Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (54 page)

“Okay."

“Buzz, we have so much stuff in the basement, it's going to be a real problem dragging it all outside Saturday morning, back inside Saturday night and then repeating it all on Sunday. I have the basement spotless. Let me spend Friday pricing and arranging everything and let's have the sale in the basement."

“I don't know. Having a bunch of junk in the yard attracts people to yard sales."

“You live off the beaten path. You're not going to have any spontaneous customers, Buzz. Signs in the yard will direct people to the back of the house."

“Yeah, and if it rains, we can go on with the sale."

“Exactly."

“I'm beginning to look like a pickle."

She laughed. “I'll turn down the covers. You're going straight to bed, young man."

He smiled faintly. “Okay, Teach, after you give me a full-body massage."

“Good morning, Billy."

“Good morning, Mrs., uh, Debbie. Fill ‘er up?"

“Yes, please.” She slipped out of her Mercedes and watched as he inserted the gasoline hose in the filler pipe, checked the oil and water and began to clean her windshield.

“What got you out of bed so early this morning?” he asked.

She shivered with delight when she realized he was staring at the nipples poking into her pale green tube top. “Oh, my, Billy. It's after seven-thirty. I've already done a day's work,” she joked. “Billy, the truth is, I want to talk with you about something."

“Yes ma'am?"

“Last night you told me that George Bennett is thinking of selling his interest in the service stations and garage. Do you think he is serious?"

“I'm afraid he is."

“The business includes the Super Save, the new station and food mart across the street and the garage behind the new station occupied by the Speed Shop?"

Billy nodded as he removed the hose nozzle from her car. “We were going to build a new Super Save and a four bay garage over here. I guess that plan is now history."

“You don't seem very happy about this turn of events."

“No ma'am, I'm not. There's no telling who he may sell to. How do I know if I can get along with a new partner?"

“Is there any chance you might buy out Mr. Bennett's interest?"

Billy smiled and shook his head. “He offered, but I don't have that kind of money."

“How about a bank loan?"

“Not a chance."

“What will it cost to build the planned new Super Save?"

“Half a million to build and equip it, and Mr. Bennett wants a half million for his share. There's nobody around here that has that kind of money except Tim Dollar. Now, don't get me wrong. I like Tim and Sandy, but I'm not sure I'd like having them as partners."

Deborah sighed. She knew Billy was watching her breasts rise and fall as she breathed. She wondered if she would ever get used to again having men find her attractive. “Billy, if I share an idea with you, will you keep it in strictest confidence?"

“Sure."

“I mean it, Billy. No one must ever know what I am about to say to you."

“Okay."

“I have a million dollars I can invest, and I will be the most silent partner in the history of business. You run the place and make all the decisions."

“You serious, Mrs., uh, Debbie?"

“I have never been more serious in my life."

“We'd have to hire a bookkeeper. Mr. Bennett was doing all that."

“June Dinkins is taking a one month course at UNC-Charlotte. She plans to keep the books for the garden shop. Perhaps we can employ her to keep our books as well."

“You really are serious about this."

“There are a couple of conditions, Billy."

“Yes ma'am?"

“First, Mr. Bennett must agree to sell to me."

“If you have the cash, I don't see why he wouldn't."

“The other condition is that you employ Buzz Adams as the manager of the new service station and food mart. He's perfect for the job. He already knows the food business and you can teach him the rest."

Billy smiled. “When I heard that he wasn't working at the grocery store any more I thought about offering him the job, but somebody said he went to work for Frank Skinner."

“He did, but Frank isn't paying him much. When you offer Buzz twenty-five dollars an hour, he'll jump at the opportunity."

“Twenty-five dollars an hour!” Billy exclaimed. “Hell ... excuse me, ma'am ... I can't pay that kind of money."

“I'll pay his salary until the business is on its feet, but Buzz must never know."

Billy grinned. “You sweet on ol’ Buzz?"

“That's none of your business,” she said with a coy grin curling her lips.

“Ma'am, as soon as you let me know you've worked something out with Mr. Bennett, I'll offer Buzz the job. I wish he could start Monday. That's when the place will be ready to begin setting up."

