taught me anything. All she gave me was abuse."
"Well, I look forward to meeting her. Are we still having
dinner with her next Friday?"
I was hoping to forget about that. "Ugh, yes. You may be
looking forward to it, but I'm not."
He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Are you
saying that this gorgeous woman is still insecure about her
looks?"
Rebecca blushed. "A little. I guess I have a hard time
accepting that a guy as handsome as you wants to be with
me."
"Are you kidding? You're everything I want in a woman."
He held up his hand and raised one finger. "You have a
pretty face and a body that I lust for." He raised a second
finger. "You're smart and witty." The third finger went up.
"You were very nice to me when I had my jaw wired shut."
The fourth finger joined. "You love The Wizard of Oz." He
raised all five fingers. "I always have fun when I'm with you."
He pushed his hand closer to her. "Why is that not
enough?"
"I guess I don't believe all of it." She flapped her hands
about. "I'm sorry, O.E., but I still don't think I'm pretty
enough to attract someone as handsome as you. You're such
a looker-you could be a model."
"That's just wrong, Bec. You have so much going on!
You should be proud of yourself. You should say 'I'm
beautiful and smart and accomplished, and I can get any
man to fall for me.'"
"I do feel that way. . ." She dropped her voice. "Some of
the time." She rallied. "But I worry you'll leave me for
someone prettier."
"Prettier than you? I'm thirty-three years old and I
haven't found such a woman yet."
"Oh come on, look at me. No breasts, big butt, little girl
freckles, . . ."
"Stop! You're killing me." He took a breath. "Do you
really want to talk about your body? Because I'd be happy to
tell you what I think. No breasts, eh? Well sure there are
women with bigger breasts, but here's the thing: I don't
care. I'm a leg man, and boy do I love your legs. As far as
your breasts go, I think they're just fine."
He ran his hand up her leg, pushing her skirt up and
grabbing her thigh. She tensed her body. "That's right, tense
that leg for me. It's so hot. You have great legs, muscular
and shapely." He let go of her leg and ran a finger up the
side of her thigh. "See that line there, where the muscles
meet? That's incredibly hot-it makes me crazy."