Her Second Chance At Love

(3) The First Date

Lisa’s POV

That night I waited patiently by the window waiting for him to pull up.  No thanks to Grams I was old fashioned and the minute I caught a glimpse of his car pulling up in front of my house I slipped away from the window and waited for him to come to the door.  I was nervous he told me that we were going out to a club so I did my hair and makeup a little differently that what we had to do at work.  I looked through my closest to decide what to wear and wore the prettiest dress that I had that would be fit for going out to a club.  If he didn't come to the door then he wasn't worth my time is what I kept telling myself even though I was ready to burst out the door anyhow.  I knew he was here but it had been like five minutes since he had pulled up and still nothing. I was starting to get nervous about this maybe he wasn’t serious.  Maybe he was expecting me to be waiting and just come out.  Maybe he had sent me a message that he was here.  I checked my phone. No there wasn't a text from him saying he was here.  So, I decided I needed to peek out the window again just to make sure it was him that I saw.  What I saw was him talking to himself with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.  It was cute he was nervous just like I was.  Who would have thought that the company bad boy would be nervous taking me on a date?  He didn't have to get me flowers that was such a sweet gesture.  His head came up and I ducked out of sight but could see him making his way up the walk way.  I went over to the door waiting for the buzzer to ring.  When it finally did chime, I took a breath, counted to twenty and then opened the door to him.  

Ray’s POV

                I pulled up to her house and all of the sudden was hit with the biggest wave of nervous energy ever.  I hadn’t felt this way about someone since my first girlfriend.  Even all the other women I have dated in my life didn’t make me doubt myself and my ability to woo a woman.  What was it about this girl?  I got out of my car and grabbed the bouquet of flowers that I had purchased for her.  This was also out of character for me as I never bought flowers for a woman.  I told her we were going to go to a club and I was even doubting that decision.  When the hell did, I become so insecure?  I started to head up the sidewalk and stopped myself a minute.  I found myself pacing in front of my car talking to myself trying to figure out what I was going to say to her.  I knew this woman was special and I knew that my usual lines and ways of being with a woman were not going to work on her.  She was something else not like anyone else.  I had taken a few women home to meet my parents but none of them ever impressed my mom.  Dad on the other hand would just smile and wink.  He knew there wasn’t going to be much but they were more like regular f**k buddies than anything else.  I shook that thought out of my head.  Lisa could never be anyone’s f**k buddy.  She flirted at work with the patrons but you could tell easily that she wasn’t the type that did it on a regular basis.  That first day when she started to work at the bar, I was smitten with her.  But I was told she was engaged to be married so I had backed off.  She was taken.  It wasn’t long ago though that the word spread around that she had broken off her engagement.  It was another waitress that told me about her ex.  I couldn’t believe someone would cheat on her that way.  What the hell was that guy thinking?  After a few minutes I was able to gather my thoughts and made my way to her front door.  I rang the door bell and what only took a few seconds seemed like eternity for her to answer.  But when she did, I was met with the even more stunning vision of her than I was prepared to see.  I didn’t realize it but I had let out a sigh of relief.  She had given me the right address.

Lisa’s POV

His smile was the first thing I noticed and then the sigh of relief.  "You really did give me your legit address.  Thank you for trusting me enough to go out with you."  Then he held out the bouquet of carnations and roses and said "here these are for you.  They don't do you justice because nothing can be as beautiful and sweet smelling as you are but they are a close second."  I bit my bottom lip as my heart melted at that.  I put the flowers in some water and then proceeded to wrap my arm in his as he led me out of the house and to his car.  He was a perfect gentleman and opened the door for me, waited for me to be inside and then closed it behind me before going around to the driver’s side.  He looked at me and smiled and said "ready?"  I nodded that I was indeed ready to go on this date.  It had been a few months since I had gotten my heart broken.  I wasn't sure if I was ready for a relationship but a friendship with Ray would be nice to start with.  If it turned into more than that's what it is.

