Art of Seduction 7/?
**Disclaimers and info in part 1**
A/N: The neighborhood I'm describing does actually exist. It's just not in California. It's the Old Market in downtown Omaha, NE. The food Harm and Mac eat later is really served by the restaurant at Hotel La Jolla at the Shores. Probably one or two more chapters to wrap this up.
**Car heading to Trish Burnett's Art Gallery 6:45pm**
I'm sitting in the back of a car headed toward Trish's gallery. I'm trying to concentrate on my surroundings in an attempt to keep calm. The gallery is in the old historic district. For years this area was warehouses, factories, and the local market area. Now the area's been redeveloped. There are pricey lofts, upscale shops, art galleries, restaurants and bars. There are also cobblestone streets, some horse drawn carriages, and musicians and artists on some of the corners.
The car comes to a stop and I step out onto the sidewalk. I take a minute and look at my surroundings while I gather my courage. There are people coming and going from the Old Chicago two doors down. There's a crowd of people watching an artist draw caricatures on the corner the other way.
The art gallery is an old brick building and if the stone at the base is any indication it was in 1901. I open the door and step in. I pause for a moment and look for Harm. It only takes me a minute to see him. He's staring at me with a look that can best be described as a combination of shock and lust. Nice to know the new dress worked. Now I hope the plan does too.
"Hi, Sarah, I'm surprised to see you here."
"Well I hope you're pleasantly surprised."
"Very pleasantly surprised. I'm going to assume since you are here that you've met my mother. How about I introduce you to Kelsay?"
"Sounds good and that would be a correct assumption flyboy. Does that bother you?"
"Not at all."
Harm takes me over to this beautiful blonde woman who smiles and shakes my hand. Trish is there also. The two of them then begin to tell me stories about when Harm was a teenager. I'll admit it I got jealous. I mean this woman has a history with Harm and she's blonde and beautiful, his usual type. Trish must have sensed what I was feeling because all of a sudden she turns and says, "Sarah, let me introduce you to Hilary, Kelsay's partner." From the way she says it I realize I have nothing to worry about Kelsay is absolutely no threat. I have to stop my self from sighing in relief.
Harm and I say goodbye to Kelsay, Hilary, and Trish and wander around the gallery a little. Harm makes sure we view the photos displayed of Kelsay's many trips in desert regions. There are photos from the deserts of: the Southwest United States, Australia and Africa. The photo that catches my eye is a 10-x 32 shot of Red Rock Mesa. Oh how I want that photo! I can't afford it though, it's $525 dollars, but it would look so good hanging in my living room.
Harm is watching me look at that photo and he has this really strange look on his face. While yes, Harm is hard to read, I really have no idea what he is thinking right now. I'm also trying to keep a very open mind because I don't want to screw this up by jumping to conclusions and not paying attention to his every nuance like I did in Sydney. My stomach rumbles and Harm chuckles softly and smiles.
"I think we need to be thinking about feeding you, Marine. There are only appetizers available here so how about we go find a restaurant?"
"Actually Harm, I'm staying at the Hotel La Jolla by the Shores why don't we see if we can get a table at Elairo's? We can have dinner and listen to some jazz." The original plan involved, Trish making sure dinner was waiting on the patio but we decided that would be way too presumptuous of us and would probably scare Harm off. Not what we are trying to do at all!
"Sounds like a plan to me, Marine. Let's go tell my mother good-bye."
We wander over to where his mother is and Harm tells her that we're going to get a bite to eat and then he'll be home. Trish tells him that's fine and then hugs him and me. When she hugs me, she whispers in my ear, "Actually it would be even better if he wasn't home until sometime tomorrow." I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
Harm stays behind just a moment longer to talk to his mother just a moment longer. He then catches up to me and keeping his hand on the small of my back he guides me out the door and to the car that he's driving tonight. Trish told me she'd make sure he had his own car at the gallery so that we could leave whenever.
He holds my door for me while I get in. Once he's ready, we head out into the nighttime traffic. I'm waiting for him to say something.
"What are you doing out here Sarah?"
"I wanted to spend some time with my best friend. We haven't been able to do that much lately." "True. Do you mind if I ask how you met my mother? I'm assuming she's the one who told you where I'd be." By this time we're pulling into the hotel parking lot.
"Do you mind if I answer that after we get our table?"
"That works for me." With that said Harm comes around and opens the door for me. Why is it when Harm does things like that for me it doesn't upset me? Mic used to come around to get me and it irritated me to no end. Maybe it's because Harm does it for all females and doesn't expect to be rewarded for it. Mic always used to throw it up as prove of how much he loved me and expected me to fawn over him for it.
While I was thinking about this Harm guided us through the hotel lobby and into the elevator. We ride up to the eleventh floor in silence. Elario's is on that floor and has live jazz music along with views of the ocean. We get out of the elevator and Harm steps up to speak to the maitre'd. He comes back after a moment and says that it'll be at least an hour until we can get seated. So I suggested that we order dinner and have it delivered to my room. We can have dinner on the terrace with the view of the ocean. So Harm orders the Seared Ahi Tuna and I order the New York Steak with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
After I assured Harm that I had mineral water and glasses in my room we headed that direction with a promise of dinner being delivered within the hour. Once in the room Harm fixed us each a mineral water while I put some music in the CD player I'd thought to bring with me.
