The drive from downtown was always slow with traffic particularly backed up near the market. So for ten years, like many other business types living and working in the big city, even though I finished at the office around five, I still didn’t get home until well after 6 p.m.
 

       One windy, fall afternoon, while stuck behind a bus at the corner of Blackfriar’s and Dunrobin, I was watching the people go by when I noticed this guy cutting across the street. With a swagger and a style that could have put him on any fashion runway, he stood out – his broad shoulders pitching confidently, his one hand purposefully clasping the strap of his bag. In a black leather trench and ivy cap, perfectly hemmed pants and square-toed loafers, he was well put together. Thank goodness there was something about his demeanor that told me he wasn’t an arrogant prick. Thus, like any other red-blooded female, I kept my eyes peeled for him over the next few days, scanning the crowds for his elegant attire and familiar gate.
 

       Exactly one week later, spotting him outside a bakery on Fifth, I altered my own route to try and see him on a more regular basis. And it worked. Each day around 5:15, I’d catch him walking up past the Salvation Army. Now you may laugh, but it took me a whole six months before I was brave enough to chance a meeting.

       It was April when I finally decided to make my move. Pulling into a ten-dollar-a-day parking lot, I bought a ticket and headed in the direction of my quarry’s daily trek. After about four blocks, as expected, I saw his familiar form strolling leisurely down the sidewalk.
 
       Pretending to be sorting through my bag, I stopped and glanced at him covertly. With his coat open in the warmer weather, he looked exquisite in a purple striped shirt, grey tie and dark wool trousers. Panicking at the last second, I somehow managed to trip over a bump in the sidewalk and consequently the entire contents of my purse went flying.
 

       “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed, utterly embarrassed by what I’d just done.
 
       “Wow. That’s a lot of stuff,” he said, stopping to help.
 
       Captivated by his robust physique – particularly attuned to the size and proportion of his hands – I stood frozen as he gathered my things.
 
       Once finished, he then passed me the pile which included a tampon half out of its wrapper, an empty pack of Dentyne Ice, two separate sticks of pomegranate lip balm, a small tube of cocoa butter, a hairbrush, and of course, my wallet.
 

       “Thanks soooo much,” I groaned, staring at his smooth, chocolate brown skin. “You’re very… nice.” Now instead of “nice”, I almost said “got” – a strange combination of the words “gorgeous” and “hot” – but even though I caught myself, the statement still came out sounding extremely weird.
 
       “Well, I try,” he laughed, holding out his hand. “My name is Calvin. You know, like Calvin Klein.”
 
       “Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Calvin.” His eyes were penetrating and my grip lingered.
 
        When I didn’t offer a reciprocating introduction, he added, “And you are?”
 
        “Lucy. It’s Lucy, like Lucille Ball in ‘I Love Lucy’,” I mumbled in one long breath.
 
       “Well, Lucy-its-Lucy. I think I got everything.” He smiled.
 
       I was practically massaging his palm. “I think so.”
 
       “Good. So, I should be on my way then. I’ve had a very busy day.”
 
       “Yes, same here,” I replied, finally letting go. But when he turned to leave, I added, “I take it you work downtown?”
 
       He looked back. “101 Bank. Tenth floor.”
 
       “I’m a little further up in the Hurst-Peterson building.” Boldly, I’d begun walking by his side.
 
       “Government employee?” he asked.
 
       “Yes. City planner. You?”
 
       “I’m a stockbroker.”
 
       “Really? Why does that not surprise me?” It was meant to be a compliment.
 
       His eyebrows lifted. “Why? Do I look like a stockbroker?”
 
       “Sort of,” I answered sheepishly.
 
       “Oh? And how is that?”
 
       “Well, your clothes for one thing...” I didn’t add how many outfits I’d actually seen him in or how many times I’d actually seen him.
 
       “I dress this way for work, but I usually change into something more comfortable as soon as I get home.”
 
       “Changing is good,” I mumbled. “I mean, I take off my clothes when I get home too.” Funny, my master’s degree wasn’t helping.
 
       Smirking slightly, he switched the subject. “Do you live around here?”
 
       “Actually no. I’m in the south end of town. I drive in every day and pay a fortune for parking, but I’m… um… I’m just stopping off to…” I needed a reason to be wandering around. “To make a hair appointment. Yeah, that’s it. I’ve heard good things about that salon over there.” I pointed awkwardly to a place across the street called “Magic Scissors”.
 
       “Well, I won’t hold you up. I’m in the apartment building in the next block.”
 
       “OK. Well, it was nice to meet you Calvin. And thanks again for helping me with my stuff. I can be a bit of a klutz.” At least, that was true.
 
        “No problem,” he answered. Then, like he knew I was dying to be asked out, he suggested, “You wanna catch a movie sometime?”
 
       “Yeah. That sounds good.”
 
       “Do you have a pen? I’ll give you my number.”
 
       “Actually, I think that’s the one thing I don’t have in my purse.”
 
       “I must have one somewhere. Hold on.” He walked over to a bench and took off his bag. A minute later, he handed me a small piece of paper. “You can call me anytime.”
 
       “Great. Anytime.” My heart was pounding.
 
