by Kay, Debra
I would guess he was about twenty-one years old. Don’t look at him that way. He sure was gorgeous, but he was much too young for me. I wished some of his youthful shine could rub off on me. He stepped toward me, narrowing the distance between us until I could feel his breath. His gaze traveled down my body, and to my surprise, slowed at my breasts. Another smile lit his face, and then he continued scanning my body.
So here I stood, in front of a beautiful man, wearing nothing but a scant piece of fabric that barely contained my soft, marshmallowy flesh. Finally, Chase’s ogling ended and his glance returned to my eyes. I had wishful thinking, at least, that his look was in appreciation of my female form and not in disgust. He was smiling, after all. And not once did I see him fall down laughing.
“Hello, I’m Lila.”
He extended his hand toward me. His brawny hand encompassed mine, and rather than shaking it, he stroked it softly. “It’s my pleasure, my great pleasure, to meet you.” The trail he touched along my flesh prickled from his heat.
I started beaming and then, once again, remembered my outfit. I had to look down to avoid his eyes. “Oh, the pool boy,” I found myself whispering softly as my head dipped down toward my chest. Oops. Did I say that out loud? I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.
Acting as if he didn’t hear me, Chase continued. “My father was here earlier repairing your bathroom and pool. He finished the tile work and now I’m here to clean the pool.” As he spoke, the muscles across his chest tightened. “Will you show me where the equipment is stored?”
The young man had the same friendly smile as his father. They were both attractive. “Sure, come on in.” I smiled widely, proudly revealing my perfectly whitened teeth. I think my teeth might be blinding. Did he just cover his eyes with his hand? Too white, too artificial. Okay, glow stick, close your mouth.
As Chase stepped into my house, I studied him. He had bronzed dark skin, soulful brown eyes, and rippling muscles. His tight tank top with the “Pool Professionals” logo barely covered his muscular chest.
“How are you doing today, ma’am?” he asked, bursting my bubble. Go ahead, burst my bubble.
My expression hardened slightly, and I was not sure how to respond. He addressed me like his mother. Actually, I was probably older than his mother.
“I’ve been busy working on this house. In fact, I’ll be listing it for sale this week. Chase, you came at the perfect time,” I said in a soft drawl. But the moment the remark slipped out of my mouth, I regretted it.
Chase met my gaze and did not hesitate. “Yes, ma’am,” he said with his charming smile. “I always do know when to come. I think it’s a skill I’ve perfected.” He winked. “Would you like me to show you some of my . . . tricks?”
My lower jaw dropped. Good thing it was attached or it might have hit the floor. I stood there, with my mouth still ajar, making some kind of mumbling sound. I finally regained my composure. “Oh my, let me show you the pool.”
While he walked across the house, I thought even his wink was sexy. I couldn’t help notice that he had the swagger of a man who knows how to satisfy a woman. He peered into the dining room and stared at the low-hanging crystal chandelier that twinkled in the sunlight. “Wow, this house is even more beautiful on the inside than the outside. Ev-er-y-thing is beautiful here,” he emphasized as he looked around admiringly.
In order to prepare the property to sell, I spent the past year painting, landscaping, cleaning, and organizing every inch. I was proud of the fact that I did most of the work myself, except for the large projects. But Chase was here to help put some of the finishing touches on my efforts.
He glanced down at my dog. She was wagging her tail excitedly and running in circles. “And, of course, hello to you, too, pretty puppy.” He knelt down and offered his face for her licks. Elky kissed him from cheek to cheek and wiggled in delight. He stood and brushed the dog kisses off his cheeks. “Both of you ladies look stunning.”
“Her name is Elky.” I tried to hide my exhilaration, but I was certain my eyes betrayed my delight. I want to do a happy dance, too. I looked away to hide my face, which had become ablaze with excitement.
Chase leaned close. “For the record, I’m a pool professional.” Chase pointed to the logo on his shirt. “It says it right here on my shirt, ‘Pool Professionals.’” He let out a delicious laugh and, at that point, I was close enough to smell his manly essence.
