Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (69 page)

Shelly glared at Sam. “You probably know me as Delilah Delight,” she replied, raising her voice above the din in the restaurant. “I'm the featured stripper at the Crazy Cat Club in Charlotte."

Only the sound of rattling dishes in the kitchen disturbed the silence that fell over the restaurant.

Sam sputtered. “We'd better move on,” he managed to say. “Maggie has the high chair ready for Annie."

“Nice to meet you, Shelly,” Debbie stammered.

“What the hell did you do that for?” Sam grumbled as they slid into opposite sides of the booth.

“In the future,” she hissed, “if there is a future, consult me before making decisions that affect me."

Sam and Shelly sat on the edge of the kiddy pool, dangling their feet in the chlorinated water and watching Annie splash one of her new playmates.

“It's hard to believe,” Shelly said as she watched her little girl climb the short ladder to the top of the slide.

“What's hard to believe?” Sam asked, rubbing her ankle with his toes.

“She has always been so shy—so reluctant to try new things."

He laughed as Annie squealed on her way down the shiny slide. “She loves the water, obviously. I'm going to buy her some water wings so that next week we can take her into the regular pool.” He was surprised when Shelly didn't challenge the notion they would spend another Sunday together.

“She's playing with those kids like she's known them all her life."

“Does Annie have any friends in Charlotte?"

Shelly shook her head as Sam focused on her cleavage. “There are no other kids in the neighborhood her age."

“I think she'll like the twins, too."

She glared at him. “We're not going to be there long enough for them to get acquainted."

She stood in the calf-deep water and stretched. Sam thought—almost hoped—her breasts would pop out of her one-piece bathing suit. “Red must be your favorite color,” he said.

“How did you know?"

“Red bra, g-string, high heels and now a red bathing suit."

“Too bold for your conservative friends?"

“Not at all. You look good in red."

“If you don't mind watching Annie, I think I'll swim a little.” Without waiting for a reply, she stepped out of the water and danced along the hot concrete towards the deep end of the attached, Olympic-sized pool.

The back of her suit covered little. Sam was aware his were not the only masculine eyes watching her undulating buttocks as she walked away.

She strolled to the deep end of the pool, pleased that the lifeguard was watching. She posed at the water's edge for a moment and then dived in. It was not a graceful effort. She landed on her stomach and it stung. She swam across the width of the pool, touched the side, pushed away and swam back. Not too bad, she thought as she clung the edge, for someone who hasn't been in water for three years.

She shook water from her ears and swam to the opposite side.

“Hi, beautiful,” a deep bass voice said as she tread water.

She gasped.

“Something wrong?” he asked. “You okay?"

“Yeah,” she laughed, reaching for the edge of the pool for support. “It's just that..."

“Just what?"

“You remind me of someone. In fact, you could be his twin."

“Boyfriend?” he asked as he, too, propped on the edge of the pool.

“Ex,” she replied. She turned her face towards him and shook her head. “It's uncanny. You aren't by any chance a disk jockey are you?"

He smiled. “Afraid not.” He shifted position so his back was against the edge with his elbows propping on it.

“You even smile like him with the left corner of your mouth turning up more than the right."

“Is that a good thing?"

“I always liked it."

“You miss him?"

“Sometimes—but not much."

“Is that your new boyfriend you're with?"

She laughed. “Have you been stalking me?"

“Every man here saw you the moment you came in. Your ass is something else, lady."

Shelly knew he chose his words carefully. It was a question—not a statement.

“He's just a friend,” she answered, giving him the reply he wanted.

“Your kid or his?"

“Mine."

She let him pull her right hand beneath the water and press it to his crotch. “Am I similar to your former boyfriend in other ways?"

She worked her fingers—testing. “Very,” she answered. As she glanced around the area she asked, “You have condoms with you?"

“In the locker room. I never leave home without them."

“Is there somewhere private we can go?"

“My van is in the parking lot."

She nodded towards the kiddy pool. “I can't be gone but a few minutes.” She grinned. “As hard and pulsating as you are, I figure that's long enough."

