Chapter One - The Little Thief - Charles Fornau

The car could not have been going any faster. It was doing at least 90 miles an hour on these streets, in a residential area. The driver was taking turns going faster than the car could hold the pavement, then finally it skidded out of control, slammed sideways into my tree, the back end just behind the rear wheels hitting at a right angle and slamming the rear end partially out from under the car. The passenger door swung open from the massive impact, almost being ripped from the hinges. The driver’s door opened and out came a guy with a gun, shooting once, and quickly being taken care of with a few police bullets. He had not heeded their demands to stop, and he shot before they could tell him to lay the weapon down. He obviously thought he could take them out and run before they returned fire and neutralized him as a threat. He was wrong. Dead wrong. Two of San Diego’s finest put him down like a mad dog.

They saw me watching from my porch. “Sir, did you see any of this incident,” the male officer asked me.

I said, honestly, “Yes, officer, I saw everything that happened all three times you all came by here chasing him. Watched the whole thing. Right up to the end.”

“Thank you. Sorry, but we’ll need statements. Is that your home?” I nodded. “OK, then. Officer DelGado or I will be with you as soon as our supervisors and the medics get here.” He went to the suspect to help his partner, whom I presume was Officer DelGado, check on the driver.

“He’s dead, Rodg. We killed him.” It was a woman’s voice. A very sad woman’s voice. “I guess we just made the point zero one percent.”

“Yeah, but don’t worry, Steph. We have the dashcam and the one witness, at least. It’ll be OK. We’ll be OK. It was the only thing we could do.” It was faint, but my hearing is pretty good.

My time in the service had minimal exposure to aircraft engines, even then just on the inside of the aircraft, and mostly helicopters. I also had a penchant for wearing ear protection. I always wore protection at the firing range. Before they made the electronic earphones and earpieces, the guys made fun of the weirdo in the mickey mouse ears. I spent a month’s pay on some of the first electronic ones and always wore them in the field. Now when I speak softly, they just say, “What?” Joke’s on you! I can still hear.

Then I saw the flash. Of a zipper, metal tag, or some such, over by my big Bird-of-Paradise in the yard. It was not a large person. I looked more carefully. Their jacket was nylon, slightly shiny, very black. Jeans, blue, but no white showing, no fraying. A foot. Small. Black shoe. Worn eyelets. That’s what reflected my porch light.

I walked over, whistling, then when I was close enough, I looked down, into a little face, looking up at me, trembling, tears falling, sniffling. It spoke.

A soft, feminine voice, whispered, simply, “Let me hide here. I’ll give you lots of money. If you turn me in, the money is gone. They’ll take it. If Sam is dead, no one will know. Please, mister. Let me hide until everyone is gone.”

I said nothing, just nodded and walked to my side door, the one to the garage, leaving it open, then walked out by the street to make it look like I was paying attention to what they, the police, were doing. There was more commotion when another cruiser pulled up. Then an ambulance arrived. I looked back at a small dark figure moving in the shadows, toward, and then into my garage. Bright kid. Bright, I know. Took me up on my hint to go inside. Kid, speculation from the little cherub face, the small form, and the little tiny black Keds on their feet.

The police involved were talking to their sergeant, and it looked like a lieutenant showed up, so I meandered back inside, telling them I had to check on my niece. They acknowledged and said they’d check with me for the statement in a bit.

Once inside, I went through the house, looking for my little guest. I found her, in the master bathroom, shaking like a leaf, trying to get her pants off.

“Are you OK? Can we talk? I’d like to know who I just let sneak into my house after a deadly chase, crash and shootout, if it’s OK with you, my dear.”

She started crying. “I want,” sniffle “my pants off,” snort “they’re wet,” inhale “and nasty,” sniff “and cold. Oh God, I hope it’s over. I thought I was dead.”

“Here,” I told her, taking her elbow.

She was shaking. I didn’t know if it was a shiver from nerves, cold tremblers, or what it was, but she was… Shock, Chuck, she’s in shock. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Gotta help her. I set her on the toilet and pulled her shoes off, damp from the grass. Then I was able to pull her pants legs over her feet. Skinny jeans. I threw a big bath towel over her legs. She smelled of urine. That’s what was wet.

I left her there and started the water in the tub, warm water. I squeezed in a splash of bubble bath I had kept around for an old girlfriend. Lilac. It was pretty old. I was hoping it still bubbled. It might, it still smelled good. The tub had a shower from before the remodel to add the walk-in shower, so I left the curtain hanging. Glad I forgot that now.

“Go. Finish undressing and get in the tub. The warm water will help. I’ll get you a shirt to wear and throw all your stuff in the washer. Are these Keds still washable?” She nodded.

I went to get a robe and a T-shirt. “Hurry, you need the warmth.” She started while I walked out. Grabbing a robe from the closet door and a cotton Broncos jersey off a hanger, I went back in the bathroom to a pulled shower curtain and the sound of a body moving in bubbly water.

“Care to tell me what this is all about, young lady? Let’s start with a name.”

“Ashley. Ashley Lynn. Ashley Lynn Simms.”

“OK, Ashley Lynn Simms. Who are you and what are you doing in my bathtub?”

“I’m an orphan, and I was invited. Your friends outside are going to be wanting to talk to you. I’d rather stay back here, since if they know I was in that car, nothing but trouble will come of it. Until after you talk to them, the less you know, the better off you are. Please trust me, sir. I’m not the bad guy here.” The sniffs, snorts, and catching of her breath were easing.

“They don’t know you were in the car?”

“Probably not. No way to know.” Sniff.

“If they see you, you’re my niece, in from St. Louis for the summer. Just stay back here. Please tell me you’re not an axe murderer.”

“Nope. Just a girl in trouble.” Snort.

“OK, I’m going to take a chance.”

“Thanks. You won’t be sorry.” She sniffled.

The knock I was expecting came at the door. Letting the officers in, they asked if they could record an interview. They sat on the couch, with me next to them in an easy chair. I didn’t have a problem with it, said so, and let them guide me through what I saw. They wanted me to say that I heard them say ‘Stop’ before the shots were fired, but they had to be careful not to even get close to saying that’s what they wanted. I knew the drill. I laid it out exactly like it happened, totally exonerating them. It was only right. They said they’d get my statement typed up and call in the morning to arrange for a going over and a signature. That worked, and I let them know that. They left, Officer DelGado still shaken, but sounding and looking a bit better.

Back in the bathroom, Ashley was still in the tub, although she’d pushed the curtain back. She was still under the bubbles, but they would start popping down anytime, I presumed.

“Under your bed there is a bag. I’m not assuming that you couldn’t just kill me and take it for yourself, but I’m hoping what I say next will keep that from happening…” I interrupted her.

“I have no such intention. You did mention money for keeping you, and that might transpire, but don’t assume I’m the bad guy here, either.”

“OK. There’s more. A lot more. I need to get back to it before people come looking for that asshole they just shot. I hope he’s dead. That would be my ticket to freedom.”

“Then you’re free.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m so sorry, God,” she looked up, “but he deserved it.” She looked at me. “He bought me from some people. I should say he was buying me from some people, when he killed them and robbed them. He was going to kill me, too, after he raped me, I think. Anyway, this morning he got me from them and took three bags from them. One full of money, one full of drugs, and the little one in there with money and some jewelry and stuff. Some cut, unmounted diamonds, and I think, some emeralds, too. They’re very green and very shiny. Anyway, I need to get to the warehouse he took me to this morning where he dropped off the drugs and the big bag of money. I’ll be straight with you…” She looked at me questioningly.

“Chuck. Chuck Cooper.”

“OK, I’ll be straight with you, Chuck Cooper. I have no idea how much money is in there or in the other bag, but after what I’ve been through for the last few months, it is mine, and I deserve what you don’t steal from me.”

“OK, Ashley Lynn Simms. You’ve made your point. Are you hungry or anything?”

“I’m famished, Mister Cooper. Dickwad didn’t feed me all day. I figured we were on the way to my last resting place when the cops tried to pull him over. I’m going to assume he’s wanted for something big, ‘cause he was cussing and yelling up a storm while he was trying to get away from them. He showed no love for the police, that’s for sure. I’m just glad the car threw me out instead of crushing me on that tree. I’m probably lucky just to have these scrapes.” She stood and showed me her hip.

I almost passed out. I have a thing for little redheads anyway, but when she stood and showed me her hip and leg, she also showed me her neck, shoulders, chest, waist, bottom, other leg and Oh! My! did she show me! The only thing I didn’t see at first was her feet and the little patch of red hair over her nether region. I got to see that when she turned and asked about the other hip. All that was left was her feet. Auuugggghhhhhhh, she’s cute.

I told her to sit back down and offered to wash her hair for her. “Since I’ve seen most of you now…”

“Most of me?”

