“There’s plenty more downstairs. Just shout if you want me to get seconds for you when you’re done.”
We eat dinner and talk about nothing in particular. Conversation flows freely, and it reminds me of our first dinner together, right after she spilled iced coffee on my shirt.
Her wild hair, glowing skin, and that beautiful smile on her lips all made me slip into a deeper obsession with her.Of course, making love to her takes most of the blame for my intensified obsession.
How could it not? I already want more. I want to pull her into my arms and taste her all night.
When our food is done, we stack the plates by the side of the bed, without even getting up to take them to the kitchen. She snuggles against me, and my heart warms as I look down at her.
That night I sleep better than I have slept in as long as I can remember.
During work on Friday, I get a report from my private investigator. It’s a document listing the details of the new business Jaco Marcas is opening in the city. The moment I read about it, I want to destroy it. He doesn’t deserve to be branching out. He deserves nothing but failure and misery.
A knot forms in my chest as I consider how exactly to go about sabotaging his plans. I’m going to have to think about this carefully. I want more information. The business registration details aren’t enough. I need to find out when he plans to launch and exactly what he plans to do with this business. Then I can decide how I want to approach this.
The news agitates me and ruins my day a bit, so I end up leaving the office earlier.
Blair gets off earlier on Fridays as well, so I stop by her office to ask if she wants a lift home with me. “I think we need a drink by the pool,” she says as we walk out to the car.
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
The news about Jaco’s new business suddenly shifts into the background, and I smile. She has a way of distracting me from my problems. I’ve never had someone I look forward to coming home to like this. And the idea of spending Fridayafternoon soaking up the sun with her is better than anything else I can think of.
***
Late afternoon, about an hour before sunset, we have an unexpected visitor.
Marlen knocks loudly on the front door and shouts hello before letting himself in.
“We’re out here,” I shout through the living room’s doors from the outside deck.
Blair looks up from the pool where we’ve been soaking away the summer heat.
“Who is it?” she asks, self-consciously ducking lower beneath the water.
“It’s just my brother,” I smile, noticing how she visibly relaxes again.
Marlen comes out onto the deck, and I immediately hand him a cold beer.
“Perfect timing,” he chuckles, taking it from me.
“How have you been?” I ask, reaching into the outdoor cooler and grabbing another beer for myself. I pop the cap off my own beer, and off the cider I’m holding for Blair before handing Marlen the bottle opener.
“Good, staying out of trouble, at least mostly. And you guys?” He takes a long sip of his drink. “Man, that is exactly what I needed, it’s so damn hot today again.”
“We’ve been enjoying the sun since we got home from work.” I gesture toward the pool. “There’s a pair of shorts in the guest room if you want to jump in the water?” I suggest.
“Hi, Blair,” Marlen calls out, grinning as he follows me to the poolside.
I lean over the pool and hand Blair her cider.
“Hi, how are you?” she smiles back at him.
“Good, good, the wife and I are about to go for cocktails and seafood.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing. That’s actually what we should order too. a seafood platter!” I raise my brows at Blair.
“It does sound good,” she agrees.
