Authors: Amber Moon
The tips of their tongues met in a greeting that led to an intensity of feeling that shook his body.
The beauty of their breath moulding into one. The wetness of their mouths spilling into each other, spoke volumes that required no words but created a need for more kisses.
Doug wanted more and knew he wanted to be with her forever, it was in the first kiss. The knowledge that this woman might be the one he had looked for all his life.
He felt her body against his and the hardness against his chest that was nipples, excited by the flow of energy that ran through them.
Doug lost all sense of time and did not know how long they kissed for. All he knew was that he could not remember a kiss such as this.
Olivia knew how to kiss and their lips fused perfectly in an embrace that he would not forget.
He wondered what else she could do. If the rest would be as good as the kissing.
Doug knew he would have to stop soon as he felt a hardening that shocked him by its intensity.
This woman was dangerous, she might just get in the way of his life.
He heard the voice in his head as it asked, “ Is she the one?
Olivia pushed Doug off as she said, “I better go, I don't know what happened just then”.
She looked surprised and answered his question about meeting for dinner with, “ I am married and I do not get dressed up to go out at night with men”.
The frosty tone in her voice made him rethink.
“
Ok, Olivia there is no harm in us having lunch is there?” He sounded hopeful.
She bent her head and shook it as she told him that she was going on holiday, for two weeks, in the morning with her husband, to Africa.
He said his goodbyes and got out of the car. He watched her as she drove off feeling a sadness at the thought he might never see her again.
It was beyond belief that she had turned him down. Had his kiss and the way he held her had no effect on her?
He did not know, she was like a closed book.
As he opened his front door he let out a long sigh, this woman reached right into the core of his being and he needed to let her go.
As he closed the door behind him he spoke out loud, “ oh well some you win and some you lose”.
CHAPTER THREE
Doug threw himself back into his work. A new account was in progress and the commission was phenomenal. He used this as a reason to get rid of Kath and decided to put extra women on hold for a while and concentrate on work.
Thoughts of the fashion show, one of his most successful became a dull memory as new ideas for his new client crowded his head.
Only once did he allow himself a thought of Olivia and wondered if she was enjoying Africa. She needed a rest as she worked incredibly hard on her last project.
One morning after a particularly nasty argument with Mary and a moody car journey to work with sullen Gerry, Doug entered his office and found a postcard at the bottom of his pile of mail.
It was a glorious white beach surrounded by a turquoise sea. He recognised the perfectly formed , neat handwriting. It was from her.
Olivia was thanking him for his contribution to her project. He took a sip of his coffee and sat down. She thought of him in Africa, he smiled.
Doug let his mind wander to that last kiss. Her lips did respond to him, no doubt about that.
He was so shocked when she said, 'No' to him and yet she found the time to send him a postcard? Why had she done that?
His pulse upped a beat. What was he to do now? He began to think of Olivia and realised how much he missed her, her quirkiness and those big brown eyes.
He was missing her now.
Doug made a decision, he had nothing to lose. He knew when she would be back in the country and decided he would call her at the hospital where she did voluntary work.
On the morning of Olivia's return to her job, Doug rang the office and spoke to the social worker . Doug practised some reverse psychology. Shirley, confirmed that Olivia was due in at eleven and asked if he would care to leave a message as this was the third call.
Doug said, “ Yes please, will you ask Olivia not to call me tomorrow as I am having a late lunch and will be out for the rest of the afternoon?”
He replaced the receiver and knew if all went well he would hear from Olivia, soon.
Doug was not wrong. The next day he answered his phone to hear, “Why did you do that? I didn't know I was calling you? Have we arranged something and I have forgotten?, Oh my, that's dreadful, I don't forget”.
Olivia didn't stop for breath, she never did.
Doug smiled to himself. Yes, he missed her. Now he so wanted to see her.
Doug said slowly, “I wondered if you enjoyed your holiday and if perhaps you changed your mind about that lunch?” He could hear Olivia breathing down the phone. He could almost hear her thinking.
She sighed, “Thank you again, we did have a brilliant time and I couldn't have done it without you, it is still 'No' and I think you were a bit cheeky ringing me like that”, she lowered her voice, “I really am sorry but I cannot meet you, there is no reason to do so. I wish you all the best for the future, goodbye Doug”.
The line cleared and she was gone.
A month passed and the new account was doing well, soon all the contracts were to be signed and Doug was busy thinking about taking some time off work. He was tired and was looking at his mail, when he switched on his answer phone, not really listening to it, as he was busy sifting through the envelopes.
A memory stirred as he heard the end of a sentence, he thought, “I know who that is”.
He rewound the tape to hear her saying, “I couldn't believe it when I got the call, so what do you think? She said she wants us both. I can't do it without you. I know you are probably too busy so I could tell her, No”. She finished by saying, “Call me, you have my number”.
He rewound the tape, listened again and then went on to the next message to hear, “Oh yes, sorry, forgot. There is another event before that you might be interested in?”
Doug switched the machine off, stroking his chin he wondered what on earth Olivia was on about. It made no sense. As he sipped his coffee he wondered why he should ring her back?
