Chapter 3
A/N: DATES AND MORE Thank you all for your reviews. Took me a while to be comfortable with this chapter hope you all enjoy and reviews make my heart happy.
Suzanne had been a bundle of nerves all day and had a hard time concentrating in class. She is not sure she retained anything. She quickly went to her apartment once her last class was over. She showered, reapplied her makeup and dried and styled her hair. She decided on a skirt that she could put leggings under since it was so cold outside. She paired it with a blue sweater that brought out the blue in her eyes.
Benjamin left class at one and spent the afternoon trying to study, but his thoughts kept drifting to Suzanne. He made a reservation at a French restaurant in town for tonight. At five, he showered and decided on black slacks with a button down and a sweater.
At exactly six he knocked on Suzanne's door. Suzanne opened the door and looked Benjamin up and down appreciating how he looked. He looked at her with a smoldering look in his eyes and was speechless of her outfit. Her sweater and skirt fit her perfectly accentuating her womanly curves. She walked out the door and locked it. She turned to him and grasped his hand, "Ready to go?" she asked. He was finally able to swallow the lump in his throat and said "Yes".
They arrived at the restaurant and Benjamin exited the car and came around to open Suzanne's door. Suzanne smiled at his choice of restaurants. Her family dined there often and her father was friends with the chef. He reached his hand out to help her out. They were quickly seated at their table and the waiter was there to take their drink orders. They ordered a bottle of red to split. Suzanne was about to take a drink of her wine when the chef approached their table. "Amie, où sont tes parents(Where are your parents)?" he asked in a very thick French accent. Ils sont à la maison (they are at home)," she said. The chef turned his attention to Benjamin and realized they were on a date. He kissed Suzanne's hand and bid her au revoir (good bye). She looked down and blushed.
The waiter was standing by to take their order. Benjamin ordered the Boeuf Bourguignon and Suzanne the Coq Au Vin knowing it was the chef's speciality. He raised his glass for a toast and they clinked their glasses together. "Here's to a good night," he toasted. She nodded her head in agreement. "How do you know the chef?" he asked. "My parents and I have been eating here for years," she explained.
This led to a conversation about her family and being from outside Charlottesville. They lived on a horse farm and raised and trained horses. "Like your family in the finance business, mine has been raising and breeding horses for generations," she told him. She told him about her brother Eric and how they were the pride and joy of Joe and Ellen James.
Their conversations continued right through dessert, which they shared. They were both really enjoying themselves and the others' company and didn't want the night to end. Suzanne suggested a walk around the downtown area and Benjamin was more than willing. He paid the bill and they walked out the door.
The downtown area was quiet and there were not many people on the street. The weather was cold, but not unbearable. Their hands would brush the others as they walked, so Benjamin reached down and intertwined their fingers. Suzanne looked at them and gave him a sly smile, indicating she approved.
They continued to walk and talk about all kinds of topics, their classes, professors, life's ambitions, their childhoods. Benjamin told her about growing up in New York and all the exciting things there were to do there. She told him she had been there once, as a small child. She said, "I just remember everything being so big and tall." He laughed and said, "Yes the buildings can be intimidating as a child."
Two hours had passed since they started their walk. They had circled downtown a number of times. They were back at Benjamin's car as he held the door for her. He climbed in the driver's seat and she turned to him. "You are such a gentleman Benjamin, thank you for that special touch." "My Mom would kill me if I was anything but and didn't treat a lady properly," he said. "Well she raised you right," she said timidly.
Benjamin drove to her apartment and they were sitting in his car, both delaying the evening ending. "Tomorrow is Saturday, do you have plans?" he asked. "I have a paper to finish in the morning, but nothing after that," she answered. "Do you want to go do something in the afternoon?" he asked hopefully. "Sure about two?" she questioned. "Sounds perfect, I will pick you up here," he said with a huge smile on his face.
Suzanne spent most of the night tossing and turning due to thinking about the guy with the 1000 watt smile and their date the night before. Across campus in his apartment, Benjamin was having just as much trouble sleeping. He could not get Suzanne out of his mind and dreams. Finally sleep came to both of them.
