painted hou ses, a Spanish/Native American culture , fine r estaurants and watering holes. Tourists seem to be dripping with heavy silver and turquoise jewelry as they thread in and out of select shops and art galleries. There is much to see and do. Ye t you can always escape into the mountains.
In Santa Fe I finally have an opportunity to wear the long skirt s and peasant blouse s I have packed. It’s a pleasure ch anging from jeans to the beige Mexican wedding dress with lace inserts I had bought recently in a trendy Hampton boutique on Long Island . I decide to wear my hair up to expose my slender neck and shoulders . For once I have a man who would enjoy them. With a little silver jewelry I am dressed for the evening. Now it was Jays turn to say, “Wow.”
I had come prepared with a list of best restaurants from the N ew York Times and Jay knew his favorite eaterie s. We were democratic. If I cho se a posh restaurant like the Pink Adobe , Jay could choose a local bakery like Pasquel’s . His choices usually turned out to be outstanding and were much cheaper . I tore up my list.
“Please let me give you some money for all these restaurants. I feel guilty about seeing you pay for so much.”
“Let’s say it’s payback for all the stuff you bought for the studio.”
“Ha, I’m sure you won’t use half of it when I’m gone.”
“Not true, I love the coffeemaker and I ca n’t say enough about the fan.” He grins.
Our day s are crammed but time moves rapid ly . It was Sunday , our last day in the city , and after a leisurely breakfast at the Inn we stroll t o the plaza a few blocks away. I buy some pottery and baskets. Jay buys me a beautiful turquoise necklace from one of the Native artisans in the square. We go for lunch at Casa de Sena , a trendy watering hole , for the bejeweled of society and I finally treat Jay to lunch.
“ I feel triumph ant ! You finally let me pay for a meal.”
H e laughs . “You only got your way because the necklace caught me short. I didn’t expect such a posh place for lunch.”
“It is our last day and I just wanted to see what all the fuss over Casa de Sena was about . My boss had recommended the place to me. You must admit it is lovely. ”
“ Yes , but I ’d rather be somewhere else. I wish I had my bike. Wouldn’t it be great to rid e into the mountains ?”
“ Yeah, it would . W e could take the car.”
“It isn’t quite the same, is it? ” He gives me his slight smile.
“No, it isn’t. But wi th the wine we drank, I think walking is a better option.”
Somehow all the plans we have for the afternoon fall apart as we stroll back to the Inn and find our bed. The day passes into night and we sit together under a starry sky outside our room. Smiling , Jay says , “We fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.”
“Y ou feel that way , too? ” I sigh and move closer to him. I look up into his face. “I keep repeat ing to myself that this never has happened to me before. It’s incred ible how alike we are . Jay, I know you’ll be the great est love of my life.”
“I know you will be mine,” he says as he slowly unpins my hair.
There’s something very provocative about having your hair fall leisurely on your bare shoulders when the man doing it starts to kiss you slowly.
Chapter 5
Back in the studio a day later, Jay kisses me before he leaves the bed an d I bask in the afterglow of making love . I am floating on waves of emotions which fill me with warm th and pleasure . I have no de sire to leave the bed. Ye t I roll on my side and think about making coffee. The sex goddess nipp ily goes to the co ffeemaker and begins the brew. Jay is out of the shower and I hand him a steaming cup of b lack coffee. He smiles broadly and kisses my nose.
“You’re handy to have around.”
“ Ya ’ think?”
“Hmm, and I like all your cute freckles especially the one on your right breast.”
“That’s a