Chapter V: A Weekend Getaway Part I
Spice Meter: 3 flames
My dear, gentle reader. You've probably been wondering what comes next for our favorite couple, haven't you? I've been wondering, too and I haven't thought about much else. It's become an obsession of sorts, even if I do say so myself! Anyway…in no uncertain terms, I can share Shane and Oliver do indeed go away for a weekend escapade. But… may I impart some wisdom? Couples need little escapades like these from time to time to rekindle the flames, so to speak. Not that Oliver's and Shane's flames need any sort of rekindling, God knows! But you know what I mean… It's nice to go away and simply focus on spending time with your special someone. That said, why don't you read on and find out for yourself what happened?
It was Thursday evening and for once, Oliver was more than ready for the weekend to begin. It had been a tough week and there was still Friday to get through. He was looking forward to a quiet evening with Shane. Maybe they could watch something after dinner and relax in the movie room. He wanted to revisit To Kill a Mockingbird. He really enjoyed Gregory Peck's performance as Atticus Finch; he felt like a kindred spirit.
Of course, cuddling Shane now meant doing so with Valentino firmly planted between them. And he couldn't forget about Flynn! The cat was always seeking him out, rubbing up against his legs and purring like a maniac. He rolled his eyes and stifled a laugh. There was never a dull moment with those two around.
After he emerged from the shower wearing the lounge pants and shirt he had started to favor during their honeymoon, he saw Shane waiting for him. Her lips were curved in a brilliant smile and his heart melted. Would he ever get used to this? She looked so endearing and fetching. She was fresh faced, having recently removed her makeup and her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. The yoga pants she favored after coming home from work hugged her curvy bottom. However, she threw him a curveball today as she had on a tiny t-shirt that bared her midriff. He stared intently at her bare skin and his hands were itching to touch her.
Oliver took two big steps, grabbed her, and his lips blindly found a direct line to hers. His hands splayed over her bare skin, sliding upwards underneath the tiny shirt only to find she wore nothing else underneath it. Oliver trembled as he fitfully caressed and squeezed her breasts. Shane moaned audibly, stoking further his need for her.
"Oliver… Oliver!" Shane tore her lips from his and put her hands on his shoulders. She was slightly pushing him away, but he wasn't deterred.
"Shane, there's nothing you could say right now that could distract me from what I want to do with you." Oliver didn't let her go, as he planted fiery hot, slippery kisses from her shoulder to her neck. Shane's sigh was delicious music to his ears, but she still held her hands firmly on his shoulders. Nibbling her neck and almost effectively distracting her, Oliver asked, "What is it, my love? Is there anything more important than us making love right now?"
"Yes, Oliver. How am I supposed to tell you I have a surprise for you if you keep kissing me like this?" Shane smiled with satisfaction when she felt him still.
He pulled back and looked into her eyes. Shane noticed Oliver's eyes were a hazy steel blue. It amazed her how different Oliver's eyes could look when he was heady with desire. She'd seen them transform from a soft cornflower blue to a brilliant turquoise hue, but now she could swear silver flecks lit up his stunning blue eyes. Her heart flipped. Oh well, her surprise could keep! Shane smiled sneakily, slipping her hands underneath his soft shirt and continued what her husband started.
A while later, they happily laid side by side. Shane propped her head on her hand as she stretched out beside Oliver, loving how he looked next to her in their king-sized bed.
"Oliver, there's something I wanted to tell you. But… what can I say, you have the ability to… distract me." Shane kept running a finger over Oliver's chest. While he knew he could very easily be sidetracked by her delicate ministrations, he wanted to know what was on her mind. He looked at her inquisitively, letting her know without words she could continue with her news. "Oh, Oliver, I'm so excited about this! Pack a bag because we're leaving for a mini getaway tomorrow!"
Oliver's eyes widened in delightful shock. "Oh, my goodness, when did you plan this?"
