Chapter 6
It was a beautiful Wednesday evening. The setting sun turned the sky brilliant shades of pink and orange. Sara had butterflies in her stomach that felt the size of F-16's. She stood on the small deck, right off her living room, and tried to calm her nerves. It was silly to be this freaked out by dinner. After all, she had been waiting on this for years. The past three weeks had been a strange prelude to what she hoped was going to happen tonight. It was her day off and she had a date.
Grissom was dressed in a sky blue polo that made his eyes seem to leap from his face and jeans that hugged his muscular legs. He had shoved his feet into a pair of loafers. He had a dish towel stuck in the top of his jeans so that he could wipe his hands. There was classical music playing softly in the background. He was cooking dinner. After three weeks of dancing around his attraction to Sara, well ten years and three weeks, he had decided to invite her over. The occasional breakfast, the daily phone calls and the stolen kisses just weren't enough anymore.
Sara arrived at Grissom's house a few minutes before 7:00. She wiped her damp hands on her skirt, and pasted a smile on her face. Reaching out, she rang the bell. She stood, fidgeting, with her hands clasped in front of her. When Grissom opened the door he almost laughed. Sara looked like she would die of fright if someone said boo. He held the door open and asked her in.
"Hey," Sara said, stepping across the threshold. "I hope I'm not too early. I thought there might be more traffic so I left a little early. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Sara, slow down. You're not too early." Grissom did laugh. Never had he seen Sara Sidle so discomfited. "Come on into the kitchen."
Sara followed Grissom. His laughter had helped relax her a little. "Sorry. It's that over-talking thing again. What are you doing in here?"
"Cooking. What? Did you think I was ordering take out?" Grissom teased. "Sara, you have so little faith in me."
"No. I just didn't realize you could really cook. Whatever it is smells delicious." Sara was relaxing more by the minute. Raking her eyes over Grissom she said, "You look really nice, by the way."
"Oh, well, thank you." Grissom was a little embarrassed at Sara's frank appraisal. "I must say that you don't look half bad yourself," Grissom said.
Sara was wearing an orange sleeveless sweater and a flirty skirt that hit at her knees. The color of the sweater complimented her skin tone and gave her a glow. She had taken time with her makeup and pulled her hair up into a 'sloppy' knot that left her long neck bare and allowed the delicate gold hoops at her ears to catch the light. She had on some strappy little heels that, combined with the skirt, only made her legs look longer. However, the greatest shock of all was the very feminine polish on her toenails.
"Thanks," Sara said. They both seemed to have run out of things to say. Suddenly, Sara closed the gap between them and placed a quick kiss on Grissom's lips. "Now, that's out of the way," she said matter-of-factly. Smiling, she stepped back and asked again, "Is there anything I can do?"
"No. Dinner is almost ready. Would you like something to drink? I have wine, beer or water." Grissom's voice was soft. "Or you could have something stronger if you prefer."
"I think I'll have a glass of wine," Sara said.
"Okay. Why don't you go into the living room and have a seat? I'll bring it in to you." Grissom turned Sara around and gave her a light push in the general direction of the couch.
Sara walked over and, smoothing her skirt, sat down on the couch. She picked up a Journal of Forensic Science that was on the end table and began flipping through it. She could hear drawers and cabinets opening and closing in the other room. A smile spread across her face at the hominess of the sounds. She felt, more than heard, Grissom enter the room and looked up.
"My God you're beautiful," Grissom said, stopping in his progress across the room.
Sara blushed. She had never had a man call her beautiful before. She wasn't even sure how to respond to such a compliment. "So are you," she said with a husky voice.
Now it was Grissom's turn to blush. Clearing his throat, he continued to the couch and took a seat beside her. He held out the wine glass, all the while searching her face. "A toast," he said, "to the most patient woman I have ever known. Thank you for waiting."
They touched glasses and each took a sip of their drink. "Wow. If I didn't know better I would think you were trying to seduce me." Sara's smile showed the gap between her teeth.
"If I were, would it be working?" Grissom asked. The seriousness of his gaze touched a place in Sara's heart and stole her breath.
