being garish. She loves the architecture, amenities, the pool, and the beach access, but she especially loves her apartment and the view from the 44th floor. It took about a month for her to get used to the feelings of fear about being so high up, and even longer to escape the anxiety she felt whenever she went out on her beautiful curvaceous balcony. She reaches into her purse for her cell phone when she realizes that she is trembling. Gosh! It’s been forever since anyone made me feel this way she sighs as she presses the elevator button for her floor.
She exits the elevator, lost in her thoughts, already dialing as she enters her apartment and throws herself on her big, comfortable bed, “Kathryn! I was just thinking of you!”
“Hey Jules, how is everything?”
“Absolutely fine, no complaints around here. Did you have a great day at the beach?”
“I had an unbelievable day; I spent the entire day on the beach thinking about nothing at all.”
“Sounds like just what you needed.”
“Yup, just what the doctor ordered. Are we still on for one o’clock tomorrow?”
“Definitely! Try to find some way to enjoy your quiet evening.”
“Thanks, friend, I will. Tell everyone hello for me.”
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”
Thank goodness for Julie Turner! Kathryn thought to herself as she hung up. Julie has turned out to be one of her closest and dearest friends, most certainly the closest friend in Dubai. She has lived in Dubai for the past four years, knows nearly everyone, and knows where everything is. Kathryn rolls off her bed and jumps into the shower. Exiting the bathroom she glances at the clock, crap! She thinks to herself, it’s already three-fifty five and I need to run to my appointment as she throws on some jeans, sandals, and a white button up blouse. She grabs her phone and keys and runs out the door.
Hurriedly she exits the elevator when from behind she hears someone call her name, “Kathryn, Kathryn, please wait!” Turning she notices a man approaching.
“Keiran?” she asks, “You startled me. What in the world are you doing here?”
“I apologize as it does seem a bit unconventional.”
With a small laugh she replies, “Yes, a bit. I’m running late for my appointment,” she says as she motions behind her with her thumb, “can I help you with something?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, I’ll be brief. After you walked away earlier I realized that I would very much like to see you again.”
“So you camped out by the elevators in my building?” She asks with a raised eyebrow, half teasing, half serious.
“I admit it’s a bit stalkerish but I assure you my intentions are honorable. I simply hung out by the elevators in your building because I failed to get your last name and phone number. I’m truly sorry that I had to resort to such tactics but when the concierge wouldn’t, or I should say couldn’t, help me, I noticed the elevators and thought that you had to go up or down eventually.”
“So you camped outside my elevators to see me again… and…?”
“I sound like a bumbling idiot, don’t I?” he asks. ”I’m not usually like this at all. Will you please give me the honor of your company tonight and join me for dinner?”
Trying to conceal her smile and excitement at the prospect of spending more time with him she replies, “I would like that. Where and at what time would you like to meet?”
He suggests, “How about the Burj Al Arab, shall we say seven?”
“Lovely, I will meet you in the lobby at seven, and now I really must run. See you tonight.”
Smiling broadly he responds, “I’m looking forward to it. See you then, Kathryn!” he calls after her.
Continuing to stand there he watches her disappear around the corner, he reaches up running his hand through his hair and heaves a big sigh. He heads out to the beach and sits back down on the chaise, leaning back onto the chaise, he wrestles with the thoughts darting around his mind (What the hell am I doing? I’m here in Dubai with Stephanie, who is out shopping while I am playing mister pick up artist with Kathryn! Fuck! What the hell came over me? She is so fucking gorgeous, that’s what came over me, but yet it’s more than looks. There is something so alluring about her which runs deeper than her beauty. Kathryn he says to himself smiling.) God! I could spend hours running my hand up her endless legs…noticing that he is beginning to become aroused just thinking about her he silently berates himself, (calm down and get a grip! It’s just a fucking dinner with a friend, yeah a friend. No big deal. No need to get all worked up over it. Stephanie can go out with her friends tonight and I’ll go out with my new friend. That’s innocent enough… okay. Good that’s settled), he absentmindedly reaches up and runs his hand through his hair and with an audible, “Way to go idiot” as he realizes that not only does he still not know her last name… he didn’t get her phone number either.
Chapter 3
Rounding the corner she ducks into the salon, “Kathryn, dahhhling, you’re never late!” her stylist playfully admonishes.
“For heaven’s sake, Enrique, it’s only three minutes after four!” she cries, greeting him with kisses on both cheeks, “Oh! And I’ve decided to come back tomorrow for the cut and color if you have availability.”
“I always have time for you dear. What do you need today then?”
“I just need a partial up-do, I have a dinner date.”
He raises his eyebrows and shoots her a look. He’s been doing her hair since she arrived from the States and she has never used the word “date” plans yes, date – no. “Well, well, well, what have we been up to, Ms. Kage?” he teases.
Blushing, she quickly tries to downplay everything, “Oh! It’s not like that at all. I happen to be going out to dinner with a new friend, that’s all.”
“Just going to dinner, he continues to tease, that’s all… with whom will you be having dinner with that requires a partial up-do, surely not one of your girlfriends?”
“Well, no, not one of my girlfriends, but a friend.” she insists.
“I’ll let you off the hook for now but don’t think for one minute that you can come in here tomorrow afternoon being all coy with me,” he laughs, “I want all of the juicy details!”
“I’m sure there won’t be any juicy details” she says making air quotes with her fingers while saying juicy details, “but I will be happy to share with you what I have for dinner tonight.”
Laughing, “Honey I couldn’t care less what you eat for dinner, I want to hear about what you have after you eat dinner!” Blushing again at his words she’s relieved when he changes the topic to her hair. Kathryn has beautiful light brown hair with honey highlights that is naturally curly. Not a frizzy mess of twirls, but long cascading bunches of ringlets reaching just past her shoulder blades. She oftentimes thinks about cutting it, after all shouldn’t women in their forties wear shorter hair? Hesitant to change something she’s so comfortable with, she never goes through with it.
“What are you wearing tonight, hon?” he asks waking her from her self examination.
“Excuse me, did you say something?”
“Yes I did, daydreamer, what are you wearing tonight?!”
“I haven’t the faintest idea!” she giggles “I haven’t had a moment to think that far ahead. A dress I guess.”
As he lifts part of her hair, “How about something like this? Simple yet elegant”
“Perfect.”
Nearly one-and-a-half hours