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JIM FINALLY COMPLETED HIS LITTLE chores as the week came to a close. It was Friday night and he was feeling like a schoolboy again. Showered and dressed in record time, he couldn’t decide if he would meet her in the room or on the street. He went up and down the stairs five times before he decided to sit on the bench in front of the post office until she arrived.
The second hand swept across the twelve at exactly 7:30 p.m. and the Buick turned the corner. With a big smile, he stood and waved her over. He couldn’t believe how happy seeing her made him feel, just the sight of her smiling face. This wonderful creature was getting under his skin ? big time.
She pushed open the passenger door and said: “Get in. I’m hungry. Let’s get something to eat.”
He jumped in, closing the door behind him. As he did she stepped on the gas and they quickly left town. Without warning she pulled off the highway, into a church parking lot. Turning off the engine, putting it in park, she slid across the seat to kiss him with a passion he had never seen before, from anyone. All this happened so quickly that he was breathless. She moved back across the seat, cranked the car and pulled back onto the highway.
“Hey, Mr. Jim Cole. I missed you.”
Those words were music to his ears.
“I missed you, too. Where are we going?”
“Harry’s Steak House, next to Lake Blue Ridge Dam.”
“A steak and baked potato sound like heaven to me.”
“I have been thinking about a steak all the way from Jasper. At first I thought I would eat and then get my kiss, but when I saw my shy guy waving at me, I couldn’t wait.”
“I don’t think I will ever get used to you saying exactly what you feel. I know it’s, well, refreshing, but sometimes it scares the hell out of me.”
“Why? Isn’t it what you want to hear?” — she said.
“Yes, it’s exactly what I want to hear. I just don’t know how to answer you.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t always need to answer me.”
“That’s good to hear. Now I can breathe again.”
Pulling into Harry’s parking lot, it was almost empty.
“I’m hungry. Does that scare you shy guy?”
“Do teachers insist on being in control all the time?”
“Ouch! Shy guy, I thought you didn’t know what to say! Come here, put your arms around me and tell me you missed me. Yes, we need to be in control because if we are not, someone may just see how scared we are.”
“Do I scare you?”
“To the bone”? she said. A truth he couldn’t fully yet comprehend.
He pulled her close, kissed her long and hard and then whispered in her ear: “I will never let anything happen to you. I promise.” He hugged her again: “Let’s go and eat.”
They walked into the stylish restaurant and looked about, seeing mostly couples with a few foursomes. He thought he was a little underdressed as many of the men wore sport coats. She noticed his hesitancy: “Is something the matter?”
“It looks like I should have worn a coat”.
“Just wait. These are the businessmen from Blue Ridge. Wait ‘til the usual crowd gets here. You’ll feel right at home.”
They enjoyed their steaks. She had ordered a filet mignon, medium well, and he had opted for a porterhouse, well done. The cook was a magician, and the steaks were perfectly cooked to perfection. As the time passed, the more comfortable he felt. It was amazing how easy it was for him to talk with her, about anything. When they were almost finished with their meal a woman approached the table.
“Peggy, is that you?”
“Sue?”
“Yes!”
“You look great!”
“So do you.”
“Peggy, this is my husband, Sam McGill.”
“Hi, Sam. This is my friend, Jim Cole.”
“Jim, nice to meet you.”
Peggy explained: “Sue and I went to North Georgia College together. We were room-mates our junior year.
“Are you still teaching?”
“No, Sam and I have two boys now so I just play ‘Mom the Housekeeper’. Are you still teaching?”
“Yes, fifth grade in Jasper.”
“Thought you wanted to teach high school, Peggy?”
“That’s what I used to think. There’s no way I could leave those wonderful kids now. Besides, discipline problems with seventeen-year-old boys aren’t any picnic. Peggy, here’s my phone number. Give me a call and let’s catch up. Okay?”
“Sounds good, and I will. Wonderful to see you, Jim!”
“Good night”? Peggy said, and Jim nodded.
After the couple left, Jim said: “Looks like you have friends everywhere.”
“Is that bad?”
“No, I think it’s wonderful. You have so many close friends. I’m envious.” After taking care of the check and leaving a tip, they walked to the car hand in hand.
