Sexual Acquisitions

[Miltone]

OCC: Although this is a private thread reserved for Chanaud and yours truly, you are all cordially invited to read along as we explore what happens when two opposite personalities are attracted to one another.

Charles Wright, nicknamed Chase by his buddies in high school, now in his late 40’s, a tall attractive man with a trim muscular build, sandy brown hair and green eyes. Recently divorced because his ex-wife preferred the regular attentions of their pool boy, the UPS driver, and the grocery checkout boy to Chase’s infrequent bedroom visits, infrequent due to travel and other demands of his business. Chase quit college before his junior year to work for a shopping mall developer and rode the wave of land speculation in the 1970’s and 80’s. His keen eye for investment potential made him a millionaire by 30; he made his tenth million by age 35. He now runs his own company and is known in the real estate development business as tough but fair, and for a reputation of never failing to acquire what he wants once he sets his mind.

IC: “Who’s got the environmental impact folder?” Chase called out.

Dick and Liesie fumbled through the pile spread out on the conference table.

“I’ve got it,” Liesie replied, pulling it out and handing to Chase.

“What’s it say?”

“95 acres,” Liesie replied, thumbing through the folder. “Used exclusively as agricultural up till maybe 20 years ago. Has sat dormant since. No signs of contamination, even fertilizer or fuel oil like we ran into with the Dexter project last year.”

Chase Wright leaned his tall lean frame back in his chair his legs loosely crossed, picturing the property while his assistants remained standing, hovering over the stacks of information, ready to comply with his next request. There was so much to keep in mind when working a deal and he needed to know the latest and best information. Chase and his team had set up shop at the Amerisuites Hotel in Northwood, a sleepy suburb that was once a quaint farming community but has become surrounded in recent years by urban sprawl. Their target is the largest tract of open land left in the county and Chase’s nose tells him it is prime for a shopping mall. They were reviewing the project one last time before paying a visit to the property owners later that morning.

“Are there any historic designations current or pending?” he asked.

“None at the present time,” Dick answered, having had his hand on that part of the report, and flipping through the pages anticipating additional questions. “And there isn’t anything significant about the place. Mid-Victorian farmhouse converted into commercial. A children’s day care center.”

“No niggly land use restrictions?”

“Nothing on the books,” Liesie responded.

“Hmm. So we come to the owner,” Chase smiled. “What do we have on them?”

“Owned by a Jessica Curry,” Dick answered quickly. “Mid 30’s. Great-great granddaughter of the original land grant holder. Owns it outright. No liens or mortgages.”

“So what about her?” Chase asked.

“Interviews with neighbors and residents say that she is quirky and progressive and something of a free-thinker, but very popular in the community. Helps sponsor the special Olympics, volunteers for the library restoration committee.”

“Personal?”

“Single,” replied Liesie, matter-of-factly. “Though there was some mention of an affair with the high school principal a few years back.”

“Well, since we stand to make Miss Curry a very rich young woman,” Chase smirked. “That situation may change.”

Liesie and Dick watched as Chase mulled over all of the information, his face relaxed and confident, and his dark green eyes enlivened with the thrill of the hunt as they called it. There was something special about their boss when he was on the trail of successful project. And there was not doubt that it would be successful, even though they were only in the planning stages on this one.

“So we meet with her at ten?”

“Ten-thirty,” Dick corrected.

“Then let’s do it,” Chase cracked rising up and glancing for a moment out the window before slipping on his suit coat. It was a beautiful day and he knew that this would be just another conquest to add to his list. “Let’s pay Miss Curry a visit and change her life forever.”

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

With a sigh Jessie set her black roller pen down on the green ledger. She rubbed her temples with the tips of her fingers trying to rub out the knot that was forming at record speed. This was the hour she despised the most and the red numbers on the bottom line was the cause of the indentation between her eyebrows to deepen.

“Is it time to wakey?” A child’s voice from across the room softened her worried look instantly.

“Can you look at the clock and tell me what time it is?” She picked up the little boy from under his armpits and set the child on her lap. Jessie sniffed the sweet scent of the child’s blonde curls and closed her eyes.

“ummmm…. Two.??”

“You are so right, Adam! It is 2 o’clock. And do you know what we do at 2 o’clock?”

Adam’s eyes grew wide as he screamed. “Apple picking time!” He jumped off her lap waking the other children with his enthusiasm. “We pick apples! Wakey…wakey…Let’s pick apples!!!”

Jessie forgot about her headache as she grabbed the aprons and buckets. The children ran outdoors and straight into the orchid. She followed behind with the shy and clingy ones. Her loyal employees were ahead with the bigger kids trying to keep the children from running far.

A growing crunch of gravel indicated visitors. It was probably a parent coming to help out, thought Jessie as she slowed. The black menacing vehicle grew larger.

“Why don’t you help Ms. Laura. I think she can use some extra pair of hands.” Laura overheard Jessie and gathered the children.

Jessie stood in her tight faded Levi’s and long sleeve plaid shirt tucked neatly. Her hiking boots added height to her already tall lithe figure. From afar she looked like a model from a LL Bean catalog. Her thick wavy auburn hair blew carelessly with the light summer breeze. Her hand shaded her eyes to cover her coffee eyes.

“They must be lost,” she thought when she didn’t recognize the car. “It’s the only reason why anyone other than a parent would be so far away from the main road.”

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

"So you want me to do the talking, Boss," Dick asked as the group walked up the gravel drive.

"Until we meet Miss Curry," Chase replied, his eyes sweeping slowly around the property, memorizing every feature, field, tree and structure.

It was a prime spot, situated amidst a meandering subdivision, a growing young neighborhood that woefully needed commercial services. Sure the people in this town fancied the historic character of their surroundings, but they had ways of getting around it. He could easily see one of his trendy brick-faced old-fashioned downtown styled malls put up here.

But the farther they walked onto the property, the more he got a strange sense that they were in another place. The thick stand of tall oaks and maples ringing the land screened off the new development and the sound of nearby traffic. There was a nicely maintained orchard, several clean outbuildings and the old rambling Victorian homestead. Hmm, that might prove to be a problem, he said to himself. Maybe it could be moved to an historical park.

As they continued up the drive, he was sure that they cut a different picture than the typical set of day care center visitors. Liesie in her crisp white linen skirted business suit, Dick in his drab gray Brooks Brothers, and Chase dressed in a dark blue silk YSL jacket over a pair of khakis.

It looked like a group of kids and teachers was headed out toward the orchard and he smiled at the cheerful sound of their laughing voices. He supposed that there is a place for this kind of operation, but the land use survey told him that it was too much land taken up for a limited use. Dick strode up confidently toward the tall, rather attractive woman who lingered behind, perhaps the lead caregiver of this group.

"Excuse me, Miss, but can you tell me where we might find Miss Jessica Curry?" he asked politely.

"That would be me," the woman replied. "I'm Jessie Curry."

Dick stopped in his tracks and looked back at Chase. So this is our Miss Curry, Chase thought to himself. He had half expected an older, more circumspect mousy spinster with her hair all done up in a bun and a pair of sensible shoes on her feet. But this woman was young and strikingly attractive and it was now Chase who paused for a moment in his tracks as she took a few steps toward them.

"How can I help you?" she asked cheerfully, the breeze brushing her hair over her shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Charles Wright," he said taking a few steps toward her and extending his right hand. "These are my business associates, Liesie and Dick. We have an appointment with you regarding a business proposition. Is there some place we can go to sit down and discuss it?"

