In Part 02, Sharlene is introduced to a journey of touching which is intended to take her from kissing to intimate touching through a series of small steps. At about the same time, she discusses starting a new company with her friends to convert a research project into something to help people with so-called ‘mental disorders’ then is surprised that her unexpected talent may help the company.
A peek inside:
“For someone who isn’t interested in romance, I’m surprised you’ve read some.”
“I read some in the past. That doesn’t mean I keep reading more. I didn’t know what they were like until I did read some. One of the reasons I don’t like romance novels is the same reason I don’t like much of what is claimed to be meant by the term ‘romance’. It’s all so phony. Romance novels are more like fairy tales, he’s Prince Charming and she’s Sleeping Beauty and all of the attraction between the characters is external. To add to it, romance novels are overly predictable. The characters meet, fall madly in love, have a disagreement which is blown all out of proportion, reconcile their differences, and hop into bed.”
“Is that what they’re like?”
He nods his head as he answers, “For the most part. I’ve talked to some people who read them regularly and they said something similar.”
As she hands him a plate of food and a drink and takes her own to the table, she says, “I’m glad I haven’t tried any.”
“I don’t think you would like them.”
When they’ve finished eating, Sharlene asks, “I’ve overheard other women talk about going to a romantic dinner. What about that?”
“If it’s a special dinner with someone they know who enjoys a fancy meal also, then there’s no problem. If you quizzed some of those women, you might find that their idea of a romantic dinner is with a handsome stranger at an expensive restaurant with him footing the bill.”
He pauses then chuckles before he explains, “What makes it even more ridiculous is how often the woman will be wearing a fancy dress which is so tight she can hardly breathe, her chest fat will be shoved into unpleasant positions, her high heels hurt her feet, her skirt is so tight she can barely walk, she spent hours getting her hair and makeup just right, and her fancy dress is rather revealing which causes most of the men in the area to stare at her to the consternation of their own dates who have done the same thing. I probably misunderstand the whole thing, but I can’t imagine how that can be ‘romantic’.”
“Since you put it that way, I would have to agree with you. I’ve seen a few women either getting ready or coming back after a fancy dinner and it’s about like you described it.” She hesitates a little then asks, “George, what would you describe as a romantic setting?”
“That would depend on what you define as the goal of the romantic occasion.”
She looks at him in surprise then asks, “What do you mean by the goal of the romantic occasion?”
“Why do people want to go to a romantic dinner? What’s the point? What do they hope to get from it?”
“I don’t know. I thought it was just to have fun.”
“I guess it depends on what you mean by fun. Not only in romance novels, but for many ‘regular’ people, a romantic occasion is to get her in the mood, so that when they’re in private, they rip each other’s clothes off and have sex, to put it bluntly. Like I said, I probably don’t understand it, but that’s how it comes across.”
“Um, I don’t know, George. It does seem to come across that way, but I wonder if that’s what’s really going on in their minds. Well, I’m not going to go out and start interviewing people. So, assuming that getting her in the mood for sex is the purpose of a romantic dinner, how would you set the stage?”
“Sharlene, you’re heading this conversation in a dangerous direction.”
“Maybe I am.” She grins then asks, “Can you answer my question?”