I stood dumbfounded in horror. Did he hear me say pool boy? It had been too long since a man had stood this close to me. Wow, I lost my composure entirely. I just opened my mouth, and the words tumbled out.
I really wanted to look down to hide my embarrassment, but I struggled to take my eyes off of his broad shoulders and strong arms.
Oh yes, I regretted calling him a pool boy, which sounded so demeaning. I tried to hide my humiliation by smiling demurely. And whether the pool boy comment was a cliché or not, there was a woman’s secret fantasy, standing intimately close to me.
He was tall, dark, and oh, so handsome, in nothing but a tank top and tight shorts, staring at me intently. But I barely noticed because I was fixated on his skin; I was thinking his skin looked like creamy caramel. Yummy enough to lick. I’d had this daydream before. This entire scenario was almost too good to be true.
Chase’s lips parted in a seductive smile while he brushed his shaggy, unkempt hair from his eyes and looked intently at me. He stood close. Feeling his warm breath on me left me struggling to find my next words, and to my surprise, I realized I wanted him even closer. With my brain reeling from this newfound excitement, I felt conflicted.
A part of me wanted Chase to touch me, to push me up against the wall and devour me with kisses. But the other part of me wondered what I was thinking. I had not been touched by a man, other than my husband, in twenty years. And I had not been touched at all in over a year. What were these feelings stirring inside me? My body’s eagerness took control of my mind. A strange sensation of warm tingles traveled to my loins.
This excitement was foreign to me, but I could learn to like it. Finally, I regained my composure and shook myself back to my senses.
I jumped away from Chase and cleared my throat. “The storage shed has the equipment you probably need.” Actually, I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had cleaned the pool. For that matter, I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had used the pool. What a waste.
And today was the perfect cloudless day for his arrival. It was a sweltering September day, even by North Carolina standards, with the sun shining bright and the air thick with steamy humidity. A dip in the pool, for the first time in a very long time, seemed refreshing.
I had been so tired lately, and I continued to be haunted by an unsettling sensation that I felt to my core. No matter what I did, or how much rest I got, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. This disturbance occasionally felt like an alarm going off in my head, but I could handle only one apocalypse at a time. I had enough going on with the divorce.
Anyway, sunshine would be my medication for today. Living in the South gave me an abundant supply of radiant heat. But I probably didn’t need the extra brightness today; just looking at Chase warmed me.
I wondered if he could feel my thoughts while I led him through the expansive house to the back veranda. We walked down the stone steps to the lap pool, which was surrounded by fuchsia crape myrtles still in bloom.
After we stepped into the sunlight, he said, “Your long hair looks so pretty in the light. It is so shiny and smooth that I want to run my fingers through it.”
Stunned by his words, I turned toward him, shielding my eyes from the intense afternoon light, and saw him still staring at me. Our eyes held a lingering gaze for an extended moment. Or was that just my wishful imagination?
I handed him a key to the shed, and his hand slowly brushed against mine, stroking his fingers across the tender skin inside my palm. His fingers felt rugged and strong. What would more of his touc
h feel like?
I felt startled as Chase’s voice brought me back to reality. “Can Elky play in the yard with me while I work?” And to my astonishment, I watched Elky leap, paws first, onto him, licking his face. She really likes him. After Chase pushed her down, I watched Elky wag her tail so hard she almost toppled over onto her side.
“Of course, she would love to play,” I said. Can I play with you, too?
Chase reached down and picked up a tennis ball and tossed it to an excited, panting Elky, who scrambled to return it. He scratched her neck.
Although I did not think flirting with Chase was the right path to take on my journey of life, it was fun for today. Watching his muscular arms while he cleaned the pool would help divert my focus. I needed to take his picture to show Jane. Maybe when he was working I could sneak a quick photo, but what if he caught me?
