Fat Fridays (13 page)

Sukie felt the blood leave her face.
Hot date? Is that how Cam thought of it?

The conversation turned to other matters, but Sukie’s thoughts remained stuck on Cam. Maybe he expected some kind of wild romp after dinner, something a hot date would supply. Her pulse pounded with dismay at the thought. She wasn’t that kind of woman. It just proved to her how out of sync they were and how foolish she was acting. 

###

W
aiting for Cam to pick her up, Sukie paced her bedroom floor, moving from the full-length mirror beside her closet to the smaller mirror in the bathroom, needlessly primping. She felt like an innocent young teen going to her first big school dance, wondering whether her young date expected a French kiss goodnight. If she were smart, she’d call and tell him she was sick.

The doorbell rang.

Pulse racing, Sukie went downstairs and opened the door.

Cam’s eyes rounded when he saw her. “Wow! You look great.” He leaned over to kiss her. “Mmmm, you’re so beautiful. You taste good, too. Like peppermint candy.”

Sukie’s nervousness evaporated in a rush of pleasure. She grabbed her shawl and headed out the door with him. 

On the way to the nearby Village Inn Motel, Cam explained they were picking up Mary and Bob Anderson. Bob, he further explained, was a semi-retired computer consultant who sometimes worked with him on projects. “They’re folksy, down-home people from the Spartanburg area. I especially enjoy their company.”

Mary and Bob were waiting outside when Cam and Sukie pulled up to the front of the motel. Cam introduced her to them. Bob was a jovial man who smiled easily. His wife Mary was equally pleasant.

During the drive to Atlanta, Bob kept them entertained with stories of projects he’d worked on, making them laugh with all the missed deadlines and crazy programming he’d done in the past. 

“Which restaurant are we going to?” Sukie asked.

“Jasper’s,” Bob said. “I picked it. It’s one of the hottest new restaurants in mid-town. They’re known for their new American cuisine.”

Mary smiled at her. “Beneath that computer geek of mine is a very good chef.”

Sukie laughed.

Bob grinned. “One of the specialties of the house is sautéed sole with a light beurre blanc sauce topped with fried capers. How’s that sound?” 

“I can taste it now.” Sukie’s mouth watered at the thought of the fish with a tart buttery sauce. It had been a long time since she’d had a fancy meal like that. Looking back, she wondered just when she and Ted had stopped planning evenings out.

Cam reached over and took hold of Sukie’s hand. 

Sukie smiled, pleased to be with him.

Fighting the Atlanta traffic, they made their way to a tall building on Peachtree Street and pulled into a circle at the side of the building, where a valet met them. He helped them out of the car and whisked the Lexus away.

Cam led them inside, and Sukie followed the maitre d’ to a table in the corner of the dining room. After being seated, she and Mary exchanged approving glances. Dark wainscoting met green-painted walls. The color of the walls was duplicated in the Oriental rugs that covered most of the wooden floor and brought out the burgundy hues of the brocade-covered chairs. Crisp white table linens and gold-rimmed china added to the classic elegance of the room. Crystal lighting fixtures hung from wooden beams like bright-colored stars.

“How lovely,” commented Mary. “And the piano music is perfect—nice and soft.”

Cam ordered a bottle of French champagne.

Sukie sat back, truly content for the first time in many months. She sighed with pleasure and then sat up with a start.

“What’s wrong?” Mary whispered, grabbing hold of her hand. “Are you okay?”

Sukie shook her head.

Katy Hartmann approached their table with a dangerous smile. “Sukie! Sukie Skidmore! What a surprise! I had no idea I’d see
you
here.” Her gaze swept over Cam and Bob and Mary and came to rest on Cam.

“And you are?” Katy said to Cam before Sukie could find her voice. 

Cam rose to his feet and held out a hand. “Cameron Taylor.”

The glint in Katy’s eyes as she looked from Cam to her made Sukie’s stomach feel like she’d swallowed a huge rock. 

“’Pleased to meet you Cameron. I’m Katy Hartmann.” She beamed at Cam as if he was a double-fudge brownie and she was the biggest chocoholic in the world.

Cam introduced Mary and Bob Anderson.

Sukie clutched her hands, wishing she could evaporate. She’d taken a chance that no one from town would see her on a date with Cam. Now she knew it wouldn’t be long before everyone in Williston would know they’d be out together.  

