"Hey... I was wondering when you were going to gather enough courage to call me." Elizabeth smiled when she heard Henry's voice at the other end of the phone
"What makes you think I needed courage... I may have just been playing it cool." Henry laughed as he spoke and it gave her goosebumps
"So What can I do for you Dr McCord... it is Dr, right?... Because I like the way that sounds." Elizabeth Adams... you are shameless... she had no idea what had gotten into her
"It is... And you like that huh?... Add that to the sweatshirt and I'm on a roll... I was calling to see if you wanted to get dinner tomorrow night?" Henry's voice was light and optimistic yet his stomach was tied in knots
"Dinner?... Just in general or with you specifically?"
"I was hoping to be there... if that suits you... Can you get a sitter for Alison?"
"Yeah... I think I can sort it... but what say we do burgers and bowling rather than dinner... I have wicked ball control." Jesus Elizabeth... what was thaaaat... she was blushing even though he couldn't see her
Henry cleared his throat, obviously a little ruffled by that last comment
"Burgers and bowling it is... Shall I pick you up at 6?"
"It's a date... see you tomorrow Dr McCord."
She smiled as she put the phone down... But before she'd even moved her hand away it rang again
"It would be really helpful if I knew where you lived... sorry!" Henry sounded embarrassed which she found rather adorable
"Yeah, I can see that it could be an advantage."
She gave him the address and they said goodbye again... This guy was really starting to have an effect on her and she had no control of it... It was thrilling and scary all at once
Elizabeth had her routine down like a well oiled machine... She could drop Ali at daycare and make it to Langley in plenty of time to start her day... She had some wonderful colleagues who had been so supportive when she'd discovered her surprise pregnancy. Her boss, Conrad Dalton, had moved things around so she could continue working but not have to travel which had been such an integral piece of the parenting puzzle. She had good friends at the agency, especially Isabelle, George and Juliet who had made sure to keep her afloat when she thought she could no longer manage.
"Isabelle... I need a favour?" Elizabeth spoke into the phone, trying to conceal the excitement that was already building inside her
"Bess... What do you need?... And why do you sound all..."
"All what?"
"All... girlie!... Ohhhh... He called didn't he?" Isabelle knew her friend well
"Maybe." Her voice couldn't hide her glee
"And you want me to have Ali for the night... am I right?"
"That's so sweet of you to offer... thank you so much." Elizabeth laughed... it worked every time
"You know I'm not great at the whole baby thing Bess... but... as it's you... sure I'll do it."
"Thank you... Thank you... Thank you...I'll bring her stuff to work with me tomorrow and you can collect her from daycare... You're the best, you know?"
"Yeah... I know... and don't forget it."
Elizabeth walked into Langley the next morning with a little more bounce in her step. She sat down at her desk and sighed... The nerves were starting to build and she was feeling like a schoolgirl waiting to go on a date with her first crush... Damn Elizabeth, you're a 32 year old woman... Get a grip.
"You know... if you smile any bigger you may turn yourself inside out." Isabelle teased as she walked into the office
"Be quiet... I'm just in a good mood."
"Yeah... You'll be in an even better one tomorrow, I'm sure."
Elizabeth blushed a little and busied herself with the paperwork on her desk
"How long's it been since you... you know...?" She was making gestures with her hands that Elizabeth really didn't want to see
"Isabelle... stop it!"
"I'm just saying... " She was highly amused at her friends embarrassment "remember to wax." she chuckled as she walked out the door
"Oh my god... " Elizabeth's cheeks were now the colour of ripe tomatoes... But, maybe it was worth considering
She managed to get through the day without too many major stresses and was relieved when Isabelle told her to get going at 4pm
"Don't worry about Ali... she'll look after me just fine... and Bess... Relax and enjoy yourself." She was sincere in her words and it compelled Bess to give her friend a rather sizeable hug
"Ok..ok... Enough with the pda... save it for marine guy."
"Thank you Isabelle... for everything."
"You're welcome... not get out of here."
She rushed home and jumped in the shower and preparations were all going so well until it was time to pick an outfit...Dear god, how can this be so hard... just pick something and that's it
She settled for the jeans she knew showed off her ass and a sweater. She was trying so hard to look like she wasn't trying too hard and it was exhausting... He'd already seen her covered in baby puke and still asked her out, that's gotta count for something. She applied light make up and dried her hair and was feeling pretty confident... until her nerves hit her like a steam train
What am I doing... I have a child... this is a horrendously bad idea... you're going to get hurt... And sex... can I even remember sex
Her mind was in overdrive and her heart was starting to beat against her chest at quite an alarming rate... Her mouth was dry and she thought this may call for some liquid courage. She poured herself a glass of scotch and downed it, feeling the burn as it hit her throat... that helped.
She was starting to compose herself when the doorbell rang
She opened it and there he was... dark blue jeans, a button down shirt that hugged his physique in all the right places and that smile...
"Miss Adams... these are for you." He held out a bunch of the most beautiful cream roses and her hand brushed against his as she took them
"Thank you Henry... that's so thoughtful." She placed them on the side and grabbed her keys "Shall we?"
They grabbed their bowling shoes and headed for their lane
"I warn you... I'm pretty good at this" Elizabeth smiled as she lifted her ball... She wiggled her ass just a little as she went to throw and Henry spoke
"Yeah... it's that great ball control you have."
And she watched her ball sail down the gutter
"Oh that's dirty tactics..." She playfully scowled at him and took her second go... spare!
