Four Nights in Paris, Part 6

Mother was aflutter when I called asking for her advice. Despite her excitement, she warned me to be careful and not to keep my expectations too high. I shrugged it off, convincing myself she was just being a mother and worrying after me.

The day passed so slowly and I was nearly unable to conceal my irritation. I constantly checked my phone and my watch, hoping the time would have flown by in some great leap since last I looked. Instead, the seconds crept by, hardly seeming to move. By the time it was six, I could hardly contain myself. I was sure Lani would be on time, gleefully hoping she had been as excited and anxious. Maybe she had been unable to enjoy the museums due to her excitement, bouncing from one to the next in an elated fervor.

At two until six, I arrived at the bar, taking a seat on one of the stools and ordering water. The petite bartender was back tonight, and she was joined by a tall blonde; the taller one took a note from by the cash register and made her way towards me. “Vous vous appelez Matt?” she asked.

“Oui,” I replied, confused.

“Connaissez-vous une femme…euh, Lani?” she asked, glancing at the folded paper in her hands.

“Oui.”

“Cette note est pour vous.” She laid the paper before me and left.

I regarded the note warily, suspicious of what it could say. The worst raced through my mind: hospitalization, death, sudden departure, injury. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest and my hand began to shake as I unfolded the note.

Dearest Matt,

I apologize for my absence. I will not be able to make it to dinner with you tonight. I know I said I would, but I can’t. You think I deserve something better but I really don’t. And even if I did, I don’t deserve you. I picked you because you were young and handsome. But I didn’t expect you to be so sweet and vulnerable.

I’m no good for you. I don’t deserve the kindness or the honesty you’ve shown me. You’re the first man to buy me a gift or a drink and not expect sex to follow. And you’re the first man to ever tell me he respected me and wanted to treat me right. For that, thank you.

But you deserve better than me. I told you, I’m used to short things. It’s easier that way, less messy. I can’t give you what you want. That is why I can’t come to dinner. If I had come, you’d be wasting time with me, when, in a few months, if not a few weeks, I know you’d be bored and see me for what I really am.

The woman you’re looking for is out there somewhere and she will give you all the love you deserve. I’m sorry I can’t be her.

Lani

P.S. Don’t think on sad things, Matt. This is Paris after all.

I stared at the note for a long while, reading and re-reading the words she had written. It was a ruse; it had to be. But as the clock struck seven, I began to accept it wasn’t. I ordered a whiskey and downed it immediately. Then I ordered for a refill. Screw my one drink limit. So what if I’d kept it for nearly four years now. I should have listened to my mother and controlled my wishful thinking. Even before that, I should have trusted myself and not entertained her flirting.

And yet, when I closed my eyes, I could feel her lips on mine, or her hand gently squeezing my own, and I knew those had been real. Those had been sincere.

I read the last paragraph over and over again. I eventually wandered to the front desk, hoping to locate Lani so I could maybe talk sense into her. After all, I wanted to know who had told her she wasn’t good enough. Who had said she couldn’t be the one to love me?

After providing some monetary incentive, the desk assistant told me no one named Lani had stayed at the hotel in the last week. She repeated this multiple times before I finally conceded and left for my room. There I paced along the foot of the bed, poring over her letter and muttering theories to myself. I wanted to explain away the pain. How was it possible to feel so hurt over someone I barely knew? How had I been so blind to the signs warning me to run the other way? Most importantly, I wanted to know why she had left. If she had stayed, who knew what could have happened. For all we knew, she very well might have been the one.

But that’s one thing I would never have the satisfaction of knowing.

Four Nights in Paris, Part 5

The little tan box sat on the low table before me beside two empty glasses and a bottle of wine. I’d woken up feeling elated. Lani had visited my dreams; we were lying in bed, cuddling and talking. Every now and then she would giggle in her bird-like way. The sound of her voice would coax me to laugh with her.