She headed for the driver side of the Mercedes. “I don't know if I can move that fast, but I'll do my best."

“Ma'am,” Billy called after her. “You, uh, didn't pay for the gas."

Deborah tried to conceal her surprise when George Bennett opened his door. He wore only crumpled boxer shorts and was in bad need of a shave. He looked pathetic.

“As you can see, Dr. Andrews, I am not prepared to receive company."

“Give me two minutes, Mr. Bennett. If you're not interested in what I have to say I'll leave peacefully."

“I'm listening, Dr. Andrews,” he said, blocking the door with his lean, though aging, body.

“Mr. Frank told me this morning that you are seriously thinking of selling your interest in the service stations and garage."

He nodded. “The restaurant and motel also."

“My interest is solely in the service stations, Mr. Bennett. I must ask you to keep this confidential. I am prepared to offer you $600,000, if you decide to sell. I can have the money for you by the middle of next week, but I want a signed letter of intent by four o'clock today."

He turned his head to one side and let his eyes slowly flow from her short, curly hair to the tips of her bright, white, sneakers. “An old timer like me shouldn't say it, but you look stunning, Dr. Andrews—like a teenage beauty queen."

“Thank you, kind sir. Please call me Debbie, Mr. Bennett."

He smiled faintly as he stepped aside. “Only if you call me George."

Deborah hummed a tune from her childhood as she slipped a coat hanger into the last of the faded dresses and hung it on the line strung across one corner of the basement. These old clothes will never sell, she thought. Maybe we can give them to the Salvation Army. She stepped back and admired her handiwork. I have everything neatly arranged, she thought. All that I now have to do is price the junk.

She chuckled. Buzz damn near soiled his pants when I told him the Hot Wheels are worth three thousand, the baseball cards ten thousand and the chiffonier is worth five thousand. He even hugged me. Damn, his arms felt good wrapped around me. He didn't have an erection, though. Wait until he gets a look at the pushup bra I'm wearing today. If that doesn't get a rise out of him, nothing will.

She smiled, squatted and duck-walked around the basement three times. While running in place, as Buzz taught her, her breast popped out of the brassiere. She examined it. “Good as new,” she said aloud as she stuffed it back into the bra cup. “I think I have earned my lunchtime toast and water."

She ascended the basement steps two at a time. Although the heat of the basement caused her to perspire profusely, the exercise did not cause her even to breathe hard. Buzz was right, she thought. The vitamins do make a difference. She sniffed her underarm. “Damn,” she said. “My sweat smells good. I'll never use deodorant again."

On her way to the kitchen, she paused, admiring the glistening floor in the empty living room. She grinned. Buzz is going to be amazed that the new furniture for his house costs exactly what he makes on the yard sale, she thought. I'll salt the cash box as much as necessary to make up the difference. The living room suit I ordered yesterday is going to look great in here.

She placed two slices of bread in the toaster, filled a glass with ice and then tap water. She greedily consumed the toast and considered eating two more slices. “Better not,” she laughed. “He probably has the slices in that loaf of bread counted."

By mid afternoon her lingerie was soaked with perspiration. She blew into her bra for a little relief from the heat. She pulled the crotch of her panties a few inches from her body and blew in that direction.

“Funniest way to play with yourself I ever heard of."

She whirled around. “Buzz. You scared the shit out of me. What time is it? What are you doing home so early?"

“It's three o'clock. I quit."

“You quit? That doesn't sound like you."

“I couldn't take it any more, Debbie. Frank and Hank got a big kick out of it."

“Frank wasn't angry?"

“Nah. He knew he couldn't match my new salary."

“Your new salary?” she asked, trying to sound surprised.

“Yeah.” He pulled her to him, his hands on her buttocks. “Damn,” he said, jerking his hands away. “Your ass is dripping wet. It's hot as hell down here."

“It's good for me,” she said, patting her stomach that no longer bulged.

“Turn around,” he instructed. “Baby, those thighs are looking as good as your belly. He squeezed her firm buttocks. If things were different ... Hey, you're not going to believe what happened today."

