BLIND DATE by bobbi jo What's wrong with this picture? I'm 26 years old, independent, and single by choice. I depend on nobody for anything. Now my life depends on a man I just met this morning and a thin orange rope. How did I get myself into this? Well... Ever watch a TV dating show? Me too. Every night I'm home alone. Oh, my friends 'fix me up.' They know some real duds! One was all hands. Another was ugly. Some smoke. One chewed bubble gum, popped it all night, then stuck the wad in his cheek and wanted a kiss. Yuck! The same friends sent my name to a TV dating show. When the TV station called, I figured, 'Why not?' The guys at my office are married. The firm's clients are losers going through divorces. My friends are doing a lousy job of fixing me up. What did I have to lose? At the station, I filled out a questionnaire, then recorded a tape. They use the most outrageous clips on TV. The questionnaire asked everything: my favorite color; my height, weight, dress size, shoe size, and bra size; my favorite activities; and how often I date. I also had to describe my perfect man. I never thought about it. 'How am I going to find the perfect man if I don't know what I'm looking for?' I thought. I started dreaming. Tall, but not too tall; dark, or at least tanned; muscular, with nice buns; a little old fashioned; and 'willing to try anything once,' I wrote. On tape, I described some previous dates, my worst date, my best date, and so on. Daren, the host, kept trying to trip me up, but I thought I did pretty well. A week later, the station called back. I was going to get to choose a date on Tuesday! I got to the station early. Before I went on, I watched videos of three men. All looked and sounded OK. One guy, though, made a crack that 'all my ladies have to look hot.' I don't consider myself 'hot,' so he was out. It was hard to pick between the other two. I chose Rick. He manages a health club and said he was looking for a girl 'willing to try anything once,' the same comment I made. I waited while last week's couple described their date. The host made complete fools of them. Then it was my turn. Daren's a jerk. He started off saying, "We decided to let Clara pick a date. She's seldom goes out and we didn't want her alone again this Saturday night." They showed three short clips from the guys' interviews. Nothing in the clips had anything to do with why I chose Rick. Daren asked about my "perfect guy." He brought up "willing to try anything once." "What sort of thing would you want to try once?" he asked me. "I don't know, like skinny-dipping." The audience roared. I should have thought first! I did just what I feared most. I made a fool of myself. I tried to explain that I really didn't want to go skinny-dipping. Daren cut me off and said it was time to choose. I chose number one: Rick. The next evening, the station called me. Then they called Rick and connected us to protect my privacy. "Rick's here," he answered. "No simple 'hello' for this guy," I thought. "Richard, this is WWWW-TV calling. I have your date, Clara, on the line if you have time to talk." "Sure! Hi, Clara. I'm glad you picked me. I hate rejection." "Hi," I said stupidly. "Have you made big plans?" he asked cheerily. "No." Now I really felt stupid. I wanted to do the picking but I wanted it to be, you know, a date. I hadn't thought that I get the money and that I was expected to plan the date. "If you don't mind, I'll plan the date. I'm a bit old fashioned. I like taking a girl out rather than the other way around." 'A little old fashioned' was another of my criteria for the perfect man. Relieved, I told him, "I don't mind at all." "Good. This is great. When a friend sets up a blind date, I can guess what she'll be like from what my friend is like. This time, all I know is your name and whatever you tell me during this call." "I know. It's exciting, but scary," I admitted. Then I blurted out, "And I don't really want to go skinny-dipping!" "I usually don't even get a kiss on the first date," he laughed, soothing me a little, "So I won't be too disappointed if we don't go skinny-dipping. What do you like to do?" The show was taped. It hadn't aired yet. Rick didn't know about my comment about 'skinny-dipping.' I felt dumb again. I was glad he couldn't see me blush. I composed myself a little bit before I continued, "Something different. Not just dinner." "I know what you mean. Let's make it a progressive date. Are you free this Saturday? All day?" "Yes. But what do you mean by a progressive date?" "Start out early. If we hit it off, we keep doing things until we're both so exhausted we can't move. If we don't get along, we do something absolutely horrible to talk about on the show, blow the money, and cut if off early." "Sounds good to me." An escape! If he's a jerk or if he thinks I'm a jerk, we have a way out. We talked for another hour. He sounded nice. He promised that my date would be memorable. Little did I suspect how memorable! He said to dress casual and offered to pick me up at my apartment. I preferred a neutral place. He mentioned several spots. I chose a nearby restaurant and we agreed to meet at eight Saturday morning. *** Now I was terrified. Going out with a total stranger! I tried to picture him, but the faces from the videos mixed with each other. I thought about canceling, saying I was sick. I was crazy to get myself into this. I tossed and turned all that night, finally worrying myself to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. I worried all week. My show aired