After Katy left their table, Sukie explained to Mary that Katy was head of the neighborhood women’s group and the biggest gossip she knew.

“Well, let’s just enjoy the evening.” Mary gave Sukie’s hand a comforting squeeze. 

Sukie forced a smile and told herself to relax, though she had the sinking feeling that the waves Katy would cause would drown her carefully laid plans for financial and emotional independence. Neither Ted nor her children would be prepared for a surprise like this.

Cam smiled at her. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”

Sukie hoped he was right. Putting aside her worries, Sukie concentrated on enjoying the evening. The conversation was pleasant. Mary clearly adored her husband, and they treated Cam like one of their own. When Mary found out Sukie was about to become a grandmother, she couldn’t hide her surprise. “All grandmothers should look like you,” Mary joked. A grandmother herself, she launched into the joys of being able to spoil and play with her own grandchildren then walk away.

They ended the meal by sharing crème brulée and chocolate mousse, teasing each other over the calorie count in each delicious bite.

The ride home was quiet. Like the others, Sukie was sated with excellent food and wine. She leaned back against the front passenger seat of the car, floating in good humor as the radio played softly.

Cam reached over and took hold of Sukie’s hand. “I’m glad Chloe is staying overnight at her teacher’s house,” he murmured. He gave her a sexy smile that turned Sukie’s body hot, then cold. The promise of intimacy was something she wanted, something she dreaded.

After dropping Mary and Bob off at the motel, Cam turned to Sukie with an adorable crooked smile. “I’ve waited all evening to get you alone.”

Sukie bit her lip. “You’re okay with Katy blabbing all over town that we were together? And everyone at MacTel is talking about a hot date you have this weekend...”

“What?” Cam frowned. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Friends of mine work in the executive area,” Sukie said. “Carol Ann Mobley is one of them.”

“Carol Ann? Oh, yeah. She’s the one who keeps trying to deliver stuff to my office.”

“Wait’ll she hears about tonight,” Sukie said, unable to let the subject drop. “She’s not going to believe I’m your so-called hot date.”

Cam pulled into Sukie’s driveway and brought the car to a stop. Reaching over, he stroked Sukie’s cheek with his thumb. “You don’t have any idea how sexy or how beautiful you are, do you?”

She let out a soft sigh as his lips found hers. His tongue entered her mouth. The taste of after-dinner mints lingered in his kiss. When it became apparent they both wanted more, he pulled away from her.

“Let’s go inside.”

Taking Cam’s hand, Sukie led him inside the house.

Cam led her to the sectional couch in the dimly-lit living room. “Let’s just settle here.” 

Sukie tossed her shawl on a chair and sank back onto the couch’s plush cushions, and into his strong arms. It felt so right to snuggle up against him. 

Cam kissed her. Caressing Sukie’s body, his hands moved to her breasts.

Her nipples tightened under his touch.

“Mmmm, you’re so responsive,” Cam murmured. He gently tugged Sukie down so they were lying, facing each other. 

Sukie snuggled up to him. The feel of his hard arousal against her abdomen sent anticipation through her. 

They spent precious moments, kissing and discovering the shape of each other. After some time, Cam slid his hands under her dress and stroked the intimate parts of her. A sigh escaped her. She hoped he’d never stop.  

“I want to see you. All of you,” he murmured.

Sukie rolled to one side, and he unzipped the back of her dress. She stood and let it fall to the floor. Then swallowing nervously, she stepped aside, clad only in her lacy black bra and matching panties. 

He tossed his shirt to one side, and struggled to get his zipper undone. The deliciously large bulge in his pants didn’t help. Sukie admired his sleek, muscular body, his trim waist, his firm erection. A stab of insecurity made her pause. She had stretch marks from her pregnancies and her body was not as young as his.

Naked, Cam came up beside her, as virile as any Greek god. Smiling, he undid Sukie’s bra. His fingers trailed over her breasts and then he cupped them. “Beautiful, Sukie.”

He bent and took one nipple in his mouth. Sukie leaned her head back and let the pleasing sensations roll over her.

Cam helped Sukie onto the couch and slid her panties down. Lying next to her, Cam traced the scars on her belly with his fingertips. Sukie sucked in her breath, waiting for a response.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” he said. “What women go through for babies.”

