Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (68 page)

Annie picked up the ball and tossed it underhanded as far as she could. Lucky shot after it before the ball left Annie's hand and quickly returned it.

“Lucky brought it back!” Annie squealed with delight.

“Throw it farther,” Shelly urged.

“Can't."

“Sure you can, Goldilocks,” Sam said as he squatted and placed the ball in the little girl's right hand. He drew her hand back over her shoulder and shot it forward. Lucky was after it in a flash.

“Good doggie,” Annie laughed as she picked up the ball after Lucky again dropped it at her feet. She drew her hand over her shoulder and swung it forward but did not release the ball. Lucky, who was off the instant her hand went in motion, put on the brakes and rolled over. He rushed back to Annie and jumped into her arms. The two tumbled to the ground with Annie giggling delightedly and Lucky's tail wagging furiously.

Sam glanced up at Shelly. My God, he thought. That's the first time I've seen a real smile on her face. She's gorgeous!

“Honey, would you like to stay outside and play with Lucky while Uncle Sam and I look at his house?"

“Can I, mommy?"

Shelly looked at Sam who nodded his head. “That's one of the benefits of living in the sticks. Children can safely play outdoors."

Shelly smiled. “Stay in the yard, Annie. If the ball goes in the street, come find Uncle Sam. He'll get it for you."

“Okay, mommy,” Annie agreed as she picked up the tennis ball and Lucky danced in anticipation.

Sam closed the front door and pulled Shelly close, sliding his hands to her buttocks.

“Now you play with my ass,” she kidded.

“Your heart's racing. You love Goldilocks more than you are willing to admit."

“Maybe I'm just turned on."

He nibbled her upper lip as he maneuvered his hands to her breasts. She plunged her tongue between his parted lips and ground her pubic mound into his bulging erection. He moved his hands to her hips, matched their rotation and broke the kiss.

“It's going to be a fairytale come true, Shelly—you, me and Annie living happily ever after."

“You damn idiot,” she joked. “I came with you because you promised to take Annie swimming. I'm not about to marry you and live happily ever after. Now—did you bring me in here to screw me or show me your house?"

“Maybe both."

“Okay, but let's get the sex out of the way before Annie loses interest in Lucky."

“Get sex out of the way?” Sam asked as he backed away.

“Look, Uncle Sam. If you think my juices are running down my legs, you have another think coming. You have much to learn about bedroom performance."

“Last night you didn't..."

“I get paid to fake pleasure, Sam. I just forgot for a moment last night that I wasn't on stage."

His shoulders sagged and she touched him gently on the cheek. “Sam, you're a sweet guy and your dick is as big as any I've ever allowed inside me. You have potential, but I'm just not interested in you. Why can't you understand that?"

“Wishful thinking, maybe,” he mumbled.

“Look, we've got time for a quickie. You have rubbers or do I need to go back to the car for mine?"

He looked up and tried to smile. “I couldn't make love to you now if my life depended on it. I'm limp as a wet noodle."

Shelly realized she hurt him and regretted it. She glanced around the large room. “I don't think I've ever seen a paneled living room before."

“It's not a living room,” he explained. “Living rooms are usually kept for show—not living. They call this a great room. In the left front corner, I have my home entertainment center, complete with dish antenna outside."

“That's the biggest damn TV I ever saw."

“Biggest they make. I get over a hundred channels."

“I never watch TV,” she said as she moved towards the sofa facing the brick fireplace.

“You will when we're married."

She turned and shook her head. “Give it a rest, Sam."

“Over in the right front corner is my desk, computer and bookshelves."

“I don't guess you read much. The shelves are all but empty."

“I used to read a lot when I was a kid. I keep thinking I'll get back to it one day."

“I'm surprised that you have a computer. You don't look like a computer nerd."

“I thought the same thing about you when I saw the Mac in your apartment. Sean Taylor made me a good deal on that IBM laptop and separate monitor."

“Sean Taylor?"

“Damn. I did it again. He's the local computer guru. He runs the Dollar Internet Service."

“I'll bet you use the Internet to access the sex sites."

“Of course,” he said with a smile. “I get the Adult Network on my dish antenna too. If I weren't something of a voyeur, I would never have met you."