She took his hand tentatively, a questioning look in her eyes, but one that went straight at him, almost through him. And as she slipped her warm hand into his and her long slender fingers curled around his palm, a strange feeling came over him, a feeling that made him smile and hold onto her hand perhaps a bit longer than was otherwise called for. He was going to have to talk with Dick about his sources of information for they had obviously not done all their homework on Miss Curry.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

The sight of the long sleek black car would be intimidating to most. Jessie was used to it. Lately, strangers have been seeking her out promising ungodly amounts of money for her land. A steam of polite ‘no thank you’s” didn’t stop them. In fact, it seemed to be a challenge for big corporations and developers. It was a game among them to see who would break Jessica Curry to sell. The only tactic that seemed to drive them away was threats of trespassing and harassment. Jessie hated using those means but she had no choice.

Today was not a good day for Jessie. Her mind reeled at how she can chase them away. She surely didn’t make an appointment with these people especially during hours when the children are present. The only name that came to mind was Laura, her assistant. Laura is the only person who is aware of Jessie’s financial woes and is constantly pressuring Jessie to sell her property.

“I’m sorry that you drove all the way out here. But I was not aware of this appointment.”

Her brown eyes flicked over them and finally settled at the man who stepped forward. By his forwardness, it was obvious Charles Wright was in charge. He may even be the owner. Jessie looked directly in his crystalline green eyes and saw a hesitation when she shook his hand. He was unlike most. His eyes were haunting. His mannerism was gentle. His smile was inviting. It took a moment for Jessie to shake the uneasiness. She had to remind herself why these people came to see her. Jessie back straightened while she spoke haughtily.

“In fact, I’ll save you some time. I’m not interested in any business proposition at the present time or any time in the near future. Now if you will excuse me. You can see I have responsibilities to tend to.”

Without giving him a chance to speak, she turned abruptly towards the direction of the children’s laughter in the orchard.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

“So you want me to go after … “ Dick said taking a few steps toward Miss Curry.

Chase reached out and held him back. “No, we’ll just let her go for now,” he said slowly. “And you’ll have to find someone else to work up your background from now on.”

There was something in her eye that caught Chase up and told him that they would need a new strategy. Something completely different. His mind was already turning over several new ideas. This is going to be no easy sell, he told himself. But then he realized that his glance was lingering a little longer on the snug fit of Miss Curry’s jeans as she strode away. He chuckled before turning away and leading Liesie and Dick back to the car. Most unusual. There hadn’t been a woman yet who had got the best of him, but there was something about this Miss Curry that raised the bar. He loved a good fight and a great challenge.

”Do you want me to get in touch with …” Dick began to say in a patronizing way.

“Never mind,” Chase said giving a look over his shoulder. “We’re going to go after this in a different way.”

The drive back to the hotel was short and Dick and Liesie spent the minutes chatting about what a cute backward little place this was. Chase’s mind was elsewhere, thinking about this mysterious Miss Curry and her beautiful 95 acres. As they climbed out of the black Lincoln sedan, Dick was in a hurry to get changed and head to the gym.

“I want you two to pack up and head back to the city,” Chase said as they stepped into the elevator. Both Dick and Liesie were surprised by his direction. “I think I’d be better off working on this project on my own.”

"You sure about this," Liesie asked. "Maybe there's something I can do to help."

"Thanks, but I'm going to go this one alone," Chase remarked, his mind already racing ahead a couple steps. "I think it will work better that way."

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

It wasn’t until six o’clock when all of the children were picked up. Jessie stood before her dark walnut desk and surveyed the mound of paperwork. Her fingers rose to her temples for the second time when she saw the green ledger staring at her. With a sigh, she sat down to tackle the books once again. Laura walked in holding a few letters in her hand and plopped down in the oversized wing chair in front of the desk.

“Anything interesting?” Jessie asked distractedly.

As Laura sorted through the letters, she called out the mail. “Electric bill, gas bill, aaahhhh….Northwood Children’s Hospital is asking for a donation for their annual auction. Shall I call them and tell them you’ll pass this year?”

“Oh no! I have to give them something. They’re counting on me…”

“But Jessie, how can you afford it? You know the situation you’re in. Just once, you can say, sorry. You don’t have to be so proud.”

“Proud??? Laura, you’ve known me since I was born. When have I ever been proud? The children need me. They count on me every year.”

Jessie’s eyes surveyed the office and fell upon a wall painting of her estate framed in a deep cherry wood frame, “I’m going to give them Grandfather’s painting.”

“What? How could you, Jessie? Think about what you’re doing. That is your last resource to save your land. You can easily auction it off on Ebay and get thousands for it. Enough to pay your tax bill and more.”

Jessie laughed coarsely. “Oh Laura, if you weren’t my mother’s best friend, I would have checked you in the psychiatric ward by now. I am not going to auction my painting on EBay. Besides, I don’t even own a computer. It’s settled, I’m donating it to Northwood Children’s Hospital. I’ll drop it off tomorrow afternoon.”

Laura shook her head. She knew how stubborn Jessie could get. Once Jessie decides on something, there was no turning back.

“Oh by the way, I received a surprise visit today. I don’t appreciate you arranging appointments like that behind my back, especially while the children are here. You know how kids talk.”

Her voice was firm though the warmness in her eyes remained.

Laura stood her ground “I thought you could at least hear their offer. Jessie you must do something. Right now, I see you have two options. Either sell or marry Sam Jenkins. Why he was just asking about you yesterday…..”

Jessie’s blazing eyes forced Laura to sink back in her chair.

“I am not marrying Sam Jenkins! Do you know what he did last week? Tommy Parson’s dog broke his leash and happened to wander into Ned’s yard. Instead of calling Tommy, he called the Dog Pound! What kind of man will call the dog pound on ole’ Rocky?!?! Listen Laura, I love you like a mother and I know you love me too and mean well but this is my problem not yours. I will deal with it on my own. I’m telling you right now, I am not marrying Sam Jenkins or selling! Now I have to go into town to pick up supplies for tomorrow’s project and I promised Mrs. Morrison I would drop off some apples. I would appreciate it if you lock up when you leave.”

Jessie stormed out leaving Laura stunned. She jumped in her older model black Jeep and spun her way out of the long winding driveway with Janis Joplin’s sultry voice blaring from the old fashion tape deck. When she reached the edge of her property, Jessie already felt regret for yelling at Laura. She stopped her Jeep, turned down Janis' voice, and sat there looking wistfully at her property and marveling at its natural beauty. Oak, elm and maple leaf trees were in full bloom. Squirrels were playing chase from limb to limb. How can I sell? Jessie asked aloud. Doesn’t she understand? After a few long minutes, Jessie drove out her driveway and headed towards Northwood’s downtown with her auburn tresses flying freely in the wind.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

Liesie and Dick reluctantly packed up their things and headed back to the City. Maybe Chase could have kept Liesie around as a sounding board, but something in his gut told him that this is one thing he had to do on his own. Not that some extra help wasn’t needed, but there was something about her that told him he should deal with her face to face, a prospect that did hold a certain charm.

Chase sat in his room and digested the entire file. As far as the information went, it was pretty complete. Family background, schooling, tax records, anything that could be gleaned from a thorough search of the Internet and the county courthouse. Yet, the facts and figures and numbers only told part of the story. From there abortive meeting, it was obvious that Chase would have to get to know her personally before any progress could be made on this acquisition.

After showering and changing into a favorite old golf shirt from Newport and a crisp pair of khakis, Chase decided to take a long walk. He had often done so when thinking his way through a project. Besides, the town wasn’t that big and if he was going to be here a while, he might as well learn his way around.

His hotel was on the strip leading from downtown to the nearest freeway and it took him only a few minutes to walk the mile or so. As he walked along, he took his time and took note of the Populuxe era commercial structures from the 50’s, the quaint Victorian and Craftsman era housing, and finally the hundred-year-old downtown, it’s fine old brick structures lovingly maintained. Yes this was a good idea, he thought to himself. To get a sense of the people, you’ve got to get close to the land.

