((Contains reference to adult situations.))
The third date was always tricky territory. Most people went by the third date rule, admittedly, but it was virtually impossible to be sure. Unless, of course, you were Bethany Granger, and you were dating Jason Daly. Beth had been in prep overdrive for almost the entire afternoon; after lunch with her mom - which was always fun and thankfully hadn't resulted in any bruises, real or imagined - she'd come home and begun all those little things women had to do, according to every leading magazine. Personal grooming done, she'd spent an hour or so slicing meat and vegetables before a glance at the clock had told her time was running out. The clothes dilemma had been solved during lunch with Miranda, and Beth honestly had intended to wear the sandals she'd worn home from lunch. She just ....forgot.
Like three strikes in baseball, the third date often was the one that would make or break a relationship. They were past the first meeting stage and the starting to get acquainted stage. They already knew there was a definite attraction between them, and they seemed to have some things in common, but where they compatible" Did their relationship have staying power" Was there more to it than just physical attraction' Did either have any annoying habits that the other just couldn't live with' The third date might help determine the answer to some of these questions and whether or not their relationship would continue.
Jason had gotten past the third date a few times, but for some reason, it had never stuck. He didn't really blame anyone for it. It just had never been quite right, and he had reached a point in his life where he'd just about given up, presuming he was going to spend the rest of his life as a bachelor. But then, he'd met Bethany Granger and he'd felt hopeful again. There was an old saying that the third time was the charm. Maybe this time, it was the third date.
He wasn't the only one feeling hopeful. Maybe I should have mentioned that I don't invite guys to my place, she worried in the midst of checking the marinading strips of duck, her eyes wandering over her apartment for the umpteenth time, looking for anything that was out of place. Nope, I can see the floor. That's an improvement. Licking her fingers clean, she skipped into the bathroom to attempt to make her hair somewhat presentable, and after three goes, she gave up. "Oh, screw it. He's not here for the hair." Shaking a hand through the brunette tousle, she glanced into the bedroom, blushed, and skipped straight back out again. Dinner, focus on the dinner. Not on eating him.
He was feeling not only hopeful, but more than a little bit nervous. This was the third date, after all. It was an important one, not only because it was the third date, but because she'd invited him to her home, and that alone made it special. He was so nervous, he'd had to circle her block twice, partly because he was having trouble finding a parking spot and partly to calm his nerves. This date meant a lot to him - she meant a lot to him - and he didn't want to screw it up. In fact, she meant more to him than anyone else he'd met in a very long time. And so, he found himself standing outside the door to her apartment, taking a deep breath before rapping on the door and waiting somewhat nervously for an answer.
The rap on the door made her jump violently, her nerves leaping to above ten out of ten at the realisation that her hot date had arrived. Swallowing her instinctive reaction to yell at the door that she was coming, Beth grabbed a towel to wipe her hands clean as she bounced across the narrow apartment, one hand on the door. One quick glance into the mirror, and she pulled the door wide open, a warm, shy smile lighting up her face as she met Jason's gaze. "Hi."
She was met with a smile that matched hers in warmth and shyness, unsure why he was feeling so nervous when date one and two had gone so well. It had been a few days since he'd seen her, but nothing had changed really. He felt his heart thumping hard in his chest at the sight of her, feeling like a silly schoolboy on his very first date. "You look..." He paused for just a moment to look her over, finding her even more beautiful than he remembered. "...amazing," he finished, his eyes taking her in from head to cute little bare toes and back again, settling finally on her face.
Three days had done nothing to stall the eagerness to see him, or the lurch she felt in her chest on seeing his smile again. As his gaze travelled over her, hers was busily reciprocating, pleased he hadn't dressed up too much and, yes, definitely enjoying the view. His shirt left little to the imagination, making her grin as she stepped backward to invite him in. "Right back atcha," she winked at him. "C'mon in, make yourself comfortable. It's not much, but it's home."
"Thanks," he said, stepping past the doorway and into her apartment, which at first glance was very different from Miranda's. "Oh!" he exclaimed, as if almost forgetting the bouquet of daisies in his hand. He held the bouquet out to her, hoping she wouldn't mind that he'd bought them for her. It seemed the least he could do. "These are for you," he stated the obvious. Who else could they possibly be for? Daisies, not roses, avoiding that cliche, wanting to give her something different. Something as bright and sunny as she was.
"Oh, they're lovely - thank you!" Her fingers brushed his as she took the bouquet into her hand, closing the door with a slow lean as she bit her lip at the electric surge that flickered through her at that innocent little touch. Her apartment might have been a lot less luxurious than her mother's condo, but there were a few similarities to be seen. The clean lines seemed to be shared by mother and daughter, though Beth's space was splashed with bright color here and there. Narrow it might be, but there was space enough for her, and it showed. "Uh, dinner's only gonna take about ten minutes to cook, so we're good to go whenever you'd like."
He smiled as she thanked him for the flowers and took the bouquet from his hand, her fingers brushing his. He paused just inside the doorway to take a look around, finding her apartment more appealing than Miranda's, mostly because the bright colors gave it a warmer, friendlier, less stark appearance than the more modern feel of Miranda's. He shrugged his shoulders at the mention of dinner. He'd brought an appetite with him, but he wasn't starving. "We're on your schedule."