She grinned as she moved away. “You have the dining room table in this room also?"

He caught up with her. “There's a formal dining room in the right wing, but I don't use it. Look at this.” He pushed a button and part of the back wall seemed to roll into the ceiling. “Ta-da,” he laughed. “Your kitchen, Delilah."

“Not my damn kitchen,” she laughed. “I have trouble boiling water. I thought you were the cook."

“Oh, that's right. I did promise to do the cooking once we are married."

“Stop it, Sam, and my name is Shelly."

He ignored her comment as he held open the kitchen door for her. “I have a feeling we will either eat frozen dinners or become the Korner Kafe's best customers,” he joked.

“This is the biggest damn kitchen I've ever seen and just look at all those appliances. I think you'd better start looking for a cook to marry instead of a stripper."

“With the exception of the bedroom and back porch, there's nothing else to see. All the other rooms are empty. So, which do you want to see first, the bedroom or porch."

“Surprise me."

“Come with me, you lovely creature,” he said, grasping her hand.

“With all the empty rooms downstairs, the bedroom is upstairs?” she asked when he led her to the steps just inside the left wing of the house.

“The master bedroom is upstairs and it's, uh, special. I admit I added a few features that were not originally in the plans."

She burst out laughing when she stepped inside the bedroom. “I've never seen so many mirrors hanging on walls in my life."

He pointed upwards with a wry grin on his face.

“The whole damn ceiling is one huge mirror,” she laughed.

“Hey, I have a life, you know. Come on, I want you to see the bath."

“My God, it's as big as my whole apartment and there's two sinks and two dressing tables. That's a nice touch. Here's the shower,” she continued as she opened the opaque door. “Damn, a family of six could shower together in that thing."

“Yeah, and take a look at my oversized Whirl Pool."

“Oh, man,” she cooed. “I could use that at the end of every day. Do you have any idea how much my thighs hurt at the end of my performances?"

“I can only imagine."

She glanced around the room. “There seems to be something missing. Don't you ever shit?"

He laughed and opened a door to a smaller room. “His and hers commodes,” he said. “The one on the left is yours. It has a bidet."

Shelly chuckled as they returned to the bedroom. “I confess I have wondered what it would be like to watch myself in action."

“Condoms are in the bedside table."

“I'm tempted,” she said with a wicked grin on her lips, “but we've left Annie alone too long as it is."

They retraced their steps, went through the kitchen and stepped out onto the back porch. “Sam, this really is nice,” she said as she examined the padded porch furniture and wrought iron tables."

He pointed upward.

“Oh, no,” she laughed as her eyes followed the gesture. “More mirrors?"

“Built-in variable speed fans,” he explained. “If Mother Nature does not provide a nice breeze, the flick of a switch will."

“You do have a nice place here, Uncle Sam,” she said as she passed through the screen door he held open for her and descended the porch steps. “I like all the trees on your lot too. It doesn't leave much grass for you to have to cut."

“Raking the leaves in the fall makes up for it,” he joked. “I don't care for all the bushes they planted around the foundation,” he said, turning towards the house. “I thought we could take out some of them and plant flowers."

“Sam,” she hissed. “I'm not going to be your gardener any more than I'm going to be your wife.” She walked towards the right side of the house.

He caught up with her just as a packed car pulled into the next door driveway.

“The old codger driving that car can't possibly be the father of two-year old twins,” Shelly said.

Sam chuckled as the car seemed to explode with opening doors. “The twins are three, I think. The young couple are Randy and Jo Nickels and the twins and baby are theirs, of course. The elderly lady is Randy's mother, Leora and the old guy is her husband. Damned if I know his first name. Everybody calls him Borders.”

Sam returned his neighbors’ waves.

“That poor thing has to look after twins and a baby too? Her husband should have his dick chopped off."

“Ouch,” Sam said playfully. “Jo's a great mother. I understand they went through hell and high water to have those children. I think Leora looks after the kids. Randy and Jo are both novelists and run the Dollar Publishing Company. Leora writes too."

“And the old man sits around taking up space?"

Sam laughed. “He's a retired detective with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's department. I think he plays golf every day and, when the spirit moves him, he runs a part-time detective agency."