Sukie let out a sigh. Cam was mature beyond his years, and though he was extremely handsome, it was so much more than his looks that had attracted her to him. It was his innate kindness. She’d never loved another man more.

Cam stroked Sukie until her body quivered with the need for more of him. She pulled him to her and, arching joyously, took him inside. They moved together, exploring, testing, urging each other, until their rhythm became hard and fast, driving them toward their goal.

Later, Sukie traced the strong line of Cam’s jaw. “Did you feel it?” she asked softly.

“Feel what?”

“That special connection between us.”

He chuckled. “Weird, isn’t it?”

“Wonderful,” Sukie answered, knowing what they had together was very rare.

Later, they moved upstairs, carrying their clothes.

“I’m not through with you yet,” teased Cam, drawing her up against him.

Her pulse dancing, Sukie indicated the door to her bedroom. Ted’s ghost had been chased away. For good.

###

S
ukie awoke the next morning with a vague sense of wonder. She rolled to her side and gasped softly. Cameron Taylor lay next to her, enticingly naked beneath the sheets. She gently touched his chest, almost afraid to believe he was there.

Cam blinked sleepily. A grin spread across his face, which showed the beginnings of a beard. “Hi, beautiful,” he said, reaching out and cupping her breast.

Sukie filled with happiness as he pulled her into his arms. It hadn’t been a dream after all.

Sometime later, Sukie gazed at the clock, wondering how she could ever move her body out of bed. It had been a marathon of lovemaking and she was feeling the effects of it. “What time were you to pick up Chloe?”

“Around ten. Why?” Cam mumbled, nestled against her.

“It’s nine forty five.”

Cam came wide awake with a start. “Whoa! I’d better get going. How about fixing me a cup of coffee while I take a quick shower?”

“Fair enough.” Sukie rose and covered her nakedness with a robe. 

Downstairs in the kitchen, she listened to the water running in the shower and realized how much she’d missed the sound of someone sharing the house with her.

Cam appeared, his hair still wet.

Sukie gave him a quick kiss and handed him a cup of steaming coffee.

“Thanks.” He took a long sip, keeping his gaze on her. “Think we can get together later this weekend? Sunday, maybe?” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

Sukie laughed. “Call me.”

He took another sip of coffee and set the cup down on the counter. “Have to go.”

They kissed goodbye in a way that proved to Sukie how much he wanted to stay. She dreamily wondered how it would be to have him kiss her that way every morning.

After Cam left, Sukie sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, reliving every wonderful moment of the past several hours. The whole thing was crazy—cautious, careful her, lost in a passionate affair as if she was sixteen with no cares in the world. But Sukie loved the way she’d come alive. She’d been given a second chance at life, and she wasn’t about to throw it away. The connection between Cam and her was so strong, so compatible, so right.

She knew their relationship would face challenges. Many in their conservative small town would not like the idea of her and Cam together. Her children were still reeling from their father’s defection. She didn’t think they’d be happy with the idea of her dating so soon, especially someone as young as Cam. It was too close to what their father had done.

The phone rang. Ignoring the protests from her body, Sukie got up to answer it.

“Hi, Mom,” came Elizabeth’s cheerful voice. “I tried to get you last night but there was no answer. Out on a hot date?”

Words got stuck in Sukie’s throat.

“Don’t worry, Mom, I was just kidding,” Elizabeth said before Sukie could answer. “I’ve decided to take some summer courses. A professor of mine suggested it and it would help me tremendously. I’ve already talked to Dad. He didn’t sound too happy about it, but finally agreed to spring for the tuition when I told him it would mean graduating earlier.”

Sukie instantly became alert. “Tuition shouldn’t be a problem. A college fund has already been set aside for you. We started it when you were just a baby.”

They talked of other things—a new restaurant Elizabeth had discovered, a cute guy in one of her classes, an upcoming interview with a marketing firm for a part-time intern position and other exciting details of Elizabeth’s daily life.

“You’re awfully, quiet,” Elizabeth complained. “Are you doing all right? It’s got to be hard for you in face of Dad’s behavior. Can you believe how proud he is of that baby? What was he thinking, fooling around with someone so young? For God’s sake, she’s not much older than I am.”