The next day June walked down Canley High Street, swinging a blue bag which contained the dress that she had just spent an hour choosing in one of the best boutiques. With her new haircut, facial and manicure, she felt good about herself, her self esteem boosted when the assistant in the boutique admired her figure and told her she looked much younger than her age. All that was left now, was to buy some accessories - including underwear and tights.
She passed by several shops, hovering outside looking in the window but nothing seemed to catch her eye. As she reached the last shop in the row she sighed, turning round to head back along the street. She stopped outside the one shop she knew sold what she was looking for that she had not already looked in. She looked up at the large sign "Ann Summers" and bit her lip, looking through the wide doorway then back out onto the street.
She looked down at the ground, shook her head, then wandered on, finding herself looking again into a window she had already looked into. An assistant caught her eye from inside and gave her a funny look. She spun on the spot, sure she was blushing. "Get a grip of yourself, Ackland." She muttered.
She turned back and headed towards the doorway, one last deep breath and glance around before she dived into the shop, moving quickly to behind a shelving unit where she wasn't on display to the entire borough.
She looked around, her eyes widening. What sat on the shelves ahead of her... well� how she had reached 45 and not been exposed to things such as this she did not know. To her sex had always been just natural, none of these gizmos and toys had been involved... she wondered momentarily if she had missed out on something, then shook her head. Her mind was wandering, what would happen tonight, would she really end up in Jim's bed?
She moved further into the shop, reaching the underwear section and began to feel slightly more comfortable though still on edge. She looked round slowly, fingering the minimal silky material, adorned with fur, sequins, lace, feathers. A slight smile came to her face as she imagined Jim's face should she strip off to reveal such garments to him. A quick shake of the head brought her back to reality. After all they were just going out as friends.
As that realisation struck her she felt her face fall and her heart sink. Whatever she had discussed with Polly, whatever she had told Jim, she knew she had meant every word of it. There was no denying this intense attraction she was feeling, there was no denying the fact that her body longed for him to touch her in ways that had long been forbidden to him.
However, she thought eyeing the material in the bag in her hand, tonight could just be the night to change things one way or another, hopefully in the way she wanted it to. There was no denying that the pampering and the dress were designed to show herself off to her best, and she knew that her usual sensible underwear would not do that. With renewed self-confidence, she began to browse more eagerly.
"Can I help you?" A young assistant, blonde, about 25, touched her arm gently, making her jump.
"Erm... I'm just... looking." June blushed.
"Looking for something to spice up things with the husband, eh?" She smiled. "No need to be embarrassed, we get lots of women your age in here."
"I'm not married..." June blurted out.
"Well, that doesn't matter... what's he into? Silk... black and red, that's always a favourite... or something more elegant in the white..."
"I... I don't know..." June blushed furiously and looked at the ground.
"Oh... first time, eh... well, you can never go wrong with the silk. This light blue would suit you perfectly."
"I... erm... well it is nice..."
"Smooth against the skin, easy to slip on... and off." The assistant laughed and nudged her slightly.
"Yes... well... I erm... I've got another couple of shops to look in... I may be back." She bolted for the door, and stopped outside a nearing shop shaking her head. She realised she was breathing heavily, and sucked in long deep breaths to calm herself. She turned around and looked up at the shop in front of her. Marks and Spencer. She felt immediately calmer, at home even, as she walked through the automatic doors and headed for the lingerie department. This time she moved past the sensible underwear section, onto the more risqu� items on sale.
She moved from stand to stand, looking at the matching sets on display in front of her. She paused at a skimpy dark blue silky set, the same colour as the dress she had bought earlier, decorated with dark lace. Not too young, not too frumpy. Before long she sensed a presence beside her. She looked up to see a school ma'am-ish type woman looking down at her, a slightly condescending expression on her face. "Yes, they are lovely, aren't they?"
"Erm... yes they are." She muttered.
"However, probably not recommended for the more... mature lady." She sniffed. "Have you looked over here... much more sensible, and discreet." The assistant tried to pull June away.
"Erm... I know exactly what I'm looking for, thank you."
"Don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb now, do we?"
"Do you treat all your customers like this?" June snapped. "Surprised you have any left." She turned abruptly on her heels and headed for the door. She stalked out through the automatic doors into the warm day, a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth and finally blooming into a grin. "What the hell..." She muttered, heading back towards Ann Summers, walking in, and walking straight back to the blue bra and knickers set she had been shown earlier. She found her size, and strode up to the cash register.
"You came back then?" The young assistant she had been talking to earlier smiled at her. "Trust me... it'll look great on you and he'll love it."
"I hope so..." June smiled. "Stockings... I need stockings. I never wear the things, but... I'm feeling quite rebellious today."
"Good on you... be right back." The assistant chuckled, heading over to a stand in the corner and returning to the counter. "These ones are nice and lacy at the top... sheer black or flesh colour?"
"Black." June smiled. "Thank you." She caught herself glancing over at the section that she had first walked into, flushing and looking back to the assistant.
"Something caught your eye?"
"No..." June smiled. "You were right about it being... it's our first date actually."
"You'll knock him dead in that." She smiled looking back over to June. "He'll be drooling."
"He's hardly ever seen me out of uniform." June said. "I didn't mean it like that..." She laughed as the assistant's eyes widened.
