With my heart pounding wildly and my passion bulging my trousers, I gently led Ms. Babcock out the cab right in front of her condominium. Not waiting till we got to the penthouse, I crushed her in my arms with a fervent kiss. I could not believe how compliant she was as I led her a few steps towards the condominium entrance without breaking the kiss. The bewildered look in her eyes was still evident as I peppered butterfly kisses all over her face before cupping her face to draw it closer to mine, tasting her sweetness as our tongues dance around each other relentlessly in unsated hunger, unmindful of the people walking on the streets; staring, watching as I pressed her body to mine.
"I love you, CC!" I whispered as I broke the kiss to allow us a bit of air.
I smiled at her adoringly, searching her eyes to fathom the thoughts in her enigmatic mind, my heart soaring in joy that she was letting me kiss her without any protest, that she was openly accepting my confession of undying love that had been bottled -up for several years.
I held her face with both hands, meeting her cloudy blue eyes with equal fervor, imprinting that desirous look she displayed directed at me as I started tearing her blouse to see what beauty it concealed underneath.
"Niles! Niles!" I heard her utter my name, but it was not the sultry, sensuous tone that made me quiver in my pants, it was a high pitch, nasal sound that all too often gave me a pounding headache then her dark blue eyes staring back at me turned into dark chocolate ones.
Startled, I released her from my embrace and the face of Ms. Fine began to register in my brain.
"Niles! What are you still doing here on the couch? Let's lock up and go to bed," said Ms. Fine.
"Miss Babcock!" I cried, feeling empty and forlorn having her vanish from my arms.
"Niles! She left with that Chandler guy almost three hours ago… remember?"
Disgruntled and perplexed, I looked around my surroundings and realized I was still in the Sheffield living room, my head resting against the back of the couch. I must have fallen asleep. Ms. Fine was locking up the front door in the same dress that she was wearing before Ms. Babcock and Val broke up their date.
"Didn't we follow them for a double date?" I asked Ms. Fine.
"Double Date? You should have told me earlier you wanted to, so we could have gone with them or catch up with them. That was hours ago, their dinner may be over by now. If she comes home with him…"
"She won't," I interjected.
I saw the surprise in Ms. Fine's eyes.
"Oh, you're so quick to say that when you're the one that has a low opinion of her!" said Ms. Fine smugly, looking at me.
I grabbed the cordless phone and handed it to Ms. Fine.
"Call your cellphone," I demanded.
"What?! Why?" she asked in confusion.
"Dial it now so I can talk to Ms. Babcock," I said.
"It's late, Niles… I don't want to interrupt something, she protested but dialed anyhow when she saw I was determined.
We were surprised to hear the ringing of her phone just outside the foyer, and before we could open the front door, the bell rang.
Rushing purposefully to unlock the door, Ms. Babcock came in with a big smile on her face when I opened the front door.
"Hello! Hello! I see you're both still up. I just came by to get my purse and return Nanny Fine's," she said in a friendly tone, the glint in her eyes dancing like fireflies aglow.
"How was your date?" asked Ms. Fine.
Just when I thought her smile couldn't be any sunnier, and her eyes any brighter, it magnified tenfold as she relayed her date in detail. Oh, what I would not give to have her smile like that for me.
Ms. Babcock instinctively held Ms. Fine's hands in excitement.
"Oh, Nanny Fine, it couldn't be more wonderful. He was so good with numbers he taught me how to do the reports and filing so that Maxwell and I would have less taxes. And we talked about our favorite theater plays… art, poetry, classic novels. We realized we have so much in common."
"I'm delighted to hear you had such a great evening, Ms. Babcock," said Fran in all sincerity.
As though her news could not be any worse for me, her next words caused a great unease in the pit of my stomach, and a sour taste that cling persistently after nausea claimed your entire being.
"Nany Fine, he said he wanted to see me again tomorrow. He'll show me the two other theaters he owns in case I might like them more than the one we are currently leasing from him. And you know what? Maxwell will be delighted; Chandler will be cutting down our lease by 40%. Can you believe that?"
M. Fine gave a delighted giggle and teased her, "Oh… you must be good!"
Ms. Babcock turned bright pink. "Nanny Fine, we didn't! He was a perfect gentleman."
Then with a little giggle like a high school girl recounting her first kiss to her best friend, she continued.
"He kissed me on the corner of my mouth before I got off the car…"
Ms. Fine squealed so loud I was afraid she had woken up the children.
"That's so sweet! Sounds like a keeper," she said in delight after her earth-shattering scream.
"I hope so. We'll know after a couple more dates," said Ms. Babcock, taking her purse and starting for the door.
"How are you going home Ms. Babcock?" I asked, afraid I might hear Chandler was waiting for her.
"I left my BMW parked here this morning," she said as closed the front door.
"Well, it's about time she found someone who wanted her for her mind," said Ms. Fine.
"And I don't?" I replied in a surly manner.
Ms. Fine looked at me in disbelief.
"My… Aren't we grumpy? You woke up on the wrong side of the couch this evening?" said Ms. Fine.
"I don't see anything special. They talked about art, theater, novels… Even I can talk to her about those things!" I roared before storming off to my bedroom.