Thursday. My comment about 'skinny©dipping' came through loud and clear, but my protests were drowned out by the audience. Did Rick see it? I went crazy. What's 'casual'? Shorts and a T-shirt? Skirt and blouse? A sweat suit? I couldn't go through with it. On Friday, I was a wreck. Everybody saw the show and teased me. After work, I went shopping, but I couldn't find anything that was casual enough but not too casual. Exhausted, I cried myself to sleep. *** I woke up in a panic. I forget to set the alarm. It was almost eight and I still didn't know what to wear. My stomach was queasy. I hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday. I pulled things out of my closet. Nothing was right. Tina, my roommate, came in complaining about the noise I was making. "I'm sorry, Tina. I can't decide what to wear." "You never had a problem before," she quipped. "Help me, please," I whined. "Well, what did you decide to do?" "We didn't. He's planning it. I'm just supposed to wear something casual." "Here." She saved me! Designer jeans, a plain blouse, a loose tank top over it, and tennis shoes. Perfect. I dressed in a flash and ran out the door without even tying my shoes. "What if he doesn't wait for me?" I worried. Rick was sitting on the curb outside the restaurant sipping a cup of coffee. I pulled into the parking lot. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, and cowboy boots. I ran a brush through my hair before getting out of the car. "Hi, Clara. I was just enjoying the crisp morning air." "Hi. Sorry Iáţám late." "Only a few minutes. Besides, I needed time to calm down. I'm pretty nervous." "Me, too," I admitted, relieved that he wasn't miffed. "Let's have breakfast." Rick took my arm. We talked as we filled plates at the breakfast buffet. He promised again that I would never forget the date. "I'd never forget being raped, either," I observed. He looked me in the eyes like he could see right through me. He had big blue-green eyes sunk deep in his head. "Please don't be afraid of me. I'm crazy, but harmless," he said with a smile. "I'm nervous too. I hope I dressed alright," I said, stepping back with my loaded plate. "You look great," he reassured me. "And I brought some clothes for you, even a bathing suit. I forgot to tell you to bring one." "Ah, but I planned to go skinny©dipping," I answered in a whine, kidding him. "OK," he said, "I'll even join you." I blushed. I'd never do it. Would he expect it now? He laughed at my worried expression. "Let's just see how things go." He was being so gallant. I liked him. He described how scared he was once he said that he'd plan the date. He was afraid that I might hate what he planned. "I'll try anything once," I quipped as we were finishing our breakfast, "except skinny-dipping on the first date." Conversation flowed easily from then on as we talked about our preparations, worries, and foibles. After breakfast, I parked my car at the mall next door and climbed into his pick-up. It had a camper shell and a canoe on top. We drove into the mountains and stopped at the riverbank. I helped him unload the canoe. "It's time for our first change of the day," he told me. "You may want to take off your underwear when you put this on so you don't get chafed." He gave me a wet suit and opened the back of the truck. I climbed in. I made sure he wasn't peeking before I stripped off my clothes and put the wet suit on. I left my panties on, but I did take off my bra. The wet suit was snug. I put my tennis shoes back on and climbed out. At the riverbank, Rick showed me how to kneel in the canoe. He put two big packs in. Then I helped him snap a cover over the top. He steadied it as I got in and drew the string tight around my waist. We put on life jackets and helmets. Rick got into the rear hole in the cover and sealed himself in. We paddled around in the river just across from his truck for a while. He taught me the basics of white water canoeing. White water? He intentionally tipped the canoe and we practiced righting it with the paddles. I heard a yell from the shore and Rick waved to a friend of his who was taking the truck downstream where we'd leave the river in the afternoon. "Ready?" he finally asked. "I guess so," I replied, not too sure of myself. We turned the canoe down stream, paddling smoothly. When we hit the rapids, my job was to keep the canoe's front out front while he controlled us from the back. The river was getting faster and I started paddling harder. This was fun! Then I heard the roar. It was deafening. And terrifying! It looked like we were drifting toward the edge of the earth. I knew I was going over a waterfall to my death. The front of the canoe hesitated in midair, then fell down into raging foam. I paddled for all I was worth. The canoe seemed to bounce and pound from side to side, up and down, and back and forth, with no sensation of going forward. I was covered with spray. Half the time, I couldn't see. Water was all around me. The front of the canoe would rise out of the water, then slam down into foam up to my chest. "Left. Paddle left!" I heard Rick yell. "Yeah, harder." I paddled as hard as I could, stroking as if my life depended on it. For all I knew, it did. We swung into a calm eddy behind a giant boulder. A fine mist flew down onto us from the top of the rock. Rapids boiled on both sides. "Are we having fun yet?" I yelled over the roar. "I am," Rick yelled back. "Let's rest for a minute." I was out of breath. I needed a rest. Rick kept us in the whirlpool behind the rock. In