An old stone courthouse dominated the town center with a lovely little park beside it. The main downtown shops faced the courthouse; an old hardware, still operated by the original owners, complete with toy train diorama, a five and dime with ancient and well-worn creaky oak flooring, a diner with a long, long counter, and a few specialty shops sprinkled in between. The downtown streets were broad, unusual for such an old place, with angled parking that was surrprisingly filled. For late afternoon, there were a number of passersby on the wide sidewalks, smiling at friends and going about their business.

At the corner stood a proud building, an enameled neon sign from the 40’s identifying the Northwood Inn. From the clatter inside the adjoining restaurant, it sounded like they were nearly ready for the dinner hour. Tuning his back to the Inn, Chase looked up and down the main street. The afternoon sun cast a sweet romantic haze over the town. Something straight out of The Twilight Zone, he thought. Yet surprisingly, though a city boy most of his life, Chase didn't feel out of place. As he drew in a deep breath, he already felt as if he was getting to know Miss Jessica Curry just a little bit better.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

On the drive to town, Jessie couldn’t help noticing that summer had arrived. She breathed in deeply and allowed the scent of fresh grass to fill her nostrils. By the time she exhaled, her dark mood had lifted and she was wearing a wistful smile. She leaned in and increased the volume to her stereo and spoke into the air, “Sing it Janis.”

Oh, sweet Mary, child of confusion, she runs the hills to cry
Past the willows or an illusion, Lord, tell me the reason why.
Tell me why, why is it all so hard ?
Breathing in the air, Breathe in the air
Anyone to care.

Oh! All right, yeah!

Oh, sweet Mary, in our story, have we nothing left to give
But don’t we all know, babe, if we’re pressed to, that that’s the way we live.
Tell me why, why is it all so hard ?
Breathing in the air Breathing in the air
Anyone to care, oh, yeah!

And that’s how she arrived. In most cases, the townspeople would have stopped and frowned in disapproval but in Jessie’s case, they excused her. After all, they knew her since birth and was used to her free-spiritedness. It also didn’t hurt that Jessie’s great, great, great grandfather was the mayor when Northwood was deemed township.

The music died abruptly when Jessie turned the engine off. She ran into the Jerry’s Hardware and took her time browsing through each aisle. Jerry looked up from behind the counter and nodded. Jessie breezed by him and raised her hand in a brief wave. She hurried to the booth in the back corner. Only when she found the discounted section did she stop and smile broadly. She came at the right time. It was full of hodgepodge assortment.

“Is there anything I can help you with Jessie?” Jerry’s gentle voice was in contrast with his plus size physique.

“Hi Jerry. How much for everything in this aisle?”

“Sorry, Jessie. I can’t discount it further.”

“Oh but Jerry, it’s for the children!”

“Sorry. I have to remain firm on the prices. I’ve already discounted it below cost and it’s only been in this aisle since this afternoon. Come back in a few days. If hasn’t moved, I’ll work with you.”

Her hand reached out to his arm and squeezed gently. “I understand Jerry. You’ve done enough for me already. I’ll try back in a few days so don’t be too eager to rid it all, ok?” Jerry smiled in relief at her good-natured humor. Saying no was the most difficult part of his job.

“I’ll take a five gallon bucket of brick red flat, please.”

Being the perfect gentleman, Jerry carried the five-gallon paint can and loaded it in the back of the Jeep. After thanking him, she jumped in and drove the short distance to Northwood Inn. When she pulled in the curve of the driveway’s entrance, she noticed a tall lean man standing straight and gaping at her. She smiled briefly. Only after she jumped out of her Jeep and had the bushel of McIntosh and Green apples in her arms did her memory bank kick in. She looked up at him again. Yes, it was the same crystal green eyes. Jessie frowned deeply and turned quickly towards the hotel.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

When the Jeep came flying up in a darkened blur and screeched to a stop, almost right in front of Chase, he took a step back. And upon seeing the tall slender figure of Miss Curry slip from the driver’s seat and lug a bushel basket of apples from her vehicle toward the hotel, he was surprised. And even though when her coffee colored eyes glanced sharply at him as if intent on ignoring him, he felt a chivalrous twinge inside. As she brushed past him, he tried to take a real close look at her. She was far beyond pretty. There was that elusive beauty to her, a sort of ethereal quality that sets some women apart from all others. Others may have lovely hair and gorgeous eyes and beautiful skin, but she transcended all of that. He knew he had to follow her.

“Excuse me, but can I help you with that?” Chase asked, extending his hands.

“No thank you,” she declined, looking askance at my offer. “I can manage perfectly without your help.”

“Those do look delicious,” he interjected.

Another look out of the corner of her eye. Glancing down at the basket she was carrying, he reached over impetuously, grabbed a nice looking McIntosh, and took a quick bite.

“Mmm, and they are delicious, too,” he remarked, savoring the sweet taste and firm texture.

He followed beside her as she lugged the basket inside the Inn and asked for a Mrs. Morrison. She set the basket down and stood waiting, hand on hip, with an interesting look on her face. Was it boredom, or just a slight exasperation? If Chase was bothering her, it was intentional on his part.

And yet as he let his eyes glide down her body and then rise again to meet hers, he thought he saw something change in her. Perhaps she could see his response to her appeal, she was a striking looking woman, and there was something special about the way her plaid shirt was tucked into her trim jeans, nicely accenting her long, lithe figure.

“I don’t suppose that you have plans for dinner, Miss Curry,” Chase said, noticing the clatter of the restaurant behind her. “Being new in town, I thought it might be nice to dine with someone who obviously knows their way around.”

He took another bite from the apple, and looked her in the eye. She ran her long slender fingers through her hair and returned the look. He was very intrigued by her and wouldn’t have been surprised if she slapped his face, turned him down cold and walked away, or accepted his open invitation.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

Jessie could not believe the audacity of this man before her! She watched him standing there with a smirk on his face, challenging her, steals an apple without asking, and then asks her for dinner? How dare he? She has run into rude people before but this one beat them all.

There was no way she was going to lose this battle. Her spine was standing straight. Though Charles Wright was a great deal taller than her, she somehow was able to raise her nose high in the air and look down on him. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she stood there and took it all in. His eyes challenged her into a duel.

“Obviously, manners weren’t taught where you came from! You should ask before taking something that doesn’t belong to you. Or is that a trait that you practice on a daily basis? Are you here to steal my property from me or from anyone else here at Northwood? Is that why you’re here? If you must know, these apples are for Mrs. Morrison’s mother who happens to be in a retirement home. Do you feel better that you stole from an old woman? Or are you planning on buying your way out of this with your big city money?”

Jessie had to catch her breath. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, making her face flush a deep red. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she stood there and challenged him. His eyes never wavered. There seemed to be a hesitation in him as he carefully planned his next words.

For a brief moment, she started getting lost in his green eyes. They were so transparent, so haunting, it was if she could see right through his soul. The sound of the crunch of the apple brought her back to reality.

“And by the way, I’m not a tour guide. I’m sure with all your money, you can hire one and maybe she will be more than happy to have dinner with you.”

“Jessie, did I overhear you stating you’re going to have dinner with this wonderful gentleman? Come on in then. Tonight’s special is meatloaf.” Mrs. Morrison’s kind gentle voice surprised Jessie from behind.

“Hello, Mrs. Morrison. No, I was just telling this…Mr. Wright, I have other plans.”

“Oh, Jessie, you always run around too much and barely make time for yourself. Please come in and have dinner. I know how much you love my meatloaf.”