The third date was always tricky territory. Most people went by the third date rule, admittedly, but it was virtually impossible to be sure. Unless, of course, you were Bethany Granger, and you were dating Jason Daly. Beth had been in prep overdrive for almost the entire afternoon; after lunch with her mom - which was always fun and thankfully hadn't resulted in any bruises, real or imagined - she'd come home and begun all those little things women had to do, according to every leading magazine. Personal grooming done, she'd spent an hour or so slicing meat and vegetables before a glance at the clock had told her time was running out. The clothes dilemma had been solved during lunch with Miranda, and Beth honestly had intended to wear the sandals she'd worn home from lunch. She just ....forgot.
Like three strikes in baseball, the third date often was the one that would make or break a relationship. They were past the first meeting stage and the starting to get acquainted stage. They already knew there was a definite attraction between them, and they seemed to have some things in common, but where they compatible" Did their relationship have staying power" Was there more to it than just physical attraction' Did either have any annoying habits that the other just couldn't live with' The third date might help determine the answer to some of these questions and whether or not their relationship would continue.
Jason had gotten past the third date a few times, but for some reason, it had never stuck. He didn't really blame anyone for it. It just had never been quite right, and he had reached a point in his life where he'd just about given up, presuming he was going to spend the rest of his life as a bachelor. But then, he'd met Bethany Granger and he'd felt hopeful again. There was an old saying that the third time was the charm. Maybe this time, it was the third date.
He wasn't the only one feeling hopeful. Maybe I should have mentioned that I don't invite guys to my place, she worried in the midst of checking the marinading strips of duck, her eyes wandering over her apartment for the umpteenth time, looking for anything that was out of place. Nope, I can see the floor. That's an improvement. Licking her fingers clean, she skipped into the bathroom to attempt to make her hair somewhat presentable, and after three goes, she gave up. "Oh, screw it. He's not here for the hair." Shaking a hand through the brunette tousle, she glanced into the bedroom, blushed, and skipped straight back out again. Dinner, focus on the dinner. Not on eating him.
He was feeling not only hopeful, but more than a little bit nervous. This was the third date, after all. It was an important one, not only because it was the third date, but because she'd invited him to her home, and that alone made it special. He was so nervous, he'd had to circle her block twice, partly because he was having trouble finding a parking spot and partly to calm his nerves. This date meant a lot to him - she meant a lot to him - and he didn't want to screw it up. In fact, she meant more to him than anyone else he'd met in a very long time. And so, he found himself standing outside the door to her apartment, taking a deep breath before rapping on the door and waiting somewhat nervously for an answer.
The rap on the door made her jump violently, her nerves leaping to above ten out of ten at the realisation that her hot date had arrived. Swallowing her instinctive reaction to yell at the door that she was coming, Beth grabbed a towel to wipe her hands clean as she bounced across the narrow apartment, one hand on the door. One quick glance into the mirror, and she pulled the door wide open, a warm, shy smile lighting up her face as she met Jason's gaze. "Hi."
She was met with a smile that matched hers in warmth and shyness, unsure why he was feeling so nervous when date one and two had gone so well. It had been a few days since he'd seen her, but nothing had changed really. He felt his heart thumping hard in his chest at the sight of her, feeling like a silly schoolboy on his very first date. "You look..." He paused for just a moment to look her over, finding her even more beautiful than he remembered. "...amazing," he finished, his eyes taking her in from head to cute little bare toes and back again, settling finally on her face.
Three days had done nothing to stall the eagerness to see him, or the lurch she felt in her chest on seeing his smile again. As his gaze travelled over her, hers was busily reciprocating, pleased he hadn't dressed up too much and, yes, definitely enjoying the view. His shirt left little to the imagination, making her grin as she stepped backward to invite him in. "Right back atcha," she winked at him. "C'mon in, make yourself comfortable. It's not much, but it's home."
"Thanks," he said, stepping past the doorway and into her apartment, which at first glance was very different from Miranda's. "Oh!" he exclaimed, as if almost forgetting the bouquet of daisies in his hand. He held the bouquet out to her, hoping she wouldn't mind that he'd bought them for her. It seemed the least he could do. "These are for you," he stated the obvious. Who else could they possibly be for? Daisies, not roses, avoiding that cliche, wanting to give her something different. Something as bright and sunny as she was.
"Oh, they're lovely - thank you!" Her fingers brushed his as she took the bouquet into her hand, closing the door with a slow lean as she bit her lip at the electric surge that flickered through her at that innocent little touch. Her apartment might have been a lot less luxurious than her mother's condo, but there were a few similarities to be seen. The clean lines seemed to be shared by mother and daughter, though Beth's space was splashed with bright color here and there. Narrow it might be, but there was space enough for her, and it showed. "Uh, dinner's only gonna take about ten minutes to cook, so we're good to go whenever you'd like."
He smiled as she thanked him for the flowers and took the bouquet from his hand, her fingers brushing his. He paused just inside the doorway to take a look around, finding her apartment more appealing than Miranda's, mostly because the bright colors gave it a warmer, friendlier, less stark appearance than the more modern feel of Miranda's. He shrugged his shoulders at the mention of dinner. He'd brought an appetite with him, but he wasn't starving. "We're on your schedule."