Maine slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by the morning sunshine through the huge glass windows in her bedroom. Somebody had drawn the curtains and she squinted against the bright light. She turned towards her side and found herself alone in bed. Had she just been dreaming that Richard was here? She reached for one of the pillows and hugged it against her. It smelled faintly of his perfume. Yes, she thought with a smile. Richard is really here.
She settled herself back into the bed dragging the pillow with her. She recalled everything that happened yesterday and couldn't help but smile at the memory. RJ found her at the Empire State Building. Afterwards they had gone home to have dinner together and had fallen asleep in each other's arms.
She couldn't believe that he's actually here. They were apart for a week and she missed him like crazy. She was actually giving herself another week before telling her mother in law that she wanted to go home. But now she did not have to do that because RJ followed her here. She couldn't help remembering his mother's words when she first told her about her plan.
"Trust me Maine" she said. "Give him a week or two and he'll fly to New York to be by your side" she declared confidently. She was quite skeptical at first but Madame Faulkerson had been very confident that everything will go according to her plan, so she gave in.
Maine sighed as she stared at the ceiling. Everything is going perfectly. The only thing missing now is RJ's declaration of love that his mother predicted would happen. Last night, somewhere in her unconscious mind she thought she heard him tell her that he loved her. She wasn't sure though if it was real or if it was just something that her mind and her heart had conjured up. She did not have the guts to ask him about it. What was she going to say anyway? Would she say "Hey honey, did you tell me you love me last night?", she was sure she would faint first before she could actually get the whole question out of her mouth.
Maine finally decided to get herself out of bed and search for her husband. After putting on a robe she headed towards the bathroom and found it empty. She then left the confines of her bedroom to search for him outside. To her surprise she found RJ in the kitchen arranging a basket of bagels and muffins. There was also a huge plate of eggs, bacon and ham on the table as well as orange juice. The smell of coffee filled the air as hot coffee brewed in the coffee maker.
"Before you say anything, I would like to tell you that I did not cook anything here. I had them all ordered from the small café downstairs" he said with a smile.
Maine smiled back. It amused her immensely that her husband could joke about his cooking skills or the lack of it that is.
"Well, they smell really good. You did a good job in ordering them" she replied teasingly.
Maine and Richard enjoyed a hearty breakfast together. When the last bagel was finally gone, she stood up to clear the dishes but RJ stopped her.
"Let me do that" he offered. "Why don't you shower and get dressed."
She was initially wary in leaving her husband alone in the kitchen but then she figured that he would manage the dish washer just fine and she did not have to worry.
"Alright" she finally agreed. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."
Maine emerged from the bedroom thirty minutes later all showered and dressed. She was wearing dark blue skin tight denim jeans and white sweater. Her legs were clad in black knee high leather boots and her hair hung loosely around her back in soft waves.
Richard looked up from the book he was reading and gave her a sexy smile. Without taking his eyes off her, he stood up from the chair and approached her. Maine watched him advance towards her while her heart pounded loudly against her chest.
When he was close enough, he slipped his fingers into her jeans belt hook and pulled her closer to him.
"Have I told you, you look ravishing today?" he asked her with a smirk.
Maine flushed deep red with his comment and Richard gave out a soft chuckle as he saw her reaction. She hit him lightly on his shoulders as if reprimanding him for embarrassing her but he did not seem to pay attention. He was too busy looking at her ruby red lips that he had every intention of kissing. Before Maine could react, Richard bent down and claimed her lips.
This is their first kiss since they've been apart and Maine could not help but cling unto him tightly. Her fingers found their way into his soft hair while his hands skimmed down her body grazing the sides of her breasts before resting them at the curve of her back as he drew her closer to him.
She opened her mouth and allowed him to stroke her tongue with his. She had been so wrapped up with their kiss that she did not realize that they were moving. By the time they broke apart she found Richard sitting on the couch while she was straddling his lap.
Maine blushed as she realized their position. She tried to move away but he held her down. "And where do you think you're going?" he asked seductively.