Mrs. Morrison winked boldly at Charles, not caring if Jessie saw.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

This woman before me was a piece of work, a beautiful, intriguing, fascinating walking and feeling work of art. From the blush flowing over her cheeks, to the way her eyes narrowed, to the way her chest heaved as she drew her breath, Chase was endlessly beguiled. There had been many others in not so different a position from hers, who simply froze in their tracks, or backed down, or rolled over. But not Miss Curry.

“I don’t have any plans, Miss Curry, and by the look on your face, I don’t believe you really do either,” he said calmly. “Tell me Mrs. Morrison, does that meatloaf dinner feature mashed potatoes with real chunks of potato? If so I know what I’m ordering. Come on, now. How can you turn down a home-cooked house specialty like that? My treat.”

She looked flustered and not a little upset, but Chase didn’t read too much into her expression. For beyond that narrow-eyed look, he could see that there was a woman, maybe far under-appreciated by the people in this town—hell, by every man in this town certainly. He knew right then that this deal, their being together at the entrance to the restaurant wasn’t entirely about his money or her land, about his work and way of life, or hers. He felt something stirring inside and liked the way it felt.

“My dear, Miss Curry,” he said, after finishing the apple completely, down to the smallest bit of core and tossing it into a nearby wastebasket. “My invitation is not about money or property, so please don’t misunderstand my intentions. I’m interested in this little town of yours and want to learn more. Certainly the great-great-great-granddaughter of Mayor Phineas P. Curry must know enough about Northwood to be able to share some of her insight with me.”

Chase was content to let her make up her own mind, for he was not a man who forced people into anything they were not of a mind to do on their own, given their circumstances. Perhaps she can see this in my eyes, he thought. Perhaps she will learn that there is more to be gained by working with me than fighting with me, though with Miss Curry, the fight could be half the fun.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

The last thing Jessie wanted to do was have dinner with this man wearing a smug grin. But Mrs. Morrison wasn’t giving her any options. Charles offered the crook of his arm for Mrs. Morrison and she was simply ecstatic to accept. They walked ahead of Jessie. Jessie wanted so badly to turn and jump in her Jeep but her stomach pangs betrayed her and all she could do was follow. Mrs. Morrison turned her head; “You are so lucky to have dinner with such a polite handsome young man. Where have you been hiding him?”

She turned to Charles immediately without waiting for a response. “Don’t worry, dear. Now that the secret is out, she won’t be able to hide you any longer. In fact, the Firemen’s Association is playing Bingo tomorrow night. Why don’t you bring Jessie around 8?”

Charles looked back. The combination of the amused smile and twinkle in his eyes caused red dots to form on Jessie’s soft smooth cheeks. Fire was blazing from her eyes.

“I hate to interrupt but I’m busy tomorrow night!” Cried out Jessie. Both Mrs. Morrison and Charles stopped together, forcing her to come to a halt. Damn him! She thought. Her voice was too high. She was losing control.

“Now Jessie, what do you have planned?” Though Mrs. Morrison’s voice was sweet, there was something in her eyes…

“Ummm…ummmmm…”

“That’s what I thought. This kind gentleman will pick you up at 7:30. Won’t you, dear?”

“More than happy to, Mrs. Morrison.”

What is this? A conspiracy? How did she lose control of her life all of a sudden?

Before Jessie could respond, she found herself seated in the forest green vinyl booth and staring deeply in Charles’ eyes. Alone, they sat in silence. Jessie’s eyes flickered over everything but at Charles. When she would glance at him, Charles was staring at her and didn’t try to hide his obviousness. After a few long uncomfortable moments, she turned to him suddenly, “Why are you doing this to me?”

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

“Miss Curry, my dear Miss Curry,” Chase said, his cheeks curled into a smile that always produced a charming set of dimples, his eyes twinkling at the sight of this beguiling woman before him, and his mind racing far ahead of where it had ever been before in a dealing of this type. “Please understand that I am not doing anything to you. I have simply shown up here as a businessman and somehow become endearingly charmed by your little town of Northwood. Sure, there is an opportunity placed here before me that I cannot resist, but you, you, my dear lady, I did not expect. I have seen countless towns before caught up in their provincial ways, used to a certain, particular way of doing things and I have always found a way into their hearts and real estate trusts. Believe me. But you are far different from all of them.”

Chase watched Miss Curry closely, looking for that fluttering of eyelashes, a stumble of the voice, a certain hesitancy of her manner that would tell him that she was his. But she was cool and reserved and such was not forthcoming. Chase was continually entranced. What was it about this woman that had him thinking and double-thinking each word he said, each gesture he made, and each thought that came to mind? Sure, her thick auburn tresses and coffee-colored eyes notwithstanding, she was gorgeous. Her pale skin and her plaid shirt tucked stiffly into her faded blue jeans. And that all made him think deeply along with what Mrs. Morrison had offered up. Bingo with the Fireman’s Association? Hell, it could have been a weekly knitting session with the frigging DAR, he didn’t care, as long as it would have brought together this beautiful woman and him. And somehow, that thought above all else delighted him completely. Hmm.

“You know, I’ve talked with my people back at the office and told them to send my car up for a few days,” Chase remarked casually. Yet he felt some strange affinity to this lovely woman across the table from him. He wasn’t sure exactly where this was going or if in fact it would lead to where he had intended at the beginning. But somehow it felt so right to be here with her. “It’s been a long hot summer and I really need a few days, nah, maybe a week or two even to rest up and relax. I haven’t had a vacation in years. And yet somehow I think I’ve found a place here in your hometown, to do just that. And I can’t think of a better person to spend it with than you, Miss Curry.”

Chase looked deeply into her eyes. She looked intently at him, perhaps unknowing, perhaps puzzled by his admissions, perhaps even questioning her own presence at the table. Yet, somehow he hoped that she would see that this was not some sort of business dealing, that this was not life and death, that this was not her old-fashioned charming ways versus his new-speak, wheeler-dealer ways. This was something more, and as he looked closely into her eyes, he liked what he saw. There was spirit and life and an untapped potential that this little town had not yet noticed. Of that he was sure for this was a woman that a small town would perpetually notice, yet never take unto their own. Strangely, he wanted her. Surprisingly, he did a very unlikely thing for him; he reached out and took her hands in his. The feel of her hands was electric to him. They were very soft and quite warm and trembled just a bit. There was a cool élan in her manner, a calm reserve that he found irresistible. And with her hands in his he felt as if perhaps she just might listen to him and grasp his meaning.

“Miss Curry. Jessica,” he said slowly. “I will admit that I came here largely upon the advice of my subordinates. I have made my fortune upon the avarice of many people, weak and strong alike. But once I walked through your town and saw your people, I knew that I was out of my league. Now, lest we make more of this than a simple dinner between new friends, very new friends, shall we not order some wine? It is a lovely July evening, the full moon will rise tonight, and I see a very attractive California Merlot on the wine list.”

Chase paused for a moment. My, God! What am I saying, he asked himself. This woman was attractive, there was no doubt, and though there had been many attractive women in his past, what was there about this woman that made him rattle on like this? Why at this time would this lovely woman beguile him so? And then he looked back at her, their eyes locking for a moment or two. He smiled again, yes, but her expression was timeless, without place or moment, and her silence was deafening. With her hands in his, he felt at once invincible and vulnerable, open to complete victory or total destruction. And yet, he didn’t care about the outcome.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie

Jessie sat there and allowed Charles to continue his reasoning of being there. She had heard different reasons and was immune to them all. Northwood seemed to attract the developers in droves. She just didn’t understand it. Oh, she understood why they wanted a piece of this beautiful picturesque lifestyle, which she called home. But what she didn’t understand is why they wanted to ruin it but wanting to erect oversized malls and sterile office buildings. Some even promised to preserve Northwood’s nostalgia but after investigating their past, she found they made promises other towns but as soon as the papers were signed and money handed over, their original plans were placed. Jessie knew if she gave into one it would be the end of Northwood as the way she knew it.