a few minutes, he yelled, "Ready?" "I guess so." "Then stroke us out of here." He let the canoe spin around in the whirlpool until it pointed down stream, then we stroked together to force it back into the rapids. It was getting exciting. When we made it to a smooth stretch of river, I intentionally tipped the canoe. The cold water felt good. Rick and I both laughed as we righted the canoe and continued on. When we get through the next set,áţá Rick yelled, "Paddle to the left shore. There's a beach at the bottom of the cliff." We descended into another rapids. I was in control now and enjoyed it more. When the water smoothed out, there was a beautiful sandy beach at the base of a tall cliff. We got out and beached the canoe. I was light headed for a second and couldn't get my legs to work after kneeling for so long. Rick laughed and helped me. We rested and talked. He said that he was glad the weather cooperated. He didn't know how he was going to do to make a date truly memorable indoors. I told him, "I'll always remember approaching that first rapid. I was afraid that we were falling off the end of the earth." "That's nothing compared to the fear of falling you'll get when we climb that," he said, pointing up the cliff. "Oh, no!" I protested. "You said youáţád try anything once," he challenged. "It's safe. You'll be a climber by the end of the day. Rick described 'climbing in balance.' Done right, weight goes straight down. If you hug your upper body to the rock, it pushes your feet out and causes falls. He said that this was a beginner's cliff and pointed out each handhold and foothold plus where he would put in 'safety chock stones' and 'belay anchors.' From one of the packs, he pulled out clothes for us. I got an aerobic dancing style bra top and bikini, plus canvas pants and long sleeve flannel shirt. He put on shorts and a flannel shirt. He tipped the canoe on its side so I could change on one side while he changed on the other. He had borrowed several pair of climbing boots for me. The second pair I tried on fit perfectly. Next, I was fitted with a nylon 'seat' with a carabiner hooked at my waist. Then I put an equipment sling over my shoulder. Rick sat me on a little ledge a couple feet above the beach, wedged 'chock stones' with wire cables attached into a crack behind me, and hooked my seat to them with another carabiner. He described how to belay and warned me that his life would depend on me if he slipped. I had to keep both hands on the rope at all times, paying out a little at a time as he climbed. If he yelled, "falling," I was to bend forward, wrapping the rope around myself to hold him. My job was to 'clean the wall,' prying out the chocks with the back of a hammer as I climbed up and collecting them on the equipment sling. He also showed me 'jumar ascenders.' If I got stuck and couldn't climb, I could just hook them onto the climbing rope, put my feet in the slings that hung from them, and 'jumar' up the rope, sliding them up the rope one at a time. I wasn't sure I was ready for this, even though I had said that I would try anything once. Then he started to climb. About 10 feet up, he put a chock into a crack, attached a carabiner, and snapped the climbing rope in. I watched him climb another 8 feet or so, when he yelled, "falling" and jumped away from the wall. I bent forward, wrapping the rope around me. A microsecond later, the rope snapped tight and pulled me off my perch. It pulled me up while the chocks and carabiner at the back of my seat held me down. Rick ended up hanging right next to me. "Hi," he grinned. "Hi, yourself," I replied, proud of myself. "I think youáţáve got it." "I hope so." "So do I." Rick started climbing again. He was half way up the cliff when he stopped and set his belay anchor. After a minute, he yelled, "Ready?" Too late to chicken out now. I yelled back, "On belay?" "Belay on. Climb." "Climbing," I yelled back. When I tried to get up, I realized that I was still anchored in. I pried the chocks out of the crack, hooked the carabiner onto my equipment sling, and started up. Within a minute, I was out of breath. I never realized how much work mountain climbing is. And, according to Rick,this was a beginner's wall. I easily found the hand and foot holds, keeping three points in contact with the rock. I had to coach myself continually to 'climb in balance.' I instinctively wanted to hug the rock. At 10 feet up, I had to pry out a chock. It was wedged in good and when it popped out, I slipped and 'kissed the rock.' Rick coached me in getting my feet back onto the little footholds. Then he described 'tension.' "When you say 'tension,' I pull the rope tawt. Then you can just lean back in your seat and use both hands. Try it." Ten feet is a long way off the ground for me, but I'll try anything once, right? "Tension," I yelled. Actually, the rope was already tight. I had barely dropped three inches when I slipped. This time, I kept my footing and cautiously let go. I pried out the chock and continued to climb. Once, on a long reach with my arm, my leg started 'motor boating,' quivering uncontrollably. "Just lean back and relax for a minute," Rick advised. He climbed the pitch in ten minutes. It took me an hour to reach his narrow perch. He hooked me into his anchor and had me turn around. When I looked down, I almost fainted. We rested a while and I relaxed. The view was great. Then it was time to go to the top. Rick climbed the next fifty feet, and I climbed after him, cleaning the wall. There I was, 70 feet off