“Yes, I have a thing for redheads, petite females, feet, stockings, high heels, and voices like yours. You sound so sweet, and so innocent. In any case, I’ve seen everything but your feet…” She interrupted me this time.

“Mr. Cooper. Chuck. You and I are going to get along just fine. I guarantee.” And that was that. I never questioned my feelings for her after that simple statement. I never had to. She laid back in the tub to get her hair nice and wet for me, then lifted her legs straight up, perpendicular to her body. “Feet, two of them. You like? You can touch them if you want. I’m not shy. I’ll explain later.”

I reached out and massaged two of the cutest dainty lovable feet my nasty old hands had ever touched.

“Oh, jeez, that feels good. It’s been so long since anyone has touched me without trying to hurt me. Thank you.”

I washed her hair and rinsed it well. The bathtub shower had a hose or shower wand or whatever they’re called. I used that to rinse her long, shag cut, beautiful, bright red hair out. Maybe that’s why I haven’t taken all that out. The curtain and rod. Subconsciously I knew… Never mind. No relevance whatsoever to me walking out of that bathroom before I came in my pants. Anyway, I offered her a washrag and a bar of soap and walked out.

About 5 minutes later, she padded into the kitchen, wearing the blue and orange shirt. It came down to mid-thigh on her. The robe, I presume, was still in the bathroom.

“Thank you for not turning me over to the police. I can’t promise you much, but I can promise you won’t be sorry. At least not because of me. I have my birth certificate, a social security card, and a passport. I’m a real legal person, if you can believe it. We all got them at the orphanage when we turned 13. They said it would make our lives easier in the future. Especially the passport. It’ll help me get a driver’s license easier, from what I hear. If you’ll teach me to drive, I’ll buy you a new car. What kind do you want? Sorry, Chuck. Mr. Cooper, I’m rambling.”

“It’s OK, I like hearing your voice. I told you that. You are burning adrenaline from your little episode, and you’re a little stressed out right now. It’s all good. Has anyone ever told you how extremely cute you are?”

“Not in those words. The two that bought me from the orphanage in Iowa said I was extremely ‘fuckable’, but I don’t know how that relates to (she air quoted) ‘cute’. Thank you, by the way.”

“You’re welcome. The other is a rude way of saying you were going to be worth quite a bit of money to them in the human trafficking industry at some point, but you can see where that got them. And the fellow they traded with. Do you think you want to track that money bag down tonight, or tomorrow?”

“Tonight. If you don’t mind. I think we should just leave the other bag there. Of course, I would hope an honest cop finds it, but I don’t want any chance of calling it in to go wrong and get nabbed myself.”

“Maybe I can think of something. Let me feed you and we can get your clothes clean and dry and go take care of your other savings account.” She giggled. And nodded. That was as cute as the giggle.

I fixed us each a sandwich and put a few chips and some bottles of water out with it. Once we had eaten, and got her clothed, we set out in my truck, a nondescript old Dodge Ram, for the vicinity of downtown National City and a rundown warehouse she was just vaguely familiar with. She told me she’d never forget the oily smell. It was catty corner across the alley from a Taco Bell, and between an empty lot and an abandoned run-down building. Perfect. Urban renewal. Coop style.

We parked in the Taco Bell lot, after I checked for cameras with my meter, and walked across to the building. She had a key from the other bag. I had told her to use the same door he did earlier. Once we were inside, she picked up and checked the big duffel that the money was in. I told her to take it back to the truck and just nonchalantly put the bag on the ground by the back door on my side and I’d be there in a bit. She could barely lift it, but she shouldered the strap and soldiered on.

Oil was everywhere. The abandoned place used to be a garage. There were still a lot of flammables laying around here and there. I put the duffel with the drugs in the corner of the concrete and cinder block walls to increase the heat exposure, then surrounded it with all the cans and jugs I could find. I placed a small timer inside an old oil can. A hydrocarbon based mini torch explosive would blend with the oil residue. The device wouldn’t be found. Spontaneous combustion would be the documented cause. The drug residue would be found with a mass spectrometer, should they go that far. I doubted they would. They’d hit the residue of old oily rags and a couple of sets of dirty overalls first.

I got back to the truck, threw the duffel in the back seat, then we got in the drive through line for a few tacos, pintos and cheese, a Mountain Dew for her, a Pepsi for me and off we went.

When we got back to the house, I put her in the guest room with her Broncos shirt for pajamas. Waking her up at nine in the morning, I invited her out to the kitchen for a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. I turned on the kitchen TV and scanned the local stations for news.

“At three o’clock this morning, a small shop fire in an old garage burned it to the ground. Nothing was salvageable. That is why the city council wants new businesses to move in and use some of these properties. Tax Incentive Financing is the only way…” And so it went on the morning news. Another fire, in another rundown neighborhood. Must’ve gotten hot enough to disintegrate the whole bag with the drugs, but then, that was the plan.

After we ate, I thought we should go ahead and finish the talk now. There was so much I needed to know. I liked the kid, and could use the company, as well. She was a nice addition to the décor.

“OK, it started 16 years ago, and a few weeks. I was born in Nebraska, then my parents moved to Iowa. They were killed in a car wreck when I was two. I guess I’m thankful I was with a babysitter. Sometimes I’m not so thankful. Depends on the day. I was passed from orphanage to foster home to orphanage and back, and finally, after a few interviews a nice looking couple shows up in Sioux City to take me ‘home’ (she air quoted again in her cute little way) with them. In the parking lot, I’m led to a van with two men, the couple gets in a car and drives off. They put some strong smelling cloth thing over my face and I don’t remember a thing between there and a house here overlooking the bay down there. From what I understand that’s Mission Bay. That’s my life. Other than a brain, I used to get pretty good grades, I’ve got nothing, except those bags, my birth certificate, and my passport. Oh, and my Social Security card. That’s in the packet with my birth certificate inside the passport.”

“Well,” I started in, “I went through the bags, and if I steal you blind for everything that isn’t money, you have about three million dollars. There’s a million in bearer bonds and a little over two mill in cash. Unmarked, used, random twenties and hundreds. Wrappers are generic. Not from any known institution. What I have taken aside for now, and we need help with, are about 50 diamonds, 4 or 5 pretty good-sized ones, with a black one mixed in. That thing is worth some money. About 10 emeralds, one in the 3 to 4 carat range, some mixed rubies, sapphires, onyx, and a beautiful double strand of pearls. Those used to belong to someone with taste, money, and a good eye for pearls. There are 80 one-ounce bars of gold, they’re not source identified, and some silver ingots. I’d say you’re worth about 4 million, give or take.”

The little thief had stolen 4 million dollars from someone who would not ask for it back. Where he got it was questionable, but the trail ended with a dead body and a police report.

“Holy crap. I can go to school.”

“Yes, it looks that way. It looks like you can do anything you want, except spend a lot of money. Any expenditure of any size is going to bring the law down on you pretty hard, so be very, very careful what you do with it.”

“How much are you going to take for helping me?”

“Hey, hon, I’m not taking anything from you. Ashley, you stole that money from bad people. It’s yours fair and square. Now, if you need some place to stay while you figure out what to do with it, and youself, you can buy some groceries once in a while, and hang out. I’d love to have you stay around for a while.”

“I don’t believe you. No one would do that.”

“Well, Ashley, you don’t know me. I can’t prove I’m not going to do something. All I can do is not do it. I’d love to have you hang around. It’s a nice place. There is a fairly nice school here in the neighborhood, as well. You’ll be what, a junior?”

“Senior. I’d love to finish and go to college.”

“I can help with that, too, believe it or not. What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Social work. Child Psychology. Family dynamics. Help kids. Help families. That’s my main goal. Lots of ways to get there.”

“That, my dear girl, is an honorable goal. Very much so. I will do everything I can to help, if I’m around to pitch in.”

“Why wouldn’t you be, Mr…” I held my hand up and tutted. “Chuck. Why wouldn’t you be?”

“Ashley, it’s a big world out there. You’re going to meet some cute stud with a fast boat, fall in love, and run away with him. It’s how the world works. The newer girl models get the newer guy models, and the older models, well, we just wish we were younger so we could get a newer girl model.” I smiled at her, and she giggled. Cute giggle.

“I understand, but I’m not going anywhere. At least not for the time being. I’ve known you for… fourteen hours, and you haven’t stolen from me, grabbed my ass, tried to shove your tongue down my throat or told me to suck your dick. At this point… Chuck… You are the nicest man I’ve met since I was two.” A smile. She got one from me, too.

“Let’s see if I can keep the streak going. You seem like a nice person, Ashley. I’ll even buy dinner tonight. Wanna eat out and celebrate our new-found friendship, or find some steaks and dirty the California air?”

