Tempted (4 page)

Evidently
,
the sentiment was mutual, as he flirted with me from freefall to touchdown.
 
I was strapped in tandem with his silent-type co-worker, and Nimo made the jump with an adorable foreign exchange student from Japan
,
who kept her eyes closed and giggled throughout the whole affair.

He and I have been on a smattering of dates
,
which is a feat in and of itself considering he lives a couple of hours away.
 
I always enjoy his company, despite the fact that he is so smitten he can hardly see straight.
 
And of course
,
my mom is on me about him constantly, making sure to mention how happy it would’ve made my dad to have a military man in the family, and how if I ever
really
cared about my father I would marry Nimo for my deceased dad’s sake.
 
Oh brother, for
her
sake would be more accurate.

“I’ll tell you what became of him.
 
He became creepy!” I explain to April.

“Oh no.
 
Is he still convinced that you’re going to marry him because a psychic at a fundraiser told him so?” she asks.

“Yep, absolutely.
 
Until recently, we had fun together.
 
But then he became possessive and started telling me how to live my life.
 
He’s taken to giving me unsolicited advice in just about every area.
 
He says it’s hi
s duty as my ‘future husband.’
 
He really is a sweetiepie
,
so we stay in contact, but at some point it always gets awkward.
 
Every now and then he pats me somewhere that gives me the heebie-jeebies and
shoot
s me knowing look
while muttering something about ‘
patience, all in good time.”

“Oh.”

Another pause.

“Well what about that hot investment banker from the Marin
a who hit on you at Starbucks?”
 
April suggests.

“Oh yeh, Bret!
 
Wow, I’d forgotten all about him.
 
I haven’t heard from him since I
left the station.
 
That was where
he used to contact me.
 
I wonder if Mark from the station’s IT department can retrieve any of my emails with Bret?”

“You should ask him, definitely!” April says encouragingly.

My wheels begin a spin class and my cheeks begin to flush.
 
Bret is rakishly attractive.
 
He’s i
ncredibly intelligent with a deep, melodious voice, dark wavy hair, pouty yet manly lips, and the debilitating combo
of a rapier wit coupled with
an overdeveloped penchant for debauchery.
 
Add to that his confidence, bordering on cockiness, and his determination to stop at nothing when he sees something he wants, and you’ve got a heady cocktail of charm and charisma.
 
Yes, I do think I will ask Mark for Bret’s contact info.
 
In fact, I think I’ll do it right now.

* * *
 

Being a creature of habit isn’t as monotonous as it may
sound.
 
We all love traditions –
the things we look forward to over and over, year after year.
 
Whether savoring a favorite dish served only at a particular holiday, reliving a first date each anniversary, or engaging in an elaborately choreographed handshake or fraternity song, we all have things we like to do because we’ve done them before.
 
As a self-employed single, I have the luxury of controlling my schedule and doing exactly what I want, barring acts of nature or mechanical failure.
 
And I have chosen to adopt a schedule that is a marvel of tradition and gastronomic satisfaction.

Monday

Breakfast -
Almond croissant purchased from Boudin’s bakery on the Wharf the day before

Morning -
Online
fitness dance
class via Siren School
, currently with a Genie Bellydance theme

Lunch -
Soup or salad with sourdough
,
also from Boudin’s the day before

Afternoon -
Read!
 
I am a voracious reader and since I usually have a variety of books in the rotation at once, I set aside Mondays for enjoying a biography.
 
Right now I’m reading one about Ginger Rogers

Tea -
It’s
always Yorkshire Gold, one lump and
a splash of milk
,
plus a few mini chocolate chip cookies
...
or dough

Dinner -
I cook something to eat throughout the week while worrying about Wednesday’
s
show –
all the while cursing myself for taking the time to cook and messing up the kitchen when I have a show that I’ve not begun to plan

Evening -
Board meeting f
or the Community Youth Ballet.  F
ortunately I am not president this year

Tuesday

Breakfast -
Bagel & cream cheese

Morning -
Major procrastination including housework,
and
anything I can think of to avoid working on the show

Lunch
-
Last night’s leftovers

Afternoon -
I start looking up images to use in tomorrow’s show
–
these don’t amount to a hill of beans come show time, but I convince myself they are vital, in order to put off the inevitable: work!

Tea -
Desperate times call for a proper tea.
 
I have a plain scone from my weekly supply shipped from
Shamrock & Thistle
in Garden Grove, SoCal.
 
