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“Well hot damn,” Gerri said, letting go of Penny’s hands and slapping her own thigh. “I do believe you have it all figured out, honey.”
Penny sat back on her chair and picked up her computer. She stared at the screen for a moment, not quite sure where all that had come from. This woman she’d only met a few minutes ago had soothed her into saying things she normally wouldn’t. It had been the truth, but it still seemed wrong to say it out loud to a complete stranger.
“It would be nice,” Penny said, “But impossible, I know. It was nice to think about though. For now, I’ll order another drink and be happy I met a new friend.”
“Amen to that,” Gerri said as she held up her tumbler in a toast like motion. “Go ahead and write your room number on the back of that card I gave you. I’ll call you later with details. Get some rest. I’ll have a date for you in no time.”
“Are you serious?” Penny asked. “I was kidding. I really don’t need—”
“That’s enough,” Gerri said. “You’re not fooling anyone. Write your room number down and give the card back to me.”
Penny didn’t argue. She wrote down her room number and handed the card to Gerri. With that, the older woman stood and walked away, calling out over her shoulder, “It was nice to meet you, Penelope.”
One of the young studs in the pool climbed out of the water and walked away in the same direction. Penny would never know the truth, but she liked to believe he was headed off to rock Gerri’s world. She seemed like the kind of woman who could handle that and so much more. Penny laughed at the thought of it and turned off her computer, no longer feeling like working. She would rather think up fantasies of some of these hot men sneaking into her room at night. Ordering another drink, Penny relaxed into her imagination. If nothing else, the older woman she’d met at the pool had given her a sense of hope that her love life might not truly be at its end.
***
The phone rang later that afternoon as Penny was stepping out of the shower with plans to curl up in bed with a good book. Sylvia was out somewhere, probably on a date, maybe even a picnic where she’d come home telling tales of getting fucked on a blanket beneath a palm tree.
“Hello,” she said as she picked up the phone.
She felt like she should announce herself as Sylvia’s secretary since any call they’d received so far had been for her best friend.
“Penelope?” the voice asked, and right away Penny knew it was Geraldine Wilder.
“Yes,” she replied.
“It’s Gerri,” the voice on the other end said. “We met earlier at the pool.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I believe I’ve found you the perfect date, and the guy lives right here in Queensland.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I am not.”
“So…umm…”
A million little ants raced through Penny’s limbs as the nerves took over and she got the urge to pee. This wasn’t normal. She’d been expecting to hide away, get some work done, maybe watch a live band or two, but she’d never expected to be set up on a blind date.
“Pick up a ticket for the Salvation’s Sister party ship down by the resort docks,” Gerri informed her. “It’s casual since it’s a daytime cruise, but no jeans. You know, maybe wear something light…fresh…sexy?”
Penny remained silent as she took in everything Gerri said.
“He’ll approach you,” she continued. “His name is Thane.”
“Dane?” she asked.
“Thane,” Gerri replied.
“Stain?” Penny asked, and she really wasn’t trying to be funny, but she couldn’t quite grasp the name.
Gerri laughed on the other end.
“Yes, dear. I’m setting you up with a man named Stain.”
“Seriously?”