the ground hanging from a thin orange rope. I looked up and saw Rick taking pictures of me. At the top, he set a rappel anchor. He described the rappel, put on his gloves, and down he went. I wasn't too sure about this. I snapped myself into the rope and leaned back. Rick yelled to lean back more, that I was too upright. I slipped and 'kissed the rock' again. It took a few minutes, but I finally got up the courage to lean all the way back until my feet were flat against the wall and my body was horizontal with the earth. It's a scaryfeeling at first. Rick yelled, "Now turn around." He had the rope around his leg and was taking pictures. I slowly inched my way down at first. Then I got brave and kicked myself away from the wall like I'd seen on TV. It was fun! I got to the bottom too soon and wanted to rappel again. We dropped our equipment and shed our shirts. Rick then led me up a trail off to our left. It was an easy ten-minute hike to the top of the cliff. We rappelled down again. This time, I went down in four big bounds. The river mist and shade were cool earlier, but the sun was now shining over the cliff onto our little beach. It was also lunch time. Rick brought out sandwich fixings and drinks for a picnic on the beach. I shed the canvas pants and stretched out on the tarp he spread. My muscles were tight from the paddling and climbing. Rick massaged all the tension away with suntan oil. I couldn't believe my morning. As I lay there under his expert hands, I wondered, 'What's next?' I fantasized about going skinny-dipping with him. I wanted him to kiss me. I even fantasized about making love on our private beach on the Rappahannock River. I dozed off, dreaming. Rick woke me after an hour's nap. It was time to move on. Together, we packed the canoe and shot a couple more rapids before we paddled to the shore where Rick's pickup was parked. We put all the gear away. Rick said I had to keep the exercise bikini. It couldn't be returned. We took a swim in the river. It was cold. My nipples hardened under the unlined exercise top. I was embarrassed, at first. Then I sort of hoped Rick would notice and enjoy the view. I think I look pretty good, even though I'm not as athletic as he is. I work out at a spa three times a week. We walked along the shore and talked about everything in the world. I told Rick about my job as a receptionist for a law firm. He told me how he loved the 'gym' as he called the health club. We agreed that we had enough adventure for one day. "You're going to be sore tomorrow, you know." I could feel the tightness in my muscles from the unaccustomed use. I knew he was right. He gave me another massage. His strong hands felt good on my bare legs. He massaged places that I would never let any other man touch on a first date. Somehow, it was just right this time. Conversation came easy as we drove back toward the city. We talked about favorite TV shows and music. We joked about previous disastrous dates. He kidded me about skinning my nose as I 'kissed the rock.' His interests are all outdoors and athletics. He spends most weekends hiking, climbing or white water canoeing. In winter, he goes cross-country skiing. My interests are more sedate. I like to dream and read. I love to go to the beach and just lay around soaking up the sun. We had nothing in common except some chemical or animal attraction. Rick had made reservations for a dinner theater. That was my part of the date. I got $50.00 to spend as I wished. Rick took me back to my car and followed me home. He waited patiently with Tina while I showered and changed. Rick showered and changed too. I was amazed when he came out, dressed to the nines in a white evening jacket and bow tie. Tina was impressed too. He apologized that the best show in town was booked. I had no complaints. The food was great and the show was good. As we left, Rick commented, "I enjoyed the food and show, but it interfered with our conversation." I agreed. I liked talking with Rick and although I leaned my head on his shoulder during the show, the show put as much distance between us as the holes in the canoe cover. "Are you ready to call it a night?" he asked. "Are you?" answering his question with a question. I didn't want this date to ever end, but I was afraid Rick was tired or tired of me. "Let me show you my gym," Rick answered. So, at midnight, we went to tour his spa. Exit signs provided the only illumination. It's a well-equipped health club with a pool and sauna as well as all the exercise equipment. "How about skinny-dipping in the hot tub?" he asked, holding my arms and looking straight into my eyes. I was glad it was dark so he couldn't see my blush. I actually wanted to, but I was scared. "Not on a first date." "Then Iáţáll get you a suit. The Jacuzzi will help take some of the tightness out of your muscles so you won't be so sore tomorrow." He punched in the code to turn off the alarm and opened the club's shop. He picked up a tiny bikini like female body builders wear in competition. It's designed to show all and hide nothing. I went to the locker room and changed. I ended up almost as exposed in the suit as I would be nude. I was glad he left the lights off so he couldn't see too much. When I got to the tub, Rick was already soaking. He had brought in a single candle, a rosebud in a vase, fruit drinks, and snacks. He held my hand as I stepped in and sat down beside him. I sank down in the water up to my chin. It felt so good! Rick massaged all the remaining tightness out of my neck and shoulders. Then