"I get the idea I shouldn't ask."
"We're both police officers. I met him in 1983."
"Ah you're slow workers then..." She nudged June. "But you won't be needing to buy any handcuffs then!"
"Ummmm..." June looked at her, then shrugged. "I guess not." She pulled in a quivering breath. "I can't believe I'm talking like this... haven't felt this way in a while... a long while." She nodded to herself, smiling softly.
"Hence you going all out for him?"
"He's very special." June said as she handed over her credit card. "Very."
"He must be... and I guarantee he'll love this - if he doesn't you can come back and blame me." She handed over a receipt and pen to June. "Just sign this for me..."
June signed the receipt. "Thank you." She took the bag the assistant passed over and headed for the door.
"Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do!" The assistant shouted after her.
June raised her hand in response, smiling to herself as she headed off back towards the car park.
***
6:47 pm. June glanced in the mirror for the hundredth time that evening, making sure her make up was perfect and every hair was in place. The dress fitted her perfectly, it was the perfect shade to complement her blonde hair, and the underwear was comfortable and discreet beneath it. She glanced at her watch, quivering a little inside and biting her lip with anticipation.
Her daydream was interrupted by the piercing ring of the doorbell. She slid her feet into her high-heeled mules and stood, smoothing down her dress. One more glance in the mirror, a quick tweak of her hair and she walked down the stairs, Jim's outline apparent through the glass in the door. She took a deep breath and opened it, looking him up and down. "Nice..." She murmured.
Jim stood in front of her bathed in the yellow glow of the security light, in a charcoal grey suit, with a blue shirt and tie. In his hand he clutched a slightly wilting bunch of chrysanthemums. "W... wow..." He stuttered.
"You like�?" She twirled round in front of him. "Come in then..."
"Thanks... these are for you..." He passed over the flowers. "I remember you like them..."
"They're lovely. I'll just put them in some water. What time's the reservation for?" She wandered through to the kitchen. "Go make yourself comfy, don't stand there like a spare part."
"Half past seven... it should only take us fifteen minutes to get there, but I couldn't hang around at home any more. I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas." He dropped down into June's large luxurious sofa.
June wandered back through to the lounge and sat down in an armchair. "So you going to tell me where we're going... or is it a surprise?"
"That new restaurant just off the High Street - The Maple Rooms."
June gasped. "Jim... that's so expensive... are you sure?"
"I'm sure I'm sure... not as if I have anyone else to spend my money on... and I owe you one."
"Did I make you feel that guilty?" June smiled.
"Well, the tears helped. And my face still smarts a little."
"I'm sorry..." June hung her head. "I've been really looking forward to tonight though."
"Me too..." Jim looked up at her then glanced away. "Suddenly I'm really nervous around you."
"I'm the same..." June shrugged.
"I just..." He smiled to himself. "I watched you sleep last night."
"Hope I didn't snore."
"No... well, not much..." He chuckled. Then he raised his hand. "Only kidding."
"You'd better watch what you say... I've heard you singing remember..."
"I'll have you know I have perfect pitch and tone."
"That's not what it sounded like yesterday morning..."
"You did have a hangover..." Jim laughed. He looked over at her. "You've done something with your hair."
"You noticed." June blushed. "I'm impressed... you're doing well tonight."
"I used to be a detective. What was it, highlights?"
"Definitely impressive... and a trim. You'll be telling me you're in touch with your feminine side next."
"I wouldn't go that far, June."
"Then I'll have to train you."
"I do cook..."
"Fry ups..." June rolled her eyes.
"I usually just have cereal." Jim ducked his eyes away.
"You did that on purpose?!" Her mouth fell open.
"It was worth it just to see your face." Jim's smile bloomed into a fully fledged grin.
"You little... I deserve the Maple Rooms then... and I'm having the most expensive thing on the menu."
"I think you'll find that's the lobster. Can't wait to see you in one of those bibs."
"Then I might have to rethink..."
"Aww." Jim pouted.
"You won't see my dress if I've got a bib on."
"True..." Jim looked up at her and found himself staring.
"It's rude to stare you know." June grinned. "Shouldn't we be making a move?"
"I... can I ask you something?"
"Depends what it is."
"Have you always been this beautiful?"
"I think you're confusing me with someone else..." June flushed and looked away.
"No, I'm not. Guess I must just have been blind."
"Well you know what they say causes blindness." June smiled, standing up. "Now come on, I don't want to miss our reservation. You did make one didn't you?"
"What do you take me for?" Jim reached out for her hand.
"An idiot?"
"Well, I..." Jim stuck out his lower lip and pouted. "We could just go to the McDonalds down the road."
"In this dress... after what I've spent today... I don't think so." She looped her arm through his.
"Thanks..."
"What for?"
"For forgiving me, and going to so much effort... I know I'm not worth it."
"It's no effort... and you're worth it." She looked up and kissed him on the cheek. "And thank you for forgiving me for... the other night."
"Nothing to forgive." He squeezed her hand tightly. "Alright, Ms Ackland, let's go on our first date... that is, if this *is* a date..." He looked concerned.
"Do you want it to be a date?"
He shrugged. "Yes. I would."
"Good because I do too."
Jim placed the palm of his hand softly to her cheek, shaking his head as he regarded her. "This is going to be a night to remember..."
................. on to Part Five
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