“Let’s go out, please? I’ve been cooped up for so long, I’d love to move around a little. Think I could go shopping, too? I’d like to add some color to my wardrobe, not to mention, I’d like a wardrobe.”

“Damned comedienne jumped out of a car into my front yard!” Snickers from both of us. I’m liking her. “Yes, hon, there’s a couple of strip malls up on the hill with a Kohl’s and a Target and a couple other places. There’s a nice steak house up there as well. Let’s start there, with some shopping, then we can eat and chill for the evening. Tomorrow, there’s a mall up the way, actually two. We can go visit those, as well. The next day, another mall south of here. A few different stores. We can get what you need, or I guess maybe what you want, at this rate. In the meantime, I’m free for a while, so let me know what you need, and we’ll go do it. Sounds like you haven’t been on your own yet, so I’ll try to help out. Sound good?”

“Absolutely. I’m so glad I found you. I don’t think this would have gone so well just anywhere.”

“Me neither, doll. Me neither.”

So, we went shopping. She wasn’t kidding when she said we were going to get along fine. She bought skirts, dresses, shorts, cute blouses, high heels for dressing up, and casual, then bought some boat shoes. Nice ones. Sperry Top Siders. Blue leather with satin ribbon looking laces.

“Chuck, do you have boat shoes?”

“Yeah, I have an old pair to knock around in.”

“Get some new ones. Nice ones. These. I like these with the dark blue two-tone leather. They’re sharp. I want you to have these. They’re like mine, too. Similar, anyway.”

“Ashley, why are you so nuts over boat shoes right now?”

“I want a boat. Another dream. We need boat shoes. Appease me. Please?”

“OK, doll. Lemme try ‘em on.” Ashley found a box with my size and brought it over. “Ooooh, nice, little girl. You do good work with little or no supervision. I might have to keep you. These are comfortable. Almost as nice as my old ones, and I haven’t worn them out yet.” I smiled at her and thanked her.

She kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome, Chuck. Ever owned a boat?”

“Yes, but it’s been a while. Inland. Wanting one here. Been shopping, actually. I want a big fishing boat to play on.”

“After I have clothes, you’re going to teach me how to drive and I’m going to buy me a beater car, and we’ll go boat shopping. I want my new friend to take me fishing. I’m sorry, Chuck. I’m not bossing you around. I have no right to do that, anyway. I’m just talking and funning. We’re OK, right?” She looked a little worried, like she’d overstepped or something, so I made my big move.

“We’re more than OK, Ashley. I like you. You are a joyous creature. I get the feeling you haven’t been for a while, and you’re doing the ‘coming out of the shell’ thing. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll tell you, very gently, if you’re getting out of hand. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I’m like you, though. Less than 24 hours, and I’m enchanted. A la Taylor Swift’s song. Please don’t be in love with someone else. I like you, hon. A lot. You’re growing wings. You’ve been held back too long. You have a crazy plan? I’m in. You wanna buy me boat shoes? I’m in. You wanna buy a boat? I’m in. Now look who’s babbling!”

“Babble. To me. You saved me, Chuck. You kept me. You didn’t turn me in. You took a chance. Thank you. I’m going to make it worth your while.” She kissed my nose and took my shoes and put them in the box. “Getting these, right? They fit good?”

I nodded. “Really good, actually.” She smiled, put hers on top and handed them and two other shoe boxes to me. “Great, now I’m a pack mule for a shopaholic!”

“Yup!” She kissed my upper arm walking with a bunch of clothes in her arms and me with the shoes. I realized then that it was just above my elbow. This girl was definitely vertically challenged. But I said I had a thing for petite redheads. Wouldn’t it be nice? I know she’s too young for me, but maybe she’ll grace my vision for a while.

After we checked out, Ashley asked the cashier if she could take a few things back in and change outfits. Looking at her in her utilitarian t-shirt and jeans, the lady said “Of course. Go ahead, hon.” She picked out some stuff and one of the boxes and headed over to the change room in the front corner of the store and told me to stay put.

She came back out, a vision. A light pastel green girl’s tee, white cotton short shorts with a little pastel green ribbon for a belt, as well as one in her hair, and some light natural leather strappy high heeled sandals. She saw my smile. “Five out of six ain’t bad, is it?” she asked in her little girl voice. “Too casual for stockings. They’re in the bag over there, just in case.”

What could I do? My eyes got wet, I leaned over and hugged her. I kissed her earlobe and thanked her for doing this. She made my afternoon. She knew it. I took her for a steak that she claimed to have enjoyed enough to come back there often. “Good. I’m seriously glad to hear that. I know the owners. They’re friends of mine, and I eat here often. Hang on.” I wiggled my fingers, and the waitress came running over. “Crystal, is Frank, or maybe Sally, here?”

“Both are, Chuck. Sally’s doing payroll, so don’t make her mad, OK?” She laughed.

“No way. Not on payday. Will you tell them if they get a break? I’d like to introduce them to someone.”

“Sure, boss. I’ll go tell them now. Hey, a piece of Tiramisu to share, or am I being presumptuous?”

Ashley asked her, “Presumptuous?”

“Yeah, the way you look at each other, he either just saved your life, or you’re in love with him. GooGoo eyes. I just presumed you might want to share a romantic dessert. Just saying.” I nodded to her. “I’ll go tell Grandma and Grandpa you want to talk to them. Gotta run. Tiramisu coming up. Two spoons.”

“Wow. I didn’t think I was being that obvious,” Ashley said.

“Me neither. I recall she said, ‘the way you look at each other’, didn’t she?” I asked her.

“Yeah, Buster, so don’t blame this on me. You did kinda just save my life, though, so there is that.”

Ashley watched as an older couple walked up to her at the table. “Coop, Crystal said you had a girlfriend in the house tonight. Oh, My! Sally, look. She’s a pretty girl, and look, she’s not tied up or anything!”

“Frank, be nice. You don’t know her yet, and she may not care for your sick humor.” Sally hugged me then leaned down and hugged Ashley. “Sorry, hon, I’m a hugger. And any friend of Chuck Cooper’s is gonna get a hug.”

“Frank, Sally, this is Ashley. She’ll be staying with me for a while. Might say she’s a friend and just dropped in.” Ashley laughed.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ashley. Sorry about my rude humor. Sometimes my brain thinks it’s funnier than it is.”

“That’s fine, Frank. It was funny, and not long ago more correct than you’d want it to be. Your friend here is helping me out of a bad situation.”

“Well, when he’s off running around, you come on in and we’ll feed you and take care of you, OK?” Frank added that and Sally nodded.

“Thanks. I might take you up on that. The meal was great, and Crystal is, too.”

Sally told her, “Yeah, she’s our baby now. Working her way through college, so we’re lucky that way. Most grandparents don’t get to see their little ones much these days. We get her several days a week. She’s a gem. Well, you two enjoy. Your dessert will be out in a bit. Chuck, don’t be a stranger. Yeah, I know… You just got back… Same old story. See ya.” On that note, Sally kissed my cheek, hugged Ashley again, kissed her cheek and they walked away.

“Wow. They’re old enough to have a girl that age for a granddaughter? They don’t look it.”

“She’s like you, I think. You’re a year ahead, aren’t you?” She nodded. “Her, too. One or two years. I don’t know. She just turned 18. She’ll be a sophomore at UCSD this fall. Sally was pretty young when she had their son, Anthony, and Antonia, don’t laugh, was pretty young as well, when she gave birth to Crystal. They’re not sixty yet. Anthony was a close friend. He’s not with us anymore. Antonia died giving birth to Crystal’s little sister. Neither made it. Crystal was five or six, so she remembers a lot.”

“You sure know a lot about them.”

“Anthony worked for me at one time. And I own half of this place. They had a fire and had to upgrade some things. I stepped in with some of my savings and helped out. We don’t talk about it, but I get a few bucks off the top, after everything else is paid. The family works the place and keeps the payroll pretty low. Hell, I even pitch in sometimes. Plus, I’m putting Crystal through school.”

“Jeez, Chuck. Blue truck AND a white horse?”

“Just doing what I need to do to sleep at night. I came home from that mission. Anthony didn’t. Sorry, that’s still kind of a raw wound.” Ashley tilted her head and made a little frown. She understood it hurt to talk about losing Anthony. Just then Crystal showed up with the tiramisu. “Honey, can I get a couple glasses of Asti, please.” She nodded. “Thanks, hon.”

“Chuck, I’m only sixteen,” Ashley whispered, like the cops were going to hear.

I leaned down and whispered back, “OK, I won’t tell anyone. And, no one will notice if you don’t whisper and act like you’re about to have your first drink in public!” I smiled at her and reached out to touch the back of her hand. She sighed, then smiled at me.

“Will you be my boyfriend?”