"During the last few weeks! I wanted to do something for you after all you did for our honeymoon, but I wanted us to settle in at our new house first. I rented a villa in Breckenridge! It's not ski season yet, but the town is beautiful! We can go on hikes and enjoy a change of scenery. Not to mention each other…," Shane said, with a twinkle in her eye.
"This is wonderful, my love. I can't wait to go on this little escapade with you." Oliver nuzzled her behind her ear and dropped kisses along her jawline. "Wait a second. What about the DLO? And the furry hooligans?"
Shane gave him her sternest side-eye glance for calling the fur babies hooligans. Clearing her throat, she replied, "We are leaving tomorrow around noon, so we can go to the DLO for a few hours in the morning. I've already talked with Rita, Norman, and Charlie. They will take care of the rest for the afternoon. As for our fur babies, Joe will be staying at our house to take care of them. We will return on Sunday afternoon, so we will have ample time to reset before going back to work on Monday."
"You've really thought of everything, my love!" Oliver's gaze softened as he relished the thought of going back into honeymoon mode, even if it was just for a couple of days.
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"Come on Valentino, it's time to go!" Joe called out to the pup. Shane left instructions to take Valentino to his grooming appointment at Happy Paws. He was happy to oblige. Joe was ecstatic over all the changes Shane had wrought in Oliver's life. He knew his son wouldn't have adopted a pet a lifetime ago. Watching Oliver's growing attachment to Flynn was a spectacle. God bless Shane and all the wonderful things she did for his son!
Joe had to admit even the car ride with Valentino was fun. Animals were a breath of fresh air, especially dogs! It really was about the simple things and Valentino knew it. He was on cloud nine looking out the window with the wind ruffling his fur. Joe chuckled heartily and scratched Valentino's head. They arrived at Happy Paws soon enough. As he pulled into the parking lot, he saw a woman; a tall, svelte, breath of fresh air blonde. The woman caught his eye immediately and Joe was intrigued. Most likely it was that waterfall of straight blonde hair flying behind her that did it. Why was she in such a hurry? Joe thought, as the lady dashed into the establishment that housed the Happy Paws Foundation. She made a striking image alright. Joe sighed. He had to admit he was missing female company in his life. Seeing how Oliver and Shane related to each other made him miss that camaraderie with a woman. Joe sighed and looked at Valentino. "What do you say, buddy? Do we go in and meet the lady who rushed in there?" Valentino wagged his tail excitedly, his eyes twinkling as if he had the biggest of secrets. Joe petted his soft wiry fur, gave him a pat on the head, and attached his leash to his collar.
As Joe stepped into Happy Paws, he saw the elegant blonde behind the counter. Valentino almost yanked his arm out of the socket, as he excitedly scurried over to the lady and dropped flat on his back to have his belly scratched. "Hi Valentino!" she said excitedly, "Aren't you the sweetest! You are the only dog I know who gets excited when he visits the vet!" Valentino proceeded to lick her face and the blonde hugged the pooch as if she had known him for the longest time.
"Hi there!" Joe's deep manly voice boomed. "I'm here for Valentino's grooming appointment."
The lady looked up. The instant their eyes met Joe knew he was a goner. He immediately regaled her with one of his wide magnetic smiles, and her hazel eyes glinted with every shade of green and gold imaginable.
"Oh dear, you must be Joe, right? Oliver's father? I'm Vivianne, Flynn's and Valentino's vet."
"Yes, Joseph O'Toole, at your service, Vivianne," he extended his hand to shake hers, and both felt a spark the moment their hands touched. Vivianne had a gentle smile that immediately grabbed at Joe's heart. Since she didn't let go of his hand, Joe felt sufficiently emboldened to make a request.
"Vivianne, this is a bit out of character for me, but for some reason I feel compelled to ask." He paused for a second. "Would you like to have coffee with me later on today?"
