spectacular about her appearance; she was a good looking woman in her mid thirties. Until you looked at her face. Jessica Rogers was blithe. Her joy of life was in every expression. She was the most vivacious woman Annik had ever met. You could not help but have your own heart lift when you were with her.
Craig was textbook tall, dark and handsome. They were such a great looking couple. What cinched it was the way they looked at each other.
“Sure Tom. We’d love to join you guys.” Craig leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “As usual, it’s great seeing you, Annik.” The four of them sat at the table on the dining platform close to the stage. A young woman dressed in a short white toga, bare breast jiggling slightly with her movements, approached. She brought a brown bottle tucked into an ice bucket.
“I hope you like the wine. I pre-ordered it.” Tom said as he poured it into everyone’s glass. “A toast. To a delightful night at Pandora’s.” He raised his glass and smiled at the women.
Jessica and Annik shared a glance as they waited for the men to finish. “May I?” Jessica asked Craig. He nodded and she lifted her glass.
“To good friends.” Jessica smiled at Tom and Annik.
The server appeared once more with plates of salad and a tray of appetizers. Annik placed her napkin in her lap and turned to the stage. The Major was showcased in white light, welcoming everyone and announcing the first act of the evening. It was burlesque. She nibbled her salad and watched women in a chorus line throw their legs high into the air dancing to a lively tune. Frothy, white crinolines showed above their black, above the knee, stockings. A man in a loud, checked sports coat appeared on stage. The music stopped when he cracked one liners to each woman. One acted shocked, another added her own risqué line to the laughing approval of the audience.
She glanced at Tom when his hand stroked her thigh softly. It was an absent minded gesture. A master stroking a favored pet, or a familiar caress between a couple who had been together for years? It was… comfortable. Her eyebrows rose. She was probably reading too much into this simple gesture. Again.
The act ended and the dishes were cleared. Warm plates of beef tenderloin, whipped potatoes and an assortment of steamed vegetables with a drizzling of an almond Bearnaise sauce were placed before them. The aroma was enticing. The Major appeared once more and announced the second act.
Her attention was drawn to the stage when music played a sultry mid-eastern melody. This was different. A woman wearing the costume of a Hindu goddess appeared. Multi colored, gauzy veils twirled about as she spun in time to the beat. Next, a bare-chested man leapt onto stage silently beseeching the sprightly woman to come to him. It was the dance of Parvati and Vishnu, gods of love. She danced seductively around him, always just out of reach. After trying to embrace her many times he became still. Parvati must come to him. Vishnu surrendered his strength and was left vulnerable to her enticing wiles. They came together and kissed; their movements so sensual it was hypnotic.
So caught up in the dance on stage and also acutely aware of Tom’s proximity, Annik was barely able to finish her meal. The curtain fell, ending the act. She sipped her wine as Tom and Craig discussed an article in the New York Times. Of course it was Craig’s piece and of course Tom teased him about being such a bleeding heart liberal. She turned to Jessica and saw her roll her eyes at the men.
She let her eyes wander over the great room and stage as they were setting up for the final act. This was probably her favorite space in the building. The walls rose over fifteen feet and arched into the ceiling. The wall sconces along each wall were filigreed, each bulb behind a golden shade.
“Hey, Earth to Annik,” Jessica nudged her.
“Sorry, Jessica. Lost in thought.”
“What’s up?”
She glanced over to Tom
Craig was textbook tall, dark and handsome. They were such a great looking couple. What cinched it was the way they looked at each other.
“Sure Tom. We’d love to join you guys.” Craig leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “As usual, it’s great seeing you, Annik.” The four of them sat at the table on the dining platform close to the stage. A young woman dressed in a short white toga, bare breast jiggling slightly with her movements, approached. She brought a brown bottle tucked into an ice bucket.
“I hope you like the wine. I pre-ordered it.” Tom said as he poured it into everyone’s glass. “A toast. To a delightful night at Pandora’s.” He raised his glass and smiled at the women.
Jessica and Annik shared a glance as they waited for the men to finish. “May I?” Jessica asked Craig. He nodded and she lifted her glass.
“To good friends.” Jessica smiled at Tom and Annik.
The server appeared once more with plates of salad and a tray of appetizers. Annik placed her napkin in her lap and turned to the stage. The Major was showcased in white light, welcoming everyone and announcing the first act of the evening. It was burlesque. She nibbled her salad and watched women in a chorus line throw their legs high into the air dancing to a lively tune. Frothy, white crinolines showed above their black, above the knee, stockings. A man in a loud, checked sports coat appeared on stage. The music stopped when he cracked one liners to each woman. One acted shocked, another added her own risqué line to the laughing approval of the audience.
She glanced at Tom when his hand stroked her thigh softly. It was an absent minded gesture. A master stroking a favored pet, or a familiar caress between a couple who had been together for years? It was… comfortable. Her eyebrows rose. She was probably reading too much into this simple gesture. Again.
The act ended and the dishes were cleared. Warm plates of beef tenderloin, whipped potatoes and an assortment of steamed vegetables with a drizzling of an almond Bearnaise sauce were placed before them. The aroma was enticing. The Major appeared once more and announced the second act.
Her attention was drawn to the stage when music played a sultry mid-eastern melody. This was different. A woman wearing the costume of a Hindu goddess appeared. Multi colored, gauzy veils twirled about as she spun in time to the beat. Next, a bare-chested man leapt onto stage silently beseeching the sprightly woman to come to him. It was the dance of Parvati and Vishnu, gods of love. She danced seductively around him, always just out of reach. After trying to embrace her many times he became still. Parvati must come to him. Vishnu surrendered his strength and was left vulnerable to her enticing wiles. They came together and kissed; their movements so sensual it was hypnotic.
So caught up in the dance on stage and also acutely aware of Tom’s proximity, Annik was barely able to finish her meal. The curtain fell, ending the act. She sipped her wine as Tom and Craig discussed an article in the New York Times. Of course it was Craig’s piece and of course Tom teased him about being such a bleeding heart liberal. She turned to Jessica and saw her roll her eyes at the men.
She let her eyes wander over the great room and stage as they were setting up for the final act. This was probably her favorite space in the building. The walls rose over fifteen feet and arched into the ceiling. The wall sconces along each wall were filigreed, each bulb behind a golden shade.
“Hey, Earth to Annik,” Jessica nudged her.
“Sorry, Jessica. Lost in thought.”
“What’s up?”
She glanced over to Tom
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