My associate even noted my lighter mood, making it seem peculiar—though I was certain it wasn’t. The real estate agent seemed heartened as well, though it was difficult to determine if that was because of me or some other factor. He entertained my wanting to stop at a shop on our trek to the second site. I felt the compulsion to make a purchase.

Lani entered—in what appeared to be the same black dress that hugged her every curve—about half an hour after she had shown up the past couple nights; I had started to worry she wasn’t coming. For a moment she searched, almost as though uncertain and perhaps a bit insecure. She folded an arm across her stomach and latched the hand to her other arm, craning her neck as she glanced around the space.

I stood, smiling and gesturing for her to join me. She smiled and dropped her arm, joining me.

“Do you like wine?” I asked, picking up the bottle.

She smiled kindly; “I haven’t had it very often, but I like it well enough.”

Handing her a glass, I smiled at her. That feeling of elation I awoke with was returning and warming my body. Lani had worn through my defenses and I wanted to know her better.

“This is for you,” I said, offering her the box. My heart was racing and I hoped she liked it.

“What is it?” she asked, setting her drink on the table and taking the box in her hands. She examined it as if expecting some sort of trick.

“Open it.”

Slowly, she cracked open the lid. Her eyes darted up at me before returning to the box. “It’s beautiful,” Lani breathed.

I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face as she gingerly lifted the silver necklace from the box. The charm was a double heart, one of which was encrusted in emeralds; ‘Paris’ was inscribed on the back. “I saw it and thought you might like it.”

“You shouldn’t have,” she said unconvincingly, her eyes fixed on the charm.

“I thought you should have something nice to remember Paris by.”

She laid the necklace back in the box and found my eyes. “Thank you. No one’s ever bought me something that nice before.”

I was thrilled by the compliment; she kept glancing between me and the box as if expecting one or both of us to disappear in a cloud of smoke.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?” She confused me and I doubted for a moment that I’d done the right thing. I knew gifts were a tricky thing with some feeling obligated to return the favor. But I had hoped she wouldn’t be that sort of person.

“Why did you give me this?”

I swallowed hard, debating how honest I should be with her. Then the memory of Danielle’s lack of honesty surfaced. “I like you, Lani. I—I don’t know why, but I like you and I want to get to know you better.”

She nodded, “I like you, too, Matt. You’re a sweet guy.” She giggled a little, adding, “I knew you weren’t the stuffy type.” Lani drank half her wine and crossed the distance between us to kiss my cheek.

My cheeks burned hot and I couldn’t help smiling. Then her hand turned my face up towards hers and she softly kissed my lips.  Again our lips met briefly, and yet the act was charged with so much energy. In a moment she was sitting across my lap, wrapped in my arms, as she pulled my face towards her. Her lips were soft and her hot breath seemed to come progressively faster.

I pulled away from her, suddenly struck by how inappropriate a setting the bar was for this, but also starkly reminded of the days when I used to believe making out meant nothing at all. But it did mean something and I didn’t want to cheapen her kisses by indulging until it led to where feelings really could be hurt quickly.

“Is something wrong?” she asked worriedly, her breathing gradually returning to normal. “Didn’t you like it?”

“Yes. Yes, of course I liked it,” I said, brushing her hair over her shoulder.

“Then what was wrong?”

“I just—” How could I explain to her what was going on in my mind? How did one explain having hurt numerous girls over short-lived flings and not valuing them enough? “I respect you and like you too much.”

“Aren’t you supposed to want to kiss people you like?” she asked, her eyes searching my face, her brow furrowed and lips parted.

“Yes, you are. But…I don’t know how to explain this.” My eyes scanned the room, hoping the words would come to my rescue. “I don’t want you to think I’m just using you because you’re beautiful. I want you to feel special and cared for, and I can’t do that until I get to know you better.”

Lani’s face softened again and a bemused smile curled her lips. “Matt, neither of us is going to be here forever.” Her fingers ran through my hair.

“We can find ways around that. I mean, there are cell phones and laptops and all sorts of technology anymore. We can spend what time we have together here and then figure the rest out from there,” I reasoned, hoping I wasn’t sounding too cheesy or, worse, desperate.

