Tabitha slants closer to me and...licks a drop of crème brûlée off my lips. "Did you like it?"
"I fucking loved it."
"Would you like to have sex tonight? Or wait until later, so the anticipation will make us even hornier?"
"I doubt it's possible for you to make me any randier than I already am."
She devours another mouthful of crème brûlée, then uses her tongue to slowly remove every last molecule of it from the spoon. "Sure about that, hmm?"
"Absolutely not." This woman is trying to seduce me, and I have half a mind to let her do that right here in this restaurant. "Let's pay the bill and go back to your apartment."
She licks her lips again with even more leisure, then waves to our waiter. "We need the bill, please."
He hurries over to us. "One check or two?"
"Just one, please," I tell the bloke.
"Yes, sir. Be right back."
Tabitha smiles. "Your chivalry makes me so hot."
Fortunately, the waiter returns with the check. I pay it and give the bloke a sizable tip. We did order quite a lot of food, over three courses. That's a lot of running back and forth.
I keep a hand on Tabitha's back as we hurry out of the restaurant. Duane is still waiting for us in the car. I can hear loud, muffled country western music emanating from inside the vehicle. Blimey, I hope we don't have to listen to that for the whole ride back to Tabitha's apartment.
Just as I pull the rear door open, the music shuts off.
I take Tabitha's hand, helping her into the car, then slide in beside her. I can see Duane in the rearview mirror. "I assumed you must have an entire country western band in the backseat, and I wasn't sure Tabitha and I would fit in the car too."
"Just enjoying my favorite tunes."
"You can play them while we're in the car---at a less eardrum-piercing level."
Duane twists around to look at Tabitha. "You seem like the kind of girl who'd love a good honky-tonk."
"Sure do. Go ahead and play something twangy."
"If you like the classics, I've got the best of Johnny Cash on my phone."
Tabitha grins. "Yes, please, I love the Man in Black. 'Ring of Fire' is my favorite."
I decide to shock these Americans with a pronouncement. "I love that song too. My mum loves country western music, especially Johnny Cash. I grew up listening to him, Patsy Cline, and other legends."
Duane gapes at me. "Seriously? I didn't know Brits liked that kind of music."
"Go on, Duane. Turn up the volume."
Throughout our fifteen-minute car journey, the three of us sing along with the Man in Black. It's invigorating. I can't remember the last time I had such a bloody good time inside a vehicle. Or anywhere.
I accompany Tabitha to her door. But when she invites me to come inside, I kiss her hand and say, "Not this time. We need to recover from our first date before we move on to...other things."
"There's one more thing I should tell you about my family. We have a hobby that makes some people cringe. We like to---"
I seal two fingers over her lips. "Later, Tabitha."
She watches me walk away and blows me a kiss as the lift door glides shut.
I might have met Tabitha last week, but I think I'm already falling for her.