"I..I.." she was unable to finish her answer.
What ever she was trying to say, she had instantly forgotten when RJ leaned forward to shower her throat with soft kisses. He pushed her sweater aside to continue kissing her collar bone. "RJ" she had meant to stop him but her voice came out as a moan rather than a reprimand.
Richard finally pulled away, stopping his torture towards her. Maine was breathing heavily now. What had gotten into him? She wondered. It was true that they've kissed many times before but he was always careful in where to draw the line. But now, he seemed to be throwing caution into the wind and his inhibitions had lessened a lot. Not that she was complaining though. She was just not used to him being so amorous towards her.
"Do you have any plans for today?" Richard asked with a smile. He still refused to let her leave the position she was in.
"I'm meeting Warren for lunch today" Maine started to say. She watched in fascination as her husband's face suddenly glowered.
Was he jealous? Maine thought in awe. She's never known RJ to be the jealous type. Hope suddenly surged in her heart. If he was jealous of Warren, could that actually mean that he might feel something for her?
Maine looked at her husband's sullen expression and fought the urge to laugh. Of all the people to be jealous of, he was jealous of a married man who happens to love his wife very much.
She finally decided to put an end to her husband's misery. "I'm sure he would love to meet you. I couldn't wait to meet his wife either" she said.
She watched with interest as RJ's face shifted from a frown to a look of confusion and then to relief as Maine's words slowly sunk in.
"He's married?" Richard asked. He tried to hide the joy from his face but failed miserably.
Maine bit her lower lip as she tried very hard not to laugh. "Yup, he's been married to his childhood sweetheart for three years now" she explained.
"Well I guess we can meet him for lunch then" Richard finally agreed causing Maine to chuckle.
Richard and Maine met Warren and his wife for lunch at a small café down town. It was almost noon when the couple entered the restaurant and found Warren and his wife already sitting in one of the tables.
"Maine, I'm so happy you could make it" Warren said with a smile as he stood up from his seat to meet Maine. A beautiful woman with light brown hair was sitting next to him.
"I hope you don't mind. I brought someone along. My husband surprised me yesterday" Maine replied with a smile as she gestured towards Richard.
Warren turned towards Richard, his eyes lit up in excitement.
"Richard Faulkerson Jr." he exclaimed. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've always admired your works" he commented as he extended his hand for a handshake.
Richard responded with a warm smile as he reached out his hand to return Warren's handshake. "It's nice to meet you Warren. My wife has told me about you over the phone"
"By the way" Warren said as he gestured to the brown haired woman beside him. "I would like you to meet my wife Laura. Laura, this is Maine and her husband Richard"
Laura extended a delicate hand towards Richard and Maine. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. My husband has told me a lot about you" she responded with a smile.
The two couples finally settled down to have lunch. Richard and Warren immediately hit it off since both were very much involved in the art world. Laura and Maine had also enjoyed each other's company as they found out that they were both preschool teachers. Laura had been teaching nursery kids for four years now.
Light and easy conversation had flowed all through out lunch and through coffee. Occasional peals of laughter were heard as both couples shared moments and experiences about their respective lives. It was almost three o'clock when the couples finally decided to part ways.
Laura and Maine decided to go to the bathroom first leaving Richard and Warren waiting for them outside the café.
"It's good you followed Maine here" Warren opened up as they waited for their respective wives to arrive. "I could tell that she was very lonely the first time I met her"
"It's not really fun to travel alone. I've tried to convince her to wait for me but she wanted so much to leave" Richard replied.
"I guess she was just missing you very much" Warren said with a smile. Richard's ears perked up with interest. "She couldn't stop talking about you"
"Really?" He asked in a pleased tone. Richard couldn't help but break into a huge grin after hearing Warren's words.
"You're very lucky to have a wife that loves you very much" Warren commented with a warm smile.
Richard's heart swelled with happiness.
"Yes" he agreed with a small smile on his face. "I'm very lucky indeed"