advertisement. Actually, it occurred while I was editing it, but I didn't know how to fix it."
"Did you forget to mention you're a serial killer?"
"Josie, please."
"I'm sorry. I'll behave."
"For now," I suggested. "I want to be clear about something. I have a good job."
"I know you do, Dear."
"I'm not looking for a sugar mama."
"The thought never crossed my mind."
"We'll go Dutch on Friday."
"We will do no such thing. I asked you, and it is my treat."
"Josie, this is important to me. I practically begged you to ask me out."
"Sable, I know you don't want to lead. I also know what you meant when you said you wanted a strong, mature woman." I wasn't sure she did. "I know it's not about the money, is it?"
"No. But-"
"Sable, I am taking you to the sort of restaurant where they don't expect to be paid in cash, and they don't split the bill."
"So you pay the bill, and I give you cash for my share."
"No."
"But-"
"Sable, it's my turn."
I grew sullen. "Fine."
"I don't want us to keep score. I don't want us to worry about who paid how much for this, who offered the most recent massage, who took care of this, who handled that."
"But-"
"One more word, and I am retracting my offer."
"You wouldn't. You want to go out with me at least as much as I want to go out with you."
"I do, but I don't want to fight."
"You don't play fair."
"That was four words, Sable."
"No!" I said. "Just." I sighed. "We'll do it your way."
"Good," she said. I could hear the smile. "I am turning off my light and snuggling in, but I'd like to talk a little longer."
So we did.
* * * *
Vic called the next day. We chatted for an hour. No mention of a second date came up.
Friday arrived. I could fret about many things, but I'd long grown out of fretting about my clothes. I wanted to tease Josie, so I started with the same camisole I'd worn to bed during our phone call. I even did laundry so I could wear the same undies. I was going to have fun teasing her.
Then I inspected my closet. I wanted to show a hint of the teddy. I added a black convertible wrap dress, adjusting it carefully for just the perfect look. In deference to the weather, I threw a black scarf over my shoulders and arms. It was black on black on black, but I knew I looked good. I added color with my makeup and earrings then smiled and added a cameo pendant to hang just at the top of my cleavage. The end result was a little eclectic, but I wanted something to draw her eye.
I smiled at the thought.
It was an easy drive to Josie's suburban neighborhood. I turned right off a quiet parkway, passing a brick and wood housing development sign. Josie lived in a neighborhood called Westwood Dale. Looking left and right as I drove through the gently curving streets, I saw houses in a variety of designs and styles, all lovely, and while all unique, each seeming to fit the neighborhood.
"Wow."
Another right turn brought me onto Josie's cul-de-sac, and there her house was, directly ahead. I verified the house number before coming to a stop in front of a lovely rambler with a partial brick fascia, three-car garage, and a portico framing the main entrance. I stared at the house for a minute before climbing from my car.
I made my way along a brick sidewalk to the front door, stood there a moment, then pressed the bell. It was a short wait before the door opened, and Josie and I had our first opportunity to see each other face-to-face.
"Wow," she said, looking me up and down.
I smiled. "That's what I said as I drove through your neighborhood." I gave her an appraising look. "I wasn't expecting us to match quite so completely." Like me, she was dressed in black.
Yes, she was sixty, and that readily showed. But she was well put together, and I could see the stunning woman she was in her younger years. Now, I could call her striking and still, in my eyes at least, beautiful. And in her stance and expression, I saw a confidence I didn't often see in a younger woman.
Or maybe I was
"Did you forget to mention you're a serial killer?"
"Josie, please."
"I'm sorry. I'll behave."
"For now," I suggested. "I want to be clear about something. I have a good job."
"I know you do, Dear."
"I'm not looking for a sugar mama."
"The thought never crossed my mind."
"We'll go Dutch on Friday."
"We will do no such thing. I asked you, and it is my treat."
"Josie, this is important to me. I practically begged you to ask me out."
"Sable, I know you don't want to lead. I also know what you meant when you said you wanted a strong, mature woman." I wasn't sure she did. "I know it's not about the money, is it?"
"No. But-"
"Sable, I am taking you to the sort of restaurant where they don't expect to be paid in cash, and they don't split the bill."
"So you pay the bill, and I give you cash for my share."
"No."
"But-"
"Sable, it's my turn."
I grew sullen. "Fine."
"I don't want us to keep score. I don't want us to worry about who paid how much for this, who offered the most recent massage, who took care of this, who handled that."
"But-"
"One more word, and I am retracting my offer."
"You wouldn't. You want to go out with me at least as much as I want to go out with you."
"I do, but I don't want to fight."
"You don't play fair."
"That was four words, Sable."
"No!" I said. "Just." I sighed. "We'll do it your way."
"Good," she said. I could hear the smile. "I am turning off my light and snuggling in, but I'd like to talk a little longer."
So we did.
* * * *
Vic called the next day. We chatted for an hour. No mention of a second date came up.
Friday arrived. I could fret about many things, but I'd long grown out of fretting about my clothes. I wanted to tease Josie, so I started with the same camisole I'd worn to bed during our phone call. I even did laundry so I could wear the same undies. I was going to have fun teasing her.
Then I inspected my closet. I wanted to show a hint of the teddy. I added a black convertible wrap dress, adjusting it carefully for just the perfect look. In deference to the weather, I threw a black scarf over my shoulders and arms. It was black on black on black, but I knew I looked good. I added color with my makeup and earrings then smiled and added a cameo pendant to hang just at the top of my cleavage. The end result was a little eclectic, but I wanted something to draw her eye.
I smiled at the thought.
It was an easy drive to Josie's suburban neighborhood. I turned right off a quiet parkway, passing a brick and wood housing development sign. Josie lived in a neighborhood called Westwood Dale. Looking left and right as I drove through the gently curving streets, I saw houses in a variety of designs and styles, all lovely, and while all unique, each seeming to fit the neighborhood.
"Wow."
Another right turn brought me onto Josie's cul-de-sac, and there her house was, directly ahead. I verified the house number before coming to a stop in front of a lovely rambler with a partial brick fascia, three-car garage, and a portico framing the main entrance. I stared at the house for a minute before climbing from my car.
I made my way along a brick sidewalk to the front door, stood there a moment, then pressed the bell. It was a short wait before the door opened, and Josie and I had our first opportunity to see each other face-to-face.
"Wow," she said, looking me up and down.
I smiled. "That's what I said as I drove through your neighborhood." I gave her an appraising look. "I wasn't expecting us to match quite so completely." Like me, she was dressed in black.
Yes, she was sixty, and that readily showed. But she was well put together, and I could see the stunning woman she was in her younger years. Now, I could call her striking and still, in my eyes at least, beautiful. And in her stance and expression, I saw a confidence I didn't often see in a younger woman.
Or maybe I was
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