Worth the fight

clear if I have anything on underneath without a closer inspection.  I topped off the outfit with nude heels.  They’re higher than I usually wear to the office, but because they match my skin color, there is no break from my leg to my foot, which makes my already long legs look longer.
    I get the reaction I hoped for when I walk into the office, only the reaction comes from Regina and not the man I dressed for this morning. 
    “You look hot, Elle.” 
    I smile at Regina.  I’m a little embarrassed that I dressed for a man, but Regina is my friend and won’t judge me.  “ Thank  you, Regina.”  I give her a gratuitous twirl in the lobby.
    “You’re going to make that man wag his tail and hang his tongue out of the side of his mouth for the whole date.”
    Regina’s words make me smile, but then I force myself to slam back down to reality.  “It’s not a date.”  My face is serious and I use my best scolding lawyer voice.
    “Whatever.”  Regina smiles.
    “It’s not.”  I know she’s pacifying me.
    “I’m not arguing with you.  If you say it ’s not a date, then it’s not a date.”  Regina’s smile never leaves her face.
    “Good, because it’s not.”  I stroll past Regina and head to my office.  I have a million things to do, and now , due to my playing dress up this morning, I have an hour less to do them in.
    ***
    I’m happy everyone has already left when Nico walks in the door right at seven.  I’m putting files on Regina’s desk as I catch a glimpse of him on the sidewalk through the glass front door.   He’s wearing jeans and a dress shirt and I feel my heart rate increase as he walks into the lobby.  The man is sexy.  Not beautiful or handsome, those words are too generic to describe what he is.  Sexy.  Sensual.  Rough. All man.
    “Hey.”  He smiles at me with that lopsided grin and for a second I feel my knees go weak.  The man makes me feel like a teenage schoolgirl.  I can’t remember the last time I felt like that.  Yes, I do remember, I was a teenager.
    “Hi .”  I smile at him.  I swear his smile is contagious, I just see it and my mouth mirrors his in response. 
    “I just need a minute to shut down my computer.”  Nico nods and I step around Regina’s desk.  The front reception had been hiding my body and I’m still looking at him when he catches the first glimpse of my outfit.  I watch his face change and it makes my day of running around to make up the hour that I was late this morning all worth it.  I head down the hall to my office and steal a glimpse back at him as I turn to enter my door.  He’s watched me from behind as I walked.  He doesn’t see the smirk on my face as I go into my office to get ready to leave.
    I lock up the front door and wait for Nico to show me the way to his car.  But instead he walks forward to the motorcycle parked at the curb in front of the building and hands me a helmet with a devilish smile.  Really?  Who picks up a date on a motorcycle?
    “Umm ...I can drive.”  I offer, thinking maybe he doesn’t own a car.  With gas being the price that it is and living in a city with a good public transportation system, it might even be practical to have a motorcycle instead of a car.
    “Have you ever ridden before?”
    “No.” 
    “Are you afraid?”  He seems genuinely concerned that I might be. 
    “No.”  I’m actually not, although I probably should be.
    He smiles and there I go again, responding in kind.  “Good, then get on.”
    I look down at my skirt and back up at Nico in contemplation.  His face is amused.  He slips his helmet on and casually throws his leg over the bike seating himself like he’s done it a thousand times before.
    He turns to me and waits, his smile still in p lace.  I shake my head at him and put on the helmet before carefully straddling the seat behind him so as to not give anyone who might be watching a show.  I’m pretty sure I heard him chuckle.
    I’m not quite sure what to do with myself once I’m on the back of the bike.  I feel awkward.  Leaving space between us, I rest my hands on Nico’s back, my palms near his shoulders.  Nico takes my purse from my hands and tucks it into a saddlebag I hadn’t even noticed was there.
    “Scoot forward.”  I do.
    “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tight.”  I hesitate for a second, but do as I’m told.  Safety first, right?
    “Put those sexy shoes on the pegs and don’t move them.