“So explore my body and get to know that part of me,” she said, gazing up at me from under her eyelashes. Lani started to pull my face towards hers again before I removed her hand from the back of my head and gently sat it in her lap.

“Lani, I want to get to know you before that,” I said slowly. “I want to earn your trust first. I want you to feel safe and like you matter.”

“I’m used to short things, Matt,” she said, diverting her gaze. “It would be just like everyone else. We could pretend if that made you feel better.”

I shook my head. “Lani, you deserve better than that.” When she didn’t say anything, I decided I might as well go for it. “Lani, would do me the honor of joining me for dinner tomorrow night?”

She didn’t say anything for a long while. Then she looked up at me and asked, “What time?”

“Six P.M. sound all right? We could meet here if you wanted.”

She nodded, slowly standing up. “Sure, Matt. That sounds really nice.”

“Great;” I couldn’t stop smiling. I would have to call Mother for suggestions as to where to take her. It would need to be nice but I didn’t want it to be ritzy; somewhere down-to-earth with excellent Parisian cuisine. “I’ll see you tomorrow at six, then,” I said, kissing her hand.

Lani smiled at me, though it was more sad than happy. “Sweet dreams,” she said, sitting in her seat and picking up her glass of wine again.

Four Nights in Paris, Part 4

Lani gently squeezed my knee. “I get it, you have to work. But you really should take a day to enjoy yourself. At least half a day.”

“We’ll see.” I watched as she removed her hand, feeling a bit lonely from the lack of touch and wanting to ask for it back. It had been some time since I’d welcomed the touch of a woman. After Danielle, the thought of being touched repulsed me. It had for several years. But I’d been told that’s common when you have an STI scare. I wasn’t sure if it was stranger to welcome the touch of a woman again or to welcome the company of this girl so much like my ex. “Why did you come back tonight?”

Lani cocked her head to the side, her eyes searching my face as if suspecting it was a trick question of some sort. “I said I would, didn’t I? Why is that so surprising to you?”

I scratched the back of my head, grimacing. “It’s just…you remind me of a girl I used to know.”

“What was she like?” Lani rested her chin on her hand.

My eyes focused on a point behind the bar though my mind drifted away to those three years of college. Danielle with her strawberry blond hair and freckled, pale skin; she laughed at something funny, a musical quality to her voice. Even when she spoke it sounded like she was singing. During the good times anyway. The harmonies sounded more dissonant after the truth had been revealed.

“She was unique. Pretty, liked to laugh, didn’t take a whole lot seriously it didn’t seem.” I sighed, images of her face contorted in anger flooding my mind. She hadn’t liked when I’d demanded why she hadn’t told me; she seemed to think that was a no brainer and reminded me she had never promised to be monogamous.

“What changed?” Lani asked, her voice sounding distant.

Images of Danielle happy and playful came back; she was running down a hill with her arms flailing or spinning in wide circles down a sidewalk, looking back to smile at me. “She liked being a free spirit, and she felt being with one person was too restricting.”

I shook the images from my mind, turning towards Lani. She wrapped her hand around mine and squeezed. A sad smile crossed my lips and I gently squeezed her hand in return. Her mouth opened as though she was going to say something and then thought better of it.

“Cheer up, Matt. She didn’t know what she was letting go.” She smiled kindly at me and I swore I saw something lonely in her as well; as though she could relate. Before I could ask, she said, “Let’s not think on sad things. We’re in Paris after all.”

My lips cracked into a smile. She was right. All of that was so far away, in both time and place; it did no good to think on it now. And there before me was this beautiful woman, so caring and sympathetic. I felt I had been unfair to her, and yet she wanted to know about me; if she had only been interested in sex and booze, I couldn’t help thinking she wouldn’t have asked about the girl she made me remember.

Suddenly I was struck by how late it must have been. Checking my watch, I said, “I’m really sorry, Lani, but I need to go for the night.”

She nodded, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but a smile curling her lips. “I thought you might say that.” Lani squeezed my hand again before letting it go.