As Charles continued, Jessie was able to observe him closely. His features were soft yet masculine. Upon closer examination, her initial guess of Charles being in his 50’s was waived. There was a certain youthfulness in his green eyes and his lines were soft. He was closer to her age maybe a few years older. His eyes danced playfully though he struggled with each word, stressing on the more poignant ones. She watched his lips formulate words. They weren’t thin and not too large for his face. It fascinated her. She imagined tracing the shape with her fingertips. She imagined feeling its softness…

Charles took her hand in his and woke her from her revelry. Her back stiffened suddenly. She was suddenly alarmed. Was he able to read her thoughts? Her hand trembled slightly in his warm soft hands. Her other hand clutched the vinyl green booth to steady her nerves. She wanted to fire back at his act of boldness. How dare he hold her hand? But, something lodged her throat and she was at a loss for words. All she could do was nod when he suggested wine.

Charles didn’t waste any time ordering a bottle. As swiftly he ordered it, it came. Before she knew it, a full glass was set in front of her.

Jessie lifted the glass to her lips but had to stop midair. Charles had clicked his to hers and toasted, “Here’s to a lovely evening with a lovely woman. May the moon shine the brightest on Northwood.”

“To Northwood,” was all she was able to manage.

The thick burgundy soothed Jessie’s throat. Upon the first sip, her spine slumped in relaxation. But wild thoughts raced in her head. She was confused. This was a perfect setting for a perfect date. One she haven’t experienced in a long while. When she looked up at him again, he was staring at her watching her every movement. Watching her eyes give away every private thought and emotion. Again her hand trembled as she took another sip, and another sip, and another sip.

Feeling fully relaxed and slightly dizzy, an idea came to her suddenly. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was Charles getting to her, but she blurted it out without thinking it over.

“You say you would like to get to know our humble town. Well who knows this town and its people better than me? Why don’t I show you around and introduce you around?”

There, she thought. After she’s through with him, he will fall in love with Northwood as it is and wouldn’t want to deface it with his super sized malls.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

Surely Miss Curry surprised him by her sudden offer and caught Chase thinking over what his next approach would be. Yet she was full of surprises and perhaps there were others to come, but he could not be concerned with that prospect. What drew his attention was the sudden brightness in her dark eyes, the spirit and life that he saw burning inside her. And he nearly laughed to think of the countless expeditions before this one, how they had all proceeded perfunctorily, according to plan, and yet how none of them had seemed this much like fun!

“I would love to have you show me around your town,” Chase said as he topped off their wine glasses. “There is a definite charm to this place and I’m sure you know everyone here and have a thousand stories to share.”

Chase was sure that she wouldn’t be sharing all of her stories however. And those might be far more interesting that the history of the General Store or the tale of the original proprietor of George’s Shoe Repair. He was sure that there was a failed romance perhaps, a willing suitor or two who didn’t measure up. And the content of those personal stories intrigued him entirely. For the beauty and spirit of Miss Jessica Curry set her a cut or two above her quaint little hometown, and yet she was still here. Whatever was the reason and why should I care, he thought to himself. Yet he did.

Chase Wright, the self-made man who had everything—well almost everything—was thinking of setting aside his business interests for something personal. And who would have thought that he’d find it in this small town bypassed by the spread of urban sprawl in the person of this quirky free-spirited woman, smiling over the rim of her wine glass as she raised it to her lips. He noticed her lack of makeup, perhaps unneeded because of the glow of her natural coloring and beauty. He saw the smooth full lips part and kiss the rim. He wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips. Then he saw their waitress stirring in the background and realized that he hadn’t thought at all of eating dinner, so bewitched as he was by Miss Curry.

“Now I’m sure that our lovely waitress will be returning instantly,” he said taking up the menu. “And the most pressing question on my mind is whether the gravy used on the meatloaf dinner is homemade or poured from a can.”

For a moment Chase saw a smile flicker across her face. Admittedly, this was not his best material, but somehow he wanted to reach this woman, to touch her someway, to let her know that his boldness and impetuous behavior this evening was not driven by simple real estate greed, but by something he felt but didn’t understand, something he sensed but couldn’t comprehend.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

As if he can tell, she scoffed at his statement privately. She remained expressionless, except for the slight curve on the corner of her mouth that can be taken as either a sneer or a smile.

“Well, that’s not fair, Charles. I already know if it’s real or not. So, it’s only you who must guess. I’ll tell you what. If you are able to guess correctly, dessert is on me.”

Long eyelashes closed over her eyes as she realized her last suggestion. As hard as she willed, Jessie couldn’t prevent the red dots to appear on her cheeks. She prayed he didn’t catch it. When her eyes returned to his greens, she saw stars dancing a waltz.

Her spine stood upright. Her lips parted to correct her suggestion but Charles didn’t give her a chance. With a quick nod of his head, the waitress was there in a flash.

“Hi, Jessie. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Oh, hello, Jenny. I didn’t realize you’re working here. Are you enjoying your summer?”

“Yes, I am. Even though I have to work two jobs to save for school again.”

She was leaning in too close to the table. Her left hip was extended out almost touch Charles’s arm. Jessie noticed Jenny eyes kept turning to Charles, and her eyelashes batted too often.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Jessie?”

I had to chuckle. Jenny was cute. No, she was more than cute. She was a knockout. Her honey blonde hair looked like it belongs in a shampoo commercial. And her cornflower blues has mesmerized many men too often. Her body seemed to have ripened during her first semester of college. And she seemed to have perfected the art of flirting.

“I’m sorry. Jenny this is Charles. Charles is a commercial developer, who happens to be scouting our little town. Charles, Jenny. I’ve known Jenny since she was in diapers. ”

Charles stood tall and smiled broadly at this teenager. He extended his hand enthusiastically. As her hand was folded in his, Jenny’s tongue swept across her lips giving it a glossy glow.

“Pleased to meet you, Jenny. Any friend of Jessie’s is a friend of mine. Speaking of friends, all of mine call me Chase.”

Jenny was basking in the attention she was getting from ‘Chase’. She blushed furiously and inched closer boldly to him, making him step back into his booth.

“Well, Chase. I’m so pleased to meet you. I hope you will be staying with us for a while. If Jessie is too busy to show you the sights, I will be more than happy to fill her shoes.”

“Jenny, I think we’re ready to order. We’ll take two specials, please. And oh yeah, extra gravy for Chase”

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

It was obvious that Miss Curry was enjoying this situation a little too much, but then it wasn’t as though Chase wasn’t here to have at least a little fun. Besides, the waitress was gorgeous and certainly worth a good look or two, but she was just a girl, a child really, and it was the woman across the table from him who truly drew his interest.

“I appreciate your offer, Jenny,” Chase remarked politely, his smile accenting the dimples of his cheeks. “And I’ll be sure to let you know if Miss Curry, er, Jessie, stands me up.”

Chase took his second look as Jenny trotted happily away with their order, perhaps thinking of some sort of girlish fantasy. He turned back to glance at Miss Curry. No, Jessie. Her cheeks were flush with a light sprinkling of freckles that he found nearly irresistible. She could load her voice up with all the sarcasm she could muster, but Jessie Curry was mistaken if she thought that he could be dissuaded from what was really happening here.

“Jessie, I can see that you think of me as some sort of viper here, the evil developer coming to transform your sweet little town into some shapeless blob choked with parking lots and unimaginative boxy strip malls dressed up with cheap tacky plastic signage and chintzy vinyl canopies that the first strong wind of winter whips to pieces.”

