"Real-ation"

Benny was smitten with Eve. She hadn't given him a second look or for that matter spoke more than a courteous hello in the two years since he met her at his close friend Mitch's party. Since that time, he had pestered Mitch relentlessly to arrange get-togethers with her on the guest list in hopes he could strike up even the smallest conversations with her.

He had managed to glean information, be it ever so minimal from Mitch, that she was not married, had no children, owned her own home, was gifted in the arts and sold her sculptures around town in gallery's and art shows. She also worked independently in fashion and had walked her share of runways.

She was a beauty, somewhat exotic, he couldn't put his finger on what it was that was so intriguing about her, but she infatuated him with her long dark hair, that he just knew felt like satin and fell on her tan shoulders and down her well-formed back as it dipped to meet the top of her perfect hips. The sexiest hips he ever witnessed walk away from him on any woman!

Her eyes a crystal blue that alluded to her free spirit and intelligence that you rarely find together in a single woman. He enjoyed just sitting and watching her as she made her way around a cocktail party laughing and engaging with most everyone. Many times, he found himself mesmerized by her mouth as it moved with each sultry word, spoken through perfect teeth set behind her sensuously formed plump lips which formed a smile that begged him to come closer..

Oh, how he wished!

He often wondered why no one had swooped her up? There was something different about her for sure and he was hell bent on finding out what it was. Mitch had mentioned she had a show at her friend's gallery this Wednesday and he was going to be there. He had just enough on his credit card to purchase one of her pieces and hoped to strike up a conversation while doing so.

The show was underway when he arrived. He could see her as she greeted guests and moved elegantly through the small crowd that had gathered. Her long fingers ran down the lines of the naked sculpture of a man as she discussed the piece. Even the sight of her fingers made him long to have them on his body.

He just had to get a date with her or be completely rejected by her once and for all or he would forever live on a world of want! So make or break he was going to ask her out tonight, he had already made his mind to do so.

He moved through the gallery stopping at each peice, putting on an air of knowledge and familiarity of this world he now found himself in. She did some interesting work for sure he thought as the pieces changed dramatically from recognizable naked human forms in various positions to abstract forms set in her own world he guessed.

He came upon one that intrigued him which she had named "Real-ation" he wasn't quite sure how that fit the awkward abstract peice but he had to have it. He stood there gazing at it when he heard her sultry, slightly husky, voice that reminded him of his favorite Aunt, she was a beauty too and her voice was just deep enough to make her all the more alluring.

"Well, hello Ben I had no idea you fancied the arts" she said. He hesitated just long enough to gather himself so not to choke on his words and was quite pleased when he responded rather intelligently "Yes Eve, I have actually just discovered this in myself, could you tell me a bit about this peice?"

"I created this peice out of a desire to understand many things" Eve said "I was disenchanted and felt that most of my relationships were superficial, lacking a desire and willingness of accepting who I am and loving me for just that, hence the name". She let out a soft laugh and looked directly in my eyes.

"Well, I find that hard to believe, as I find you intriguing and absolutely beautiful". I blurted out without a second thought. "Thank you Ben, I will take that for just what it is and I truly appreciate the compliment". She humbly stated.

"I'll take this peice then Eve, will you ring me up?" "Let me get it wrapped for you and I will meet you at the register ok, I am so pleased that you like it, a bit surprised but pleased for sure" she said. "I am sure it will be a conversation peice for years to come and now that I have the back story I like it all the more!" I added as I headed for the register.

She slipped somewhere in the back of the gallery, emerging with my work of art packed neatly in an exquisite box that actually sparkled, she finished it with silver ties. I could smell her perfume from were I stood and suddenly imagined myself kissing the small of her neck, coming back to reality, when after running my credit card she said "Here you go Ben. it is officially all yours".

Her hand gently touched mine as she handed it off to me, "How would you like to have coffee with me after the show Eve?" I said as quick as possible, adding "There's a nice late night diner just around the corner".

I anticipated her rejection, holding my breath, only releasing it when to my surprise she said "yes, that would be nice Ben, I love my coffee at any hour of the day?" Resisting the urge to do a happy dance, I managed to calmly say "great what time should we meet?"

I watched from outside the Gallery as she slipped back into the crowd thinking how lucky was I, I had a date, be it ever so humble, for coffee with the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. Grant it, it took two years, but I had a date!

And with that I did a little happy dance, headed home to place my art on my mantle, grab a clean dinner jacket and get back to the diner just in time to meet Eve.

I was already seated when she arrived. We decided on a mixed drink rather than coffee and talked about every subject that crossed our minds before I realized three hours had passed. I could not believe we hit it off so well, I felt so comfortable in her presence that I had no issue asking her out for a real date, when she hit me with the shock of my life.

She calmly said "I would like that Ben, I have had such a nice time with you tonight, however, I need to share something about myself with you". "Anything Eve, I'm happy you feel you can share with me". That's when she looked right in my eyes and said "well Ben, I was born a man, I am all woman now but I was born a man, I transitioned over ten years ago".

I could not hide the shock on my face. I sat there trying to absorb what she had just said. After a good amount of time and much thought and a lot of patience on her part, I simply said "What time shall I pick you up for that date?"