he lifted my legs onto his lap and massaged them. Then I felt something brush the side of my leg. "What was that?" "What?" he asked with mock innocence. "That," I told him, making sure I wasn't imagining something that wasn't there. "Just because you chickened out doesn't mean I did," he chided. What touched my leg was exactly what I thought it was! "You mean Iáţám sitting in this tub with a naked man?" "Yep," he kidded, "And on a first date." I was horrified. Then I thought about what a gentleman he had been. I hadn't noticed for fifteen minutes. My mind was whirling. I'm in a hot tub wearing the tiniest of bikinis with a nude man that I just met this morning. I must be crazy! Then I got crazier. "Who says I chickened out?" I untied the top of my bikini and threw it out of the pool. Then I slipped off the bottom. I giggled. It was so naughty! I had never done anything so daring in my whole life. The water was up to my chin so he couldn't see anything. Actually, it was so dark we could hardly see each other anyway. But he knew I was naked and I knew he was too. He leaned over, held my shoulders, and kissed me. It wasn't an erotic or passionate kiss, no Frenching or anything like that. But it was a kiss. I thought I felt the hair on his chest brush my nipples. A rush went all the way through me. I wondered if I had made a mistake. "I'm glad you got your courage up," he said simply. "But your friends will never believe it." I giggled again. "You're right about that. They all think I'm a prude." "I can't imagine why. Half the guys in the city must be chasing a girl as pretty as you." "But meeting new people is so hard. And you never know if they're weird or murderers or what. It seems like all the nice guys are queer or married." "Sometimes you have to take risks. Try anything once." "I'm not one to take risks." "You couldn't prove it by me. Now, let's end the evening with an all over body massage." A chill ran down my spine. Rick was trying to seduce me. He got me naked. Now he wants to feel me up. "No. I don't think so. It's time I gothome." "If you won't let me give you a massage, would you rub my shoulders?" he asked. "They're kind of sore." "Why not?" I said. Rick got out of the tub. I strained in the dim candlelight to see, but couldn't. He took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he brought more towels over. He turned his back as I wrapped one around me. Then he took my hand and led me to the massage room. He took his towel off and lay down on the table. I found some lotion and poured some on his shoulders. I did the best I could at massaging him. I could feel his hard muscles relax. Neither of us said a word. When I paused, Rick sat up and looked at me in the dim light. "Sometimes you have to take risks, Clar'. Even the risk that a nude massage might turn us on." I stood motionless, trying to decide how to react. One little voice inside me was saying, "Run, or you'll become a date rape statistic." Another was saying, "It's worth the risk." I was frozen. Chills ran down my spine while heat radiated from my face and neck. I wanted this man, but I was scared to death of what he would think of me allowing him to take me on a first date. I was dying for his touch at the same time I dreaded it. Rick got up and invaded my space, pressing his body against my towel. He kissed me easily and gently. Then he lifted me and laid me on the massage table. I shivered, even though it was warm. "Roll over, Miss Modesty," he kidded lightly, pulling one side of my towel so that I spun onto my belly. Then he lightly laid the towel over my fanny. I'm not sure how good a job I did massaging him, but he certainly did a good job on me. He's trained as a masseur so he can supervise others at the spa. His strong hands worked all the tension out of my neck, shoulders, and arms. He moved down to my lower back and rubbed up my back to between my shoulder blades, then spread his hands over the muscles and back to my waist. Boy, he has great hands! When he paused, I tensed, afraid of what or where he might touch next. "Take the risk," the little voice said. I relaxed again as he started at my ankle and moved up one leg. Again, he got his hands farther up my legs than any other man had on a first date. He felt me tense and said, "Relax. I don't believe in rape on the first date." It was such a ridiculous statement that I laughed. Date rape was exactly what I feared. I trusted him with my life earlier in the day--yesterday, actually. I would trust him now. I let the tension drain away. He started on my other leg. I felt so relaxed that I almost went to sleep. "Time to turn over," he said. It was the moment of truth. Did I have the courage? Could he see in this dim light? I took a deep breath and rolled onto my back, horribly aware of my nudity. "Spread your legs, Miss Modesty," he said mockingly. I tensed. This was it. I was helpless. He had decided to take me. I spread my legs a little. He gently laid the towel from my belly to between my legs. "You can close them now." I felt embarrassed for not trusting him as I let out my breath, realizing that I had stopped breathing. His strong hands gently circled my neck, drawing the tension from my shoulder muscles. Then they moved down to the muscles of my chest. I had to fight my instinct to tense up as his hands approached my breasts. They slid down to the sides of my rib cage, then back underneath. He moved on down to my abdomen, then to my legs, massaging both my thighs. He came so close, but never touched me in any