142

Aligned Design

Ch 26

"Edward, how about if you stay at your place tonight?" Eames said as they left the restaurant.

Edward stood close and slid her hair behind her ear with his left index finger. "Everything ok?" he asked.

"Yes, sure. I just want to have a night alone, that's all." She looked up at him. Don't you go horny now, she said to herself. Damn, he was looking so good in this light.

He moved closer and said deeply, slowly, "Ok, if you want." He stepped in and kissed her neck. She felt his tongue, the tug as he sucked gently. "Do you want me to follow you? Make sure you get home safe?" he said, nuzzling. Then Edward looked at her deeply, steadily. He took her head in his hands and he kissed her softly, slowly. She returned his nearly chaste kiss with a flare of want that shot his eyebrows north. She moved into him.

"Oh, Christ, come home with me," Eames said hoarsely.

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"So, you found something, did you?" Lisa asked coming forward from somewhere among the stacks.

"I did indeed!" Gleason was very pleased with the signed volume. "My friend will like this." She met Lisa at the small counter at the front of the store.

Lisa took the book and looked at it. She smiled. "Ah, I take it your friend is a 'special friend'?"

Suddenly Gleason remembered everything. Bobby had screamed at her, cursed at her. He had frightened her. She had decided not to go back to him. She was moving back into her own flat. Her face fell. She didn't respond.

Lisa looked at the tall woman and noticed the change. "Uh, we don't take credit cards. Cash or checks only. I hope that's ok." She waited, watching the other woman. It was as if the lady had remembered something unpleasant.

"Yes, that's fine. I have cash," Gleason said softly, sadly. Gleason counted out the money.

"I can wrap it for you in paper. We don't have bags here." She said taking the money.

"That's fine. Thank you." Gleason was subdued. "I'm going to walk back and get my raincoat," she told Lisa.

Casey moved to the counter. He and Lisa watched the tall woman walk back through the stacks to the lounging area along the back wall. "That's a nice sale," he told his wife.

"Yes, it is."

"She's really excited."

"Well, she was. Something changed." Lisa tied the brown paper package with old-fashioned string.

Gleason made her way back to the front lugging the enormous raincoat over her arm. "I was wondering if you might call a cab for me?" Gleason asked with a sad smile.

"I can take you where you want to go," Casey offered.

"Oh, no. Don't be silly. I'll take a cab."

"Really, Casey can take you. It's not a problem."

Gleason looked from her to him. "Are you sure?"

They both nodded. "It would be my pleasure," Casey said with a smile.

"All right. Thank you. I'm at the Hilton Garden Inn on Maple. Are you sure?"

"Really, it's no problem. Let me bring the car around." Casey leaned over the counter and kissed his wife. It was a lingering kiss. Gleason looked away, her heart breaking.

Casey left and Gleason turned to Lisa and said, "Thank you for being so kind to me."

Lisa tried not to look at her oddly. "Well, sure. Casey and I are glad you stopped in. And not just because of the nice sale. Are you a student here?"

"No, I have an interview tomorrow morning for a teaching position here. I have a strong feeling I'm going to get it." Gleason said this with less enthusiasm than one might have imagined.

"Oh, well, good luck." After a moment of awkward silence, Lisa continued, "You'll probably have to move then? Where do you live now?"

"New York."

"Oh, New York! Wow. Will you be bringing family with you?"

Gleason had been looking out the front window. She said nothing for a moment, then turned and looked at Lisa, "No. No I won't."

Lisa saw the sadness in the other woman's face then saw the car pull up out front. "Oh, here he is. Well, thank you for stopping. Good luck tomorrow. I hope you come back." She had come around the counter whilst talking. The two women looked at each other and then embraced.

"Thank you," Gleason whispered.

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"Jesus, Alex, enough." Edward could not go again. He was spent. "Aren't you tired, Hon?"

"I could sleep . . . but I want to play," she said with a lithe stretch and lascivious smile. She reached for his package and he bent and pulled away.

"Honey, what is with you?" He wasn't complaining, it's just . . . Jesus, he's not twenty anymore.

"Oh, come on, Big Boy, I want to play. If I can't play with you, then you play with me." Eames rolled onto her back and took Sledge's left hand. She snuggled close beside him, put his hand between her legs and said, "Now play."

Sledge extended his middle finger and slid it inside. Eames hissed and arched. Sledge felt himself begin to fill again. His mouth went to her breast and he sucked.

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Neither Casey nor Gleason spoke on the short ride from the bookstore to the hotel. Casey was aware of his shyness and was comfortable with the quiet. Gleason was preoccupied with thoughts of Bobby.

Why did she buy that book? What was she thinking? She was not going to see Bobby again, not on purpose, anyway. He would find her, she was sure of that. But she would not see him. It was over.

Gleason always knew she could not trust him. Didn't she always think he might turn on her? See, you never really know what lies beneath. She shouldn't have let him get this close.

God she was tired. Her legs ached. She was hungry again, too. She had so much to do tonight. All she wanted to do was take a nap.

"Well, here you are," Casey said, looking over at the lady.

"Casey, thank you so much for the ride. Let me give you something," Gleason reached inside her purse.

"No way! It was my pleasure! You were my good deed for today, so I'm done. I don't have to be nice to anyone else," he said with a shy smile.

Gleason smiled at this sweet young man. How lucky he and his pretty wife were to have found each other and to know that they were right for each other. Gleason felt an odd stab of envy. "Thank you again, Casey. Please give Lisa my best. Take care of each other. What you have is rare." She reached for the door handle but Loomis beat her to it.

"We hope to see you again," Casey said as she exited. He waved and Gleason returned it. He pulled away and Gleason turned to the doorman.

"Welcome back, Dr. Wintermantle. Did you get something to eat today?"

"Yes, Loomis I did. And I'm hungry again." Loomis opened the door for her and she stepped through into the lobby. "This raincoat belongs to the hotel. Paul lent it to me for today. Is he still around? I'd like to return it to him."

"You let me take care of this for you." Loomis took the raincoat from her. "Boy, this is heavy, huh? Did you wear this thing all day?"

"Only during the rainy parts," she said with a smile. "Thanks for doing that, Loomis. I'm heading up to the room for a bit. Then some dinner."

Loomis nodded and walked behind the desk with the coat. Gleason headed to the lifts.

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Bobby lifted weights until he could not lift one more time. He sat on the bench, leaning forward with his forearms resting on his thighs. He did more sets with his left arm than his right. He didn't think he'd ever be able to lift his left arm again.

He had increased his reps by five. He was getting stronger. He noticed the change in his upper arms. Bobby decided to add working his pectorals next. He also wanted to get back to doing push-ups and sit-ups at home.

He sat up. He thought of the pretty girl at the desk. God, she was offering it up. She said she was old enough. She looks so good. He could do with a little bit. It would be good.

Bobby stood up and flexed his arms. She said not to shower. No problem. He walked to the locker room to change.