Suzanne spent the next morning in the library writing her paper between yawns due to the lack of sleep. Benjamin did some studying fighting sleep due to his lack of sleep and cleaned his apartment before he left to pick her up at two.
Benjamin arrived at her apartment promptly at two. She answered the door and gave him a smile that warmed his heart. "Come in, I just need a few minutes and we can leave. Sorry, my Mom called and I got behind getting ready," she told him. "No problem, we are not on a timetable," he said. She went to her bedroom and he walked around her apartment. He observed lots of photos of her family and horses. He was intently looking at one of her when she was younger on horseback smiling at the camera.
He guessed she may have been about ten. She had that beautiful smile even back then he thought to himself. She returned and walked to the coat rack to retrieve her coat and scarf.
They walked out the door and she said "Benjamin, where are you taking me today?" "I thought since it is so cold out we could go to the museum and then to dinner," he told her. "That sounds wonderful," she said as she smiled up at him.
They arrived at the museum and spent three hours walking and looking at all the exhibits. They both had quite a bit of knowledge of some of the art that was hanging on the walls and discussed it at length. She was impressed with his worldly knowledge and asked him, "Where did you learn about Art?" "I grew up in the Art Capital of the world. My mom wanted to make sure that I had a great appreciation for it." "Well she did a great job Benjamin," she said.
They left the museum and decided on burgers for dinner. She told him there is a great burger place at the diner on the outskirts of town. He smiled and let her give him directions. Sam's diner was a Charlottesville locals hangout and not many UVA students ventured that far to go to it. It was an old style diner with checkered floors and vinyl covers on the booth seats. There were very few people and Sally the owner/waitress greeted them with a wave to just grab a seat. Suzanne waved at her and she looked up and gave her the who is the hottie you are with look? Suzanne waved her off as she took a seat at a booth.
"So the burgers are good here?" he asked. "Best in the county, Sally has been making them for the better part of 30 years or so I am told. My dad and I always stopped here on Saturday's when we would make a feed run," she said. Sally sauntered up to the table and gave Suzanne a side hug. "Where have you been kid, haven't seen you in a month of Sundays?" she asked while she slyly looked at Benjamin. "I am really snowed under with my classes this semester and haven't been home as much," she said. Sally shook her head that she understood and they both ordered double cheeseburgers and fries. She walked away to put their orders in, but turned back to Suzanne and mouthed, call me. Suzanne laughed and shook her head. Benjamin looked at her quizzily.
Suzanne just smiled and shook her head. "Sally is too chatty and wants to know all aspects of my life, she is worse than my mom." He laughed and told her he totally understood, his mom is the same way, "Must be a mom trait." They both laughed. Their food came and Benjamin took a bite of his burger and moaned, "Gosh you are right these are fantastic burgers." "I don't know what she does to them, but they definitely will make you come back," she said between bites.
They leisurely enjoyed their lunch and talked about her growing up with horses. "I could ride before I could walk. My dad wanted me to become a professional horsewoman, but I have different plans. He settled for my brother Eric. He is excellent with them and seems to be born with a sixth sense for them," she told him. "By the looks of the pictures and trophies in your apartment, you're not so bad yourself," he said. "I still enjoy riding, but now it is just for pleasure, we will have to go out to the farm when the weather warms up," she said, hoping he would take the hint. His eyes lit up, She is thinking this is a longer term thing, great. He shook his head in agreement.
Benjamin paid the bill and they walked to his car. He was thinking the whole drive, if it was too soon to kiss her and would she welcome it. She was lost in her own thoughts, I wonder when he will kiss me? They were both unaware of just how in sync their thoughts were. Once back at her apartment, he walked her to the door and thanked her for a wonderful day. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, "Benjamin I had a wonderful day with you." She then turned and walked into her apartment. Once the door was shut, she leaned on it and placed her hand on her racing heart. Benjamin practically skipped all the way to his car with joy.