Perhaps he was the distraction I needed to get my ex-husband’s image out of my head. Nothing Peter told me was true, it seemed. Are trustworthy men an endangered species? I thought our life was fine. Well, maybe not a perfect marriage, but we fit together comfortably enough. But Peter had been busy creating a new life and family; meanwhile, I did not have a clue.
And when I finally heard about his lies, my entire world was ripped away from me in an instant. It made me sick as if my life had become a scandal. At that moment, I vowed never to trust a man again. Maybe learn to have fun again, but never completely believe the words that I heard.
Behind us was a loud crash. We turned. Elky stood still, wagging her tail and holding the tennis ball in her mouth. Next to her was a terra cotta planter broken on the ground.
I laughed. “Well, I never really liked that planter anyway.”
Chase shook his head. “I’m sorry I got her so excited.”
I smiled at that comment. “I’ll just sweep up the broken pieces while you transform the pool.”
“When I’m done netting these leaves, you’ll be able to enjoy it again.” He wiped his brow. “Today is a scorcher.”
I nodded. “We might have a few more weeks of hot weather.”
I went inside the storage shed to get the broom. The light was broken. I searched in darkness. A moment later, Chase stepped up behind me.
“Oh, my.” I gasped, turning to meet his gaze. My heart began to beat faster.
He grinned at me. “I walk softly, but that’s all I do with a light touch.” He inched closer. I could feel his breath. “I guess you want me to get started cleaning the pool?”
I took a small step backward, bumping into the wall. When I spoke, my voice was shaky. “That . . . might be a good idea.”
He moved closer to me. “Are you sure you don’t need help with other projects first?”
I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “I’m . . . fine.” I hesitated for an instant while I looked down at his tight shorts. And then I pointed to the net and pool supplies. A few seconds later, I grabbed the broom and raced out of the shed.
After refilling Elky’s water dish, I began sweeping the broken planter pieces. At the same time, I quietly watched him. With escalating delight, I stared at Chase’s thickly muscular arms scooping leaves with the net. He was in perfect shape. I used to keep fit until the separation. Then I stopped exercising. I used to work out every day; it once made me feel invigorated.
Before the divorce, I would swim laps in the pool to stay in shape. But depression took over my life; it consumed me, and then I consumed everything in reach. And the scale numbers climbed. And climbed. Looking back on it all, I realized it was not a coincidence that stressed written backwards spelled desserts. If stress could burn calories, I would be skinny now.
I wasn’t totally oblivious of my increased weight; I just didn’t care. Sure, I could tell my pants didn’t fit the same, so I bought some new ones. Maybe I realized the full extent of my weight gain the day I started doing jumping jacks and heard applause, but when I looked around, I was the only one in the room. That mental image of my fat chunks slapping together still makes me gag.
And now a year later, I struggled with a different problem. I lost my appetite. Suddenly, I started losing weight. In fact, I had layers of excess skin to battle.
The truth was, it would be nice to be proud of my naked body again, but not that it mattered at my current pace. It had been such a long time since I was intimate with a man. Not being asked out on a date for the past year didn’t help my bruised ego. But I had enjoyed those long romantic walks to the refrigerator.
The sound of the doorbell startled me in the midst of my mental assessment, or more accurately, dissection. Suddenly, I remembered I was standing in a tight bikini a few feet away from a gorgeous man. I quickly excused myself. Then, without another word, I raced inside.
Chapter 3
Before going to the front door, I slipped on a bathing suit cover-up. Finally, I came to my senses. I stopped to compose myself. This time, I would look out before opening the door. As I peeked through the glass panels, I saw a familiar face.
Seeing my friend and neighbor, Jane, usually cheered me up instantly. She always had a way of just being there when I needed her. I was usually glad when Jane stopped by for a visit, but today I hesitated. I was not sure if I wanted to share Chase with her. Maybe I wanted to enjoy watching him all by myself.