“Will I see you tomorrow night?”

Her smile brightened; “I don’t see why not.”

I stood and wished her a good night. As I started to leave, I felt her shapely arms wrap around me and her face press into the space between my shoulder blades. Part of me wanted to turn around and give her a proper hug, but I feared already I was growing too smitten; not properly returning the hug was my way of proving I wasn’t too attached yet. I placed my arms over hers and whispered, “Thank you.”

Lani pulled away slowly, gently rubbing my back for a moment. “Sweet dreams.”

Four Nights in Paris, Part 3

It had been a long day touring another three locations and writing up notes on each property. My associate had, at one point, managed to insult our agent and it took me quite some time to sort that out. Afterwards, I had ask he stop trying to speak French before they imprisoned or deported us. He meant well, but he didn’t always pick up on subtle hints. A hyperbole or two usually could make him understand.

I was enjoying my nightly drink—tonight’s poison of choice: bourbon—in the hotel bar again. The woman from the previous night must have been enjoying time off as a slender male took my order. He didn’t say much and seemed to prefer to keep busy rather than deal with other people. I guessed it was either his first job or one that wasn’t going to last long.

“You shouldn’t stare; you’ll make him self-conscious,” Lani said, sliding onto the bar stool next to mine. She was as radiant as the previous night, but seemed to be wearing the same dress, if I wasn’t mistaken. Lani reached out and tousled my blondish brown tresses, smiling like a small child with a new toy. “You have really soft hair.”

When she retracted her hand, I automatically moved to finger-comb my hair back into some semblance of neatness. It wasn’t often people touched my hair, but it bothered me to look the least bit bedraggled in public.

“It looked cute mussed up;” Lani pouted.

“I didn’t think I’d see you tonight.”

She smiled brightly; “Oh, you know you’re happy to see me.”

“I am…surprised to see you,” I said carefully, taking another swallow of bourbon.

“A good surprise I hope.”

I turned to her and my lips turned up slightly. “Yes, a good surprise.”

“Buy me another drink?” She crossed her legs and cocked her head to the side, her eyes glinting in the dim light.

I supposed I had expected this to some extent as she had shown up again. At least she was more direct about the fact I was paying and not just ordering. Somehow that made it more acceptable. “What’s your poison?”

“Surprise me.”

I ordered her a margarita with a double shot of tequila; she seemed like she could handle it and I was determined to only buy her the one, even if the night was still young.

“Merci beaucoup,” she said to the bartender, flashing him a smile before turning back to me and taking a sip. “You’re not trying to get me drunk are you?” Lani cocked an eyebrow at me.

I chortled; “If I wanted to get you drunk, I would have ordered you shots.”

Her lips curled and she took another sip. “So why was seeing me a surprise?”

Her directness made me feel a little embarrassed. Although I had learned to read women fairly well in college, I didn’t know her, and it seemed wrong for me to have judged her. “I don’t know. It kind of seemed you were only interested in drinks and getting to the bedroom.”

She feigned insult, her free hand flying to her chest and her mouth agape. It might have been genuine, but she struck me as the kind who would slap a man and storm off for being truly insulted. “I have some self-respect, thank you.”

“I apologize for questioning your integrity,” I stated obligatorily.

“I mean, I never even mentioned a bedroom.”

It was true she hadn’t, but fun at night was very limited. Lani might have meant clubbing or some activity like that. Mentally, I berated myself for jumping to conclusions about her, but then I berated myself for allowing her to make me doubt my instincts. “How was your day?”

She frowned briefly at the subject change, then seemed to decide she was ok with it and said, “I spent the day at the Louvre. I still haven’t seen half the place yet, so I think I’ll return tomorrow again You’re welcome to join me if you’d like. I’ll warn you now—” she said, sitting up straighter and her face becoming serious, “—I don’t take well to people talking to me while I enjoy artwork.”

“I understand; I’m the same way with movies.” I leaned against the counter, resting on my elbow. “But I work tomorrow, so I will sadly need to decline your invitation.”