Chase reached out to top off her wineglass. His thoughts were clear and straight and he hoped that somehow she would understand and see through to the truth that lies beneath his words.

“And there are many like that,” he continued. “Too many who give the rest of us a bad name. You know me perhaps only by the reputation of others and that is unfortunate. I’ll bet that you didn’t know that the designers I use are disciples of Frank Wright—no relation though I wish I were. On my night table at home are books of architectural design, not the frou-frou work of suburban matrons with hyphenated names or gay men with a single foreign-sounding name, but considered works of design that account for scene and setting and surroundings.”

Chase looked directly into her eyes, hoping that she would see the warmth and intensity he felt inside when talking about something so close to his heart.

“I’ll also bet,” he continued, “That you didn’t know how I’ve walked away from several sure fire projects because what the ownership demanded just didn’t suit the surroundings. Now you can go on thinking the worst of me and we can spend a tense and uncomfortable dinner together, or you can set aside any prejudice about me and focus on the pleasures of the moments that we can share in the next day or two.”

Chase read a swirl of emotions in her dark eyes, yet she didn’t look away from him as they sipped from their wine. She gazed directly at him, and he could see the strength inside her, along with a will and character that he found almost too alluring. There was a deep luster to the sparkle in her eyes; there was a natural softness to her cheek, a supple roundness in her cheekbones; there was a sleek gloss to her lips that he found incredibly inviting.

“And as for your bet about the gravy,” he remarked, feeling a warm smile sweep over his face. “You should be aware that I know well my way around a kitchen and prefer to make my own gravy from scratch when preparing a meal.”

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

A sudden defeat sunk into her as she fell back in her chair. Ok, one for him. So, he knows his way around the kitchen. Probably, spends his weekend with his perfect wife or model girlfriend preparing gourmet meals in their weekend cottage by the beach,

“We’ll see.” Jessie muttered. She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of winning just yet.

Her head tilted slightly to its side as she observed him further. Not bad looking, she thought. No, he’s actually handsome, very handsome. No wonder, Jenny was fawning all over him. There isn’t anyone in Northwood like Chase. He carried a neat appearance. He was just the right height, not too tall and definitely not short. Whenever he lifted his arm, the muscles bulged in the right areas. Obviously, he watches his calories carefully and worked off his indulgences at the gym. His light brown hair had a few natural blonde streaks from the sun. And his eyes were what Jessie was constantly drawn to. His eyes seemed to pierce through her. It seemed to be always searching for something deep in her.

Jessie shifted uncomfortably as she realized Chase caught her staring at him. Her long slender fingers toyed with the stem of the wineglass to offer distraction. His eyes never wavered. He was focused on watching her every expression. Jessie shifted uncomfortably. She prayed he couldn’t’ read her thoughts. She wasn’t used to this attention. And for once in her life, she didn’t know how to react. She was at a loss for words.

“Here, ya go. Two specials. Extra gravy for our handsome guest, Chase.”

Jenny set the plates down and lingered at the table.

“Can I get you anything else?”

Chase turned his full attention to her and smiled fully. “No, thank you. Oh, wait. I am supposed to test the gravy. If I can guess correctly if it’s real or not, Jessie promises to treat me to dessert.”

Jessie sat upright and blushed furiously. His words seemed to have a sexual undertone. She didn’t know if he meant it intentionally or if she was imagining it. And she was having the most difficult time trying to prevent the blush from taking over each time.

“If you don’t guess correctly, I’ll treat you for dessert.” Jenny’s cheerful voice chirped in. Jessie had to roll her eyes at the offer. Chase turned to Jenny and answered her with a broad smile.

“It’s a deal. Either way, I win.”

Darts flew out of Jessie’s eyes. She set her wineglass on the table forcefully, spilling some on her hand.

“Oh for goodness sake, just taste it, Chase.”

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

“First some ice water to cleanse the palate,” Chase said. “Now when you mention dessert, are we talking about what is listed on the menu, or is there something else that can be substituted?”

He loved the reaction on both of their faces, especially that of Jessie. Though his previous comments were pretty innocent, there was something about her that made him want to raise the bar a little. Teasing her this way brought out a natural beauty in her that pleased him.

“And just what are you suggesting, Chase?” Jessie replied sitting up straight.

Chase loved the way her doing so thrust her firm breasts out against her plaid shirt. From her long slender fingers and her finely sculpted arms that disappeared into the rolled up sleeves of the shirt, to the faint natural blush on her cheeks, there wasn’t a part of her that didn’t please him, especially the spirit and fight in her. He loved strong willed women who knew what they wanted, and he could see that she was just that kind. Not above having a weakness or two, perhaps, but he began to think of her in another light, and he liked that feeling.

“I’m not suggesting anything dishonorable, Jessie. I was just thinking that there might be some sort of homemade dessert that you served up that might be more pleasing to my palate … provided of course that I win your challenge.”

“Jessie makes the best turnovers ever! She wins all the time at the town festival!” Jenny giggled. "Oops!" she said, raising her hand to her mouth when she saw the deadly stare that Jessie flashed her way. It almost looked as if a swift kick to the shins might have been given as well.

“Ah, some home cooking for a man some ways from home,” Chase remarked, rubbing his hand over his chin. “I’m sure that Mrs. Morrison’s homemade pies are absolutely delicious, but something tells me that I might enjoy your band of home cooking much more, Jessie.”

“I don’t know … I mean, well, maybe,” she stammered. “Let’s just see if you can guess correctly.”

“All right, I’ll leave that negotiation for after dinner is finished,” Chase conceded. “Now for the big taste test.”

Jenny giggled and Jessie eyed him suspiciously. He loved that look on her, a bit of apprehension, a bit of know-it-all, a bit of uncertainty, a bit of daring. She ran her hand back through her auburn hair absently. There was a lovely sculpting to her forehead that framed her face so wonderfully. He shook off that lovely thought and stirred his spoon into the ample bowl of gravy Jenny had brought to the table. Carefully spooning some out and lifting it to his lips with great ceremony, he took the small spoonful into his mouth and tasted it, trying to affect the look of a stuffy television personality chef.

“Hmm. Warm and thick and rich,” Chase remarked after swallowing the gravy. “A decided natural meat flavor. Hmm, a slight garlic taste with some white pepper and perhaps a bit of parsley and rosemary. This is quite good. Nothing the least bit artificial or processed. Unless I’m missing something here, I’d have to say that this is homemade.”

He glanced from the beautiful woman seated across the table from him to the cute young girl standing beside them and back again. He looked deeply into those coffee colored eyes of Jessie Currie and hoped he had guessed correctly, for he wanted to taste her dessert.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

Jessie’s eyes closed immediately at his answer indicating he had answered correctly. Red dots glowed at the thought of making apple turnovers for him. Or maybe it was the thought of Chase in her home, in her kitchen, so close to her intimate belongings.

Jenny let out a squeal. For some reason, she found delight at this scene. “Well, well, well. I guess you have won, Chase.” She turned to Jessie, smiled fully, and gave her a not so hidden wink. “If you would like, I can help you, Jessie.”

‘No!” Jessie shouted. The restaurant’s patrons turned to the threesome, making Jessie blush further. She couldn’t believe that flew out of her mouth. This was not going well for her. She was losing control. And it was Chase’s fault.

“I mean er…I can make the turnovers myself. Thank you.”

Without looking at him, Jessie knew Chase was beaming down on her, and enjoying the scene being played out before him. Damn! Damn! Damn! She cursed to herself inwardly. She must gain her composure. Yes, don’t let him think he was getting to her.