"Back to my question Mac, how did you meet my mother?"
"She came to see me when she was in town after you were released from the brig. She wanted me to realize that even though you'd never say anything you felt like we abandoned you and that we needed to make some effort to let you know that wasn't the message we were trying to send."
"She shouldn't have done that. I was handling things just fine." Oh no Harm's getting agitated.
"Harm, I know you were handling things fine. Your mom just thought I could help you handle things better. Fine is fine but sometimes it's easier to handle things with someone."
"I can't believe she came to talk to you."
"What's really bothering you about this Harm?"
"I...it's just she shouldn't have done that!"
"Well, I'm glad she came to see me." There's a knock on the door and Harm moves quickly to open it and admit the waiter with our dinner. The waiter sets our dinners and drinks on the table and Harm tips him and lets him out of the room. He then comes back and sits down with me.
"Harm let's just enjoy our dinner."
"I have missed you, Mac."
I've missed you too, Harm." I swear if his smile gets any bigger we won't need lights if the power goes out. We eat in silence, but it's a comfortable, friendly silence. The kind of silence you have when no words need to be spoken.
It's now or never. The dishes are back on the cart and the cart's in the hallway. We're sitting on the terrace looking at the stars. John Mayer is in the CD player. It's his live CD and "Covered in Rain" is just beginning. I get out of my chair and walk over to Harm.
"Dance with me?"
"I would love to dance with you Sarah." We step just inside the terrace and Harm wraps his arms around me and we begin to dance. I spend most of the song building up my courage. Trish told me I'd have to spell it out. I have to come right out and say 'I love you' to him. She said that the only way a Rabb man can get a hint is if it's applied with a sledgehammer. As the song's coming to an end I stand on my tiptoes and whisper in his ear.
"I love you Harm." He looks at me with a look of awe on his face. I shake my head and smile at him. "You heard me. I love you and I'm pretty sure you love me too." I then go back to dancing with him giving him a moment to process what I said. That's the other thing Trish told me that Harm needs a little extra time to process what's said to him.
We dance for a couple more minutes. My sense of time seems to have deserted me and I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse. Suddenly I sense Harm bending down toward my ear.
"You're right I do love you and I'm happy to hear you love me too." When I look up Harm kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck as he deepens the kiss and his hands start searching for the zipper of my dress. I don't think I'm going to wake up alone tomorrow.
Tbc probably on Wednesday.
**Disclaimers and info in part 1**
A/N: The neighborhood I'm describing does actually exist. It's just not in California. It's the Old Market in downtown Omaha, NE. The food Harm and Mac eat later is really served by the restaurant at Hotel La Jolla at the Shores. Probably one or two more chapters to wrap this up.
**Car heading to Trish Burnett's Art Gallery 6:45pm**
I'm sitting in the back of a car headed toward Trish's gallery. I'm trying to concentrate on my surroundings in an attempt to keep calm. The gallery is in the old historic district. For years this area was warehouses, factories, and the local market area. Now the area's been redeveloped. There are pricey lofts, upscale shops, art galleries, restaurants and bars. There are also cobblestone streets, some horse drawn carriages, and musicians and artists on some of the corners.
The car comes to a stop and I step out onto the sidewalk. I take a minute and look at my surroundings while I gather my courage. There are people coming and going from the Old Chicago two doors down. There's a crowd of people watching an artist draw caricatures on the corner the other way.
The art gallery is an old brick building and if the stone at the base is any indication it was in 1901. I open the door and step in. I pause for a moment and look for Harm. It only takes me a minute to see him. He's staring at me with a look that can best be described as a combination of shock and lust. Nice to know the new dress worked. Now I hope the plan does too.
"Hi, Sarah, I'm surprised to see you here."
"Well I hope you're pleasantly surprised."
"Very pleasantly surprised. I'm going to assume since you are here that you've met my mother. How about I introduce you to Kelsay?"
"Sounds good and that would be a correct assumption flyboy. Does that bother you?"
"Not at all."
Harm takes me over to this beautiful blonde woman who smiles and shakes my hand. Trish is there also. The two of them then begin to tell me stories about when Harm was a teenager. I'll admit it I got jealous. I mean this woman has a history with Harm and she's blonde and beautiful, his usual type. Trish must have sensed what I was feeling because all of a sudden she turns and says, "Sarah, let me introduce you to Hilary, Kelsay's partner." From the way she says it I realize I have nothing to worry about Kelsay is absolutely no threat. I have to stop my self from sighing in relief.
Harm and I say goodbye to Kelsay, Hilary, and Trish and wander around the gallery a little. Harm makes sure we view the photos displayed of Kelsay's many trips in desert regions. There are photos from the deserts of: the Southwest United States, Australia and Africa. The photo that catches my eye is a 10-x 32 shot of Red Rock Mesa. Oh how I want that photo! I can't afford it though, it's $525 dollars, but it would look so good hanging in my living room.