Lani pouted again. “I suppose I can understand that. I don’t see why you can’t take a day off to enjoy yourself. I mean, how often do you find yourself in Paris?”

Often enough, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. I shrugged and apologized.

“It’s fine, I guess.” She turned to her drink and took a long draw. “How was your day?”

“Long, but I’m glad it’s almost over.”

“But the night is so young,” she said, her eyes wide and seeming to ask if I was serious.

“Yes, but I do have responsibilities. I can’t be all fun and games.”

“I’m sure even your father made time for some fun,” she teased, smirking.

I downed the last of my bourbon and looked at her. She confused me. For someone who seemed so simple, she had come for a second night. She was lively and flirty and perhaps a bit too charming, and yet she seemed sincere. I wanted to believe she wasn’t just looking for one fun night.

Four Nights in Paris, Part 2

That made me grin. Usually girls wouldn’t stop talking once I had asked a question. Even if she was just playing me, at least she was making it interesting.

“I’m investigating real estate options for a new hotel.”

“I’m enjoying my graduation present and mostly touring museums.”

“Why museums?”

“Why hotels?” She grinned, her eyes gleaming. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“Graduation from college?”

“Yes, bachelor’s in art and vis. com. You?”

“Master’s in business. What do you want to do with art?” I finished the last of my scotch and leaned forward on my elbows.

“Still trying to figure that out; I’m considering grad school currently,” she said, crossing her long legs and leaning back. “Why business?”

“It fit my future goals.”

“The goals of your parents or your personal goals?” Lani cocked her head to one side, regarding me as if half-expecting me to come to some major realization of how much life I’d wasted on following dreams that weren’t mine.

“Both. Just because it’s what my parents wanted to see me do, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have supported me in whatever I chose. But I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.”

“Why? Isn’t it suffocating?”

I shrugged. “Not for me. I admire my father. We don’t always agree with each other, but if I could be half the man he is, I’d be content in life.” She nodded, though there was something about her expression that suggested she didn’t understand how I felt. Maybe it was because she wasn’t smiling.  “What about your family?”

“My mom does what she can and my step-dad’s all right. Not much of anything interesting there;” she shrugged, draping her arms over the sides of the chair.

I watched as she glanced around the room. Lani leaned forward long enough to pick up her drink. If she’d been wearing a watch, I half suspected her to eye it anxiously. But she didn’t make an excuse to leave or attempt to close the conversation.

“They think I’m wasting my time with art. Mom calls it a hobby that will leave me hungry on the streets somewhere,” she finally said, her eyes focused beyond the window and perhaps further beyond that. “Not everyone can have a happy family.” Lani placed her empty glass on the small table between us.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Lacking parental support was a difficult situation to be in. While my parents wanted my happiness in the future, they didn’t always agree with my dating habits. When it happened, it felt unfair and biased; then when they turned out to be right, it made me feel stupid, impulsive, and naïve. For a while, it seemed my entire manhood had been brought into question.

Lani reached forward and placed a hand on mine. “Let’s not think on sad things. It’s Paris after all;” her face lit up, a smirk playing across her glossy lips. Her thumb slowly stroked the back of my tanned hand. “Let’s go somewhere fun.”

I pulled my hand away from her, taking my phone from my pocket. “I have an early day tomorrow. I should be going.” Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I stood and offered to shake her hand again.

Though she remained smiling, a shadow fell over her eyes. Lani shook my hand, saying, “That’s unfortunate. Maybe tomorrow night?”

“Maybe,” I conceded, though I doubted I would see her again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Lani.”

“You, too, Matt. Sweet dreams.”

I gave her a small smile, wishing her likewise before heading for the stairs to my room. She seemed like a sweet girl. It was unfortunate she reminded me so much of Danielle. If I didn’t see Lani the next night, I would know I had made the right decision in not entertaining her request for fun; if I did see her again—well, maybe there was something there worth exploring.

