Jessica shook her head as they walked to her car. "It sounds like the system works smoothly," she said as they got in. "But good lord, that trapeze thing."
Unnoticed in a car, a man watched the women as they came out of the building. Whistling softly, he held up an expensive camera and snapped a series of photos. "Are those two a couple? Stranger things have happened," he mused out loud. There could be another explanation, of course, but the photo might come in handy. If nothing else, he would add it to his growing collection.
He looked around the parking lot. He was alone, now that the women had driven off. No one could see inside his van. He scanned through the digital images on his camera until he found a good one of the blonde. His timing had been perfect. Unaware he was watching, she had bent over in a skirt. The fabric was tight over her buttocks, with shapely legs coming down. Oh, to have my hands between those. And this…
Lance Glover unzipped his pants and let his fantasy take flight.
10
Christmas Approaches
Chet Henderson watched his bride hang ornaments on the little tabletop tree. She had convinced him that it would be better to have a small tree so there was more room for people on Christmas. They'd invited their nearest neighbors to meet the family in the afternoon, and they had no idea how many might show up.
Chet studied Carol as she studied the tree, carefully choosing the best spot for each trinket. Their first Christmas together, blending ornaments from their two separate lives before—it was important. Carol had spent weeks at Layla's, but for now, she was all his. Light through the window reflected off the gray in her chestnut hair, giving her an aura. "Time for a break, love."
Carol looked at the boxes of ornaments. "But there's still a lot—" Catching his eye, she understood instantly and smiled. "Oh. That kind of break." She hung the ornament in her hand and then sat down on his lap, snuggling against his broad chest. She unbuttoned several of the buttons on his shirt and played with the generous gray hair she found as she lifted her face for his kiss.
"I sure did miss you," he said softly.
"I can tell. You've been quite amorous since my return." She thought of their weekend at Keith and Layla's. "And here, we don't have to endure a twin bed!"
Chet laughed. "Yes, that was unacceptable." Attempts had been made with humorous results, but finally they had spread a blanket on the carpet and made love on the floor between the two twin beds in the guest room. When his son had knocked on the door the next morning, he'd come right in and laughed at the sight.
"Where there's a will there's a way, you always told me," Keith said. "I'm glad the accommodations were not too restrictive for you newlyweds."
Still entwined beneath the bedspread Carol had yanked off one of the beds, the couple only smiled at him. "Nothing to be embarrassed about," Chet had said later. "Keith's the one who barged in."
But now, a comfortable king-size bed awaited. Jessica had been a little concerned that the reason for the king was so they could each have their own space—she desperately wanted her mother to be happy. When she'd said as much, Carol had put her fears to rest. "Don't worry, sweetie. We sleep in the middle. And use the rest of the space for other activities."
Arm in arm, the two walked into the bedroom. "Undress for me?" Chet asked.
It never ceased to amaze Carol. She and Greg had had a wonderful marriage; his death two years before had been devastating. It had taken her a year before she even considered involvement with another man to be the remotest possibility, but once Chet had asked her to dinner the first time, that was "all she wrote" as Greg would've said. Even then, she had lacked the imagination to envision another relationship as passionate as the one she'd enjoyed with Greg—perhaps even more passionate. She shook her head at the thought, and Chet mistook it for a denial.
"No?" Ironically, his thoughts had run along the same lines as Carol's, watching her trim the tree. His and Angie's marriage had not had the spark Carol and Greg's had had, but they were friendly and mostly compatible. Their union had produced two terrific children, but Angie had never enjoyed the physical aspect as much as he had. It had overshadowed his own pleasure to a significant degree. He had wanted so badly to please his wife, but what pleased her most was infrequency, not a new position.
He had adapted, appreciating their history together, mourning her death. But this. This woman. She came from a different mold. And they were both in their sixties! Does this ever happen? When he'd said that to Carol, she had simply said, "I think it's supposed to be this way. It just rarely is."
Carol smiled and winked at him now. "Not no, silly. Yes. Of course, yes." As she spoke, she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. She pulled off the sweatpants she'd kept on after their morning walk in the brisk December air. Her shoes had been left just inside the door, but she pulled her socks off now. He blinked lazily as he watched her, intent on every move.
For a few seconds, Carol stood motionless, making room for his anticipation. When he opened his mouth just a fraction, she'd know to proceed. Some things shouldn't be rushed. There. Carol reached behind her back with both hands and unhooked her bra—not a lacy, sexy bra for walking
