free advertising for my favorite client.

We settled in and watched the movie in companionable silence. When I stretched my back at the halfway mark, he subtly moved so that I was resting with my head in his lap. He gently played with my hair through the movies final scenes. I heard a few blowing noses at the ending and shrugged to myself. It was a good movie, but the ending was still pretty lame. Keith’s chest moved with silent laughter and I rolled to look up at him.

“What?”

He smiled. “I’ve never actually seen the movie, but I take it you have and it’s not your favorite.”

“No, it’s not, but I do love old classic movies just for the fact they had real plots and stories back then.”

 “Very true.” He stretched his legs and helped into a sitting position. Before I could stand fully, he reached over and scooped me up. “There’s something I’ve been dying to do since we got here…”

I laughed until I looked over and saw the dancing fountain. A few kids rain through the water jets. One of the amazing things about my clients, as mean as she could be, she believed kids should be able to play. The water feature was commissioned as an art and usable feature. The smile froze as I figured out too late what Keith was playing it.

“No…. no… no…”

He stopped just short of the fountain, water spray misting our faces. The look on his face took my breath away entirely. I couldn’t protest when his lips seared mine with more than a kiss. It was enough to set my imagination on fire for months. My only regret was when he pulled back and grinned like a five year old.

“I think what we need after such an amazing date, Daria…” His pause sent my heart flip flopping and my temperature soaring. “Is a cold shower.”

With that, he walked us into the spray and I wonder if the steam caused the fog the city was blanketed in the next morning.