Four Nights in Paris, Part 1

Paris. If I hadn’t had the opportunity to visit earlier in my life, I might have been upset by my lack of time to explore. I was spending one week touring real estate so I could report back to my father which locations I felt would be the most profitable. In all honesty, it was nice to see parts of the city you seem oblivious to as a tourist. That, and my French lessons were being put to good use, even if I still felt a little inept. I felt less self-conscious around my associate, however, who could barely recall how to ask where the toilet was.

“Qu’est-ce que vous voudriez boire, Monsieur?” the petite bartender asked.

“Je voudrais du scotch, s’il vous plait.”

The woman pulled a glass from under the bar and poured the amber liquid. “Quel est votre numéro de chambre?”

“Le numéro 254.”

She walked to the other end of the dim bar and added the drink to my room tab. It was strange to be staying at a hotel not owned by my family. I couldn’t remember the last time I had done so; it was probably for one of Mother’s runway shows, and it had been a while since I’d attended one.

I turned from the bar, unsure if I wanted to sit at the wooden counter or slip into one of the Louis XV wing chairs until my watch struck a decent hour for bed. The space was somewhat narrow, with a row of lime green wing chairs. The bar, in contrast, had sliver and orange sherbet backed stools. Heavy, purple drapes framed the windows in the dim room, the dark hue contrasting with the cream colored swirls. There were a few people here and there: well-dressed, grandmotherly women in pastels; middle aged men in suits—some of them having removed their jackets; and the occasional young woman in a tasteful cocktail dress.

Sitting again at the bar, I took a sip of my drink.

“Parlez-vous anglais?” a young brunette asked, startling me momentarily. I hadn’t realized she had taken the stool next to mine.

“Oui—uh, yes, I speak English.”

“Oh, good,” she sighed, smiling brilliantly. “Would you order me a martini?”

The woman was pretty. Sun-kissed skin, golden brown hair, big eyes with long dark lashes, and high cheek bones. Her hair cascaded down her back, almost as fluid as water. She waited expectantly for me to order her drink, smiling kindly, the fingers of her left hand rubbing the charm on her necklace. I knew this play, even if I hadn’t experienced it in exploiting a language barrier. They were a dime a dozen in college towns. Dolled up girls waiting to ring up a tab on some guy who thought the night would end in luck when it more often ended with overdraft fees. The only difference here was she had the self-respect not to leave her breasts hanging out.

I didn’t want to buy her drink, but outright refusal seemed callous and rude. Signaling the bartender, I ordered the girl’s drink. After it was delivered, I asked her to close my tab and then walked to an empty wing chair in the corner of the bar to finish my scotch. Sinking into the seat, I slowly swirled the liquid in my glass, watching it wash up against the side.

“My name is Lani,” the woman from the bar said, taking the empty seat next to mine. She sat her drink on the low table between us and offered her hand to me.

I regarded her hand carefully, trying to determine if this was some ploy to weasel more drinks out of me. Some part insisted I was being ridiculous; this was Paris, after all. Who said all women had to be like the ones I’d met in college?

Shaking her hand, I said, “Matthew.”

There was that smile again, seductive and charming, as if practiced enough to seem effortless and natural. “Can I call you Matt? Matthew just sounds stuffy and you don’t strike me as the stuffy type.”

“That’s fine.”

She sipped her drink, watching me, though I pretended not to notice. I wanted to believe she was sincere and kind, but charming girls reminded me of Danielle, and those were not fond memories.

“So what brings you to Paris, Matt?” She leaned forward, resting on the arm of the chair.

“Work,” I said simply. She didn’t need to know my father and I were looking to open a hotels in Paris. While it might have made her intent more obvious, it could have also made her more difficult to disentangle. “What about you? Shouldn’t you be traveling with someone?”

She giggled, a noise that reminded me of small birds. “I don’t need to travel with anyone. I can take care of myself.” Lani flipped her hair over her bronzed shoulder. “I’m on vacation.”

“A vacation by yourself?”

Lani nodded. When I asked why, she simply said, “I’ll give as much information as you give me.”