objectionable way. I relaxed again, letting him work the tension out of my legs. I felt gloriously alive. The massage was both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I didn't want it to ever end. But it did. "Relax and I'll get your things," Rick said gently. He brought my things and the bikini. He reached under my arms, lifted me to a sitting position,and pulled my dress over my head. "You won't need all this for the short drive home," he said, referring to my bra, panties, pantyhose, camisole and half-slip and the bikini bathing suit. I smiled in the dark. Now it was my turn. I found his face with my hands and pulled it to me. I kissed him passionately, sliding my tongue between his lips. "Thanks," I said. Then I remembered that he was still nude and blushed. He dressed right there in the room with me. "Here," he said. "Put these with your things and your roommate will really wonder." He handed me his bikini briefs. I giggled again. This was crazy. He gave me a bag from the spa's shop for my things. Rick slipped his arm around me and led me back to his pickup. I climbed in, feeling deliciously naughty with nothing on under my dress, carrying my underclothes in a bag. "I hope you had a good time," Rick told me. "I'll never forget it," I answered him honestly. We were silent as he drove me home. I had run out of things to say. Evidently, so had he. He pulled up in front of my apartment. Tina was still up, judging from the lights on inside. Rick walked me to the door, then turned me to face him. "I usually don't expect a kiss goodnight on a first date," he said. "I usually don't give one." Then we just sort of melted together under the porch light. The heat rose again into my head and neck. I was flushed with desire for this guy I had just met. Our heads turned sideways to deepen the kiss. It ended too soon. "Would you like to come in for a nightcap?" I asked. It's a terrible clich‚, but I couldn't think of anything more appropriate at the time. "I'd love a cup of coffee," he answered, taking my keys and letting us both in. Tina was up, padding around in a shorty nightie. She didn't leave. Rick sat at the table and watched me make coffee. Tina flirted with him. I got jealous. He was so handsome. And so gallant. Tina was being terribly nosy, wanting to know everything about our date. I was tired. I felt like shocking her and making her jealous of me for once. She's always bragging about her conquests. So I told her that Rick got me naked in the back of his pickup at the very start of the date. I didn't bother to tell her I was alone, changing into a wetsuit. I described white water canoeing. I told her about changing on the beach, again not bothering to tell her the canoe hid us from each other. I told her about the spa, not bothering to mention the bikini, and about the massages. Her shocked looks were just what I wanted. I was proud of my wickedness. Rick played along. He sat next to me at the table, sipping coffee and massaging my shoulders. I felt great and oh, so naughty! Tina saw the bag from the club, and asked, "What'd he get you?" Before I could answer, she dumped it out on the table. "Oh, my god!" Rick's bikini underwear was the perfect proof of my exaggerations. Tina was suitably shocked. I loved it! "I wish I could get a massage like that," Tina said. "That's up to Clar'," Rick told her. I looked back at him questioningly. I saw conspiracy in his grin. "Sure, Tina. But you have strip completely naked," I told her. Never before had I ever been able to make Tina blush, but boy did she blush now. She was always the adventurous one while I was shy and reserved. She was only dumfounded for a second, though. She accepted the challenge. "OK," she said, stripping off the top of her shorty nightie. "Into bed," Rick said, standing. Tina went toward her bedroom. Rick followed, pulling me with him, explaining, "We need a chaperon." Tina was brave, peeling off her bikini panties without hesitating. I took some satisfaction in her blush and attempts to retain a little modesty. She lay down on her belly and Rick stood over the bed and started the massage. He was thorough, starting at her shoulders and moving down. When he finished her legs, he went back and massaged her neck. None of us spoke a word. Believe it or not, there was nothing erotic about the massage even though Tina was nude. Within minutes, she was sound asleep. Rick pulled the sheet up over Tina, leaving her sleeping. He put his finger to his lips and led me out. We both giggled once her door was closed. I poured more coffee for us and we sat on the loveseat in the living room. Rick said that girls like Tina hit on him all the time at the club. He turned them all down. He complimented me many times, saying that my shyness was 'charming.' He liked how I dressed, saying I showed that I had a nicebody without being "snotty about it." I complimented him on his build, his sense of adventure, and that he was "a complete gentleman." "Believe me, my thoughts weren't too gentlemanly," he admitted, "but waiting usually makes things even better." From there, our conversation got raunchy. I admitted that all my thoughts weren't pure, either. We described our previous partners. I was surprised when he told me he was a one-woman man. He had actually had fewer partners than I had. We were both afraid of AIDS and VD. We were both selective. Although he went out more often than I did, it was with girls from the health club who were just friends and coworkers. As we talked, we sort of moved into each