"Oh yeah," she told him. "It would be working really well."
Just then a timer sounded from the kitchen. Grissom stood and headed toward the kitchen. "Let me get dinner out of the oven and I'll be right back. Don't move."
Sara settled back into the cushions and sipped her wine slowly. She was struck by how domestic this felt. She'd had no idea Grissom could cook. But you can't live alone and not learn something. The wine was beginning to warm her and she could feel her muscles relaxing. She stood up and began to wander the room.
The framed butterflies were beautiful but she was more interested in other things. He had a vast collection of music and movies. Some of the titles surprised her. You could learn a lot about a person from the music and movies they liked. The books were another thing entirely. They ranged from poetry to fiction to Entomology text books. Magazines, non-fictionand reference books were in there also. The man had varied tastes.
Grissom walked up beside Sara and began to gently knead the back of her neck. "Dinner is ready. Are you hungry?"
"Yes," Sara sighed, closing her eyes, "but I don't want you to stop doing that."
"Come one, let's eat. I can rub your neck later." Grissom dropped his hand down to hers and tugged her after him back into the dining area.
"Oh my," Sara breathed. "You didn't have to go to this much trouble." The table was set with real china and linen napkins. There were flowers. The light over the table had been dimmed and candles flickered in their holders. There was salad and bread and a bottle of wine.
Grissom led her to the table and held her chair before seating himself. Smiling at her awed expression, Grissom stroked his fingers down her cheek. "How am I doing on the seduction thing now?"
"You are completely off the scale. I just can't believe you really did all this. Who knew you had it in you?" Sara said with tears in her eyes. She blinked back the moisture and said, "Sorry. I'm just overwhelmed."
"I want our first dinner together to be memorable. I never meant to make you cry," Grissom said.
"They aren't sad tears," Sara told him.
"Okay, I don't want to see any sad tears. Let's eat beforeit gets cold," Grissom said.
The dinner conversation was easy. They talked about anything and everything that came to mind. When the salads were done, Grissom cleared the plates and brought out eggplant parmesan. The sauce was homemade, the bread soft, the salad crisp and the winemellow. Everything was perfect and delicious.
Sara leaned back in her chair and sighed in satisfaction. "I don't think I can eat another bite. That was wonderful. Where did you learn to cook like that?"
"My mother loved to cook and she got me started. The rest is self-preservation. I like to eat; therefore, I cook." Grissom explained. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have dessert also."
"No, I couldn't. Maybe later though." Sara stood and picked up her plate. "Let me help with these dishes. It's the least I can do."
Grissom stood up and took the plate from her hands. Placing it back on the table, he said, "Go in and pick out some music. I'll have these done in five minutes. I also believe in cleaning as I go."
"I don't mind. You don't have to wait on me hand and foot, you know," Sara said.
"I know I don't have to. I want to. Go ahead, I'll be right in." For the second time in one day Grissom pushed her in the direction of the living room.
Sara walked over and began looking for a CD that would fit her mood. She spotted a 'Love Songs of the '80's' and took it out. Flipping it over she read the song titles and then put it into the CD player. Adjusting the volume, Sara set off in search of a bathroom. She returned to find the lights dimmed and candles burning. She didn't think she could be take anymore surprises tonight. Grissom was sitting on the couch and Sara sat beside him, leaning her head against his shoulder. Grissom took hold of her hand and laced their fingers together.
They sat quietly, enjoying the closeness and the sappy music. Grissom lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the palm. "Dance with me?"
Sara was speechless. Could the man really be this romantic? Could any man be this romantic? He was right. This had to be the most memorable date of her life. "I would love to dance with you," Sara said, raising her head to look at him.
Grissom stood and held out a hand to help her up. Pulling her into his arms he laid his cheek alongside hers and moved slowly with the music. She relaxed into his embrace and he felt more content than he could ever remember being. They stayed this way for what could have been hours, not caring what the song was only that they were together.
"Sara, I want to make love to you," Grissom whispered in her ear.
Raising her face to his she said, "I thought you'd never ask."