Part Three

He's walking too fast! 

Read her book? Read her book! Louise thought as she marched up the road with him, and why had he insisted on walking with her? His legs looked shorter than hers, but his stride was obviously longer and she found herself almost running along behind him as he hurtled up the High Street in the direction of the department store behind which her car was parked. When he had asked if he could read some of her work she had said yes, automatically, but a cold fear had gripped her stomach. An anonymous publisher, a bored agent, an even more bored reader, yes, but someone who she would have to look in the eye, or speak directly to on the phone, no. But it was too late she had committed herself.

To make matters worse she needed to pee, badly. His pace did not slacken and each movement of her legs reverberating up into her bladder was agony. She should have gone in the restaurant but she hadn't wanted to get up and walk away from the table knowing full well that his eyes would be firmly positioned on her bottom as she walked through the tables to the toilet door marked 'femme'.

Harry was a charmer there was no doubt about that. He had a way with women, which she knew was a dangerous element to contend with. She was prone to falling for men with a chat-up line, men who appeared to listen even if they weren't, men who revealed that they found her attractive by the way they looked at her, and often, on that basis alone, hadn't been able to refuse them. The fact that these men were usually indiscriminate in their affections and had a penchant for women of any size, shape or form, just as long as they had the requisite amount of equipment, and weren't too ugly, although that didn't always put them off, usually wasn't enough to put her off either.

That was all before Justin. She was with Justin now. Practically married. They were married enough not to see very much of each other. He was always off with his mates, playing rugby in the winter, cricket in the summer, squash and tennis. She was starting to think he was chasing his lost youth. It was getting a bit too much for an man in his forties to be chasing balls all the time.

He had mentioned a number of 'women' as they chatted at the table, in fact, he had confessed to two ex-wives and a number of hangers-on, although he didn't appear to be in a serious relationship with any of the latter. She didn't really want to become another notch on his headboard but for some peculiar glitch in her personality it made him seem all that more attractive. And besides she had an ex-husband and several eager hangers-oner's too and, although she hadn't felt inclined to mention it, a partner she was living with, Justin.

Louise looked at him out of the corner of her eye as they headed into the department store. He had that rumpled look about him, and although he was somewhat older than her, and was a bit overweight he carried himself well. There was a lot of dark brown hair, swept back off his forehead, reaching down to his collar, dark eyes, with a complexion that was smooth and tanned. In fact, he looked remarkably like a younger version of her father, which caused her to stumble slightly as they approached the back entrance of the store.

"Careful, there." He grabbed her arm with one hand and placed the other on her waist. She felt a small shiver of anticipation ripple through her.

"It's these shoes, silly things, I shouldn't have bought them, they keep slipping off my feet."

"Fashion victim?"

"Yes, look," she said, pushing the double doors open, "you don't have to walk all the way with me."

"I'll see you to your car."

"I was going to do some shopping on the way home so I might say goodbye now."

"Oh, okay then…sorry…I just thought…no never mind…it's been really nice, we must do it again."

"Yes, I enjoyed it to."

"Which floor?"

"Five."

He followed her up the steps and she knew he had got his chance and flexed her buttocks together, which sent an agony of movement through her bladder.

"Here we are." She fumbled in her handbag for the keys.

"Its been wonderful." He stood in front of her. "I've really enjoyed it; in fact I haven't enjoyed myself so much for a long time."

"It has, me too." She found her keys, and fumbled for the lock. She wanted to put a barrier between them, and the car door was as good as any.

She jumped into the seat and wound the window down.

"Right."

He leaned into the open window. Their heads clashed as she turned a cheek towards his puckered lips and he moved to kiss her full on the mouth.

"Sorry." They both jerked heads out of harm's way.

"Look, call me." He said, his eyes fixed intently on her face.

"Yes, I will. Anyway, I've got to email some of my work to you."

"No, I mean call me, really. I…"

"Yes, I will, I promise."

Harry watched her drive away, a sporty green car, small but sleek. She was? She was intriguing and seemed amenable yet somehow he felt chastened. That was the end of that then. He'd made his desperation seem so obvious, what on earth had possessed him. Shame, he thought, thinking of that bottom in those jeans as she slipped into her car. He'd been around women a long time, made enough mistakes to know when he'd made another. It was tempting to say it was nothing to do with him. She'd said she had a meeting that afternoon, had to rush away. That left him cold because she'd also said she wanted to do some shopping. Once he'd made a decision there was a job to be done. So far that didn't seem to be moving quite the way he wanted. Never mind. He'd let it mature awhile, there was plenty of time. She was one to savour, not to be rushed.