Being a tea room junkie, I am convinced they make the best scones in the universe, reasoning that I know of a certainty they make the best scones in the world
,
and I am relatively sure there are no scones on other planets.
 
I choose plain scones for a very distinct purpose.
 
Although they are themselves a bit of baked bliss, I prefer to reduce them to nothing more than a blank canvas on which to paint with Double Devon cream and strawberry jam
–
bliss indeed!

Dinner -
No time to cook.
 
No time to go anywhere.
 
No time to even think!
 
Thank God for delivery.
 
I order from whichever local Lebanese eatery is in business at the time: Chicken Shwarma, extra Garlic Sauce, Taboulli salad, Pita bread, Tzatziki

Evening -
AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! Why
,
oh why did I procrastinate so long?
Don’t I know I have a show in the morning?
%$#*@

Wednesday

Breakfast
-
A warm bowlful of maple brown sugar oatmeal settles my nerves and gets me in fighting shape for the morning’s madness

Morning
-
Showtime!

Lunch
-
Whatever I darn well please

Afternoon
-
I generally cozy up with one of
the
classics, fully expecting to doze off while reading, which is half the fun

Tea
-
Biscotti today, I should think

Dinner
-
I’m off to TJ’s for the weekly shopfest.
 
After picking up one of the small, hand-held baskets, in hopes of limiting my gluttony, I hang a right and grab the first bouquet of fresh flowers that catches my eye.
 
I haphazardly select some fruits and veggies as I make my way down to the samples bar.
 
It stands
awe-inspiringly,
glistening by the light of the gods, serenaded by
a choir of
angels singing
from
on high.
 
I engage in a friendly catch-up conversation with sample girl Sarah, then set off to collect whatever I may need or want in the way of cooking ingredients.
 
I then sprint through the dairy section and toward checkout, doing my best to keep my head down and make it through the bread department intact
...
Okay
, so one fresh meter-
long baguette can’t do
that
much damage…
and the double chocolate toffee bundt cake is on sale!
 
Much too good a bargain to pass up.
 
Oh and look, cinnamon crumpets!

Evening
-
After unpacking the groceries
, including half the bakery section,
and putting things precisely where they should be, I reward myself for my efforts
,
and
for
completing another show earlier in the day, by dining at Il
Fornaio.
 
Regardless of what
I consume
there
, I always order a serving of tiramisu to go

Thursday

Breakfast
-
Tiramisu for breakfast!
 
What foresight

Morning, Lunch & Afternoon
–
It’s Farmers’ Market day down at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero
,
with everything from organic crops
via
lo
cal farms and ranches, to fresh-
made samplings from the city’s top che
fs.
 
Invariably
,
I go for tacos!

Tea
-
Cherry scone with lemon curd… love!

Dinner & Evening
–
I nibble and nosh on freebies from the Farmers’ Market before dashing out to my Tantric Yoga class.
 
What happens at Tantric Yoga stays at Tantric Yoga

Friday

Breakfast
-
One of my favorite treats –
I skip on over to Mill Valley for breakfast at Dipsea Cafe on Shoreline
–
Chicken Apple Sausage Ben
edict with onions, peppers and <
gas
p>
cilantro Hollandaise!

Morning
-
Usually spent window shopping and playing with apps on my iPhone, simultaneously, and for no real reason that I can fathom

Lunch
-
More of the week’s leftovers, which by this time are threatening mutiny

Afternoon
-
Last bit of reading for the week, generally a bestseller mystery

Tea
-
Shortbread cookies filled with raspberry and apricot jams

Dinner
-
I head to the Steam Donkey at Pinecrest Lake Resort for a relaxing waterfront dinner with a great menu.
 
May I recommend the fresh grilled salmon with lemon basil butter?

Evening
-
Late night play online.
 
Back in school, and when I was new to the workforce, I would
always go out Thursday night...
all night.
 
As a result
,
I got in the habit of staying in Friday nights.
 
And the habit stuck.
 
To this day, I love reserving Friday nights for lounging at home
,
and just sort of futzing around and catching up with friends and fans online

Saturday

Breakfast
-
I bound out of bed ridiculously early on Saturdays, well rested and far too excited to remain
horizontal
a moment longer.
An English muffin with peanut butter to eat in the car with one stop at Starbucks for a Grande
Mocha
,
and I am set for the drive into the city