“I thought you’d never ask!” I said. She laughed at that loud enough to garner some unwanted attention then slapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry’, she mouthed to me. I just smiled. Crystal brought us the wine. I raised my glass to hers for a toast. “To my new girlfriend. May I be everything she needs, and enough of what she wants to keep me.” My new girlfriend nodded. We clinked glasses and sipped.

“May I?” she asked. I nodded. “To my new boyfriend. He’s batting a thousand so far.” We clinked and sipped again, me with a smile that almost didn’t fit on my face. A lot of it was inside. It took up a lot of room in there. Most of my heart, to be specific. Coop was a giddy man at that point.

Dinner done, we headed home. We could walk there, but it’s a long way up hill. I told her if she was interested, we would, but only in the summer. In the winter, when it was dark earlier, I wouldn’t feel all that safe with a beauty like her on my arm. I hated to admit it, but even our neighborhood wasn’t completely safe from the ravages of the gangs, drugs, and illegals.

We took her loot inside and put it all in the guest room. I told her I’d been thinking about our toasts, and hoped she was serious. She really was growing on me.

“We’re fine, Chuck. Give it time. I feel the same way, I think.” She hung a dress and put some shoes on the shelf. “I’ve really never had feelings for a man before, so this is new for me. I like it, though. I like it a lot. You make me feel safe and warm, if you get that.”

“I do. I get it. I feel like I’m providing it. Protection and security. Makes a guy feel good. Wanted. It’s a good thing.”

“You’re nice,” she said then, “and you’re not hard to look at, but I’ll bet you hear that all the time.”

“Not since I lost my mother!” I laughed. “Get to work and clean your room up, little girl. It’s a mess. Look at this -- clothes and shoes everywhere.” I laughed. “Seriously, hon, let me know if you need more room, OK?” She nodded and went back to work.

She came back out later; I was in the living room watching Fox News. “Chuck, when we were talking to Sally and Frank, they said to come up when you were gone, and all that. What’s that about?”

“Hon, I travel now and again. It’s nothing, really, and you’ll be taken care of. You’ll want for nothing. Hell, you’ll have a couple places to turn to, if you need something while I’m gone. It’s all good. We’ll talk about it, and it’ll be OK. If I must leave in the middle of the night or anything like that, I’ll leave a note or something, or a text. You’ll know.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a negotiator. Hostages and ransoms, treaties, high end arms deals. I negotiate all kinds of things. I can’t talk about what, or where, or anything, but it’s just a cross between being a psychiatrist and an auctioneer. You’ll be just as good at it when you’re a family counselor like you want.”

“You listened to that?”

“Of course. What you want and what you say is important to me. I told you. You’re growing on me.”

“Oh, Chuck, you keep this up and you won’t be able to get rid of that growth.”

“Gross, but I don’t see a downside. I’ll just put something on over you and soldier on!!”

“You’re a hoot. Chuck, do you have any ice cream? I have no idea why, but I just got a craving.”

“Yes, chocolate chip or some such, then, I think I need to ask you some more questions. Personal questions you may not want to share.” She nodded, then left for the kitchen. I heard every drawer open, then, she got it. The silverware drawer. She came back in a few minutes, everything put away, with a bowl full of the creamy frozen treat.

“Ask away. If I get crabby, just put me in my place.”

“With regards to Monica Lewinsky, what did you know, and when did you know it?” I asked her, looking for a smile. Got one!

“Two different jokes, and I knew nothing, ever, until I was born and could read. With either case. I would have read more, but Fawn Hall shredded most of it before I was old enough. Stop being silly. What do you really want to know? I’m not a virgin. I was raped three times, a month ago, by the two guys that Sam killed yesterday. Other than that, when I was younger, some playing around with girls, but nothing more. I’m not a fan of boys in general. You seem to be different and causing a breach in my normal psyche. I like you. The guy they work for got mad at them and told them to stop using the merchandise and to get me to a doctor and make sure I was clean and OK. It was a gaggy old gynecologist that was just slightly better than having Heckle and Jeckle raping me. The tests were all negative. I know you’re wondering why I’m normal and handling this OK, but I think it’s because my savior, who was going to rape and kill me as well, but didn’t, killed the rapists. So, somewhere, my brain is doing double entry accounting, and it’s all coming out even, without a breakdown. I don’t know how long that will last. I’m a little girl, not a psychiatrist. And, I’ve never played one on TV. Yet.”

“Damn, Ashley, you are a lot more woman than you give yourself credit for. I think one of my goals will be to have you, or should I say LET YOU, be a little girl sometimes. Just so you can get through this. I think you’re right, though. I hope I’m there for you when you crack. It may be bad.”

“Thanks, Chuck. I hope so, too. Back to the story. Other than that, medically I’m OK, according to them, or I should say ‘him’. According to the old man that spent more time playing with me than he did examining me. And except for Sam squeezing my boobs to see if they were real… I didn’t understand that. Who would fake breasts this small? Oh well, anyway, except for that, and looking at me with my pants down, Sam said he was checking for bruises, I’ve been locked up, fed, and coddled. You know, come to think of it, he may not have been going to kill me. He may have had someone to sell me to. Hell, I don’t know. In any case, I do need a doctor, and I would like to have some form of birth control, in case anything nefarious happens to my poor little body.”

“We’ll get on that tomorrow. Before we take little Miss Shopaholic to Fashion Valley. We’ll probably do both malls, but we’ll see. Just depends on what you get interested in. You feeling OK now? I’ve heard that time and ice cream heal all wounds.”

“Yeah, Chuck, I’m fine. Thanks. I’m going to put these in the dishwasher and get some water. You want anything?”

“If you don’t mind, you could fix me something. A generous shot of Maker’s Mark and a little glass of ice water. I don’t want you waiting on me, though.”

“Not a problem. Booze cabinet? Bar? At least point and get me started in the right direction.”

“Dining room. Cabinet over the buffet, bottom shelf. Everything else is in the kitchen. The remodel for the wet bar in the not yet existent theater room isn’t due ‘til next month. Scheduling problem with my contractor. Which is neither here, nor there, and you don’t need to be bored with it.”

“I do if you expect me to still be here then,” she hollered in from the kitchen.

“That would be nice, Ashley. Very nice, if you were.” She brought my drink back and handed it to me, after taking a taste.

“That’s better than the crap those guys had. It was in a plastic bottle.”

“Screw on caps for wine and plastic bottles for booze. Never a good sign.” She took a sip of my water after, then leaned down, kissed me lightly on my lips, said good night and padded out of the room. I was falling for her deeper and deeper each hour, each word, each smile, and definitely each touch.

She woke me in the morning, with a slight rap on the door. “Chuck, it’s seven. What time do you normally get up?” My alarm went off. “Oh. I guess it was only 6:59. Sorry. Can I get you some coffee or something?”

“Absolutely not! I will not have a beautiful vixen like yourself waiting on me hand and foot making me feel like a prince in the kingdom he’ll soon inherit. One teaspoon of sugar, in my Taz mug. Thanks.” She giggled that sweet little laugh and padded off.

She came back in with my coffee and one for her, in a mug with a map of Hawaii on the side of it. She was laughing and kept her smile for me. “You’re a nut. Sorry I cheated you out of that minute of sleep.”

“Don’t worry, Darling, it was only several seconds, and I had just recently started that, so I was already awake. Must I go back to six to appease my beautiful vixen? How long have you been up?”

“About an hour. Maybe less. I just couldn’t sleep. I went down hard last night, though. Then this morning I was taking stock.”

“Care to share?”

“Certainly. You are handsome, nice, generous, friendly, and loved by others. I could see that in Sally, a little in Frank, and Crystal adores you. I’m wondering why you don’t have a significant other, and on a serious note, not joking, if you are in the market for one.” I went to answer, but she stopped me and continued, “No, not yet. Please. It’s been less than 48 hours, and I’m feeling like I belong here. Not the state, or the town, but the house. Here with you. I want to know how you feel, but I’m so afraid to ask. What would a thirty something year old man, a successful man, with your looks, taste, and friends, want with a trailer trash broke down orphan like me? I know it’s not the money. You talked about your job, and that one bottle of scotch in there, I would bet cost as much as one of those diamonds in that bag. The 62-gun salute bottle. It looks like it cost a fortune.”

“It was a gift. A nice gift. Go get it. I want you to taste it.”

“This morning?”

“I said taste, not gulp. You’ll be surprised. As the old man said to the young maiden… Trust me. MWAHHHahahaha.” She giggled and ran out of the room. She came back with the Royal Salute 62 Gun 40 year old blended scotch, a rocks glass and one ice cube. This girl was not stupid. She’d seen a movie or two, or reads, or something. I got the top out and splashed about a teaspoon on the ice cube. I nodded at it, signaling her to try it. She barely tasted it. Just enough to cover her tongue. “Good girl.” I took the glass and did the same, then gave it back to her and nodded again. She did and she smiled.