She moved to him and draped her arms loosely over his shoulders. He did not push her away.

“Damn, you smell good, Debbie. You wearing a new perfume?"

She grinned. “It's called body sweat."

He cocked his head to one side, then lowered his head and licked her neck. “Tastes as good as it smells—a little salty though."

She laughed with him. “Tell me what happened."

“Well, after lunch, Frank sent me to the Super Save to fill up ten five-gallon gas cans. The way Billy came rushing out of the office when he saw me, I thought he was going to kiss me."

She chuckled. “I don't think Billy is gay."

“I didn't mean it that way. You remember telling me that Billy thought Mr. Bennett was thinking of selling his interest in the service stations?"

She nodded.

“Well, somebody who wants to remain anonymous bought it yesterday."

“Really?"

“Billy's very excited about it. They're going to build a new Super Save with four bays, and get this. He offered me a job managing the new station and food mart."

“And you took it?"

“Damn right I did. I'd been thinking about it ever since you mentioned the possibility, and shit, I didn't want to give him a chance to change his mind. The salary he offered is unreal."

“How much?"

“None of your damn business,” he grinned.

“I'm so happy for you,” she said as she wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck and snuggled her body close.

He pushed her away gently and stared into her eyes. “Why do you give a shit?” he asked. “You should hate my guts. I've turned you into the laughing stock of Dot."

“I ... I don't think so,” she replied. “Folks think I'm curious, but they seem to like me much better than they did before. When do you start work?"

“Monday,” he said. “Now I can conduct the yard sale myself. You can get started painting the garage tomorrow."

Her eyes dropped. “People will see me, Buzz. Please don't put me on display in my underwear."

“Hell, Debbie. You can wear clothes while working outside."

“Still."

“You ought to be kissing my ass instead of pouting."

“Is that an order?"

He laughed and squeezed her hard. She shuddered as the unexpected orgasm rocked her.

He glanced around the basement. “Looks nice. You have everything priced?"

“No. I'm about half way there."

“What did you do with the
Slut
magazines?"

“I bundled them in year sets, like the
Playboys
and
Hustlers
, but I boxed them up and put them behind the furnace. I thought if we get anyone seriously interested in the girly magazines we could show them the good stuff. I wouldn't want any kids even looking at the covers of
Slut
."

“What about the four special issues?"

“They're in your bedroom."

“You've done a good job, Debbie. Let's get the rest of this stuff priced, then you go home, clean up and put on something nice—something you like for a change. I'm going to reward you with the biggest steak the Korner Kafe has. You deserve it. Afterwards we'll go to the pool. I want to watch your ass grinding in your thong bikini again tonight."

Buzz lounged beside the pool, sipping a Budweiser. He watched his scantily clad slave swim one lap after another. The three teenaged boys, sitting on the edge of the pool, amused him. The thong bikini showed nothing but Deborah's buttocks as she swam in the nearly deserted pool.

He drained the beer and joined the youths at the water's edge. “Nice butt, huh guys?"

The youths jumped, as if a firecracker exploded behind them.

One boy said, “Hey, man. We don't mean nothing by it, but your wife is showing off her tail like she wants us to look at it."

He squatted down behind them as they continued to ogle Deborah. “She's just a friend,” he said. “You didn't answer my question. Do you like her bottom?"

The boys giggled as they acknowledged their appreciation. “How does she keep that little patch of cloth over her pussy?” one teenager asked. “There ain't nothing holding it in place."

“Sure there is,” Buzz said. “You can't see the strap running down the crack of her ass."

“Nice knockers, too,” another youth said.

“You guys from around here?"

“Nah. Charlotte. Thought we'd see if there was any action out here tonight."

“No luck, huh?"

The three shook their heads, refusing to take their eyes off Deborah.

“You guys want to feel her up?” Buzz asked.

“You kidding?"

“Nope. Help yourself. I won't let you strip pr screw her, but you can do anything else you like. She has a hell of a tongue on her. Make her use it between your lips."