       “So, I guess I’ll be seeing you then? It was nice to meet you Lucy-its-Lucy.”
 
       “Same here.” I waved, watching intently as he sauntered away.
 

* * *


       Two days later, I made the call. “Hello?” His voice was deep and even sexier over the phone.
 
       “Hi. It’s ummm…”
 
       “Lucy-its-lucy, right?”
 
       “How did you know?”
 
       “I never forget a voice.”
 
       “Oh.”
 
       “So, how are you?”
 
       “I’m good. You?”
 
       “Fine.”
 
       Imagining his collarbone rising and lowering with each breath, I blurted, “I want you… I mean, I ‘saw’ you… yesterday.”
 
       “Really?” I knew he’d heard my blunder. “Why didn’t you stop and say hello?”
 
       “Well, I was in my car and you’d just gone into Van Buren’s. I only saw you from the back.”
 
       “Yeah, I was looking for some new shoes. Didn’t find any though.” He paused. “But if you only saw me from the back, how did you know it was me?”
 
       “Your coat.”
 
       “Ah, my favorite item of clothing next to all the track pants and t-shirts that I own. Do you like it? Do you think it makes me look… debonair? Like a superhero?” His tone turned playfully evil. “Or a vampire?”
 
       “Debonair perhaps, but not a vampire,” I giggled. “Wait, are you a vampire? There seem to be a lot of those running around these days.” I was beginning to feel more at ease with him.
 
       “Yes. And I “vant’ to bite your creamy white neck.”
 
       “I don’t think I’d like that.” I laughed.
 
       “Hmmm, but you’d let me try?”
 
       “Maybe.”
 
       “You naughty girl. Maybe I’d kiss your neck instead.” And even though the conversation was heating up quickly, it seemed right. “Would you like that?”
 
       “Probably better than a bite.”
 
       He went silent again for a few more seconds and then continued, “Can I ask you a question, Lucy-its-lucy?”
 
       “Sure,” I sighed, my hand resting longingly between my thighs.
 
       “What kind of person are you?”
 
       “Is that a serious question?”
 
       “Yes, Lucy. It is.”
 
       “Ummm, well, I don’t know. I guess I’m a fairly happy person – spontaneous, open-minded. Let’s see… adventurous, hard-working, devoted...”
 
       He cut me off. “Open-minded. Adventurous. That’s good. I like a little daredevil in my woman.”
 
       “Your woman? Don’t you think we should go out on a date first? That’s a pretty serious declaration.”
 
       “A date first – yes. Then you can be my woman.” He seemed so sure.
 
       “Well, I’m free this weekend.”
 
       “Saturday?”
 
       “Yep.”
 
       “OK. I’ll pick you up at six.”
 
       At 5:58, he arrived wearing his favorite coat, his cap, a pair of nice jeans and a crisp, white shirt.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said directly.
 
       “I like surprises.”
 
       “Good. You’re going to like this one.”
 
       “What is it?”
 
       “If I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”
 
       “I guess not.”
 
       “But I’ll give you a hint. We’re not going to the movies.”
 
       “We’re not?”
 
       “No. And you should probably bring along some track pants and a t-shirt,” he said, eyeing my skirt and blouse. “Though you do look very enticing just the way you are.”
 
       “You’re sure you won’t tell me where we’re going?” I asked.
 
       “Just do it. And trust me. We are going to have a blast."


 
       Driving across town in his brand new BMW, we talked about our jobs and our families, and there was a familiarity between us that went way beyond that of a first date. When we’d pulled into the rear entrance of an old warehouse, Calvin turned off the ignition and leisurely put his arm across the back of my seat. “Well, we’re here.”
 
       Looking up, I read an orange and blue sign hanging whimsically over a large steel gate. “Circus school?” I was stunned.
 
       “I’ve booked us a private lesson.”
 
       “Now that is a surprise. I’ve never been to a circus school before.”
 
       “Me neither. But that’s why we are going to try it.” He got out of the car and went around to open my door. Reaching for my hand, he helped me out and we walked into the building linked arm in arm.
 
       Once inside, we were greeted by a girl name Anya – a petite woman probably in her late twenties with high cheekbones and her hair pulled back in a tight bun. “Glad you could come. You must be Calvin and Lucy.”
 
       “That’s us,” Calvin answered.
 
       “If you would kindly follow me, I’ll show you where to get changed.” Leading us down a dark hallway, she pointed to the washrooms. “When you’re finished, meet me back in the foyer.”
 
       Undressing quickly, I visualized Calvin in the next room removing his shirt and pants, and my nether regions twitched. When I came out, he was waiting for me in the dim light, his back against a wall. “You look great,” he said, grinning like the devil, his biceps bulging impressively.
 
       “You too,” I murmured, longing to feel his strength.
 
       As if he’d read my mind, he took my hand again. “Let’s go,” he boomed, skipping me back to the entrance like a grade-school crush.
 
       “OK. We’ll start with the trampoline,” Anya said once she’d taken us into the main room. “That’ll get you warmed up.”
 
       And warm us up she did. In fact, Anya worked us for the better part of an hour, showing us the various ways of jumping and turning, spotting and landing. Eventually, once we were getting the hang of things, she even showed us how to do a front flip.
 