“Heath bar. Chocolate. Toffee… With nuts. Hazel nuts? Oh God, Chuck, I’m sorry, but I can feel that in my chest and in my… Oh, my, my cunny. OH, MY GOD, that was crude. I’m so sorry. That is, oh, my… never from a drink. I shouldn’t have done that.” I looked a question at her. “Next time I see you with that bottle I believe you may have your eyes on my heretoforegone virtue. The warmth in that bottle reminds me of the kiss I stole last night before bed. Warm all the way down.”

“Young lady, that reminds me, I want it back.”

I set the glass down, grabbed her, and threw her back on the bed, and kissed her. Much like the one last night. Just lips, soft, and I didn’t touch her intimately. I did, however, scare the shit out of her, so I pulled her back up and hugged her.

“Thank you. That one was special, and I wanted it back. You can borrow it anytime you want, though.”

I puckered up theatrically. She slapped my shoulder.

“You are such a silly man. I think I may borrow it back after breakfast. What would you like for your morning meal, that which will break the fast, Oh Prince of the Realm? Eggs, toast, and whatever dead meat I can find?”

“Sounds good, Princess. I’ll be out in a bit.”

“No, Chuck, please stay in bed. Just this morning. I want to stumble and find my way. I’ll be fine. Nothing in there I shouldn’t see? State secrets, other women, nothing like that?”

“I don’t think so, but holler before you throw anyone out. You never know what promises I may have made someone.” She giggled, slapped my leg, kissed me again, gently, and sashayed out. Deeper and deeper. Farther and farther.

I heard her yell. “Over medium? Over easy? I’m not good with the Over Easy, but I can do scrambled, wrecked, or over medium OK.”

“Any of those last ones. Make enough for both of us, too. I’m not an over easy guy, and I can’t get them right, either.” I wasn’t going to tell her about the one girlfriend. So effing picky. Eggs had to be just right, toast buttered perfectly to the edges. I told her one too many times to do them herself after hearing her complain and got my freedom back. She was marvelous in bed, but once out, she was… Not a keeper. If I ever find a woman who will fuck me and suck me, and let me do likewise, gladly and on her own volition, and not complain about little shit like that, I’ll probably marry her. I just haven’t found a woman like me. Loves the sensual and sexual love, as well as intimacy, but would like the non-confrontational aspect of a relationship, too. Just being able to talk without being judged and measured. I don’t think it’s asking too much. Oh, and my point? Just another reason to latch on to Ashley. I just hope it lasted.

The dead meat wound up being bacon, cooked as well as I’d ever had, the eggs, she went with wrecked, which I do all the time, and she found the sourdough bread in the bread box. “Is it too early?” I asked.

“Too early for what?”

“For me to ask you to marry me. If everything you do is like your kisses and your breakfast, I want to jump ahead so I don’t lose you.”

“No, it’s not, but it’s too soon for me to say ‘Yes’. I know we’re goofing around here, but someday we mightn’t be. Keep asking once in a while. Someday, well, you never know! Chuck, you understand I just turned sixteen and have no idea how to take care of a man yet, right?”

“Part of my mind sees that, but the other part sees you, and your potential, and doesn’t give a damn. If I love you enough, I can probably teach you anything. I figure if I make you happy enough you can learn anything. The converse.”

“Keep that thought, Chuck. Keep that thought alive.”

We took in the mall, her showing me many outfits, and purchasing several. She got my number and teased with shoes, almost entirely heels, three inches, more frequently 4 inches, and a couple pair even higher. Platforms, strappy sandals, pumps, peep toes. I was starting to think her proclivity was as bad as mine, or she was feeding mine on purpose. Her smiles. Glances back over her shoulder at me like I was the only one in the building. Mind numbing. In all my life, I’ve never had a woman turn me to jello like this one could.

Dresses, sundresses, a couple of casual suits. Skirt and vest sets, flounced blouses, LBDs and LGDs with the latest styles. Yes LGDs. Every redhead needs the little green dress. They set the hair on fire. Her choices were fashionable, relevant, and hot. Lace and sheer insets. The kind that make younger men drool and older men sit down to rest. She spent time alone in Macy’s, Sak’s, and Victoria’s Secret lingerie departments. Yes, this girl was well read. She wouldn’t let a bra strap ruin the lines of a cocktail gown. THIS was the woman of my dreams. She explained what she was doing but didn’t want to share the visuals just yet. I thought, just a few more hurdles, and I’d know for sure, but she would have to have vaginal refrigeration systems installed internally to ruin my impression of her at this point. Warm jello.

We took the spoils from the pillage and plunder of the mall home and got it separated. I asked her out. On a date. SHE SAID ‘YES’. So, I called a dinner club for a reservation. They knew me. Not as well as Frank and Sally, but a little.

I asked her if I could be so forward as to request she wear the green dress with the sheer black insets with black hose and the green satin pumps. She smiled and nodded. “Good choice, my man. Good choice.” I felt ten feet tall when I left the guest room. I think I ducked going through the door. I’m six one. I was NOT going to bump my head!

At seven o’clock, we met in the living room for the first time as a couple. The girl I met 48 hours ago was not here. The lady I spent yesterday with was not here. The vixen enticing me at the mall earlier today was not in the room, either. The woman pulling at my heart strings was. And she was a spectacular vision. Wondrous. Beautiful. She knew. She had to. My face had to show it. I would have given her my soul at that moment. I would belong to her.

“You like?” she asked in that little girl voice.

“Yes, Ashley. You are stunningly beautiful. I’ll ask again for your hand before the night is over.” She giggled. Shit. “You know what you’ve done. Six for six, maybe seven for six. You may have an extra, but know this, I will never, ever, look at another for joy as long as you grace my vision.”

I cleared my throat and shook my head. She giggled again and mouthed ‘Thank you’.

“Would you allow me, your lowly, undeserving Prince, to accompany your highness to a dining and dancing extravaganza with you as the centerpiece? You need to know now, Princess Ashley, many a knight of the realm will try to abscond with you and take you from me this eve.”

My heart warmed when she said, “They can try, but I’m leaving with the one I arrived with. And, my prince, I’ll dance with the one what brung me. Mah Anglish may suck, but my manners as a lady are impeccable. Got it? No more ‘lowly this’ or ‘inadequate that’. YOU are the Prince of the Realm tonight, not the fakes, imposters, posers, and pretenders. My Man Chuck. Take me dancing, stud. God, I hope I spend more time on my toes tonight than I do on yours.” She laughed at that last statement. The rest, before that, she got out serious as a heart attack. OK, note to self. Easy on the self-deprecation tonight. She ain’t in the mood.

I thought the truck would be tacky, so we took my car, which she hadn’t seen yet. It was a Genesis G90. A friend told me to drive one, just for fun. He had never driven anything but Mercedes, but told me just to try. He gave his last S-450 to his wife and was driving the Hyundai instead. He liked it more. Ashley wouldn’t know the difference, but she did like it. I was thinking about a car for her, but to be honest, I was thinking Audi. Safer, so they say.

At the entrance, the valet opened my door, and the doorman hers. She waited politely for me to come around. Two more points. And a little deeper… Farther.

We checked in and were taken straight to the table. Ashley noticed another two couples waiting and questioned me. “Reservations, darling. They might be walk ins.” She looked back at the couples questioning the head. I don’t think she bought it.

“Chuck, we’re only a couple miles from home. Are the people HERE going to ask me to stop by so they can take care of me while you’re out of town? We’re nowhere near the kitchen door, and so far, every one of the wait staff has looked over here at us.”

“That one’s easy. Look who I have on my arm. You are truly and easily the most beautiful woman in the room. Bar none.”

“The girls?”

“Yes, honey, you are that pretty.”

“You’re full of shit, My Prince. Percentage wise, how much?”

“You hurt me to my soul.”

“How much?”

“Twenty percent. I take ten off net. They had a CEPA problem in the kitchen. Damned state was going to shut down an iconic dance club. I stepped in at the last minute, had the state EPA weenies pound sand and saved the place. It was a liberal attempt to shut down a chauvinistic operation that catered to men demeaning women by dressing them up like dolls and dancing with them. Don’t even accuse me of joking, ‘cause that’s the God’s honest truth from a source within the organization. They got it in writing. A memo from an activist to the director. AND his answer.”

“You AREN’T kidding, are you?”

“No, dear. It’s one of my investments I don’t care if I ever get back. I saved a bastion of social etiquette and an icon of grace. A place of worship where men can admire and revere the member of the species we do everything for. Open doors, hunt the wild beast, schlepp coffee in the morning, slay dragons, all that. I’m a little sentimental about chivalry, and wish the feminists and social justice warriors hadn’t killed it. Enough of that. Have a sip of this. I ordered it just for you.” It was just a good Moscato d’Asti, which she said she enjoyed. We had some shrimp cocktail and a nice little salad with a raspberry vinaigrette of which I loudly asked about the recipe. The waiter took my message to the kitchen.