Olivia made it quite clear the last time they spoke, she was not interested in him. There was no pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.
Was he going to chase a rainbow? They always faded in front of him.
The resistance lasted one week. Doug picked up the phone and dialled Olivia's number, it was the only way he was going to get her out of his mind.
She explained to him that a PR woman from a night club in Leeds called her to say that she saw the fashion show, was very impressed and wondered if they would like to do one in her club.
Olivia went on to say they would not be able to use Carol again after the argument on the night of the show.
Carol was jealous that night, not just because of the way Olivia looked but because of all the attention she received.
Olivia said, “That's why she made me take the dress off before the evening ended. It all got very silly in the end.”
Olivia was not concerned by Carol's bitchy behaviour, something Doug admired her for.
Olivia just got on with things and didn't let anything stop her. She was focused. Luckily That night she had a change of clothes with her, the loud purple and green trouser suit.
“
What do you think?” Olivia asked, “she would like us both to go over and have a meal and get a feel for the place and you don't have to worry I found some other fashion house.”
Doug listened to the chirpy 'non breath' dialogue. He asked Olivia about dates and she told him it was up to them to decide what day they would like to visit the club.
Olivia went on to tell Doug about the young Malaysian designer she had in mind to do the show.
He wanted them to stage a catwalk afternoon outside his new shop which was opening in two weeks, the lord mayor would be opening it and the newspapers would be writing an article , so perhaps they could get the Leeds show advertised. They arranged to meet the following day to pay Jack, the new designer, a visit.
Not being able to concentrate Doug left work early the next day and had a few beers in the pub down the road before he was to meet Olivia.
Now he was nervous, his mind racing and his heart beating to a rhythm that was far from healthy. He wondered if Olivia might have changed in the past few months.
Olivia ran round the corner and straight into him.
Doug noticed her hair was longer and blonder, probably the African sun. She had the most beautiful tan which enhanced those gorgeous eyes, that suddenly crinkled as she laughed and said, “Oh my, sorry, clumsy me.”
His eyes ran down her face to the glossy lips that looked big and kissable.
He so wanted to pull her to him and kiss them , standing there on the street.
They went inside the shop and Olivia introduced Doug to Jack and Chris. They drank juice as they discussed the two future events.
Doug looked at the fashions which were outstanding and original.
Olivia removed a small red notebook from her bag, Doug knew what would be in it. A list of models, the clothes and spaces for him to add his notes.
It was a productive afternoon , all parties were happy and agreements and dates made for the future.
Olivia looked at her watch and jumped up, she had to leave and pick her boys up from school. She disappeared up the road to her car like a whirlwind.
It was a very hot Saturday afternoon when the team gathered outside Jack 's shop, to give another great performance of music and dance.
Another success! Doug was rather taken aback by the attention he received from Olivia that day.
She appeared anxious and nervous; seemed out of her comfort zone, hardly leaving his side.
This was very unlike the night she had people queuing round the block.
Doug asked her, “Are you all right? Is everything OK?”
She answered, “Yes, all's fine.” Brown eyes looked into his and contradicted her words.
Olivia did not look happy and once she realised that he noticed her discomfort, he saw the cheeky grin sneak across her face and a shadow cross her eyes.
Olivia looked him straight in the eye.
He wished she wouldn't do that, as the last few times they met, that gaze ignited something deep inside his belly.
“
I have to go,” she said, “Are you still OK for next Thursday, the meal in Leeds?” Doug replied, “Yes of course, I am looking forward to it”.
She left after informing him that her husband might join them. Doug wondered why she did that, no way would he be inviting Mary or Gerry.
He looked forward to the two of them getting to know each other better, but it now looked as though that wasn't to be. A husband in tow was not what Doug really wanted as he hoped to reignite the kiss.
Later in the week he received an e mail from Olivia telling him that it would be just the two of them after all as her husband was otherwise engaged.
Doug stared at the computer screen, his mind running wild with thoughts of what might be. Another kiss or more, perhaps!.
Rationality stepped in telling him to grow up, had she not made it quite clear they would only have a professional relationship?
There was a boundary in place and Olivia would not be stepping over it.
The night they went to Leeds, Doug made an effort with his appearance. He was about to have a free meal in the best club in town, that was attended by footballers, film stars and pop singers. He would be with a woman who he found stimulating and challenging, who kept saying 'No' to him.
He met Olivia at the corner of his street. She arrived on time, in her little blue car and they drove into Leeds.
When she got out of the car and handed her keys to the parking boy
,
Doug was bowled over as she turned to face him, saying, “Are you ready then?”.
Doug stared and replied, “ Yes, you look absolutely stunning, your husband is a very lucky man”.
Olivia was dressed in black. The dress was quite long to just above her ankles and the neckline high at the front running down to a V at the back. There were buttons running down the back ending in a fishtail of lace panels.
She wore black stockings, or were they tights above red stiletto's that complimented the red earrings dangling at each side of her smiling face.
Doug felt so proud to have her on his arm that evening, he wined and dined her, they drank and danced the night away.
The PR asked how their night had been and what they thought of the club, would they be able to put on a fashion show?