She doesn’t look like one of the women that usually show up for the parties. She’s pretty conservatively dressed in comparison. I almost ask her if she’s here for the party when she laughs and her voice knocks me for a loop. “Nothing like showing up late for a blind date, huh?”
She’s catching her breath and doesn’t seem to notice my hesitancy. I look around the dock, but besides the women at the other end – who are watching us – there doesn’t seem to be anyone else around. The other guy isn’t going to show up or he’s already left. I reach out to touch her arm but quickly draw it back. She’s hot and doesn’t seem to have a clue who I am, which is so fucking refreshing I can’t help myself. Why the hell not play along?
“It’s fine. You’re right on time. I hope you have your lake legs with you,” I tell her, gesturing to the boat.
She seems to take a deep breath and quickly nods her head. I do take her hand then and with my other hand on her lower back, I help her into the boat. I jump aboard and untie the rope that is keeping us docked. I help her to her seat, which is right next to mine, and pull out of the marina. I know I seem rushed, but once I have her with me, I don’t want the man to show up and have her find out the ruse.
She’s quiet and a little reserved. She watches as I maneuver the boat out and once we’re a safe distance from land, I turn it off so I can focus on her.
“So, tell me about you…” I stutter, because I don’t know her name. Hell, I should know her name.
Her pale cheeks blush a pretty shade of pink. “Naomi. I’m not surprised you don’t know my name. My mom probably didn’t even tell you what it was. I’m sorry if she pushed you on to this date with me. It’s rather embarrassing that my mom is finding me dates.”
“Not at all. It’s refreshing actually,” I tell her honestly.
She shrugs her shoulders. “So I’m sorry. My mom never told me your name.”
I clear my throat. “Neil. My name is Neil.” And before she can ask my last name, I ask her, “So what do you do?”
She slides her shoes off and pulls her feet up underneath her. “I’m a high school teacher. I teach English.”
I shake my head, disbelieving. “There weren’t teachers that looked like you when I was in high school.” I can’t stop from glancing down her body, but I raise my eyes quickly. I just met her and don’t want to scare her off.
She looks shocked by my words, but I just shrug my shoulders. I’m telling the truth. When I was in high school, I had teachers that were old and stern-looking. She’s like a breath of fresh air.
“So what do you do?” she asks me.
I get up and wave at the passing boat, an old friend of mine. He and his wife wave at us and I tell her about them, hoping to get her off the subject of my baseball career. Don’t get me wrong. I love baseball and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. But I’m kind of enjoying the fact that she doesn’t know who or what I am. She stands up and waves at them, right when a wave hits the boat and she starts to fall. I grab on to her hips, pulling her to me, holding her upright.
We stand just like that, her bottom against the juncture of my thighs. I should release her, but I don’t. I’ll hold her, just like this, until she no longer wants to be here. She’ll have to be the first to move, because I can’t force myself to do it. I breathe her in. The soft, feminine scent of her fills my nostrils and all I can think is that she smells like sunshine, hot summer days, and orange creamsicles.
She twists in my arms and her hands go to my arms, holding her upright. She seems breathless when she whispers to me, “Thanks.”
She licks her lower lip and I hold back a groan. “Any time.”
I help her back to her seat and sit across from her. There’s plenty of places around her, but I figure the safest is away from her, where I can’t reach her. I don’t want to screw this up and I know if I sit within arms’ length I’m going to have her in my arms and underneath me before the night is up. Nope, it’s safer here. At least for her it is.
After her near fall, she seems to relax a little. She’s funny, smart and sweet.
“So what do you like to do in your spare time?” she asks me.