We drove in silence for a little bit and before long approached the parking lot of one of the town’s most prestigious night clubs and restaurants.  He said "I hope you're hungry I made reservations at the restaurant before we go dancing.  Need to keep our energy up and a clear head if we decide to have any drinks."  That made me smile at his thoughtfulness.  This told me that he was a gentleman for now and that he at least cared if I had a clear head. When they got inside, he gave his name to the maître de and they were seated in a cozy little table in the corner.  He told me to order what I wanted and I told him that I was old fashioned and would eat whatever he ordered me.  With that he smiled and said "I'm glad you can trust me that much.  Is there anything I should be aware of that you may be allergic to?"  Smiling I shook my head no and he proceeded to order for the both of us.  Dinner went along just fine and soon enough we were laughing and talking about our various life experiences.  An hour into dinner we decided to make our way to the night club and to the dance floor to work off all the calories we had just consumed.  

We spent the next several hours dancing our hearts out to the music.  There were a few slow songs and the first two we decided that we would opt to sit out of them.  But then when the next one came on, he looked at me and said "I would love to see how you fit in my arms for a slow dance would you please have this dance with me?"  Crap he was so uncertain and so sincere how could I say no to that?  We made our way to the dance floor where the music was playing and I put her arms around him as he put his arms around me.  We swayed and moved to the music and it was like we were meant for one another.  He was taller than I was so to put my arms around his neck was a bit of a stretch and when I did, he surprised me with a soft kiss on my lips.  "Oh, sorry was that to forward of me?" he asked when he noticed my reaction.  "Erin told me about your last relationship and how you wanted to take it slow. I'm sorry I just couldn't resist.  I wanted to see how your lips would taste against mine."  Oh, this guy was good.  Damn Erin I would have to have some words with that girl the next time I saw her.  But that kiss was good and I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having another.

Just as the night was winding up on the dance floor, I ran into them.  Evan and Mary.  They were a couple now.  There was a ring on her finger so they were either engaged or married.  I thought about how sorry I was for Mary because if he cheated on me then surely, he would cheat on Mary.  Of course, they both were responsible for that relationship. I couldn’t help it I recoiled when I saw them and Ray immediately sensed my discomfort.  "Are you ok? Do you know those people?" he had asked with concern in his voice.  "Yes, it is my ex-fiancée and my ex best friend."  He nodded his head in understanding. "Let's go sit this one out I think you need a rest."  He then guided me to a table and pulled out a chair for me to sit on before being seated himself.  Such a gentleman.  Who knew he had it in him with all the flirting he did with the ladies at the bar?  But I guessed he must have been playing the part like I did when I was at work.  Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse the couple, I was trying to avoid locked eyes with me.  Mary smiled and they both made their way over to the table where we were sitting.

"Shocker seeing you here Lisa."  Mary had snarled.  "I didn't think you knew what these kinds of places were let alone come to one. You never liked to go out before."  I looked up at her and said "Mary, Evan it's nice to see you two are still together after all this time."  To which Mary laughed and said "of course we are still together." Evan just looked away and didn’t say a word. Then she rubbed her stomach and said "we are celebrating we found out we are expecting our second baby. To think we owe all this happiness to you."  She looked over at Evan and said "wouldn't you agree dear?"  He smiled it was a twisted almost painful smile.  He looked at me in the eye and said "she's right Lisa if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be together like we are now."  Ray excused himself just as they left the table and told me he was going to go get a drink for the both of us.  I smiled and thanked him.  After that encounter I could surely use a drink.  But before he could get back Evan made his way without Mary back to our table once again. "I see you are coming out in the world.  You're still as beautiful as ever dear maybe you and I should hook up again?  I see you've lost your prudish ways I saw the way you were moving out there on the dance floor."  It repulsed me to hear those words from him.  I smiled at him and said "no I don't go for sloppy seconds, or make those thirds since I have already been yours once and now you have your woman."  Just about that time Ray walked up to the table and had a strange look in his eyes.  Evan turned to him and said "you just waisted your money bro, she's not going to put out no matter how much alcohol you put in her.  She's a good girl or so she claims.  Who knows maybe you have what it takes to get in between those tight little virgin thighs? She's cold as ice but I bet she's a screamer."  With that, two glasses shattered on the ground and the next thing I knew Evan was laying on the floor clutching his nose.  Mary had made her way back to the scene by this time and asked what happened.  Ray looked at her and said "you should probably tell your leech here to stop making passes at my girlfriend he had his chance and he lost it."  

