Jack stepped back, surveying the results of his recent efforts, then stole yet another look at the clock. Almost six, and he wondered when she’d be home as she was a little later than usual. He had no illusions of ever realizing the random idea that she’d ever want him, but he enjoyed the few minutes he had with her at the end of his workday.
He wasn’t one to fantasize much, as that only seemed to lead to frustration. It was now almost ten years since his wife died in a car accident, and it saddened him to realize he’d given up trying to replace her. She was an amazing woman and wife, and for years, he couldn’t even think of seeing someone else, but as usual, those feelings subsided with time.
Finally accepting his isolation, he realized he had no idea in today’s world how to go about meeting someone. He’d always hated bars for the smoke, false bravado, and insincere flirting of inebriated patrons. His job provided opportunities, but he always wondered about motives, having been known to be very successful, both in his work and private investments, and he wasn’t sure he could ferret out the golddiggers from the others.
His wife’s sudden death had him questioning his slaving away at a high-pressure job in the financial market. He wondered whether he might be missing something, and his own potential mortality left him feeling like life was passing him by. After getting his investments in order, he gave suitable notice and retired at age fifty.
He didn’t miss the work and its perpetual struggle for more money, not only for his clients but himself as well. He kept an eye on his investments just enough to ensure stability but otherwise left the financial world behind, yet found he had too much time on his hands without the ten to twelve-hour days to mark time.
He’d always been interested in woodworking, having learned from his father from a very young age and did many of his home improvements himself. A neighbor lamenting the sorry state of tradesmen needed for a project had him offering his services, and finally, he was spending time on something he enjoyed that helped out a friend as well.
And so his handyman business was born. He worked primarily for neighbors where his reputation quickly spread, but he ensured they understood that he wouldn’t work to a deadline or every day. In exchange, they got quality work at an unheard-of price, as he wasn’t doing it for the money.
An added benefit was meeting new people, even making a few casual friends, which made him wonder if he might find some female companionship. As his customers were in a similar financial position as himself, those motives were no longer a worry, so he opened up a bit in hopes of meeting someone.
Waiting for Haley to get home, he recalled some of the ‘opportunities’ he’d had due to his new job. One woman, much older than he had repeatedly made her availability painfully apparent, and he shuddered again as he had then to think of it.
In another instance, he was installing some crown molding throughout a young, married woman’s home. He’d gone to his truck to retrieve a tool and returned to the bedroom to find her lying naked on the bed, knees up and legs spread, blatantly offering herself for their mutual pleasure. He smiled when he recalled the reason why he took her up on her offer. She was very attractive and sexy, but the feature that had his tongue buried in her slit was her hairless pussy, a new experience for him. They both enjoyed his mid-afternoon snack and came several times in different ways during their one-day-stand.
His reverie was interrupted by the sound of the garage door opener doing its job. A minute or two later, Cindy and Evan were again running into the house with childish glee, greeting him with ‘Hi, Mr. Jack!’ Cindy went to her bedroom while Evan gave him the ‘high-five’ Jack had taught him.
“Hello, Jack,” she said as she leaned against the door opening into the great room where he worked. He paused enough for her to notice him looking at her with a smile that said he liked what he saw.
“Hi, Haley,” he said, stepping out of her line of vision, adding, “What do you think?”
“Wow! It’s perfect! You do such good work,” she said, the unintended double entendre of the work she wished he’d do on her a pleasant distraction.
“Thank you! I’ll finish on Thursday,” he said, his disappointment barely showing.
“Oh? Um. That’s great! Yeah,” she stammered, her feelings more apparent.
“Is something wrong?”
“No! No, nothing. It’s just,” she started and wondered whether she should continue. Throwing caution to the wind, she said, “It’s just that it’s been kinda nice having an adult to talk to when I get home.” Both worried and hopeful that he’d see past her over-simplification of her feelings, she returned his smile.
“So, how’re the kids doing in school,” he asked, changing the subject, acutely unsure how to continue the other discussion.
They talked for a while about the kids, her job, and the new staircase he’d built, but eventually, it was time for him to clean up and leave. Again, there was a pregnant pause at the door, both wishing they could be more forthcoming about their feelings.
As predicted, Thursday saw the completion of the project, and he waited for over an hour for her to come home, with the excuse of getting paid, but he really just wanted to see her again, not sure if he ever would again.
The usual process of the kitchen door opening to the excited kids greeting him as they ran to their rooms ensued, but Haley was on the phone when she walked into the room, smiling at Jack as an unspoken ‘hello.’
“Yes, I understand. No, it’s fine! These things happen. No, you just take care of yourself and get better,” she finished, pressing the ‘end’ button on the call, adding a simple ‘Damn!’ before dropping the phone in her bag.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Yeah. Um. Hi, Jack,” she said, forgetting for a second the thoughts that preceded the phone call; Jack would be done and gone today.
“Anything I can help with?” he offered, hoping for any excuse to see her again.