The head chef personally came out and loudly argued, with his thick French accent, that he would not and could not let me have the recipe for his salad dressing. It would ruin business if all the playboys in town had his salad dressing recipe! About three minutes into the tirade, my date knew it was a show for the masses and put her hand to her mouth in amusement. She stood, sidled up to the chef, Henri’, whispered in his ear, and heard “Oooh Oui Oui, Madame, Jess, Anyteeng for you. Jess.” He handed her a card. She showed it around to applause and sat. Henry threw kisses to the audience and went back to work. “Well played, lady. I mean, Princess. Well played. Henry is a gas. He fed me once, on a hill, in Afghanistan. Lamb chops. Tasted the same as they do here. No, I don’t know how he does it. That… You played that perfectly. His impromptu play, was his way of getting you to know him. Saying you can come here when I’m out of town and be safe, but he, and the manager, will both be by tonight to tell you the same. I hope I’m not overdoing this. I don’t really know how to tone it down. It may get worse before you’ve seen it all. Did you get enough clothes today? Tomorrow I want to find you a car and start looking for a boat. Now I’m rambling again, aren’t I.”

“Yes, Chuck. You sound as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers. Ease up. I’m not going anywhere without you tonight. Or tomorrow. Just sayin’.”

Henri’ came out with our dinner. The platters, lamb steaks and seafood samplers, were brought out by two waiters, serving on hot cast iron platters. Henri’ asked Ashley if he could sit. She looked around, and yes, this half of the club was watching her. She nodded, motioning him to sit. He nodded toward the meal.

She took a small sliver of the lamb. “Henri’, I’ve never had lamb. I like this, I truly do. Thank you.” She was genuine in her praise. He glowed. While we ate, he told her if she needed anything, stop in. One of the staff would help her. He told her a short story of feeding me lamb chops on a hill in a foreign country. He used his K-Bar survival knife to cut the meat and had to use spices off the side of a damned hill in the middle of freaking nowhere, with bombing going on in the background, but I had just saved his life, and that of his support squad, so he thought it was… Appropriate. What the heck? My dinner was appropriate. She laughed as hard as we did.

He hugged her, kissed both cheeks in pure European style and went back to the kitchen, but before he left, he said, “Ashley, seriously, stop in if he’s out and about. We’ll always have room for you in the kitchen if not out here, and we’d love to have you.” Every word was butchered by his native language. Alabaman. She nodded and thanked him with a beaming smile.

Dinner was cleared, the lights changed, and I was able to ask my date to partake of the vertical mating ceremony of the opposing genders. “Princess, may I have this dance?”

“Absolutely, my Prince.” She was actually good. She followed well and had a sense of the rhythm and could almost forecast what I was about to do. By the end of the second set, we’d danced eight or nine numbers, and she had my number. That was sure. No longer following, this little urchin was dancing parallel and it showed. The band slowed down a couple numbers in the third set. She snuggled up to me and whispered while we danced. “It might be too early. It might be the dancing. It might be the wine. It might be a silly girl in a fairy tale. Yes. Yes, my Prince. Yes. There is no way, no way, I will ever meet a man of your demeanor, your personality, your experience, your outlook, your knowledge, your… With your friends, your positive… Everything. I’m at a loss. I’m babbling. Yes. I accept your proposal. On a couple conditions. I need a week. Maybe less. Not apart, just before we make love. It will be special, I guarantee. And, when we do, it will be… Oh my God, I’m assuming. I just assumed you wanted me as your wife. I am so sorry. So sorry, Chuck. That was rude. I didn’t mean to presume…” I interrupted her.

“Honey, you didn’t presume. I laid the question out there. You answered it. Take all the time you need, just don’t leave me, don’t go away, to do it. I don’t think I could handle that. Ashley, it’s only been two days, but… I love you. I want you in my life. Let’s have a long engagement but know this. I know it’s you. I know I need you to be mine.” I hugged her to me. The little thief had stolen my heart.

We continued to dance. Like teenagers, both dropping tears, me on her shoulder, her on my tie. But we danced. Finally, we broke it up and went to sit. When we did, a big chunk of chocolate cheesecake was there. With a sparkler and a note. ‘Mark this date -- We will. H.’ Damned Henry had his people watching and knew something important happened.

David Bailey stopped by and introduced himself to Ashley. He called his wife Michelle over. She was sort of the ‘Head’ but not the Maître d’. She was more into scheduling shifts and an admin assistant for the joint. They asked what happened, noting the sparkler in the cheesecake. “She said ‘Yes’.” Congratulations from both were well sent and well received. David, I only knew from here, unlike Henry, who I sent to David to get him off the street before he hurt someone. They offered the same invitation, knowing I travelled a lot.

Michelle started. “If you find yourself alone, please stop by. David, or I, or Henry, oh yes, Henri’, will be here usually. If not, call us. Chuck has the numbers, and we can help. Dinner, a night of music, whatever. If you’re bored or hungry, and alone, please come, OK?” Ash nodded.

“I will. You people have been so accepting. I really appreciate it. This lug must really be something to get this kind of support for a dingbat like me. I appreciate it, it’s just overwhelming.”

“Don’t let it be, Ashley. We’re just friends. He was there for us. We’ll be there for him. Pretty easy, really. Anyway, hon, I gotta go back to the desk. You take care and (she gave the international ‘call me’ signal with her hand). Ashley nodded.

“Thank you, David. I appreciate all this. I found a prize, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but drop it. He’ll get a big head and I won’t be able to send him out the door and home with you. Ashley, let us help you if he’s out. It’s not much, but it can be home away from home. It’ll be fun. Trust me. I might have you do the thing with “Henri’” again. That was fun.”

“Deal. I’d love to!” She turned to me. “Take me home, my Prince, before your horse turns into a mouse and your chariot becomes a pumpkin!” Then she turned back to David, offered her hand and said, “Thank you, David. It is so nice to know I have someone to talk to in this strange place should I find myself Chuckless.”

“Come, Princess. To the castle we repair. Goodnight, David.” We shook. “Thanks for everything tonight. It was grand. She still likes me, I think.” We both laughed. She just shook her head, giggling.

At home, I took her to the guest room and kissed her. “Join me in the living room for a nightcap?” She nodded. “What would you like?”

“Anything that will make me feel less overwhelmed.”

“I have just the thing!”

She was in the living room, in pajamas, pink satin top and matching short shorts, and… Feathered mules. Damn! She was shopping like a millionaire, but I loved it. I will not disparage her shopping. At all. I handed her a glass of beer. Domestic. Hell, it was a Select in a frozen pint glass. If that won’t bring you down to street level, I don’t know what will.

“This, my darling, is a domestic beer in a pint glass. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing prim and proper. Just a beer with your boyfriend. Will you be OK?”

“Yup. I came to realize tonight, for all the prince and princess stuff, you’re you, a really nice you, and I’m me, and I just want your you to want my me. I think that’s the real issue here. I just want you to want me, Chuck. I think I’m in love!”

“Good. I know I am. Two days, and I’ve never felt like this. Not after months. Not after fiery short flings. I’ve never been this enthralled, or entranced, by anyone. A couple of times ago, I really, really thought that was it, but it was nothing like this. Nothing. Now, I know. I’m in love. And, not to jump the gun here, but I’m not saying that to get into your panties. I’m saying that to stay out of them. I told you before, however long you need. I’m in love, and I’ll wait.”

“You know what I think? I think if I would have wrecked and been thrown into the neighbor’s yard, I would have met you at the store today and fallen in love with you anyway. It’s you. It has to be. Can I sleep with you tonight, without sex, or should I go to the guest room bed and wait? I don’t want to cause a problem.”

“You can sleep where you want. If you sleep in my bed, I’ll hold you by your tummy or your hip. I don’t have to be holding your private parts to feel loved and loving. I’m not a horny little boy that can’t control himself. You’ll tell me when to let him out, and I will. Until then, let me hold you and love you and make you feel comfortable in my bed. Together.”

We put the glasses in the sink, and I followed her into my room, turned the covers down and climbed into bed. She followed, back to me and eased in. I put my arm around her, spread my hand out on her tummy, pulled her back to me and snuggled her in. I heard ‘Goodnight, Love’ then a purr. So much for discussing cars tonight. I fell asleep soon after.

I woke to the feel of her rubbing the back of my hand, which was on her thigh. She was caressing it, as opposed to any movement meant to cause action. Nonetheless, I asked her, startling her, of course, “What kind of car do you want?”