       “Wow, you’re good at that,” Calvin proclaimed when I landed perfectly, arms above my head.
 
       “I used to do gymnastics – even went to the provincials,” I bragged.
 
       “No wonder,” he teased.
 
       “How about if you try jumping as a duo.” Anya clapped poignantly.
 
       “Sure,” Calvin agreed, hopping over to me in a matter of seconds. “Like this, Anya?” He was clasping hard onto my fingers again.
 
       “You just enjoy touching me,” I said in a low voice.
 
       “Yes…” Calvin growled. “I do.”
 
       Her radar on alert for any foolishness, Anya barked, “All right you two. This is not a game. You must concentrate.”
 
       Heeding her warning, we proceeded to jump cautiously, but moving in tandem was difficult and when we almost smashed foreheads, she announced, “That’s it. It’s time to move on to the next apparatus.”
 
       “The next apparatus?” I grimaced at Calvin. “I’m tired already.”
 
       “Come on. You used to be an athlete, right?”
 
       “Yes, but…”
 
       “You have a choice.” Anya interrupted. “You can either do trapeze or silks.”
 
       Though neither of us knew what it was, we answered simultaneously, “Silks.”
 
       “Silks it is then. Follow me,” she said, guiding us to the furthest corner of the warehouse.
When he saw the long, brightly colored swaths of fabric hanging in pairs from the ceiling, Calvin asked, “What are we supposed to do with those?”
 
       “You are going to climb them. Hang from them. Wrap yourselves up in them,” Anya stated like doing so should be the easiest thing in the world.
 
       “Can you show us first?” I almost begged, hoping for a break.
 
       “Certainly,” Anya acquiesced, gliding over to press a few buttons on a wall-mounted stereo system. When the sensual sounds of a strings’ orchestra filled the room, she proudly took her position. Then, like it was indeed nothing, she pulled herself up at least twenty feet in the air, did a few twists and turns, and flipped upside down – her legs spread wide, the veils of violet fabric cascading languidly over her toned thighs.
 
       “Wow. She’s amazing,” Calvin whispered, moving in to wrap his arms around my waist. “She must be very strong.”
 
       “She must be,” I said, gently stroking the tiny hairs on his forearms. “And you must be too.” I leaned my head back.
 
       “I’m glad you think so,” he replied, his erection obvious. And as Anya jerked and swung like a demon to the thumping bass and grieving violins, we cuddled, reveling in the joy of being so close. Finally, in one smooth spin, she lowered herself to the ground.
 
       “How long have you been doing this sort of stuff?” I asked, watching her heave breathlessly.
 
       “Seems like forever,” she stated. “I’ve always been climbing and hanging from things, starting on the trapeze when I was little. But I’ve only been working in silks for about four years.”
 
       “Well, you were wonderful,” Calvin said, nonchalantly stepping away from me.
 
       “Are you guys ready?” Anya asked, wiping her forehead with a towel.
 
       Energized once again, I exclaimed, “Let’s do it!”
 
       “OK, Lucy. You can go first. You’ll probably want to start by tugging on the fabric. You need to get a sense of how strong these fibers are. You must be confident that you won’t fall, otherwise your performance will suffer.” I inspected my equipment. “Now grab onto each strand and see if you can pull yourself up.”
 
       “Wow. This is tough,” I said, straining hard. “My upper body strength isn’t what it used to be.”
 
       “How’s your flexibility?” Anya asked once I’d climbed a good distance.
 
       “Pretty good. I still work on it.”
 
       “OK then, try doing the splits. You’ll need to wrap the ropes around your feet.” Anya helped me adjust.
 
       “There, now gradually let yourself down, but only to where you’re comfortable.”
 
       Amazingly, I was able to set my legs wide. “Whoa! Look at you!” Calvin was impressed. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”
 
       “No, but I’m sure my gymnastics’ background helps.” I was holding on for dear life.
“I’ll say.”
 
       After about thirty seconds, I needed a break, so I let the fabric unwind and I slid down.
 
       “That was great.” Calvin came over and kissed me proudly on the cheek.
 
       “Your turn,” I said, holding out the tresses.
 
       “Actually, I’m starving. How about if we grab a bite to eat?” His erection must’ve come back because he was standing sideways.
 
       “You’re just afraid.”
 
       “Yeah, afraid that I’ll look like a fool…” he smirked, confirming my suspicion.
 
       “It’s good thing that you can sense my dominance.” I patted his shoulder sympathetically, positioning myself between him and Anya.
 
       “You’d better watch it, my darling. I am always the one in charge.” And with that, he seized the back of my arm and began ushering me toward the change rooms.
 
       Snuggling in, I pretended not to notice that his grip was unyielding. “Thanks, Anya. It was a great lesson…” I called from halfway down the hall. “I’d like to do this again, if that’s all right.”

       “Certainly. I’ll give you the brochure on your way out and you can call to set up a time,” she shouted back.
 
       Afterward, we headed over to Sam’s Noodle House where we spent the rest of the evening flirting and kissing shamelessly in a corner booth. Without question, another date was imminent.