The hugest, most endearing smile crested upon Brian’s face. It was as if he’d won his first sports championship as an adolescent. It also felt good to let down my guard and look forward to a simple lunch date with someone low-key.
The lunch date turned out to be all but simple. My marred judgment to order a cocktail was the first strike. I was so wound up and knew I didn’t have anymore patients for the rest of the day, so I used that to make it okay to order a second. Brian followed suit and enjoyed Patron pomegranate cocktails, an odd drink for a man. The ambiance of the restaurant on the water was familiar. It was the backdrop to many of the dining excursions Azmir arranged for us, only I wasn’t with Azmir. I was with Brian Thompson, laughing mindlessly at the candor of his feelings for the higher ups of the practice.
“Jim Katz has no balls. He allows Dave to take risks all the time that leaves the practice so damn vulnerable. And he’s a fucking pathological liar. You know when Dave Smith is lying through his teeth when his nose turns red.”
I balled over in laughter. I knew that crimson nose so well. “Even the lumps on it turn a special shade of pink!” I spat out.
“Oh, so you know the infamous indicator, too?” he cackled as he put his glass back down on the table.
“Yes, Michelle put me up on it my first week of interning with the practice.”
“Shit. I wish I had someone to give me the heads up before my first sit down with an opposing attorney.”
We laughed hysterically as we covered a myriad of topics. It was nice to escape reality, even if only for a couple of hours. It afforded me the opportunity to meet another Brian Thompson, one I needed at that point in my crazy world. I was relieved with the amount of safety and carefree environment that was conducive to my emotional state at that time.
Somewhere, mid our third drink when the waiter was clearing our plates, Brian muttered, “This has been my dream for the past two months.”
“What?” I sighed, catching my breath from my last laughing spree.
“Seeing you this free to laugh around me. To see a new smile upon your face, one that I effected.” His gaze into me narrowed as I experienced the sincerity in Thompson’s eyes. If he was kicking game, he made me believe him.
“Well, thanks for the laughs.” I took a sip of my cosmopolitan. “Considering the past couple weeks I’ve had, it feels good to laugh.”
“Your smile complements your cut. It’s beautiful by the way. It unleashes your femininity.” Thompson’s tone stopped short of a growl. I could tell he was measuring his coquetry. For some reason, I was pleased that he not only noticed my new change, but approved of it, something I doubted Azmir would. Azmir was extremely fond of my natural mane. He even loved it more when it was wild and unrestrained. Humbly, I brushed the back of my neck, something that was growing habitual now that it was exposed. I felt empowered.
“You’re beautiful,” Thompson continued. My brows furrowed at his openness. “Not that you haven’t always been, but this is a new side of your beauty that I wasn’t privy to before today. I feel honored, and now I’m jealous.” He didn’t break his deep gaze when he lifted to drink from his tumbler.
Brian and I made it back to the practice just before five p.m. and through my inebriated fog, I saw people taking to their cars, ending another workweek. I noticed Brian’s smooth dash around his sleek white BMW 750 to open my door. I was careful to stand gracefully considering my state. Once out, I leaned into the car, giving him enough room to close the door. I wanted to thank him for a nice afternoon outing. I’d likely be heading out after clearing my desk.
Thompson’s smoldering eyes were drunken with strong desire that couldn’t be mistaken. When his mouth came into my face I knew what he was doing, but didn’t have the speed of mind and/or the coordination of body to move clear out of the way of his tempting lips. I felt the heat from his tequila fragrant breath and braced myself when I was abruptly hit with the realization that it wasn’t Azmir’s familiar brandy mixture. But it was too late.