“No. No, but thanks for offering. It’s just that I have this important client meeting tomorrow, right after work, that includes dinner, and I won’t get home till late. I had my usual babysitter lined up, but she’s sick and can’t do it now. I’ll have to leave the meeting to my colleagues.”
“I’ll do it!” he offered.
“Oh, I can’t ask you. Um. Thanks for offering, but …”
“Really, Haley. I would be happy to do it for you! I know how to take care of kids. Cindy and Evan seem to like me okay. Why not?”
“It’s not just taking care of them at night. You’d have to pick them up from daycare, feed them, and get them to bed,” she said, wondering why she was trying to talk him out of it.
“Look, I’d have to take them for some fast food because you don’t want them eating what I eat,” he started with a laugh. “The rest is easy. Please? I want to do it for you!”
A smile started forming on her face as she hoped against hope that his offer was more than just trying to be helpful.
“Are you sure?” she said, giving him one more chance to get out of it and getting a ‘Yes!’ they went through the schedule and instructions, including telling the kids that Mr. Jack would pick them up tomorrow.
They both forgot about the staircase and his final payment as they went to the door for him to leave. This time, she gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek, showing her appreciation for getting her out of a jam and getting an affectionate smile in return.
Opting to take a second outfit to change into for dinner, Haley went to work dressed for casual Friday but carried a bag with her change of clothes. She had to set her boss’s mind at ease when he thought she might attend the dinner in jeans and a casual blouse, and when she did change, his eyes popped out of his head at the sight of her in a shapely black dress that showed her female assets to their best advantage.
The dinner and meeting with the potential client went well, and it looked like they’d be getting their business. She was pleased with the outcome, but as she drove home, her professional excitement was replaced by the anticipation of seeing Jack. If she was honest, it was him she’d dressed for, not the client, and the unique opportunity of them being alone, with the kids already in bed, had not escaped her notice.
Jack was also aware of the situation, and though he had little hope of landing someone only a few years older than his daughter, he saw no harm in dressing as though he might. Wearing casual slacks that fit him well, with a silk shirt untucked and an extra button or two open, he hoped he looked sexy without going overboard.
She said she’d be home between nine and nine-thirty, and it was closer to the half-hour when the usual sound of the garage door opening signaled her arrival. Sitting in a leather wing chair, he turned the TV off and tried to look casual. The butterflies started when he heard the kitchen door open.
Haley hesitated for a few seconds before entering the kitchen from the garage, questioning whether she was doing the right thing. There was no question she wanted Jack, but did he want her? She took a deep, cleansing breath, opened the door, and entered the great room.
“Hi, Jack,” she said calmly, noticing he’d forgone the work clothes she’d always seen him in and hoped his more attractive ‘maleness’ meant what she wished.
“Hi, Haley,” he replied as he turned toward her, practically jumping out of the chair when he saw her. “My God, Haley! You look gorgeous!” he said, standing and facing her. She smiled and bit her lower lip, almost embarrassed at the compliment.
“You clean up pretty good yourself,” she replied, liking his casual, almost sensual appearance.
They were about ten feet apart but moving closer in baby steps.
“The kids okay?” she asked more as an obligation as she knew they would be.
“Yeah. Asleep,” he replied, still closing the gap.
“Good,” she replied, close enough to lean in and kiss him lightly on the lips, her eyes darting between his green/gold eyes and mouth, looking for a reaction.
He hesitated only a couple of seconds, and giving in to his desire, he reached for her face with both hands and pulled her in for a short but passionate kiss. They both smiled and like magnets, their bodies came together, their arms wrapped tightly around each other. Lips met, and tongues danced.
For minutes, the two just held each other, luxuriating in the feel of their bodies willingly, wantonly pressed together. Hands, behaving for now, stroked hair, faces, and backs while she pressed her chest to his, wishing it was a flesh-on-flesh connection.
Their lips parted, and they stared into each other’s eyes while Jack’s hand slipped behind her neck and, moving to her side, reached down with his other hand just below her bottom, scooping her into his arms. Her breathing already heavy, she couldn’t believe how such a simple act could feel so good.
“Haley, may I take you to your …” he started.
“Yes, Jack. Take me,” she replied and kissed him again with her arms around his neck.
She kicked off her shoes as he began walking, wanting to smother his face with more kisses but tempered those emotions, not wanting to seem too eager. Her mind was at war with itself, the angel on her shoulder winning for the moment, but her wet panties and the devil on the other shoulder were telling her to throw herself at him.
Jack, too, was on unfamiliar ground, the respectful gentleman in him taking charge. Like a parched man dying for water, he wanted to drink her in one gigantic gulp, but afraid he’d frighten her, he checked his emotions carefully. There was time enough for feasting.
Putting her back on her feet in the bedroom, he stood behind her, putting his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck and cheek when she turned her face to him. His hands moved up to cup her magnificent tits, grasping the supple orbs firmly and kneading them as she pressed them into his hands, wanting more.