As Henry was preparing to throw, She sauntered up beside him and gently blew in his ear "Two can play at that game."... All focus was gone
They playfully flirted through the rest of the game and Elizabeth was really starting to relax. She couldn't remember the last time she'd done something just for herself and the adult company was very welcome. And it just so happened that the way he was making her feel was very welcome too.
"Shall we go and get something to eat... I know a great diner that has the best burgers?" Henry asked as they returned their shoes
"Oh... I just assumed we'd be eating here... but that sounds good." She caught his gaze and had to force herself so hard to stop staring and actually blink
"I can't subject you to that on a first date... I may not get a second." He was smiling at her and everything felt so comfortable. As they walked back to the car, he tentatively took her hand in his, he wanted to touch her but also wanted to see if she'd be receptive... he got his answer when she tangled her fingers with his. The short car journey consisted of playful glances and gentle smiles
The diner was busy and the sounds of clanking cutlery and annoying chatter made it hard for them to hold a conversation. He was observing her closely... the way she tucked her hair behind her ears, the tiny tap her nails made on the table as she drummed her fingers... and the way she wasn't scared to eat I'm front of him. He was impressed... he was rapidly beginning to realise that this woman was something very different to anything he'd known before...
"Who has Stevie tonight?" She asked, dragging him back from the trance he'd been in
"The couple next door have been amazing and adore Stevie... They never had any kids of their own so she's like a surrogate granddaughter." Henry replied, not taking his eyes off of her
She was smiling back at him and he was trying to work out what was more prominent in her features... was it the kindness in those ridiculously blue eyes... or the sheer sexiness of her demeanour... or was it just everything she was.
"You ok there?... you seem... distracted?" She asked, brushing her fingers against his
"I am... you are absolutely mesmerising... I'm a little embarrassed to say that you make me kinda nervous." He was moving his fingers between hers and relishing the contact, however slight it was
"In a good way or...?"
"In a... hmmmm... in a 'I really want to kiss you' way." Henry was blushing and he was starting to feel a little panicked
She leaned towards him and whispered "So... kiss me."
"I don't know what this is or where it's going... but I know you deserve our first kiss to be somewhere better than a diner." He had regained his composure and was stroking her cheek with his thumb
"Can we get out of here?" She asked, leaning even closer towards him
Her apartment had always been a safe place for her and Ali... it wasn't somewhere she let people into very often, if at all and she'd certainly never had a guy there... But all of her senses were muddled and caution was most definitely flailing in the wind...
"Coffee... wine...?" Sex, she thought to herself
"A glass of wine would be lovely... if you're sure you're comfortable with me in your apartment?" Henry wanted nothing more than to follow her in, but he was chivalrous, a trait he had always seen as his biggest downfall
"I'm sure." she smiled and opened the door
Henry sat on the couch as Elizabeth went to the kitchen to pour the wine...The nervous energy in her stomach was at an all time high and she took 2 rather large mouthfuls of her wine in an attempt to calm herself. She filled her glass back up and headed for the couch
"I hope you like red... I'm not much of a white wine drinker." She explained, passing him a glass
"It's perfect." he replied, smiling at her
They sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity... knowing what they both wanted but unable to quite put it into practice. Henry placed his glass on the floor, and then reached over to take Elizabeth's. He moved closer to her and the sincerity in his eyes was overwhelming. He gently traced his fingertips down the side of her face until his thumb was resting on her chin. He tilted her head ever so slightly and pressed his lips against hers. It was gentle and sensual and she sighed as he sucked at her bottom lip, biting it ever so slightly. He pulled away and looked at her. Her eyes were still closed and her lips parted
"Hey... earth to Elizabeth?" He felt like he was drowning in emotion
Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed at him, unable to quite find the words for how she was feeling. She was feeling bold... maybe it was the wine or the sheer excitement of the situation but she pulled him towards her and kissed him with passion. He leaned into her, pushing her back against the cushions and grazing the tip of his tongue against hers... As the intensity grew, so did their courage... He pulled her sweater up over her head and kissed her neck and his hands wandered over her silky skin. Her fingers were frantically undoing the buttons on his shirt, revealing his muscular torso
She moved to unbuckle his belt and he steadied her hands
"Elizabeth... wait." His breath was shallow and his heart was up in his throat
"What's wrong?" She asked, looking up at him, slightly confused
"We shouldn't do this... not tonight... not like this." He pushed himself upright
"What did I do wrong?" She asked, getting rather upset
"Oh god Elizabeth... You have done nothing wrong... It's just taken every ounce of self control I have to stop."
"Then don't stop." She smiled, trying to pull him back down
"We have to... I want this so badly... but I want what we could have more." He was trying desperately to explain what he meant
"I don't understand?" she sighed
"I like you... really like you and I think we could have something here worth working on... I don't want you thinking I came here to fuck you and that's all I wanted."
She was a bit surprised by the blunt explanation but his honesty and self control melted her
"Henry... " She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly "I really like you too."
"I should go." He stood and fastened the buttons of his shirt
"Do you have to?" She asked , pulling on her sweater and giving him the puppy dog eyes
"Yes... because if I stay we'll end up going too far... I don't want to leave but I know I have to." he pulled her up off the couch and kissed her again, leaving her with no doubt about how he felt
As he headed out of the door she grabbed his hand
"Thank you for tonight... I had a great time."
"I did too... I'll call you tomorrow."
And with one last kiss, he was gone