What Love Sees

Seven

Natalie smiled as she played a soft ballad in the restaurant, Karen accompanied with her saxophone, two couples were dancing to the music.

At the bar, Richard sat with two of his friends but he was no longer paying attention to what they were saying. He had come for drinks with his friends, he had not noticed Natalie in the restaurant at first, but he turned around when she started singing, he would recognise Natalie’s voice anywhere. He had heard Natalie sing many times but he had never been at any performance of hers, and looking at her now, he was hooked, he could not take his eyes off her. Richard’s attention was so focused on Natalie that his friends had to punch him to get his attention, but every time, his eyes strayed back to Natalie.

Richard stood beside his car waiting calmly as he looked towards the door of the restaurant. He smiled when Natalie and Karen finally came out, Karen smiled when she saw Richard,

“Hello Richard” she called

“Hello Karen” said Richard and he turned to look at Natalie intently, “Hello Natalie”, he said quietly and just stood staring at her, Karen hid a smile

“Well here’s my ride, see you two later” said Karen, Natalie started to protest that she was going with Karen but Karen waved her off, she hugged Natalie tightly

“You should see the way he’s looking at you Nat”, she whispered in her friend’s ear and ran off laughing, this actually made Natalie panic

“Come on, I’ll take you home” said Richard, he was no longer smiling as he helped her into the car

“What are you doing here? Never expected to run into you here” asked Natalie and Richard explained that he came to have drinks with some friends,

They rode on in silence and Natalie began to feel uncomfortable, a short while later, Richard parked the car and turned to Natalie

“What’s going on? Are we at my place yet?” she asked but Richard did not reply and just kept looking at her

“Richard, are you okay? Is everything okay?” she continued when Richard still kept quiet, she reached out and he took her hand and kissed it, then he leaned forward and kissed her. Natalie was so caught off guard that it was a few seconds before she pulled away

“No…” she began to protest but Richard pulled her into his arms and kissed her, Natalie kissed him back but soon began to shake her head and tried to pull away but Richard held her

“Oh my God, Natalie, I love you, I love you very much” said Richard but Natalie was shaking her head and pulled away from him but Richard held her hand to his chest

“I don’t know how but I know you are unlike any other woman I know, when I saw you singing tonight, it hit me hard and I had to admit that I was in love with you, God, I love you Natalie”, he reached out to kiss her again but Natalie turned away, they were silent for a long time

“I think we better leave it’s late” Natalie said finally