“I might surprise you."

“I wish."

“By the way,” he said as he moved in front of her and pressed his body close. “My name is Ron Ascue. Pleased to meet you."

She playfully lifted her thigh between his legs. “I can tell. Call me Delilah."

They were nearly in Charlotte before anyone spoke. “Why were you so damn rude to my neighbors?” Sam mumbled.

“I told you I didn't want to go. That Leora woman talked my ear off and the burgers were burned to a crisp."

“Mine was good,” a sleepy voice said from the rear seat.

“You could have pretended to have a good time and apologized for having to leave so early."

“You were doing enough bowing and scraping for both of us. Shit. You missed a turn. Turn right at the next street. You can double back."

“Where did you go while we were at the pool this afternoon?"

“What do you mean?"

“I mean you disappeared."

“I don't need your damn permission to go to the bathroom."

“You weren't in the bathroom. Annie had to go. I couldn't find you, but talked a lady into taking her. Annie said you weren't in there."

“Well, I guess you missed me when I went back to the car for some lip balm."

“The car was locked."

“So I discovered,” she said testily.

He parked beside her Escort. “May I come in?” he asked.

“No. I have precious little time to prepare for work as it is."

“How about next weekend? We can spend Saturday and Sunday together."

“You know I have to work both nights."

“It's a short drive, Shelly."

“I don't think it's a good idea, Sam. You're a nice guy, but..."

“Mommy, please. I want to play with Lucky and go swimming again."

“We'll see, honey."

Shelly stumbled out of bed, threw on a robe and sleepily made her way to the front door.

“Flowers, ma'am,” the young deliveryman said as he pushed forward a dozen red roses wrapped in green tissue paper.

“Uh, thank you,” she mumbled. “Just a minute."

“Ma'am, the gratuity has been taken care of,” he said as he offered a parting salute by touching his right eyebrow with his index finger.

She took the flowers to the kitchen, unhappy with whoever caused her to get out of bed so early on Monday morning. She lay the bouquet on the table and read the card. “Romance is not my long suit, but they tell me roses are always welcomed. Uncle Sam."

She glanced at the round clock hanging on the wall. Ten o'clock—not as early as I thought. Thank you, Annie, for letting me sleep so late.

With Annie fed, bathed and playing safely with her dolls while watching the Cartoon Network in the living room, Shelly slipped into the bathtub and massaged the aching muscles in her thighs. I could use Sam's Whirl Pool this morning. Thank goodness the club is closed on Mondays.

She drifted in and out of sleep until the jangling of the telephone intervened. Wrapping a red terrycloth robe around her dripping body, she hurried to the bedroom.

“Have lunch with me. I'll pick you up shortly after noon."

“Who is this?” she asked, pretending not to recognize his voice.

“Sam."

“Sam who?"

“Sam Pond, damn it."

“Oh. I got the flowers. Thanks for waking me up so early."

“I told them not to deliver until after ten."

“In the future, save your money. I'd rather have sleep than roses any day."

“How's Annie?"

“A pain in the ass, like always."

“You don't mean that."

“The hell I don't. She's already begging me to take her swimming again. I told her I'd get out the wading pool later today, but you've spoiled her. She wants to go back to Dot."

“Good for her. How about lunch?"

“Can't."

“Why not?"

“None of your damn business."

He didn't respond.

“If you must know, I get paid on Sunday nights. I have some banking to do and grocery shopping also."

“Okay. I'll pick you up shortly after I get off work—about five thirty."

“What the hell are you talking about?"

“You and Annie like pazza?"

“It's okay.” She chuckled. “Annie loves the stuff. She'd eat it three times a day if I would let her."

“There's a new Papa John's restaurant in Dot. Afterwards, I thought we'd go to the Dollar's recreational complex and play miniature golf. Has Annie ever tried it?"

“No. She's too young for that, Sam."

“I don't think so. They have a course specifically for tiny tots and their parents. She'll love it."

“Sam, back off. I'm beat and my thighs are killing me. I want to spend as much of the day as possible resting."