other's space, our faces just inches from each other. Then Rick kissed me. This was the passionate kiss I had waited for. When we finally broke it, he asked me to describe my most outrageous fantasy. I told him mine was making love on a beach when I might get caught. We kissed again, and that fantasy filled my mind. I asked about his fantasies. His favorite was tying his conquest to the exercise equipment in the health club, ending with her bound helplessly to the massage table, his for the taking. Then we described lots of other fantasies and experiences. It was wonderful how relaxed I was with him. I was alternately afraid of date rape and then afraid that he wouldn't find me attractive enough to try to seduce. My mind kept going back to his statement that things were better when you waited. That made it all OK. I was already seduced. He could have me any time he wanted me, but not tonight. The coffee had its effect. We soon had to take turns in the bathroom. It was so easy and comfortable to go to the kitchen to freshen the coffee, then return to the couch and start right in again describing our most intimate of thoughts and feelings. Rick stretched out on his side, resting his shoulders on the padded arm. I snuggled in with him laying my head on his arm. We kissed again and again, talking back and forth, sipping coffee in between. I suddenly noticed it was starting to get light outside. We decided to go outside and watch the sun come up. Bare footed and still wearing my dinner dress with no underwear, I followed Rick outside. He took the mattress from the back of his pickup, put it on top of the camper shell, and helped me up. We laid up there, leaning against the padded canoe watching the sun come up. It was fun to kiss for a minute, then be quiet until the early morningjoggers got beside us and startle them with a, "Good morning." When the sun was just over the horizon, we went back inside. Rick said, "It's that time." I melted into him for one last kiss before he left and we kissed passionately once again. Then Rick picked me up and started carrying me to my bedroom." "No, Rick. I'm not ready." "Trust me." I trusted him. More than I ever trusted a man before in my life. But I wasn't ready for this. I was comfortable with waiting. I had made up my mind we would wait. "No, Rick," I insisted again when he stood me in my bedroom next to my bed. Have you ever kissed a man who was fully clothed while you were nude?" he asked. "No, Rick," I said sternly. "I'm not ready." "But you'll try anything once," he said quietly with a grin as he lifted the hem of my dress. I was exhausted, unable to resist. What I had feared all night was about to happen. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me deeply. I put my arms around his neck and kissed back. I was completely helpless. My legs felt like rubber bands. Rick held me up with his strong arms as we kissed, then he gently laid me down on the bed. Daylight illuminated the whole room, exposing me completely to his gaze. I closed my eyes. I didn't even have the energy to blush. "You're worth waiting for," he said gently as he started massaging my neck, then my shoulders, then down my body. He's a real expert. I relaxed completely. He rolled me onto my stomach and continued the massage. I was really surprised when Tina woke me at noon. Tina grilled me as we made brunch. She wouldn't believe that we just kissed, but she also wouldn't believe that I made love to a man on the first date. She couldn't believe that a man could massage nude women and not come on to them. "He must be gay," she concluded. She ended up talking continuously while I sat and savored the feelings in my sore muscles. In spite of the stiffness, I felt gloriously alive. Tina's speculations on what went on were far wilder than anything I actually did. Rick called Sunday evening. My heart leapt into my throat when I heard his voice. I hadn't given him my number. I wondered how I would get in touch with him. The TV station didn't want us to talk or see each other until after we appeared on the show. Rick, though, had memorized the number from my phone in the apartment. "Let's talk about the show," he suggested. I hadn't thought about that. "We should be honest, but not too honest. Let everybody guess what went on." "I'm not sure I want everybody in the world to know that we were doing nude body massages on the date, especially my mother!" "Why not? She won't believe it anyway. You know Daren's going to ask if you went skinny-dipping," he observed. "What should we tell him?" It was a blast reliving the whole date over the telephone. We knew that Daren, the show's host, wanted a program full of gasps and laughs about our adventure. In the end, we decided that honesty is the best policy. Nobody who knew us would believe it. My friends and my mother both know how shy and reserved I am. Rick's clients and friends know how many times he's turned down opportunities. We would just have fun. That night I was left alone with my thoughts and my sore muscles. I had decisions to make. *** "Good evening and welcome to 'Blind Dating Blind.' I'm your host, Daren McRanger. Tonight, we'll hear all about Clara's date with Rick and then find out who Steven will pick for his date, right after these messages." I was nervous. I felt like I had to pee although I had just used the bathroom. The two-minute wait drove me crazy. The host talked to the staff instead of me. I knew Rick was in the back, which made it worse. When the 'on-the-air' light lit, Daren reviewed the