Harm is watching me look at that photo and he has this really strange look on his face. While yes, Harm is hard to read, I really have no idea what he is thinking right now. I'm also trying to keep a very open mind because I don't want to screw this up by jumping to conclusions and not paying attention to his every nuance like I did in Sydney. My stomach rumbles and Harm chuckles softly and smiles.
"I think we need to be thinking about feeding you, Marine. There are only appetizers available here so how about we go find a restaurant?"
"Actually Harm, I'm staying at the Hotel La Jolla by the Shores why don't we see if we can get a table at Elairo's? We can have dinner and listen to some jazz." The original plan involved, Trish making sure dinner was waiting on the patio but we decided that would be way too presumptuous of us and would probably scare Harm off. Not what we are trying to do at all!
"Sounds like a plan to me, Marine. Let's go tell my mother good-bye."
We wander over to where his mother is and Harm tells her that we're going to get a bite to eat and then he'll be home. Trish tells him that's fine and then hugs him and me. When she hugs me, she whispers in my ear, "Actually it would be even better if he wasn't home until sometime tomorrow." I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
Harm stays behind just a moment longer to talk to his mother just a moment longer. He then catches up to me and keeping his hand on the small of my back he guides me out the door and to the car that he's driving tonight. Trish told me she'd make sure he had his own car at the gallery so that we could leave whenever.
He holds my door for me while I get in. Once he's ready, we head out into the nighttime traffic. I'm waiting for him to say something.
"What are you doing out here Sarah?"
"I wanted to spend some time with my best friend. We haven't been able to do that much lately." "True. Do you mind if I ask how you met my mother? I'm assuming she's the one who told you where I'd be." By this time we're pulling into the hotel parking lot.
"Do you mind if I answer that after we get our table?"
"That works for me." With that said Harm comes around and opens the door for me. Why is it when Harm does things like that for me it doesn't upset me? Mic used to come around to get me and it irritated me to no end. Maybe it's because Harm does it for all females and doesn't expect to be rewarded for it. Mic always used to throw it up as prove of how much he loved me and expected me to fawn over him for it.
While I was thinking about this Harm guided us through the hotel lobby and into the elevator. We ride up to the eleventh floor in silence. Elario's is on that floor and has live jazz music along with views of the ocean. We get out of the elevator and Harm steps up to speak to the maitre'd. He comes back after a moment and says that it'll be at least an hour until we can get seated. So I suggested that we order dinner and have it delivered to my room. We can have dinner on the terrace with the view of the ocean. So Harm orders the Seared Ahi Tuna and I order the New York Steak with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
After I assured Harm that I had mineral water and glasses in my room we headed that direction with a promise of dinner being delivered within the hour. Once in the room Harm fixed us each a mineral water while I put some music in the CD player I'd thought to bring with me.
"Back to my question Mac, how did you meet my mother?"
"She came to see me when she was in town after you were released from the brig. She wanted me to realize that even though you'd never say anything you felt like we abandoned you and that we needed to make some effort to let you know that wasn't the message we were trying to send."
"She shouldn't have done that. I was handling things just fine." Oh no Harm's getting agitated.
"Harm, I know you were handling things fine. Your mom just thought I could help you handle things better. Fine is fine but sometimes it's easier to handle things with someone."
"I can't believe she came to talk to you."
"What's really bothering you about this Harm?"
"I...it's just she shouldn't have done that!"
"Well, I'm glad she came to see me." There's a knock on the door and Harm moves quickly to open it and admit the waiter with our dinner. The waiter sets our dinners and drinks on the table and Harm tips him and lets him out of the room. He then comes back and sits down with me.
"Harm let's just enjoy our dinner."
"I have missed you, Mac."
I've missed you too, Harm." I swear if his smile gets any bigger we won't need lights if the power goes out. We eat in silence, but it's a comfortable, friendly silence. The kind of silence you have when no words need to be spoken.
It's now or never. The dishes are back on the cart and the cart's in the hallway. We're sitting on the terrace looking at the stars. John Mayer is in the CD player. It's his live CD and "Covered in Rain" is just beginning. I get out of my chair and walk over to Harm.
"Dance with me?"
"I would love to dance with you Sarah." We step just inside the terrace and Harm wraps his arms around me and we begin to dance. I spend most of the song building up my courage. Trish told me I'd have to spell it out. I have to come right out and say 'I love you' to him. She said that the only way a Rabb man can get a hint is if it's applied with a sledgehammer. As the song's coming to an end I stand on my tiptoes and whisper in his ear.
"I love you Harm." He looks at me with a look of awe on his face. I shake my head and smile at him. "You heard me. I love you and I'm pretty sure you love me too." I then go back to dancing with him giving him a moment to process what I said. That's the other thing Trish told me that Harm needs a little extra time to process what's said to him.
We dance for a couple more minutes. My sense of time seems to have deserted me and I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse. Suddenly I sense Harm bending down toward my ear.
"You're right I do love you and I'm happy to hear you love me too." When I look up Harm kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck as he deepens the kiss and his hands start searching for the zipper of my dress. I don't think I'm going to wake up alone tomorrow.
Tbc probably on Wednesday.