Too Much Hospitality

The waitress returned with their glasses, setting one down at each of their elbows and Ash smiled to her, politely nodding his thanks as she again left.

Laura folded one arm across her stomach, resting her elbow in the palm of her hand as she picked up her glass, the arm across her abdomen supporting her breasts, pushing them up and together ever so slightly as she sipped from her glass, eying Ash’s expression.

She was painting a portrait for him, whether consciously or unconsciously he wasn’t sure, but with her sultry smile, beautiful makeup, glass of wine and breasts displayed as they were, it was a picture he prayed he would never forget, the image of perfection itself.

“Thoughts?..” she asked curiously, unable to read his expression, not noticing her own actions.

“I’m just.. Awed.” he said, honestly, causing her cheeks to redden.

Laura took a sip from her glass to mask it as they relaxed. She felt so natural around him, but her thoughts constantly returned to her phone call early.

Ash tilted his head slightly, “What about your thoughts?..” he asked in return, catching her a little off guard.

“Oh.. I’m just..” she didn’t want to spoil the evening with her thoughts of the future, but at the same time she felt she needed to address them. She couldn’t lead him along. “I’m just thinking about you.. And me.. And the future.”

Ash felt a little pull on his anxieties as he realized her line of thinking. “I.. I know what you mean.” It’s not that he hadn’t thought about it, it’s just that he didn’t want to.

“This..” she gestured around her slightly, “This is just heaven for me Ash.. You’re just heaven.. And lord.. If I was thirty years younger I would do things to you..” she bit her lip, looking into the scarlet hue of her wine.

He watched her still, unsure how to feel. “Laura.. I just want you to be happy. I just want to make you feel as good as you make me feel..” he said, voice quiet.

She laughed a little, smiling ruefully, “Ash, you make me far happier than I have any right to be..”