Page 18 of Wine & Dine

8

Classics on the big screen

[Garrett]

After a weather delay in Atlanta, I finally arrive home to find my condo empty. It wasn’t like I thought Dolores would still be in my bed even though there is such a thing as wishful thinking. I actually didn’t know what I’d do if I found her between my sheets, especially after my meeting in Atlanta. Damn Denton. He put all kinds of ideas in my head upon my visit.

However, Dolores doesn’t seem like a clinger, and last night certainly wasn’t any contract. We got off together. So what? Although, I admit I don’t think of it quite so flippantly. Despite my history, phone sex isn’t normally my forte. And Dolores seems different.

I struggle with my tie as I head to my bedroom. The sheets are clean and not the same color as the ones when I left. For some reason, my heart drops a little at the thought. Not that I want dirty sheets, but I wanted the evidence she’d been in my bed. The scent of her. The imprint of her.

I walk to the glass doors of my room and notice a woman racing down the beach with a chocolate lab jogging after her. She stops short and bends over laughing as Wally continues running, not able to stop his trajectory with his speed. He sprints back to Dolores, and she jumps left and then right. Still laughing, she takes off jogging again. Wally follows at her heels.

I haven’t heard Dolores laugh since I’ve met her. Hell, I’ve hardly seen a real smile. She’s always giving me false ones or weak ones. I wonder if she smiled last night. I still can’t believe she did what she did—that we did what we did.

My lips curl as I recall her voice—breathy, dreamy, satiated. I quickly strip as I watch her chase Wally and then Wally chase her. It’s an image I could easily get off to, but I’d prefer to see her up close. After changing into jeans and a T-shirt, I head out to the beach.

“Hey,” I call out.

“Hi,” she says, out of breath. She stops short before me, but her body vibrates with the energy of racing Wally. She wears black yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looks beautiful.

“Seems like you two have become fast friends.” Dolores bends at the waist, her breathing heavy.

“The only thing fast is him. I can’t keep up. I’m so out of shape.” From the shape I see, I’d disagree. Her legs are long and firm. Her hips hold just the right curve, and her ass—heart-shaped. She’s a dream in those form-fitting pants.

“Looks like you’re doing a decent job.”

“Decent?” she mocks. “Do you know how hard it is to dog sit? Watching Netflix and reading a book. It’s difficult work.” She looks up at me, and the blue in her eyes shimmers. She doesn’t look as hollow as she did when I first met her. Her lips curve into a genuine smile as she teases me, and the desire to kiss her comes over me.

“You’re all right.” I shrug. She stands, fists coming to her hips, where she juts one out.

“All right? I thought I was the best,” she states, recalling what I said when I asked her to dog sit. Her voice lowers as she twists her lips. I can’t help myself, and I step closer to her. My fingers reach for loose silver hair whipping over her cheeks in the breeze.

“That has yet to be determined.” My tone drops as well. Her breath hitches, and then Wally squeezes between us. Dolores steps back, and her arms flail as she stumbles. I reach for her but miss.

“Ballbuster,” I mutter to the dog as I reach down to pet him. “Are you turning traitor on me?” A lick across my face tells me he still loves me, but he’s got a crush on Dolores. I might, too.

“How was Atlanta?” she asks, the playfulness of her voice receding. Atlanta. It’s always interesting to go there. Guilt washes over me as I was close to home but didn’t take the time for a visit. My mother has understood over the years. When my granddad passed, it was hard to return to River City, not to mention my sisters are always wondering why I’m not married or at least procreating with all my sexual waywardness as they call it. No children, thank you. Wally is my baby.

“Atlanta was business as usual.” Though that isn’t quite true. I’ve been thinking of a new venture. Something I haven’t done before. It would be more than investing in others. It’s an investment in myself, actually. For my retirement, I say although I have no intention of retiring anytime soon. I could, though. I have plenty of money, but it’s not about the money—at least, not in this case. This would be all mine. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I didn’t have a business to run. Netflix and books all day are not on my agenda. I should tell her I saw Denton in Atlanta, but I don’t. I don’t know why, but I hold the information in for another day. Maybe I don’t want her thinking of home. Not yet.

Dolores nods, and we slowly follow Wally back to the condo. A tense silence falls between us when I don’t want it to be awkward. Having an orgasm in my bed without me is unusual, but nothing I’d condemn her for doing. Still, she’s quiet as we stroll.

“Thanks again for watching Wally. I really appreciate it.”

“It was nothing,” she says, waving a dismissive hand. Her arms have returned to wrapping around her middle.

“Was it fun?” I tease.

“Let’s not push it.” Push it is exactly what I want to do, so I ask what I’ve been thinking since last night.

“I’d like to take you out. A thank you for dog sitting.” It’s not a date, I tell myself.

Dolores peers over at me, her brows pinching. “You don’t have to do that. It was no trouble, really.”

“I want to,” I say, stopping her with a hand on her upper arm.

“Is this about last night? Because we don’t have to do this.” Her voice sounds weak, her tone one of defeat. Her eyes can’t meet mine, and she brushes a wayward hair behind her ear.