by Robert Boren
“Had a feeling.”
“They think we’re going to annex them or convince them to leave the union.”
Nelson laughed. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t attack us for pursuing the bad guys past the border.”
Hendrix chuckled. “I told them if the Feds would enforce the damn border down there we wouldn’t be doing anything.”
“You said that?” Nelson said, laughing. “I’ll bet that was a shock.”
“This mess has changed me from an open borders guy to a semi-open borders guy,” Hendrix said.
“Semi-open borders, huh,” Nelson said. “We’ll have to chat about that, but not today. It’s getting late, and my wife wants me home tonight. Thanks for the info, Kip. Take care.”
“You too, Governor,” Hendrix said. “Have a nice evening with your family.”
Hendrix stood, wondering himself what he meant, how the chat would go. No matter. Maria. His excitement was building. Take it easy. Don’t push too hard. He hurried out of the office suite, locking the main doors and heading to his car, getting home quickly. Shower, shave, dress. What makes me look the youngest? It took him forty-five minutes to decide and get dressed. A pause on the way out the door, quick look in the mirror. Not bad for an old guy. He arrived at Maria’s apartment building just in time. She opened it after his knock, wearing a scoop-neck sweater and a mid-length silk skirt. Causal but lovely.
“You look great,” he said.
“This top won’t bother you? It’s a little low cut, but it’s the best thing I have to go with this skirt.”
“Are you kidding?” Hendrix asked, smiling. “Sorry. I’ll behave. Ready to go?”
“Sure. You look very nice yourself,” Maria said, coming out the door and locking it. She took his arm and they headed for the car.
The restaurant was only half a mile away. He pulled into the parking lot.
“Oh, I’ve been here before,” she said. “It’s a great place.”
“Yeah, it’s quiet and the food’s good. The bartender is great.”
“They know you here like they did at the place yesterday?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “I don’t get here that often. There’s an Italian place that I like a lot closer to my house.”
“We could’ve gone there.”
“I didn’t want a long drive back and forth to your place, in case I have a cocktail or two.”
“Oh,” she said. He got out of the car and hurried around, opening her door for her. She took his hand, looking embarrassed as they touched, but only for a moment.
“It’s pretty dead tonight,” Hendrix said.
“It is,” she said as they waited at the hostess station. “It’s a zoo on the weekends. Big date place.”
“I could imagine,” Hendrix said. The hostess showed up.
“Two?” she asked.
“Yes, at a quiet booth if you’ve got it,” Hendrix said.
“Of course,” she said, pulling two menus out of the holder. “Follow me.”
They went to the back, to a dimly lit booth with a candle burning on the table. It was an oval booth, big enough for four people.
“This is perfect,” Hendrix said, sliding in on one side. Maria slid into the other side.
“There’s hardly anybody back here,” Maria said. “Even less than a usual weeknight.”
“People may be afraid to go out,” Hendrix said. “You know how it’s been.”
“There haven’t been attacks around here,” she said. “Hope that doesn’t change.”
“I don’t expect any here,” he said. “Austin might be the safest place to be right now.”
“I hope so,” she said. “We’re almost on the outskirts.”
“True,” he said, “but I think we’ll be fine.”
The waitress walked over. She was wearing a tight, low-cut red dress, sporting short bleach-blonde hair and hoop earrings.
“Hi, I’m Cat,” she said. “Can I get y’all something from the bar?”
“There’s a drink menu,” Hendrix said, pulling it out of its stand and sliding it to Maria. She opened it and looked.
“What are you having?” Maria asked.
“My usual,” Hendrix said. “A gin martini, up with olives.”
“You think I’d like one of those?” she asked.
“Do you like gin?” Cat asked.
“I don’t know,” Maria said.
“How about this,” Hendrix said, looking at Cat. “Bring me one. I’ll let her have a sip. If she doesn’t like it, she can order something else.”
“We can do that,” Cat said.
“Okay, let’s do it,” Maria said.
“Coming right up,” Cat said, turning to leave.
“That’s quite a dress,” Maria whispered, watching her walk away. “Pretty low cut if she has to bend over the table. Not that you’d mind, of course.”
Hendrix smiled at her as she giggled. “I’m not gonna lie.”
“That’s why I wasn’t sure about wearing this,” she said.
“You look lovely,” Hendrix said.
“Thank you,” she said. “Maybe I should look in the drink menu for what I might want if the martini isn’t it.”
“There are a lot of flavored martini drinks,” Hendrix said. “Chocolate, apple, cranberry, and so on.
“Oh, yeah, I see them here. Are they a lot like your martini?”
“They’re made with vodka instead of gin,” Hendrix said, “and they’re flavored pretty heavily. You don’t taste the alcohol.”
“That sounds dangerous,” she said, eyes dancing.
“You know what they call those drinks, right?”
“No,” she said, studying him. “It’s going to be naughty, I’ll bet.”
“Leg openers,” Hendrix said, a sly smile on his face.
“That’s naughty all right,” she said, face flushing. “Why, because women drink them too fast?”
“Yeah,” Hendrix said. “They aren’t any stronger than a gin martini, but they go down a lot quicker and easier, especially for somebody who isn’t used to drinking.”