“Where are you taking me now?” — Jim said.
“Home.”
“Home?” — Jim asked.
“Yeah, I want to see what you have done to the apartment.”
He wasn’t sure he was comfortable with Peggy in his apartment. “You don’t look pleased” —she said.
“I’m just not sure it’s clean enough to entertain.”
“Sure, sure. You just don’t want to be alone with me!”
“Lady: I’ll show you the moon! Let’s go.”
He was nervous as they climbed the stairs to his apartment.
“You’ve moved things. It looks good” — she said.
“How do you know I moved things?” — Jim wondered. “Have you been here before?”
“Oh, yeah. Many times, when Michael lived here.”
“Did you know Michael?”
“He and my brother were in the same group of friends. I had a major crush on him when I was a freshman in high school. Michael didn’t even know I was alive. He was in love with Susan.”
Then she threw her arms around him.
“When are you going to kiss me?
He didn’t say a word, just reacted. The deep, emotional feeling he had a week ago was back. Holding her tightly he felt like he had been stuck by lightning. He had to fight himself to keep from ripping her clothes off. His desire for her was almost unbearable. He knew instinctively that going slow and cautiously was the best route to take with her. He sensed that sometime in her past she had been hurt emotionally ? though he could be wrong. With this deep feeling for this woman he knew if he were not patient with her he could lose her. It made him sick to his stomach to think what that would do to him.
He kissed her again, and again. They both seemed to have the same feelings, as they just couldn’t get close enough. The more they held each other the more they wanted to be just one person. He kept fighting his urge to overpower her and make love to the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. His frustration level was climbing to the rafters. This patience approach was frustrating her too. So much so that she took his hand and guided it to her breast.
“Please touch them. They ache for you.”
He responded by kissing her on her neck and moving down her body until he was kissing her breast. Her breathing became very labored. She loved what he was doing and let him know it. Before he realized it, she had moved his hand down to her knee. As he moved it up the inside of her leg, she responded by spreading her legs to aid him in his pursuit. However, his hand ran into a major obstacle — she wore some kind of garter belt. The discovery of the garter belt and girdle assemblage achieved its purpose. It put a clamp on his passion to a level where he could control it. He eased up on his embrace and stepped away, starting a conversation. She seemed to recover more quickly than he.
“You sure do make me feel like a woman. If I don’t leave, you might not respect me in the morning.”
“I agree. I never want to do anything that would offend or hurt you in any way. Why don’t we take a break until tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry, but I need to do something tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. You set my body on fire and then just leave me, cold, out in the snow,” he teased.
“No, that’s not it. Remember the friends I was with at the supper club? Well my friend and I always go to the supper club at the end of the month. We also all go to Canton the second Saturday of each month. Tomorrow is the second Saturday. I, too, never want to hurt you. I hope you understand.”
“I know a promise is a promise. When do I get to see you again?
“How about Sunday?”
“Sounds good.”
“We can go on a picnic. Have you been to Hogback?”
“Hogback, are you pulling my leg?”
“No, silly. There is a place named Hogback. It’s a ridge that allows you to see the same river on both sides.”
“That sounds like a special place. I can’t wait.”
“I guess I should get home.”
“I don’t want you to go, but I understand. Be careful. Watch out for Billy Bob. I understand he likes to pull women over and collect a fine.”
“I know Billy Bob and he knows better than to pull me over.”
“He does?”
“Yes, he knows I’ll make him a steer.”
“What do you know about steers?”
“Steers are bulls without balls.”
“Ouch! I want to ask how you learned that. Anyway, be careful. I miss you already.”
They kissed passionately and it was clear neither wanted to part.
Saturday morning he met the Barkleys with a big smile.
“Let me guess — Mike said — you saw that most wonderful girl again.”
“Yes, sir. We went to Harry’s Steak House.”
“Did Harry treat you right?”
“Yeah, the service was great. Best steak I’ve had in a long, long time.”
“When do we get to meet this dream girl?”
“I’m not sure, but soon. I want her to meet you both. She said at dinner that she knew Michael when she was a freshman in high school. Same circle of friends and all.”
“Michael had so many friends we couldn’t keep them straight. Perhaps I’ll recognize her face when we meet.”
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