“If you will excuse us, Jenny, I think Chase should finish his dinner. It will be a long while until he will eat again since homemade apple turnovers do take a long time to prepare.”

Jessie knew she sounded like a bitch. But, she didn’t care. Jenny had added fuel to the fire, and she had to leave before the fire spreads.

“Oops…sorry. I understand, Jessie. You want to be alone with Chase. Well, I don’t blame ya. He is a handsome devil, isn’t he?” Jenny ignored Jessie’s cut remark, and rattled on. Damage was done. She did her job. Without waiting for an answer, Jenny spun around and continued on to the next table.

Alone again, Jessie shifted nervously in her seat. Again, she tried to avoid his eyes. A few long moments later, she finally gave in. And again, his piercing eyes were staring through her.

She scooped up a forkful of mashed potatoes, and stabbed into an oversized piece of meatloaf. Her fork stopped right before her blushing lips.

“Eat up, Chase. Like I said, apple turnovers are a long process, especially if it’s homemade. So, it will be awhile before you eat again. In fact, if you’re tired, I can treat you to a bowl of ice cream tonight and deliver my apple turnovers to you tomorrow.”

She opened her mouth wide in an unladylike fashion, and shoved the hearty bite into her mouth.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

“But Jessie, I’m not in the least bit tired and have all the time in the world tonight and tomorrow and even the next day,” Chase replied with a satisfied smile that he hoped wasn’t too smug or intimidating, for he truly liked this woman he was getting to know. And now that she had stuffed her mouth so fully he had a few moments to speak uninterrupted. “Besides, a bet is a bet, and since I really have a taste for your award-winning, homemade apple turnovers and am pretty handy in the kitchen, I hope you’ll let me help you. It might give us a chance to get to know each other a little better.”

His gaze wandered the path of each lovely curve and line of her pretty face, observing the faint flush of freckles on her cheeks, the frustrated but charming batting of her eyelashes, and the sleek lines of her neck as it descended down and disappeared into the vee of her open necked shirt. And of course there was the proud thrust of her breasts against the plaid shirt as she arched her back defiantly, and the telltale sign of her nipples stiffening, which produced an enticing pair of protruding little bumps in her shirt. He could almost taste the softness of her tender skin on his lips and began to wonder what other sorts of desserts she might be willing to serve up. He could see that she was furiously trying to finish her mouthful in order to cut him off, so he went on, while he had the chance.

“Jessie,” Chase said, leaning forward toward her. “Before this evening gets any older, there’s something of a personal nature that I would like to say. I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but you are a strikingly beautiful woman. There is a wonderful natural loveliness in the way you look and talk and especially that charming blush that’s flooding your cheeks right now.”

She looked at him strangely, almost as if frightened by the personal nature of his compliments. He leaned back away from her, putting down his fork and resting his hands on the table. “I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you,” he said softly and apologetically. “But I wanted you to know why I’ve been watching you so closely tonight. You strike me as someone who is a cut above the others in this town. The word unappreciated comes first to mind. I have lived in some of the biggest and best cities in the world and some of the smallest and quaintest. And when I come to a cute little town like Northwood, I can usually tell who fits in and who is destined for other things. Sure, your family is from here, practically founded the town from what I hear. Certainly you do have roots here and those should never be cut. But as I’ve started to get to know you tonight, I get the feeling that there is something holding you back, that something is lacking in your life, something that this town can’t provide.”

She had finished her mouthful and reached for her wine to help wash it down. He watched her long slender fingers wrap around the stem of the glass. Her hands were very elegant and completely bare, not even a ring or a trace of one to clutter them. And when she raised the glass to her lips and watched them part, he felt his tongue begin to long for a taste of them, and he felt a tingle begin to grow deep in his body, a feeling that he hadn’t known in a very long time, and he liked the feeling.

“Now, I don’t believe nor want to imply that it is a man, or even sound presumptuous enough to say that I am the missing piece to your puzzle,” he said while she remained silent. “There’s just a special quality about you that intrigues me, something that transcends any business dealings that I may have once entertained. It’s my hope that this evening might give us the opportunity to pursue something beyond any mere business dealing.”

True to form in his professional and personal life, he had laid everything out for her to see and as his eyes rose up to meet hers again, he wondered how she would respond. Was the growing blush of her cheeks a sign of anger or desire? Was the faint trembling of her hand as she set her glass down to the table a symptom of irritation or longing? Was the way her body shifted in her seat a symbol of annoyance or yearning? Chase took up his fork again and began to eat as gentlemanly as his excited pulse would allow.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

Jessie chomped down hard on her food making her facial muscles pulsate as Chase spoke. Her eyes blazed in defiance. She was desperately trying to chew her food fast and swallow so she can fire back at him but as he continued, her anger faded. His words sunk in. How did he know? How did he read her mind? Chase stated everything that only she had dared to entertain in the deepest darkest corner of her mind.

As Chase continued on, her hand trembled uncontrollably. Her arid lips blushed making them quiver. Her brown eyes melted into a quivering pool. The front of her plaid shirt heaved heavily. A faint moan played with her parted lips. But Jessie was oblivious from the all this. She was hypnotized with Chase’s soft-spoken words of truth.

Only when she felt a stirring in her body did she come to. It started with a flutter in her stomach and grew into breasts and sharpened her nipples. Jessie hasn’t felt this in a long time. In fact, it’s been too damn long. She thought she was past all this. Apparently she wasn’t. This man sitting across her with his soft-spoken words somehow was able to look deep inside her and managed to read her soul.

Chase had finished reading her thoughts and started eating slowly and deliberately. All Jessie could do was clear her throat. When she felt safe to speak, she started. Her words were soft and slow and grew with each word.

“You don’t know me Chase. You think you do but you don’t. I’m not cut above them like you say I am. I know I once thought I was. Long ago, I fled from this town to follow a dream to the big city. And guess what it led me to, Chase? Hell. H - E – L – L. Hell. I found nothing but hate and greed. When I returned, these people accepted me back with open arms. They didn’t judge me. These people are fine people and I will never turn my back on them ever again.”

Jessie blinked back a few times to hold back the threatening tears. There was a long pause as she managed to fill the time with another sip of wine. Then she looked boldly into Chase’s eyes as continued.

“All I can offer you is apple turnovers tonight. If you’re looking for something more you are wasting your time.”

Jessie’s eyes fell back on the plate. She picked up her fork and busied herself by playing with the food. Her mind was swirling. She hoped that she convinced Chase her half-truth.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

So she had been around the block a time or two and had given up her dreams for the safety and security of her hometown. And as she spoke of her experience, he could see in her eyes a flickering of the pain that she had suffered, and he began to despise whoever it was that had stolen her dreams. Chase had never been one to shy away from a stiff challenge, having walked into hostile boardrooms and offices and walked out with his pride intact and a complete set of signatures on the documents of his choice. Yet he could see how Jessie Curry, with her fragile, delicate beauty and emotional sensitivity, might have had difficulty surviving in that sort of tough, demanding, and unyielding environment. And he felt all the more drawn to her because of it.

Leaning onto the table, Chase reached over, placed his fingertips under her chin and tilted her face up to look at her fully. “You’re right about one thing,” he said. “I don’t know you, but I would like to very much. I only ask that you not judge me as well, for you will find that I am quite unlike any other man you have met.”

She tried to pull away, but he managed to keep his fingers in touch with her face, the warm blush of her soft skin radiating outward, sending a ripple of emotion through him. For a moment then two, they sat, eyes locked upon one another. Chase wondered what it would take for her to see that he could be as nonjudgmental as the people of her hometown. He slowly withdrew his hand from her face, letting his fingertips gently brush against her cheek and neck.