“Oh, you mean people like me,” she said.
“No, I didn’t say that,” he said. “I think the target audience for those drinks is women who’ve just turned twenty-one.”
Cat returned and slid the gin martini in front of Maria. “There you go. Have a sip.”
“You sure?” Maria asked.
“Please,” Hendrix said.
She took a sip and left it in her mouth for a moment, eyes lighting up. “Wow, this is good. Very refreshing. Not too sweet.”
“Yes, they’re great. I love the olives too. Take a bite of one and sip a little.”
She pulled the stick out and bit half of the olive, then took a sip. “You’re right, it’s heavenly. I’ll have one of these.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Cat said. “If you order a pitcher, I’ll give you that first one on the house.”
Hendrix thought about it for a moment. “What do you think, Maria?”
“Is it going to get us too drunk?” she asked, looking concerned.
“It might if we drink it all, but we don’t have to,” Hendrix said.
“Price-wise, it’s worth it even if you leave a drink or two,” Cat said.
“Okay, let’s do it,” Hendrix said.
“Coming right up,” Cat said. She turned and left. Maria started to slide the martini over to Hendrix.
“No, no, go ahead,” he said. “She’ll be back with the pitcher in a moment.”
“Okay,” she said. She had another sip, bigger this time. “Wow, I can feel it behind my eyes.”
Hendrix studied her as she enjoyed the feeling. Her eyes met his and he felt he was going to melt. He teared up a little.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m just happy to be with you,” Hendrix said. “Sorry, us guys get more emotional as we get older.”
“You’re full of surprises,” she said, taking another sip. �
��This is so good. You want a sip at least?”
“Here comes Cat now,” Hendrix said. She carried a tray with the pitcher and a glass stir stick, a bowl of olives, a few olive sticks, and a glass sitting in a bucket.
“Here we go,” Cat said, putting it all on the table between them. “Enjoy. Ready to order yet?”
“Shoot, we haven’t even opened the menus yet,” Maria said, smiling.
“Give us a little while, okay?” Hendrix asked.
“Y’all take as much time as you need,” Cat said. “I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Thanks,” Hendrix said. He watched her walk away, ample figure straining against the tight dress.
Maria giggled as she watched him looking. “Hey, don’t make me jealous.”
“No fair,” he said. “I’m not allowed to look at you that way, remember?” Hendrix chuckled as he poured his martini from the pitcher and stuck a few olives on a stick.
Maria smiled and took another big sip of her drink. “Oh, all right, you can look at me that way here. Just not at work, okay? And don’t leer so much that people see it.”
“I’d never think of it,” he said. He took his first sip. “Perfect.”
“What’s in the bucket?” she asked.
“Ice, so we can chill the glasses.”
“Oh,” she said, taking the last sip. She ate the rest of her olive.
“Ready for some more?” Hendrix asked.
“I shouldn’t, but yes.” She slid her glass towards him. “I’m too far away. Mind if I move to the middle of the booth?”
“I’d love it,” Hendrix said as he put her glass into the ice bucket.
She tried to scoot over, leaning forward too far, feeling her scoop neck open. She raised a hand to it and then had trouble getting around. She glanced at him. “Oh, what the hell.” She took her hand away and finished moving, glancing up to see if he looked. His eyes were focused on pouring her martini.
“Here you go,” he said, handing it to her and dropping in a stick with olives.
“You just missed it,” she said as she took a sip.
“That would have been taking advantage,” he said.
She giggled and took another sip. “You keep passing my tests.”
“Is that what they are?” he asked, taking a sip, savoring the flavor. He felt it rushing to his brain. “So what do I get for passing?”
She sighed, then reached over across the table, pretending to grab for his menu, feeling her sweater gape open, holding her position. “There” she whispered.
Hendrix looked, the tops of her breasts hanging before him in white lacy bra cups. He moaned, and she sat back up, shooting him a mischievous glance.
“I know, that was way too naughty,” she said, having another sip. “Wow, I can really feel this.”
“Slow down a little if you need to,” Hendrix said.
“But it tastes so good,” she said. “You don’t look like it’s hitting you at all.”
“You’re ahead of me,” he said, “and women get hit harder, too.”
“Well, drink up,” she said. “I don’t want to be the only one acting silly.”
Hendrix chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you won’t be. I can already feel it hitting me.” He looked at her again, taking in her form sitting next to him, from her butt up to her beautiful face.
“Caught you,” she said.
“You said I could,” he said.
“I know,” she said, eyes dancing again.
“Maria! I think you’re enjoying this.”
“Maybe a little,” she said softly.
“Good,” Hendrix said. “Maybe we’d better look at the menus. We need a little food to counteract these drinks.”
“Okay,” she said. “Should I reach for yours again?”
“You really know how to torture me, don’t you?” he said as she stretched towards his menu again.
“Is it really torture?”
“Oh, God,” he whispered as he looked.
“That’s enough,” she said, sitting up with the menu in her hands. She opened it and slid closer, so their hips were touching. “Let’s share.”