“Pack a bag. You don't have to work tonight. You can spend the night with me."

“I've seen your house, remember? You have only one furnished bedroom. Where will Annie sleep?"

“The sofa in the great room turns into a bed."

“I'm not going to spend the night with you."

“Okay. We can still have fun playing golf. They have a few kiddy rides there too. Do it, Delilah—if not for me, do it for Goldilocks."

“Damn it, Sam. You know I don't like for you to call me by my stage name and if you love the brat so much, take her and give me the night off."

“You mean it?"

She hesitated. “Yeah, if you'll have her back by nine."

“Deal,” he said. “I have to get back to work, Delilah. I'll pick Annie up about five-thirty."

“Fine.” She hung up the phone quickly, not wanting to hear him say, “I love you.” That
is
what he was going to say, isn't it?

She drained the water from the tub, dressed and joined Annie in the living room. “That was Uncle Sam on the phone. He wants to take you to Dot tonight for pizza."

“And swimming?"

“Not tonight. He said something about playing miniature golf."

“What's that?"

“A game. Uncle Sam thinks you'll like it. They also have some rides he thinks you'll enjoy."

“Mommy, do you love Uncle Sam?"

She tried to laugh, but couldn't. Kids! “No, honey. He's just a friend."

“I love him,” Annie said as she cradled her doll and turned back to Bugs Bunny.

Shelly powered on her Macintosh and checked email. She chuckled when she saw there was a message from Boyd. It's been nearly two months since I heard from you, honey. Did your latest sweetie leave you or are you broke again? Oh, God, Boyd. Why do I love you so much? Why can't you be a nice guy like Sam?

She looked at her golden-haired girl. Sam calls you Goldilocks. You have no idea what that means. I've never read you the fairytale. Hell, I've never read you any fairytales.

She turned back to the computer, clicked on the icon labeled “Boyd,” and then the file titled, “Good Stuff.” She smiled when the photo loaded. There she was in all her naked splendor, toes pointed to the ceiling and Boyd between her legs. How many of your friends have copies, Boyd? Sam has promise and Ron is down right good, but nobody turns me on like you, you son-of-a-bitch. I'd sell my soul to the devil to marry you. Hell, I'd do worse than that just to have you move in with me, like before.

She closed the file and read Boyd's email message.

A teenager with huge tits slipped into the club last night and somehow the bartender served her. I scared the shit out of her—told her I was going to call the cops. She wound up giving me a hell of a blowjob—not as good as yours, of course. She gagged every time I forced it into her throat. Is your love glove still tight and juicy? I think I'll drop by soon and find out. I need a couple of thousand too. Have it ready for me.

“Fuck you, Boyd Fisher,” she mumbled as she deleted the message.

“What, mommy?"

“Nothing, Annie."

She clicked on her personal finance program and selected the saving's account record. She looked at her golden-haired daughter and thought, With today's deposit, Annie, you'll have a little more than a hundred grand. They say that by the time you're ready for college, four years will cost twice that much, but we're getting there.

She watched Annie pretend to feed the doll. You're a thorn in my side, little girl, but you didn't ask to be born. I don't care what you become when you grow up, but by God, I'm going to see to it you have a choice. The one thing I can't give you is a good daddy.

She shook her head sadly, returned to the Internet and clicked on Boyd's email address.

You bastard! I'll spread my legs for you anytime. You know that, but when are you going to grow up? Your daughter needs a father!

Annie wrapped her arms around Sam's legs the moment he entered the door.

“There's my Goldilocks,” he laughed.

“Mommy went to the store today and bought me a book,” she said, rushing to the coffee table and proudly holding up the thick volume. “She read me a story called Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You see, once upon a time there were three bears..."

“Honey, Uncle Sam knows the story about Goldilocks."

Sam tossed the paper bag he brought with him onto the sofa, picked up the little girl and swung her high in the air. “I do know the story,” he said, “but I want to hear you tell it on our way to Dot. Okay?"

“Okay, Uncle Sam,” she said, eyeing the bag. “Did you bring me something?"

“Annie!” Shelly scolded.