“Eeeeeek. Shit. You scared me, Chuck. Sorry. Oh, heck, I don’t know. Safe, clean, good mileage. Recommendations, my Prince?”

“Buy new. Buy quality. Don’t look back. Audi SQ5, maxxed out. You’ll love it and it will last you for years. I read that is the safest of the little luxury SUVs, and you have to have luxury, because, well, hell, doll, you’re a millionaire!!! You need an SUV, since you still have to help me schlepp groceries around. You’re a millionaire, not a spoiled brat, right?” She smiled and nodded. “Off we go. We’re going to open you a bank account with about a hundred thousand bucks worth of those bearer bonds. Hopefully reporting the transaction will not bring any heat. Bearer bonds are liquid, and you don’t have to tell anyone where you got them. We’ll see. I can explain them away, if I have to. In any case, after the car, and the plates and all, you’ll have about twenty-five grand in the bank for spending. We’ll get you a debit card for that account. You still have cash for little things, and I do mean little. Under a hundred bucks type of little. Then, also, you can deposit the cash a couple or a few hundred at a time into your account. I’m going to go clean up. Back in a bit. You can use the back bathroom if you want, or this one, or… Whatever, OK?” She nodded.

I went into the bathroom, shaved and jumped into the shower. She came in, sat on the pot, made a little noise, then left. When I got out and dried, she went in with a couple of bottles and a washrag. She dropped the robe she had on, kicked it over at me, laughed and locked herself in the shower so I couldn’t get to her.

“That’s an imaginary lock, Princess!”

“Yes, but it will keep my Prince from sullying my virtue. For now.”

“Ashley, you are mean.”

“No, I’m not, Chuck. Maybe ornery, but not mean. Just making sure everything is right. Perfect. We’re close. I can feel it.” I dressed and got some coffee put together. When she came out to the kitchen, I was impressed. She was in a beautiful shorts set. High heeled sandals, powder blue top and short shorts with just a little room around the hem. Her legs looked scrumptious in them. She had a little purse with a long strap. She just looked perfect. She asked if I had a large envelope to peel some of the bonds off and stick into for safe keeping. I found one in the office. We sat and had some coffee, deciding to get a breakfast sandwich elsewhere, then hit the road to do just that.

At the bank, I noticed my friend William, never Bill, but William, the branch manager, at his desk. We walked to his office door, right by the receptionist, getting a little finger wave and a smile from her. I knocked. “Hey! If it isn’t Chuck Cooper. To what do I owe the honor?” I wasn’t unknown around here. Many of my jobs had been paid in gold, bonds, foreign currency, checks on foreign banks, and the like, so they’ve done some work with me.

I need to set up an account for my…” I glanced at her, she nodded. “Fiancée, Ashley Lynn Simms, here, using the bearer bonds in this envelope. Should be close to a hundred large. We are to purchase her a vehicle today, teach her to drive, then turn her loose upon the world at large. Can you help us with that, and maybe get a card for her to use on her account?” I asked William. I was hoping he wouldn’t ask questions I didn’t want to answer.

“Two,” she said. “He needs one, too, just in case. He may need to pick up my dry cleaning or something.” She smiled at both of us. I shrugged. “Put his name on one of them.”

“Of course. Let me get one of the girls to get this started.” He punched his phone, and his receptionist came in. “Linda, can you count these out, they said it will be about a hundred thousand, set up a new interest-bearing checking account in her name, Chuck as a sub-owner, with two cards, one for Ashley L Simms and one for C X Cooper. If we can, will you get her the cards today? And we’ll need checks if you can run them now. At least enough to get her started. Then do the rest later and mail them.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back.”

We passed the time, talking about last night at David’s and a golf outing we had coming up. He didn’t ask many questions of Ashley, but he was impressed with what little she said and when she said it. Linda came back in about twenty minutes with the cards, pin numbers, two little books of checks, with a cover, and the receipt for the deposit. One hundred sixteen thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-two cents. She had been spending the bills at stores and such, for clothes, but now, Ashley felt like she had access to money, for the first time in her life. She smiled but kept her exuberance at bay.

“Thanks, David. Linda. We’d better take off. Looking for a safe little car for the future Missus.”

“Awwww.” Linda thought that was cute. She hugged Ashley and wished her luck. I shook hands with David, placed my hand in the small of my newly acquired fiancée’s back, and marched her out.

“Ashley, honey, you don’t have a permit, or anything like that?”

“No, Chuck, we never got around to that.”

“Let’s go to the DMV and see how you do after looking over the book.”

“I might do OK. The signs are the same as in Iowa, so I might be able to pass.” She did. She missed two. She was processed and had her permit or learner’s license after about an hour. “I did it. I got my permit. I can’t wait to try it out.”

We went to the Audi dealer and they had the perfect car for her. White, and with all the bells and whistles. She didn’t want it to LOOK fancy, she said, after we talked, but it was OK if it WAS fancy and had all the conveniences like my G90 did. She drove it around the lot for a minute, as did I. Nice car. We asked if he could have his folks drop my car off at home if we bought it.

“Sure. No problem,” the manager said.

We offered him three grand less than his list, to which he hummed and hawed a bit. I told him we also had a Beemer to look at, similarly decked out for about 5 grand less. He bit, we shook, and Ashley wrote the check. Sixty-four five for a really nice white Audi SQ5 SUV. They took my car home, and I had Ashley drive me around a bit. We even ventured out on the freeway. She was leery at first, but got less nervous as time went on. Of course, at that time of day, it wasn’t as crowded as it was during the commute hours. She took me out to lunch at Red Lobster, then headed home. We parked the truck outside and put hers next to mine, in the garage.

“I love it, Chuck. Thanks. I just need lots of practice, and I’ll study some more, and I should be OK. You are great for helping me with all this. Can you imagine me, alone, running around with all this money and stuff, not knowing what to do? Chaos, at best. Thank you so much. I’m going to make dinner later. What do you want?”

“Hamburgers. From the grill. And we have chips and potato salad. Easy and good!”

“Sounds good. First I need some snuggles. Chuck, I really am falling in love with you. When you touch me. When you look at me. You know, I just melt. Is that normal?”

“Normal? Who knows, but I feel the same. Like I told you before, I am, too. Falling. Let’s go sit for a while, then we can talk. I want those snuggles as bad as you.”

“Can you show me what a man likes tonight? I mean show me tonight what a man likes. That sounds better.” The giggle was getting to me.

“Yes, Honey, I can. Maybe we can share a little. If I get carried away, don’t be afraid to ask me to stop. I will. At any point.”

“You, too!” she said, quickly.

“Sweetie, if your hands are on me, ‘stop’ is the last word you’re going to hear from me. Guaranteed.” At that, we both laughed.

“Good point. I just want to know how to make you happy.”

“Wake up next to me and tell me you love me, or good morning, or maybe go for broke and say both. That will make me happy. We’ll play together tonight. See what the other one likes,” I told her. She nodded and went to put the burgers on the grill.

After dinner, we both donned night clothes. Me a pair of boxers, and her a very skimpy nighty with matching tap pants. In bed, she asked me to lay back and let her touch me. She did. Everywhere but under my shorts. Then she asked if she could take them off. I nodded and lifted my hips. Naturally, at that point, my erection was as hard as it could be. Her touch had set off every nerve attached to the poor thing. She took it in her hand, and rubbed around the head, gently with the fingers on her other hand. Somehow, instinctually, she knew exactly what she was supposed to be doing, and found each and every sensitive spot on my member and my balls. She held them gently, barely caressing them. When she leaned down to kiss them, I started toward the edge, then the lick of the sack, just at the base of my cock, did it. “Watch out, baby, I’m coming on my stomach,” I told her. And I did. Jets of semen shooting up to my chest, then each successive one not going as far until the fifth was just a squirt over her knuckles. She looked up just in time to catch the action.

“Ooooh neat. I did that? Are you OK, Chuck? That’s all right?” I asked her to hand me my boxers and used them to wipe up a little. She watched. Like she was taking notes.

“Yes, baby, you did that. Now, I’m going to treat you to something special. It’s out of order, but I’ll come back up and make up for it. Please kiss me, lay back and enjoy. I’ll try not to do anything you aren’t ready for, but don’t stop me unless you really need to, OK? Trust me?” She nodded. I pulled her tap pants down, put my hands under her thighs and pushed them back to her chest, and had dessert. She came at least two times, and I think three. She won’t know, since she passed out. After I lost her, I went up and snuggled with her, kissing her. She licked my face when she woke.

“Mmmmm. I don’t taste too bad, do I?”

“No, baby, quite the opposite. I love your taste. You have a very beautiful and wonderful tasting pussy. I really, really enjoyed that. I hope you did, too.”

“It frightened me at first, your putting your face and your tongue down there, but I’ve seen that on the internet, so I figured if you wanted to do it, it would be OK.”

