Chapter Three

Seth was up early on Monday. It was always the busiest day of the week for him. He did rounds at the hospital at seven sharp so he could begin seeing his patients at his office by nine. He was reading Jessica's lab report. There was nothing on it to worry him. He knew she would be just fine in a few weeks. He sat back in his chair and thought about last night. He scolded himself for not allowing her to continue in her crusade to seduce him but not knowing the reason behind it concerned him. It would break his heart to have a brief affair with her. While he would love being in a relationship with her, he would be in it for the long haul.

Jessica woke up and dutifully took her medication. It was nice not having pain and an upset stomach before breakfast. She made toast to eat with her tea and thought about Seth. She obviously wasn't good at seduction techniques. Maybe there was a movie she could watch. She went to the yellow pages and tried to find a place that sold movies. There wasn't a listing in Cabot Cove or Rockland or even Morgan Bay. She needed to call someone. It would be slightly embarrassing but Mort would probably know. She was sure that establishments of that sort were located in less savory areas so the criminal element would be something Mort was familiar with and maybe there was something not too far away. Also he knew how to keep a secret, something not too many people in town knew how to do.

Jessica got on her bike and rode to the Sheriff's station. Thankfully Mort was already there.

"Good morning, Mrs. F and happy birthday," he greeted. He picked up a card on his desk and walked it over to her.

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Mort. Is there anywhere we could speak in private?"

Mort immediately sobered. "Just tell me if a body is involved," he pleaded.

"Not a dead body," answered Jessica.

Mort took her to the detaining room and closed the door behind them.

"How can I help you?"

Jessica blushed. "I need to know if there's a place that sells movies or at least rents them…"

"Oh sure," said Mort. "Adele and I are always renting movies for the weekend."

"These are sort of the romantic type."

"You women and your romantic movies. Give me a good old fashion shoot 'em up Western any day."

"No Mort, I mean something that's racier." Jessica glanced at him and looked away. "Something salacious with unclothed people in it." She knew her face was red. "X rated, I mean."

Mort stared at Jessica in shock. "Are you researching for your book?" She shook her head no. "Why would you need…?"

Jessica stayed silent. This was already embarrassing. "Come on, Mort. I didn't want to ask Seth."

Mort started laughing. "Oh, I don't know. Old Doc might complain but he might own one or two of them."

"Mort!"

Mort continued to laugh. "I have a few tapes from bachelor parties you can watch. I am past the age where my friends are getting married. I'll drop them by later today."

"Thank you, Mort, and please don't mention it to anyone."

"Who would believe me?" asked Mort. He sobered. "You aren't involved with someone, are you? I don't think these videos are something that you would er uh… it's just for information, right?"

"I've never watched one before. Will there be a lot of information?"

Mort turned red. "Uh, well, just watch one and if you have any questions, ask one of your lady friends."

Jessica thanked him again and left. She rode into town and decided to buy a few groceries on her list of foods she could eat. Friends and well wishers sent birthday greetings her way and it took longer than normal to head home.

She spent the day at home. So far sixty wasn't too bad. She searched through her closet for something sexy casual and finally came up with a skirt that was more form fitting than her normal wide skirts. She paired it with a low cut blouse that she forgot to return when she discovered she would need to wear a camisole beneath it and didn't have one cut low enough. Instead she found a pretty bra that looked good underneath it and was thin enough to guarantee Seth would feel her breasts if she was pressed against him.

Mort called that afternoon to let her know he picked up the videos while Adele was out and wouldn't know he took them from the house. He promised to be there in five minutes. She quickly switched outfits and went downstairs to meet Mort. He looked at her suspiciously as though trying to figure out why she needed a video but he didn't say anything as he handed them over.

"When you're finished with them, just call me. If Adele found them, she would probably ruin them. I might not need them anymore but you never know."

Jessica thanked him and closed and locked the door. Her only VCR was in the family room so she went around drawing curtains and locking doors before turning on the TV and putting in the video. She wasn't expecting Shakespeare but the videos were awful. The things that were done weren't shocking in itself but some of the movements looked painful. One woman was doing things with a man that was so endowed she wondered how it would fit in anywhere. She was curious but the whole movie was without plot or decent dialogue, and there was very bad acting.

