Chapter 57

As they entered the restaurant, Linda felt suddenly nervous. She’d fantasised about Richie for so many years, she worried now that the man wouldn’t live up to the imaginary Richie she held in her mind. The other problem in her mind was that - despite what she’d always thought - she really wasn’t sure if she could let herself be a rock star’s one night stand. ‘For God’s sake’ she told herself sternly ‘let’s have dinner first, before you start worrying about whether you’re going to sleep with him!’. She relaxed a little more as she resolved to just let the night go naturally, and to wait and see what would happen.

They were led to a quiet table off to one side of the restaurant, and the waiter took their drinks order. Now Linda was regretting driving into the city, since it meant she couldn’t drink, but she wasn’t willing to pay for a cab each way, when she was perfectly capable of driving. On the other hand, if she was sober, she was less likely to do something she may regret, though the expanse of bare, smooth chest across the table from her made her wonder if she would regret it.

Once their order had been taken, Richie and Linda chatted about inconsequential things, sizing each other up a little more, then turning the conversation to more personal matters. Richie asked Linda about her job, and she explained a little about the duties and responsibilities involved. As she finished, she asked jokingly.

“And what do you do for a living?”

Richie grinned - he knew she was a fan, but she was a completely different proposition from someone like Kay - at least Linda was able to talk to him normally, about normal things, and she had a quirky sense of humour that he liked.

“I’m a florist.” He told her, making her laugh, and she was still chuckling when their food arrived.

While they ate, still talking about everything and anything that came to mind, Linda came to a gradual realisation. Now that she was getting to know a bit more about Richie, she was seeing him as a real person, and she felt sure that her worry over whether or not to sleep with him was unfounded. She still found him extremely attractive, absolutely no question about that, but she didn’t want to rush into anything - she’d discovered that she liked him an awful lot, and she was happy - if he wanted to - to wait for another night. The pleasure of just spending time with him was enough right now.

Linda would have been amazed if she could read Richie’s mind, because his thoughts mirrored hers almost exactly. He didn’t want this woman to think he was just after a quick fling, or a one night stand, because he liked and respected her too much already.

Neither of them was quite ready to broach the subject just yet, though, and the conversation remained light throughout dinner. They both declined dessert, and when the waiter suggested coffee, Richie raised an enquiring eyebrow at Linda.

“We could get some coffee sent upstairs.” He said, and she nodded, not ready for the night to end just yet.

They left the restaurant, crossing the foyer to the elevator and riding up to the suite. Both feeling a little uncomfortable, because of their earlier thoughts, they stood on opposite sides of the lift car, then Richie reached across to take Linda’s hand in a comforting grip, giving her that wide, genuine smile. When the lift reached their floor, he gently tugged her out into the corridor with him.

When he stopped at the suite door, fumbling in his pocket for the key, Richie glanced down at her standing beside him, watching him, and he couldn’t stop himself. Slowly, half expecting her to back away, he bent his head to kiss her, not touching her with anything but his lips. Linda accepted the kiss, then Richie felt her tongue press lightly against his lips, and he opened his mouth, letting his own tongue slide over hers.

The kiss was slow and deliberate, and Linda got confirmation of what she’d always suspected - any man who could use a talkbox so skilfully just had to be a great kisser. She raised one hand into his hair, feeling the tightly braided strands where those crazy hair ornaments hung, and she felt Richie’s hand sliding around onto her back just as they became aware of another presence.

Breaking apart like teenagers caught by their parents, they turned to see the room service waiter with their coffee, standing with his eyes politely averted. A laugh exploded out of Richie’s throat as he opened the door and ushered Linda inside, leaving the waiter to follow them down to the sitting room.

After the waiter set out the coffee and left the suite, Richie looked at Linda with a grin.

“I’m sorry, girl. I didn’t mean to do that - just couldn’t help myself.”

“Me neither. And I could’ve said no, so I guess we’re both to blame.”

They sat together on the couch, Linda leaning forward to pour coffee and hand a cup to Richie.

“The thing is,” he said, spooning sugar into his cup, “and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I really didn’t mean for that to happen. I mean, I wanted to, but I don’t want to rush this. I’ll be going back out to California at the end of the week, and I don’t want you to think…….well, I don’t want - or need - a one night stand.”

“I actually thought something like that earlier.” Linda said with a smile. “Except, obviously, I’m not flying to California any time soon.”

Richie tilted his head. “Why not? I mean, why don’t you - fly out in a couple of weeks?”

“Well, first, I’ve got to work, and second, I can’t afford it, Richie. I work in a hospital, remember?”

“Okay, then, first, we could make it a weekend, so you won’t miss any work, and second, I’ll pay for your flights. What d’you think?”

Linda stared into her coffee, thinking hard but coming up with no answers.

“Can I think about it?” She finally asked, and Richie smiled - at least it wasn’t a ‘no’.

“Sure. I could call you tomorrow, see if you’ve made up your mind?”

“Would you mind leaving it later in the week? I need to try to offload some of my work if I’m going to take a weekend off. Unfortunately, lately, I don’t take many weekends off, so it takes a little forward planning.”

“I’d rather not leave it, but I will, if that’s what you want.”

“Thank you.”

Once the coffee was gone, Linda looked at her watch, startled to see how late it was.

“I have to go. I need to be at work in, let me see, six hours? And it’ll take me an hour to get home. Thanks for a wonderful night, Richie.”

“No, thank you Linda. I’ve had more fun tonight than I have in a long time. Come give me another kiss.”

She scooted across the couch willingly, and they fell into another long, passionate kiss, and it was Linda who pulled away first.

“Wow. On that note, I really do need to go, Richie, otherwise I won’t be able to make myself leave.”

With a smile, he released her from his embrace, standing and pulling her to her feet.

“If you insist.” But there was a teasing note in his voice, and they both recognised that this wasn’t something they’d be able to get out of their systems with a quick roll in the hay. “Come on - I’ll walk you to your car.”

They took the elevator back down to the foyer and headed outside. Linda led the way toward her car, both of them stopping in their tracks as Richie’s name was called loudly. Turning around, Linda heard Richie give the faintest of groans as they saw a group of girls approaching, all dressed up to the nines and brandishing pens, CDs and cameras.

The girls were all slightly drunk, just at the stage where their confidence was brimming, making them bold, and Linda caught a resigned look in Richie’s eyes before he turned on the grin and stepped toward them. He started signing autographs, and Linda looked at her watch again, then took a pace forward to gently touch Richie’s shoulder.

“Richie - I gotta go or I’ll never make it to work.”

“Damn, I’m sorry. I’ll walk you down….”

“No. Stay. My car’s just down there. Call me?”

“You know I will.”

He gave her the smile again - not the flashing one he’d used approaching the girls, but a slightly softer, more intimate grin for her alone. Linda returned the smile then walked away, leaving him to his fans. His other fans. The ones who hadn’t just shared a beautiful evening with him.