I am Baaack! Part 1

As Rose showed no inclination to open the conversation, Lou stepped in. "This is our friend, Rose. She works with us at Transformation Systems. This is really her first night out in the big city." She winked at Rose, who still seemed to be having difficulty dealing with the physical presence of the handsome older man standing behind her.

"Will you two join us? asked Ed, and, when Adain and Salielah nodded their assent, added, "But you sit between Rose and Adain, Salielah. I do believe he's got the poor girl quite flustered."

Before Salielah could move, though, Adain moved between her and Rose. "What! Do you think I am an ogre who goes around scaring little girls? What kind of a man would I be if I did not try to put sweet Rose here at ease?" He picked up Rose's left hand from the table and cupped it between his larger ones. "I do not scare you, Rose, do I? Please do not say I scare you. Please, may I sit by you.?"

Rose was finding that her feelings of fear were being replaced by nice, warm feelings. Ross, for, of course, it was still Ross under it all, thought, 'I suppose this is how any beautiful woman feels when she's been complimented. I suppose this guy must be a gentleman; he seems to be on the best of terms with Lou and Ed. Let's try all this girl equipment.' So it was Rose who spoke. "Why, Mr. Ben Hariesh," she cooed in her best little girl voice, "I suppose you are a bit intimidating to me, you are.sooo big!" She batted her eyelashes at him, lowered her eyes to his mid-regions, and raised them again to see his eyes widen in surprise. Then she grinned.

Lou and Ed's mouths dropped open, and then they burst into laughter. Salielah clapped. "Bravo, bravo! Adain, my dear, you may just have met your match!"

Joan watched the exchange silently, and a slight smile played across her lips. "Yes, Adain, I do believe you have." And turning to Rose, she added, "Yes, indeed. Bravo, Rose. Yes, indeed."