men I had to choose from and that I picked Rick. He welcomed Rick, who was shown by a different camera behind a screen. Then he asked me, "Well, Clara, where did you go on your date?" "To the Rappahannock River." "Oh? That's an interesting place for a date. What did you do there?" "We went white water canoeing and mountain climbing." Gasps and applause from the audience. "And did you go skinny-dipping?" "I brought some pictures," I answered. The audience had dirty minds and roared at my answer, thinking I had pictures of us skinny-dipping. "I don't know if we can show pictures like that." A technician showed a slide Rick's friend took of us in the canoe wearing life jackets and helmets. Then I described my first experience at rappelling. It was a shot of my second time where I was bounding down and wearing the exercise top. "Well, Rick. Did you finally get her clothes off?" "She took them off herself," Rick answered, grinning. The audience roared! "Really?" "Well, after we left the river, we drove back into town and went to the dinner theater. It was a good show." "Forget the dinner! I want to hear about how you got her clothes off." The audience shouted agreement. After the audience calmed down, Rick continued, "Well, after the show, I decided to show Clar' the gym where I work. I invited her to soak in the Jacuzzi and she accepted." Whistles and guffaws from the audience, just as I expected. "Was it that easy to get you out of your clothes?" he asked me. "Well, no," I replied. "I told him I wasn't ready to be nude with a guy on the first date. He was a real gentleman and gave me a suit to change into. Then I joined him in the Jacuzzi." "Oh, so you didn't get her naked," he said to Rick, sounding disappointed. The audience groaned too. "No, I didnáţát," Rick admitted. "But I did," I laughed. "Huh?" The audience laughed as Rick and I grinned at each other on the monitors. "Can you enlighten us, Clara?" "Well, when I got in the tub, Rick massaged me. I was kind of sore. Then, we sort of kissed." The audience reacted with "Ooooo." "And when we kissed, I sort of touched Rick where there should have been a bathing suit and there wasn't." The audience loved it and roared and whistled. "So, Rick, you were skinny-dipping and she wasn't?" "Yeah. I told her, 'Hey, just because you chickened out doesn't mean that I did.'" The audience was eating this up. "Well, Clara. How did you react to that?" "I told Rick that I wasn't chickening out. I just wasn't ready yet." "Well, did you take your clothes off?" "I was nearly naked already. The suit was supposed to show you off rather than cover you up." The audience's reaction was just what you wouldexpect. "So you were practically naked anyway?" Daren pried. "Yeah, so I figured what the heck, I'll try anything once and took it off." You should have heard the reaction of the crowd! After the commercial break, we described the massages after the hot tub. "So what did you do then? Just get up out of the tub?" "No. Rick got us towels and he turned his back while I wrapped one around me." "Does she look pretty good in a towel?" "She looks pretty good in anything, everything, and nothing," Rick said, to the applause of the whole audience. I couldn't help but blush, but I likedthe compliment. "Well, what did you do then?" "Well, our muscles were still tight so I offered to give Clar' a massage." More "Oooooo'ás." "How was the massage?" Daren asked me. "It was great. Rick really knows his stuff," I answered, to the gasps and applause again. "It's kind of hard to get a massage with a towel wrapped around you, isn't it?" Daren asked. I knew where he was leading and I wasn't about to disappoint him. "Well, I had to take the towel off!" Yep. You know the reaction. "But I was face down and had the towel over my bottom so he couldn't really see anything." "OK," Daren said, leaving a 'dramatic pause' for the audience to laugh through. "What then?" "Well, then we went back to my place." More "Oooooo's." "I don't think we can continue this," Daren said. "Besides, it's time for a break." He barely made it in time for the commercial as the director counted down to zero. After the break, he continued, "So you guys had a really good time." "Yeah, it was great," we both agreed. "Well, let's see who the audience picked for you, Clara." He flipped over the cards. Rick was second. Ben, the guy who made the comment about "hot girls," was the number one pick with 44 percent. "Well, you can go out with Ben and we'll pay for it or you can stay with Rick. What'll it be?" I answered, "I've thought a lot about this. The date was great, but Rick's a little too crazy for me. I'll try Ben." The audience gasped in surprise. "And how do you feel about that, Rick?" "It's her choice. I had a great time, Clar'. Bye." The audience was shocked. They groaned and booed. *** Ben was more than a little crude on our date Saturday night. He saw my show and just wanted to get my clothes off. I dressed really 'hot' for him in a shiny red minidress and sheer hot pink hose. I had to fight him off all night. He still stole a dozen tight-lipped kisses. I gave him ten seconds of tongue on my porch. I counted the seconds until it was over, then shooed him off. I went inside, ignoring Tina's questions about how the date went. I just took off all my clothes and put on my long coat and sneakers. Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. I opened it and asked Rick, "The beach or the health club?" "Ladies first. We're off to the beach," he replied as he led me to his truck.