Vivianne admitted to herself she was immediately drawn to this magnificent looking man with the magnetic smile. She never did anything impulsive, let alone agree to a date with a man she'd just met, but she found herself acquiescing anyway. After all, it was Oliver's father, so he really wasn't a stranger who just walked into her place of work. They agreed to meet at a nearby coffee shop at 4 o'clock when she'd be done for the day.
"Joseph, why don't you leave Valentino here for the day? The girls love having him around, and when you pick him up, we can take him with us for coffee." Joe was so enthralled by the soothing lilt in her voice, it took him a second or two to gather himself sufficiently before he could reply.
"Please Vivianne, call me Joe. And of course, I'll be here at 4." He caught himself almost bouncing on his toes, much like Oliver did when he was excited about something. Joe grinned. His weekend outlook had most definitely brightened.
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Breckenridge was known for its ski resorts. While Oliver had lived his whole life in Colorado, he had never visited the quaint little town. Of course, he wasn't much for outdoor pursuits, so he was relieved Shane hadn't brought them here at the height of ski season. However, he was looking forward to a bit of hiking and taking in the amazing views of the Rockies in the fall.
As they took a stroll on one of the easier trails, Shane took a deep breath, letting her lungs fill with the fresh mountain air. She looked content and blissful, and as always, Oliver couldn't take his eyes off her. Wondering if that would ever change, Oliver smiled to himself and shook his head. He seriously doubted it!
They continued their hike in companionable silence. After a good hour of walking and tackling a bit of a climb, they found a rest area with a bench overlooking an expanse of trees. It was the perfect place to rest for a bit. Oliver leaned over and took Shane's lips in a sweet kiss. "Thanks for this, sweetheart," he said as he breathed in her scent, softly laying his forehead on hers. "I couldn't have asked for a better escapade."
"You're welcome, my dear husband. You've done so much for me, it's just a tiny way to repay you."
"You never have to feel like you're indebted to me, Shane. After all, we're one now. When you have a love like we do, all you feel is the need to give to the other without expecting anything in return."
Shane smiled one of her famously radiant angelic smiles. She curled her arm with his and laid her head on his shoulder as she took in the magnificent view. "How about a stroll through town tonight? I made reservations at a place called the Blue River Bistro. Everything there is very casual. We don't have to dress up."
"Wonderful, my love. I must admit I like being a bit more casual."
"As long as you never completely let go of wearing your 3-piece suits, darling. You surely look very handsome when you wear them." Shane's grin was sly, and Oliver had to wonder what was going on in that head of hers.
"Well, you know I'll always wear them for work and when the occasion calls for it. Maybe not for barbecue cookouts and shucking corn… But Shane, what on earth are you thinking? That surreptitious look of yours just now… I know you're up to no good!" Oliver said, holding back laughter.
Shane snickered. "Just imagining some scenarios, Mr. O'Toole."
"Oh really, Mrs. O'Toole?" He gave her his best skeptical look with the half smile and raised brow.
"Oliver, you must stop looking at me like that! We're in public!" Oliver had the gall to appear offended. Truth be told, it was a cute look on him even though it did… things… to her. Shane shook her head in wonderment. Who knew her Oliver could be this playful? She stood up from the bench and held out her hand. "Come on, husband. We have a dinner to get to!" Oliver took her hand, for once letting himself be led, but not before he pressed his lips to her palm, foreshadowing pleasures to come.
Well, well, well. I don't know what I'm more excited about: how ShOliver's evening continues or finding out more about that coffee date with Joe and Vivianne! This author couldn't be more excited about this last development. Wasn't that meet-cute absolute perfection? I am sure there's going to be A LOT of excitement brewing.
But let's talk about Shane for a bit. I always knew she'd want to do something for Oliver after all he did planning their honeymoon. But darling girl, what's all that about imagining scenarios that involve 3-piece suits? Come on! Inquiring minds want to know!
Dear reader, don't you fret, this Author has his (her?) ways of digging up details. I intend to find out and relay all the juicy bits of information to you. But for now… I must put my detective sunglasses back on. Toodles!