I couldn’t help it I just stared at him for a few good seconds to comprehend what he had just said.  He called me his girlfriend but we had only been out on one date.  He had punched out Evan for saying those awful things about me.  Nobody had ever defended my honor. NOBODY.  Then he did something even more surprising and pulled me up from the chair I was sitting in and gave me such a passionate kiss my knees went weak. Instinctively I wove my fingers through his hair not caring who was watching and leaned into his body.  When the kiss was over there was a gleam in his eyes and he looked over at Evan and said "I dont' know what you were talking about but that sure as the hell didn't feel cold as ice to me."  Evan turned several shades of red and Mary was tugging at his shirt to get him to leave.  "She's not worth it Evan."  With that the couple walked away.  I just glanced up at this man that I had only just went out with.  Did he really just defend my honor and call me hot in the same few seconds?  Yes, he did.

Ray’s POV

                What an arrogant couple.  So those were the two that had crushed her spirit.  Frankly, the woman on that man’s arms wasn’t that much of a looker.  Best he could figure is she was a good f**k that turned wrong when she ended up pregnant.  Judging from his body language it seemed to me that he didn’t want to be in that relationship at all.  The way he was looking at Lisa made me uncomfortable and I’m sure it did the same for her.  The look on her face when she saw them on the dance floor spoke volumes at the pain and betrayal, she had felt from those two.  I showed her to a table to get away from them and avoid a scene but they had followed her over to gloat in her face about what a happy couple they really were.  I had to shake my head people that needed to gloat that much weren’t really that happy when the layers were removed.  After they left us alone, I could tell she needed a little time to process her thoughts and feelings so I told her I was going to go get us both a drink.  I had only left her for a few minutes and would be right back.  Little did I know we were being watched by the leech and as soon as I left, he approached her once again.  I was watching from the corner of my eye while waiting for our drinks and as soon as they were ready, I made a bee line right back to our table.  I had to laugh when I heard her calling him sloppy seconds and that she wasn’t interested in him anymore.  Good for her she was standing up for herself.  Then he spied me and told me I had wasted my money on buying her a drink and insulted her.  I couldn’t stand that I dropped the glasses in my hand and just punched the son of a b***h right in the nose.  Her eyes went wide and a little glimmer of humor as well.  Then I just grabbed her to me and kissed her with all the passion I was feeling for her at that moment.  I was hoping that I didn’t make a wrong move and totally turn her off.  But when I felt her fingers snaking their way through my hair, I knew she felt the passion as well.  The look on that bastard’s face after we kissed was priceless.  After that we decided to leave the club and call it a night.

On the drive back to her place I mindlessly placed a hand on her thigh and then immediately moved it. She giggled a little and said "why did you do that?"  I looked at her startled and said "force of habit. Sorry I'm trying to not be a playboy with you.  I really like you and want to do this right.  I'm also sorry for kissing you like I did in front of your ex and his woman."  She looked up at me and said "that was the first time anyone has ever stood up for me like that and I can't tell you how much I appreciated it."  When we arrived back at her house, I told her to stay put. She sat there as I came around the front of the car and opened the door for her. "Can I walk you to your door?" I quietly asked unsure of what the answer would be.  She smiled and told me she would love it if I did.  When we got to the door, she took out her key to open the lock and I gently took it from her.  I wanted to make sure she was safe so I unlocked the door took a step inside the foyer, turned on the lights, glanced around and told her everything looked fine.  Then I reached down and gave her a quick gentle, sweet kiss on the lips and said "well I guess I will see you at work day after tomorrow."  She nodded and told me she had a wonderful time and she would indeed see me at work.  As I drove away, I thought to myself that I couldn’t wait until work to see her again and I set out making plans to call her for an impromptu drive tomorrow.  Well at least impromptu for her.