She put in the second video and it was more of the same. The women were all busty and skinny and eager to was sex in bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, outdoors, in offices, even in a stable. She wished she knew what she was looking at sometimes. She thought she would find something that would attract Seth but surely none of what she was watching was appealing. There was some dancing in the second video but the movements had her blushing and she wasn't sure she could pull it off. She stood and tried to follow the movements. She felt awkward and had to keep rewinding the video. She paused the tape and went to her bedroom. She had a western saloon girl costume from a Halloween party many, many years ago. Frank had dressed as a cowboy. She hoped it still fit. She found it deep in the back of her closet and vowed to organize things back there.

The deep red dress cinched in her waist while the corset almost sent her breasts bursting out the top. The skirt was full and she twirled around loving the feel and look of it. She put on black stockings and a pair of high heels because that's what the women in the video were wearing, she cautiously took the stairs back down.

Seth drove to Jessica's house hoping to ask her to go to the diner with him for dinner. Her back door was locked but he thought he could hear music. He peeked into her kitchen window but didn't see anything. Walking around to the back he continued until he reached the family room and looked into the room from a gap in the curtains. Jessica was dancing and it wasn't a waltz. She was gyrating and moving her body in such an exaggerated motion. Her hands were moving down her body and her hips were swaying wildly. He was mesmerized by her rear end moving and bouncing. He wished he could see her from the front. He tapped on the window.

Jessica went back to the VCR to rewind the tape again. One more time and the dance would be memorized. She was nearly finished when she heard tapping on the window. She spun around and saw Seth, wide eyed, staring at her. His eyes seemed to be focused on her chest. She froze mid-motion and stopped the tape. She felt so embarrassed! What must Seth think of her? She stared at him before gathering her wits about her. Ejecting the tape, she grabbed all three videos and ran upstairs to hide them away.

Seth stood there for several minutes. What was Jessica doing and why? The costume she was wearing, and surely it wasn't an outfit to wear outside, fit her like a glove. He returned to the back door and knocked. He called out to her but she still didn't come to the door. He was pretty sure she was embarrassed by her dancing so he left hoping to grab a bite to eat and bring her back a piece of pie or something. He spent his entire meal thinking about her and the dress she wore.

Jessica was mortified. She just knew he was going to tease her now. Her back was to the window so maybe he didn't see too much but she knew he saw her sashaying her hips. She must have looked like a fool.

She was cleaning up after her dinner when Seth knocked at the back door. She closed her eyes for a moment but went to let him in anyway.

"Evening Jess," Seth set the blueberry muffin box on her table. "I picked you up something you can eat. I came by earlier to ask you to go to the diner with me but you were…busy." He was relieved that she was no longer wearing that outfit. It was beyond sexy on her.

"I was trying to learn some modern dancing. I'm embarrassed you caught me." Jessica had yet to meet his eyes. "I hadn't realized so much has changed."

"What's going on with you, Jess," Seth moved to stand directly in front of her. "I feel like I'm left out of something."

Jessica's face was red but she didn't comment.

"There's nothing you can say that would make me think less of you, Jess."

"It's hard to speak about…I've tried but…I'll work it out, Seth."

"I'd like to help if I can," he stated simply.

Jessica let out a bitter laugh that was so unlike her that Seth reached out to her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he used his other hand to lift her chin so he could look in her eyes. She closed her eyes.

"Jess?"

"Seth, we're friends?"

"Yes, the best of friends, Jess. I'd do anything for you. You know this." Seth was getting worried. Was this what has been bothering her?

Jess turned away. "I've debated this for months…"

Seth's eyes were questioning her but he remained silent, waiting.

"I've tried but I'm not…I mean I can't seem to do it right…Seth…"

"Just spit it out, Jess." He reached for her hand. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Would you make love to me?"

Seth's eyes widened but he didn't speak for a moment. "Why?"

Jessica closed her eyes. Of course, he would want to know why.

"Why Jess?"

The silence stretched between them. Seth didn't think she was going to answer him. Her eyes were bright and shiny and she looked ready to cry but she didn't. He wished with all his heart that she would say it was because she loved him so much but he knew she wouldn't.

He tentatively reached for her and pulled her into a hug. "I wish you would talk to me," he murmured in her ear.

Jessica pulled away. The look on her face was sad. Not just sad but something else he couldn't put his finger on.

"I'm sorry, Seth." She took a breath. "I shouldn't have asked that of you. You won't mind if we call it a night?" She didn't wait for an answer. She kissed his cheek and left the kitchen, heading upstairs.

Seth was worried now.