“That's a busy household."

Sam nodded his agreement as he pointed towards the road. “I'm thinking that area at the front of my property would look great as a natural area—you know, pine straw and wild flowers. What do you think, Delilah?"

“Stop it, damn it.” She grabbed his arm as she stared towards the front of the house. “I don't see Annie!” There was panic in her voice.

“Calm down, Shelly. She couldn't have gone far."

“Annie!” Shelly screamed, but before she could call again, Sam clamped his hand over her mouth and turned her towards the porch. Annie, lying in a fetal position at the top of the steps with Lucky snuggled in her arms, was fast asleep.

Sam gently scooped the golden-haired tot into his arms. Her eyelids fluttered and she sleepily asked, “Is it time to go swimming?"

“Almost,” Sam promised, snuggling her head to his chest. “First we are going to have the best lunch you ever ate."

“I'm not hungry. I want to go swimming."

“It won't be long now,” Shelly said as she strapped Annie into the baby restraint in the back seat of Sam's Taurus.

“Hey, neighbor!"

All eyes turned toward the sound. Borders waved as he approached.

“Mr. Borders,” Sam said as he shook the old man's hand, “this is my friend, Shelly Brooks and the delightful little doll in the back seat is Miss Annie Brooks."

Borders smiled and nodded. “Good to meet you, folks. Leora and I are having a cookout tonight for a few friends. She tried to call you last night, Sam, but never did get an answer. I sure do hope y'all can join us about six."

Shelly tried to get Sam's attention, but he pretended not to notice. “We'll have to eat and run, Mr. Borders. Shelly lives in Charlotte and has to work tonight. I promised to have her home by eight."

“That's great.” Borders turned to Shelly as he again pumped Sam's hand. “Look forward to seeing you tonight, ma'am."

As the teal Taurus wound its way to the Korner Kafe, Shelly grumbled, “My first show is at eight, Asshole."

“Calm down, honey. You have to eat anyway. I'll have you home by seven-thirty. I promise."

“It takes me an hour to put on my makeup."

“You'll still have time. You didn't come on stage until eight forty-five last night."

“You were there the entire night?"

He chuckled. “Didn't mean to, but I had to see what the special show was like. Everybody was talking about it. It cost me an extra fifty bucks."

“I trust you got your money's worth."

Sam nodded as he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. “I still can't believe that drunk, trying to crawl on stage at the end of your act, actually put the cigarette in his mouth."

“Why not?” she mumbled. “You seemed to enjoy the taste later in the evening."

“Yeah,” he said, setting the parking brake. “Best you-know-what I ever ate."

“Shelly,” Sam said as he held the car door for her, “the place is always packed on Sundays and Dot is a very friendly town. We can't avoid some introductions but I'll do my best to make them brief. It would probably be better if we don't mention your, uh, vocation."

The jerk thinks he owns me, Shelly thought. Drags me around, accepts invitations without consulting me and now he's telling me what I can and cannot say. Maybe I need to teach him a lesson.

True to his word, Sam briefly introduced Shelly and Annie to the hostess, Maggie Bennett who, along with her husband, owned the restaurant and attached motel. As Maggie led them to the only available booth, more brief introductions to seated customers were necessary.

When introduced to the Dollars, Shelly said, “Oh, you're the rich dudes Sam says everyone in Dot worships. He says folks take turns kissing your collective asses."

Sam frowned and tried to cover by saying, “If it weren't for the Dollars, there would be no Dot."

“Who are your lovely guests, Sam?” a female voice asked as they almost reached their booth.

Sam smiled. “This is Goldilocks and her mother, Shelly Brooks. Ladies, this is Buzz and Debbie Adams. They are part owners of the two service stations across the street and Buzz manages the fast food station. Mrs. Adams is the principal of the Dot school and is the town's first mayor."

Buzz tousled Annie's hair as Shelly shook hands with Debbie. “I'm impressed,” Shelly said.

Buzz smiled knowingly at Sam. “Your friend is gorgeous, Sam. If I were you I'd be
very
nice to her.” He looked at Shelly while offering his hand. “Shelly, you look so familiar to me. Have we met?"