“Yes, let’s,” he said, putting his hand on her thigh, close to the knee. She jumped, and he moved his hand away quickly. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, grabbing his hand and putting it back. “Now, focus on the menu.”
“I already know what I want,” he said.
“On the menu, I hope.”
He looked at her and smiled. “Yes, on the menu.”
“Oh,” she said. “What?”
“Eggplant Parmesan,” he said. “It’s good here.”
“That does sound good,” she said. “With garlic bread.”
“Of course,” Hendrix said. “See, I can focus, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
She giggled. “You can be so much fun, Kip.” She put her hand to her mouth. “Have I ever called you that before?”
“No,” Hendrix said, “but I liked it.”
“I’ll never call you that at work,” she said.
Cat came over. “Looks like you two lovebirds are getting cozy. Liking those martinis?”
“Very good,” Hendrix said. “I think we’re ready to order.”
“What will it be?”
“Eggplant Parmesan and garlic bread,” Maria said.
“For both of you, right?”
“Yes, please,” Hendrix said.
“Okay, we’ll get that started for y’all.” She took the menus and turned to walk away.
“You didn’t look at her this time,” Maria said as their eyes locked.
“I only have eyes for you,” Hendrix said. “Oh, that was terrible.”
She chuckled as Hendrix put his empty glass in the ice bucket.
“Having more, are you,” she said.
“I haven’t caught up with you yet,” he said. He took the chilled glass out of the ice and poured himself another. “I love these. One of the best inventions of mankind.”
“They are good,” she said. “Maybe I’ll hate myself in the morning, though.”
“Why?” Hendrix asked.
“Hangover,” she said. “Wait, what did you think I was talking about?”
“Hangover, of course,” he said, grinning.
“Liar,” she said. “Hey, what were you going to tell me?”
“Work talk?” he asked, faking disappointment.
“Only for a few minutes,” she said, eyes dilated. “What?”
“This is another one you can’t tell anybody. Nelson told me specifically not to spread it around.”
“You can trust me,” she said, putting her hand on his thigh.
“All right,” he whispered. “Small planes have become a worry.”
“How?” she asked, looking nervous.
“One was shot down on the way into DC yesterday,” he said. “There was a nuclear device on board.”
“Oh, my God,” she said, looking horrified. “It didn’t go off, did it?”
“No, they won’t go off from concussion,” Hendrix said. “They had to shoot it down over a residential neighborhood. Some people got killed.” He choked up, his eyes tearing. “Eight people died, including a couple of kids.”
“Oh, honey,” she said, touching his cheek. “This really bothers you.”
“Sorry,” he said, wiping his eyes. “It’s the kids.”
“Why was I scared of you?” she muttered to herself.
“Because I wasn’t appropriate at work,” Hendrix said. He pulled himself together. “That wasn’t the whole story.”
“You don’t have to go on,” she said, hand still on his cheek, eyes locked.
“It’s okay, the rest is easier,” he said. “I got that info from the contact at the Attorney General’s office.”
“Oh,” she said. “Really?”
“Yeah, this back-channel thing they have me doing is working pretty well. Anyway, I called Governor Nelson right after
the call and told him about the conversation. He told me that a seaplane was shot down by a DPS patrol boat last night, in the bay behind South Padre Island. It had a device in it too.”
“Oh, geez,” she said. “Are we gonna get killed?”
“Not if I can help it,” Hendrix said.
She leaned against him, hand back on his thigh. “I do feel safe with you,” she said, “but this is getting really crazy.” They sat that way for several minutes, enjoying the quiet closeness.
“Maybe y’all should get a room,” Cat said, standing there with their food.
“Sorry,” Hendrix said, sitting up.
“Don’t say that,” Cat said. “Wish I had what you two have. I can feel it from across the room.”
Maria looked at Hendrix with a sheepish smile as Cat set the entrees and the garlic bread basket down in front of them. “Still working on the martinis?”
“Well?” Hendrix asked.
“I think I’ve had more than enough,” Maria said, smiling. “Those really are rocket fuel.”
“I’ll just finish the one I’ve got,” Hendrix said. “You can take the rest.”
“Okay,” Cat said, putting it on her tray. She walked away.
“She thinks we’re lovers,” Maria whispered as she put her napkin on her lap.
“Sorry,” Hendrix said. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I should have corrected her.”
“Why?” Maria asked. “She doesn’t know us. This is interesting to me.”
“Interesting? Why?”
“Nobody is batting an eye at our difference in age,” she said.
“Oh,” Hendrix said. He took a bite of dinner. “Great as usual.”
She took a bite and her eyes lit up. “This is good.” She reached for the garlic bread, offering it to him. He took a piece, then she did the same and put it back.
They ate silently for a few minutes, both deep in thought.
“Hear anything about your sister?” Hendrix asked.
“I talked to the facility before you got to my place,” Maria said. “She’s stable. That’s all they would tell me.”
“Where’s her facility?”
“Pretty close to work, actually. Near the city center,” she said, glancing at him, then looking away quickly. “This food pretty much killed my buzz.”
“You want some of mine?” he asked.
“No, I’m glad my head is getting clear again,” she said.
“You think we got too carried away,” Hendrix said.