“But you are wrong about something else,” he went on as he picked up his fork again. “You are different from the others who live here. They truly are fine people who accept you without condition because they see you as one of their own. Most of them live out their quiet unassuming lives happily and content, God love ‘em. But something tells me that you can envision things far beyond the scope of this place, that you yearn for something more than what can be found here, and your greatest fear may be that those dreams and visions you still carry will never see the light of day.”

He looked over and watched as she absentmindedly toyed with the food on her plate. He couldn’t fight the subtle smile that began to creep up his face. He took a sip of wine, set his glass down, and let his eyes fall away from hers for a moment.

“I’m not sure what you’re implying, but at this point, my lone remaining desire tonight is to sample your homemade apple turnovers,” Chase said, feeling a warmth welling up inside, a feeling that he hadn’t know in a very long time, a feeling that he hoped she could see and be willing to share. He looked back up at her. “And in the process of helping you, who knows, maybe I might find out a little more about your dreams and desires.”

As he finished his dinner, careful to use the delicious homemade dinner roll to sop up the last drops of gravy, he hoped that she wouldn’t be put off by his words and insight. Maybe he was wrong, and it wouldn’t be the first time for that, but there was a strange tingling feeling deep inside, growing stronger, that told him he wasn’t far from the truth.

 

[chanaud]

Jessie Curry

The rest of the evening was spent on polite words, long pauses, and finishing the meal. It took all effort for Jessie to swallow each bite. She forced herself to just to busy while she tried to hide the fact that her mind was racing. Why does he want to know her dreams and desires? What is he after? And how come he is able to read her thoughts? No one had questioned her dreams and desires before. Now in her mid thirties, Jessie was being asked for the first time. And she didn’t know how to respond.

After Jessie had seen Chase sop up the gravy with the last bite of dinner roll, she sighed with relief. Dinner was finished and she was able to set her fork down.

“That was delicious,” Chase looked up with a content smile like a cat finishing his warm milk on a cold day. He looked at her plate and said, “I see you were hungry too. Good. I like to see a woman with a hearty appetite.”

Jessie looked down in embarrassment and saw he was correct. Guess she was a lot hungrier than she realized.

Jenny saw the empty plates from across the room and was there instantly. She winked at Chase and asked in a high pitch voice. “Do you care for another bottle of wine?”

Being the perfect gentleman, he looked at Jessie and spoke softly. “Only if Jessie cares for one.”

Jessie’s head shook slowly. A bare whisper fell out of her lips. “No thank you.”
Her nervousness was apparent by both. She had to control the shake in her hands by sitting on them.

“No thank you, we’ll take the check now.”

The check was paid and a hearty tip was left. Chase’s hand was under Jessie’s elbow as they walked out together. They stood awkwardly in the full parking lot, each trying to utter the first word. A cool summer breeze blew making Jessie shiver. Her arms crossed her chest to rub her arms up and down to warm herself.

His whisper carried with the light breeze. “Shall I follow you?”

In the corner of her eye, she saw Jenny watching through the oversized bay window with a smug knowing smile. Jessie blushed in the dark. Oh no! I hope Jenny doesn’t think…

“Yes, follow me.” She turned quickly before her thoughts were revealed.

Finally alone, Jessie was able to think more clearly. For once she didn’t glance at the blanket of stars dancing over her. No, her mind was occupied on the man behind the wheel following her with those intense green eyes.

What is it about Chase Wright? Why does he have so much impact on her? What does he want from me? Why, oh, why did she reveal so much to him?

Questions swirled around her making her dizzy. Jessie was confused. She struggled hard for answers but nothing made sense. The only thing fact she knew was he arrived earlier to offer a handsome price for her property and now he’s talking to her about her dreams and desires. As the forest of elm and maple trees passed by her, she decided on one thing. She is going to have to be more careful. She knew Chase has some form of power over her. Making her reveal far too much than she wanted and making her tongue-tied. She’s going to have to build a thick wall around her swallow the key before it’s too late.

A blaring honk woke her out of her revelry. Jessie looked up suddenly and cursed aloud. “Fuck!”

There was Chase in his oversized black Lincoln blaring his horn for Jessie had driven past the entrance to her property.

 

[Miltone]

Charles "Chase" Wright

Chase waited patiently for Jessie to back up and wheel her Jeep up the long drive. He parked at a respectful distance from the house, so that it wouldn’t give off the impression that he had anything more than apple turnovers on his mind. He hurried to catch up with her as she climbed the steps to her front door.

“I hope you don’t mind the clutter, but I wasn’t expecting company,” she blurted out.

Her comment seemed needless when they entered and she snapped on some lights. The old rambling Victorian house was graciously and meticulously decorated. Several lovely old pieces had been matched with some fine contemporary reproductions to create a warm, romantic Victorian feeling without the stuffy, uptight pretensions that often plague decorators who favor that style. Some things were obviously heirlooms while others reflected the quirky yet stylish taste of the current occupant.

“Jessie, this is a lovely home,” he commented as she led him down the hallway toward the kitchen. “I really like what you’ve done in here. Quite lovely.”

With an almost perfunctory unemotional air, she pulled on an apron and pulled out her personal cookbook. With little expression, she assembled some of the cookware that would be needed and began to measure out some of the ingredients. Chase was content to lean back against the counter and watch, trying hopelessly to make small talk, something in which she seemed to have little interest. When he noticed that she was about to add the baking soda before properly sifting the flour, he reached over and took her hand. She looked at him quizzically.

“It might be a good idea to sift the flour a bit longer to make sure that they are light and fluffy,” he said with a smile.

“I knew that,” she said quickly, reaching for the sifter and dumping the flour in unceremoniously. “I’ve made these a thousand times before.”

Still holding her hand that now held the sifter, Chase moved it back and forth with her, turning so that he was now standing alongside her, their bodies almost touching. He could feel the warmth of her body radiating outward. There was a telltale sign of perspiration on her forehead that had captured a lock of her bangs. He lifted his hand from hers and reached up to brush her hair free with his fingertips. She smiled at him weakly.

She added the remaining dry ingredients while he backed away and looked about the kitchen. It was a clean modern kitchen yet had the unmistakable atmosphere that spoke of the many years of family meals that had been cooked here. He could picture her as a child scampering about playfully, perhaps learning this very recipe from her grandmother. He was about to make a comment along those lines when he noticed that she was about to add the softened butter to the dry ingredients when it really should be mixed with the eggs and milk.

“Are you sure you want to add that now?” he asked. “It helps the blending process to add it to the liquid ingredients.”

“Do you want to make these damned turnovers,” she said, slamming the bowl down sharply on the counter, her hands shaking, her voice cracking. “Or are you going to let me do it myself?” She looked intently at Chase, her face flush, but her chin held high. “What do you want, Chase? What do you want with me?”

“Nothing, Jessie. Nothing at all,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interfere.”

He slipped up closer to her and raised his hand to her cheek. It was warm and soft and there was a slight trace of dampness. He could feel her trembling as he gently caressed her face, his fingertips waltzing near her ear. Feeling things begin to slip out of control, he leaned forward and kissed her, a light lip brushing kiss and for a brief moment, he felt her lean just the least bit back into his kiss. Her lips were soft and wet and delicious.

With his hand still resting tenderly on her cheek, he took a half step back and gazed into her deep coffee colored eyes. He greatly wanted to kiss her appetizing, trembling lips again; he wanted to tap into the passion he saw rising in her eyes; he wanted to fully experience the feelings that were welling up from deep inside his own body, feelings that he hadn’t known in years, feelings that this tall slender beauty had somehow, someway stirred up in him.

“Maybe I should be going,” he said, and yet, as the evening seemed to spin completely out of control, he hoped that she would answer in anything but the affirmative.