Bob stood, then Diane stood to see him to the door. He held her arms in his, his hands cupping her elbows, fingers exploring her soft triceps. Her hands rested on his solid biceps, which didn�t feel nearly as warm as they had a few minutes ago. He kissed her once more, then pulled her close to him in a full embrace. They kissed a few seconds longer, and Diane could feel that he was hoping for an invitation to the bedroom. He looked at her with more hunger, and he placed his hand on the top of her chest, his fingers moving to unfasten the top button of her blouse.

Hoping to stop an almost inevitable race to the bedroom, Diane closed her hands on his fingers and gently removed them from her button. �It�s too soon, Bob. It�s much too soon for me. I�m so sorry.�

Bob rested his forehead on the top of Diane�s head, breathing deeply, calming himself. He rubbed her shoulders for a few minutes more, and longingly, reluctantly, finally, pulled himself slowly away. His hands slid down her arms, then across her palms, until finally, his fingertips connected with hers for a few precious seconds, then released. He walked over to the coat rack and picked up his coat and jacket. After two or three more yearning kisses, Bob left the apartment, blowing kisses at Diane. She blew a kiss back to him through the doorway. When he turned the corner of the hallway toward the elevator, Diane closed the door the rest of the way, threw the bolt and the latches, then turned around and leaned back against the door, sighing heavily.

Bob anxiously waited until he was safely out of the building and away from the prying eyes of Diane�s neighbors before he dared to read the slip of paper. He walked the two blocks back toward where his car was parked, his hand in his pocket, nervously fingering the note. He paused under the lantern by the door of the restaurant so he could read the note clearly. He pulled it out of his pocket, unfolded it, and stared at it under the dim light. His face darkened with anger, and his eyes became as black and empty as a shark�s. He crumpled the paper and threw it hard into the trashcan on the side of the street, cursing furiously in Spanish.

Bob folded up the collar of his coat to shield him from the cool breeze, which had chilled perceptibly in the last few seconds. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, then turned left to walk the remaining half block to his car. A breeze kicked the little piece of paper around in the trashcan, then ejected it onto the curb, where it danced around in a lazy little dust devil in front of the restaurant.

A cab pulled up to the curb, and a laughing couple in their mid-thirties leaped out of it after paying the driver. They were very affectionate with one another, finishing each other�s sentences, laughing, and obviously very much in love. In this heightened sense of romance, every nuance of nature was delightful and magical to them.