I stood there floundering in indecision as to whether I should open the door, but too late now; Jane caught me looking through the glass sidelights. She waved her arms crisscross in the air at me. Darn. I opened the door and Jane greeted me, giving me an embracing hug.
Jane was pretty with a magnificent mane of long black hair, creamy dark skin, and expressive brown eyes. Her demeanor was animated when she talked, and she had an infectious laugh and an effervescent energy.
Jane’s personality was so big and bright that she could light up a room. I felt like a shy wallflower in comparison. Although in truth, I might be only a few shades less vivacious than Jane. I was definitely not quiet. And together we were just silly. The simplest things made us laugh uproariously.
“Hi, Lila, did I miss the show?” Jane bellowed as she walked into the house. She flung her hands in the air in an exaggerated gesture of exhilaration. “I saw a very handsome man driving a truck in your driveway. I can’t believe you didn’t call me right away.” Jane had an excited smile. “I raced over here as fast as I could.”
I sighed in defeat; I would not keep this experience to myself after all. “His name is Chase, and he’s still here. But you better hurry if you want to see him.” Even though we were two middle-aged women, we giggled like teenagers as we raced across the house to the window with the best view.
When we entered the kitchen, I flipped the switch. Prisms of light illuminated the granite countertops. Jane flung her oversized handbag onto the table. A moment later, we stood next to the picture window and pulled the curtains back that obscured our view. We now had a clear angle of the lap pool. Jane gasped and leaned forward to savor the sight.
Chase stood next to the pool, holding a large net and wearing nothing but tight shorts. “Oh, look at him,” Jane said, practically panting. “He’s male perfection like Michelangelo’s David. No. He’s more like a male stripper,” she cooed.
She whipped her hands to her chest with dramatic flair. “I really need a pool,” she said with a breathy sigh. She looked at me and gasped. “What are you wearing?”
I pulled the gaping opening of my cover-up apart to reveal my outfit. “What, you don’t like my string bikini and stilettos? They don’t scream sexy?”
Jane raised her eyebrows and looked at me. “It screams something, but sexy isn’t it, girlfriend. Sure, wear that outfit to the club if you want everyone to know you’re having a mid-life crisis.”
I burst out laughing. “Are you telling me my high horse is really a mini pony?”
“If normal is how you see yourself, and if that helps you sleep better at night, by all means, think what you want.”
I teased. “Look at you in your
sexy momma miniskirt you chose to wear over here. If it was any smaller, we could call it a bathing suit.”
Jane gave me a twisted smile. “Are you trying to say the expiration date has lapsed on this look? I know what you mean, though. You should have seen me climbing out of my minivan in this tight skirt. My kids had to tug my arm to help me get out of the driver’s seat.”
“Really?”
“Just kidding. Actually, I squeezed into it just to come see this cutie. And didn’t I see a different handsome man drive up earlier? Are you hiding him somewhere?”
This time I let out a full belly laugh, and Jane joined in. “You don’t miss much, do you? That was Chase’s father. He has a separate repair business and will be back tomorrow.”
“Two of them?”
“Yes. I don’t see a sight like that every day. Can I offer you something? Coffee? Tea?” I said, motioning toward the coffee maker.
“You’re having a good-looking man parade. I should’ve brought a flag to wave. No caffeine for me, thanks. But I’ll snatch one of those chocolate éclairs I see in plastic wrap, if you’re offering,” she said.
I pushed the tray toward her. She stuffed a piece of éclair into her mouth and chewed as if in rapture. She wiped the crumbs from her mouth.
“Would you like champagne to wash it down and to help me celebrate the start of my new life?” I asked.
“Tempting, but I better not,” she said.
“You know, as of today, I’m officially divorced,” I sighed in resignation.
“I know. Today is a difficult day.”
“Yes, I have so many mixed feelings. But I need to get over Peter. He has a new baby now. You know, we could have spent thousands of dollars in marriage counseling, and it would not change the course of that sinking ship. Peter was the captain, and he had been in our marriage, too.”