“Honey, it was so far more than OK. There is another thing I want to show you, but it involves my fingers going inside your pretty little puss. If I’m careful, can I show you?” She nodded. I put my middle and ring fingers in gently, and as far as I could, went back down to tickle her clit with my tongue, then curled my fingers up to the roof of her vagina, behind her clitoris. Scraping the rough patch of her G-spot, lightly with the ends of my fingers, barely touching my fingernails to her, I got her writhing, and prayed. I prayed she didn’t tell me to stop. I had to if she told me to. I promised. But, she wasn’t aware enough to tell me. I finished her and brought her again, with a squirt this time.

“OH MY GOD, CHUCK, THAT WAS INTENSE. Oh, my stomach muscles! Jeez. I feel like I just worked out. Wow. Thank you, sweet, sweet, generous man. I love you. Chuck, I love you. Thank you. It’s yours. Take me to a doctor. I don’t want to be pregnant. I’m way too young for that, but I want you. Oh my, you wonderful man. I knew this would happen.” She was still lying there panting and looking up at me. I put my fingers in my mouth and licked them off. She giggled. “I knew if we would do all this, I’d want you inside me. Lay down again, Mister. I’m going to do you again, then we have to quit until after I see a doctor. I really need to take care of that. I don’t need any problems right now. I just found a wonderful, beautiful man. I don’t need problems. I love you, Chuck. Lay down.”

I laid down, and she stuck the tip of my dick in her mouth. Just the end, the head, then pulled her teeth over the edges. I shivered. She felt it. I could see her smile. That made me mad. Crazy mad. Furious crazy mad. I smiled to myself! She was being a vixen. A woman teasing a man. But… I knew how to get even. I grabbed her by the ankle, and in spite of her screams and pleading to get away, I pulled her core to my face and penetrated her with my tongue again, subduing her to be a calmer, gentler, cock biter. She was good at it, being a beginner. She laughed once she realized I wasn’t really ripping her leg off to eat it. Then she moaned. Then she started gently moving around the frenulum with her teeth and her tongue. Her hands always in the right spot. I started humping into her hand a bit, as she was doing it to my face. She started coming again, so I wrapped my lips around her sex and sucked, sending her over the edge. I warned her I was coming, too, but she kept me in her mouth and caught the few little spurts I made. She grinned.

“That was even better, boyfriend. Even better.” She turned around and lay on my chest. She kissed me and turned her head sideways. “Thank you. Thank you, dear man. Thank you.” Then she cried and cried. And thanked me, and cried. I just held her and rubbed her back, stroking softly. I heard the little purr of a beautiful girl sleeping. I still didn’t move. I’d just wait for morning to go pee. I hoped.

When she woke, she gently lifted up trying not to wake me. She did, but I didn’t let on right away. I heard her pee, then wash up and come back out. I curled my finger having her come over, then I wrapped her up in a hug and asked her if she was OK. She said she was, but she remembered crying about being happy, then the memories of the last couple months flashed by, then she was getting up to pee. I was hoping that was her catharsis. Hoping that the grief had passed and she would let go now. I could hope.

“Baby doll, jump in the yellow pages and look for an OB/GYN here close. We could ask Michelle, but she lives out a little bit.”

“Any other lady friends around here? Linda? CRYSTAL!!”

“There you go, baby. Call Crystal.”

We ate, light. A couple eggs and toast. We had some coffee and talked a bit. She said she was sorry for breaking down, but also understood from what I said that it could happen. She hoped it wasn’t a frequent occurrence.

She waited for the decent hour of eight, and finally called Crystal, on her cell phone, getting her number through Sally. She got a doctor’s name and an address, and later, Crystal got a thank you for the referral. They would see her that afternoon as well, due to a cancellation. She asked if I’d go with her. I had to answer in a slightly smart butt manner, “Of course, sweetie. I’d love to. I haven’t been to a gynecologist’s office for some time. Looking forward to it.” She swatted my arm and called me a smart aleck. True that. “Honestly, honey, if you’ll have me, I want to be there. I mean that.” She kissed me.

More shopping on the way to the doctor’s office. Nothing serious. Accessories. A women’s boutique. The main thing was driving here and there. Whoa up. Accessories? Stockings. A garter belt. Panties. Thong? Nice shopping trip. She told me, “For later. Need to keep my guy happy. I’m trying for eight out of six.” Giggle. Kiss. Walk out of the store hand in hand. If I didn’t think she was going to lovingly screw my brains out, I’d think she was a serious prick tease.

The lingerie went into a bag in the back seat, and we went off to see the doctor. We each carried a wad of her money in case something came up. It did. She talked to the doctor, and they decided to fit her with an IUD. No hormones, no pills to remember, no plug things injected under the skin, none of that. A little copper thing up in her cervix and not a worry for ten years. Wow. Sounds like a plan, unless… Oh, it can come out any time. We’re good. That’ll be up to her when the time comes. She and the doctor talk. Ashley thinks they’re expensive. No, they’re not. Not compared to raising children, and anyway, expensive is relative, and it’s not just her with money. She’s still not aware, though. One thing at a time. I’ll break down and tell her tonight. I don’t think it’ll change her, to be honest. She’s still the down to earth little girl and worried about the little stuff, and she has her own three million. She did not want the Audi. I had to talk her into it with the safety thing. It worked, thank the Lord for that. I have a funny feeling she’d be really, really hard to replace. Ashley, that is.

We were driving home after paying cash at the doctor’s office. She didn’t have medical insurance, anyway. It’s cheaper, in the long run. We paid 900 bucks for the IUD and the visit, with the lab draws and everything. Yes, I know, the lab results would be extra. Again, cash. Admittedly, they said it would be 1500 through the insurance, at least. Insurance for me? TRICARE. It’s what us retired military folks use. Pretty nice, actually. I can add her if the stars align and she becomes mine for keeps.

“Honey, you are confident and proficient enough, I think you’re ready. Hell, I’ll speak English. You’re good enough at this to do it. Let’s get you through one of the driver’s ed courses here and get it over with. OK?”

“If you think I’m ready. I’ll try.” They have an online thing here, so between our hours of driving and the online course, and my insurance rates going up, we were in business. “You know, we had driver’s education in school in Iowa. I learned a lot there, but no one would give me a permit or anything. Maybe… Can I borrow your phone?” I handed it to her. She looked in the browser. She made a call. She was definitely learning. “Yes. This is…” And that phone call started a series of calls that introduced her Iowa driver’s training materials to the State of Californication, and she had a license to drive alone, by herself, without supervision, a couple days later.

It’s amazing how being raised in hostile, unsavory environments will create very smart, adult, capable people. The Godfather on one hand, my Ashley on the other. Both smart. One not so savory, one an angel among angels. Both capable of survival in the jungle.

Ashley’s tests came back, again, negative, we had been so busy… Doctors, cars, licenses, lingerie, WHAT? Lingerie? Basics for school, etc., that we’d missed two important events. A boat, and love and soul sealing sexual congress.

She, being the wonderful woman she was, bought a boat. I helped. Well, I helped her look for it. I knew a guy. She bought a thirty-one foot Tiara with a flybridge, actually a tower bridge. It was perfect. Small so we could learn to use it easily, equipped already with all the popular equipment for fishing in our area, and in pristine condition. We used more of the bonds for it. The boat worked out just fine. We were on the maiden open water voyage, under our command, that is, of the ten-year-old craft. We had both driven and learned all we could about it in the bay, over the last couple of days. Well, we were trolling the waters off La Jolla, known for tuna this time of year, when she told me, under no uncertain terms, “It’s time. No more putting it off. Sit in the fish chair.” I did. She set the wheel and the course. A slow troll.

“I have a plan,” she said as she ran her hand along my crotch, and my tumescent penis. She pulled her shorts down and off, pulled me out the leg of my loose nylon jogging shorts, climbed up on me, and sat slowly, down on my now firmer than steel erection. She looked at me. A feral grin. “I am so sorry for waiting this long. For having you wait this long. We got busy. I know. Don’t let that happen again. Please. Love me and have me love you.” Our first time was in a fighting chair, on the waves, west of La Jolla, California. Our first lovemaking was wonderful, even exceptional, and very memorable. As soon as she orgasmed from our frenzied coupling, I did, and finally, when the fifth spurt, the weak one that dribbles, happened, PSZZNNNNNNNNG!

“Fish on. You might want to take care of that, husband of mine to be.” She laughed, loudly and fully, lifted off me, slowed the boat, grabbed the dead pole and reeled it in. Then watched the boat and the line with the fish on it. She really is a smart girl. As I fought the fish she yelled, “Thank you, darling man. That happened exactly the way I wanted it to. Fish and all.” She looked up, through the tower sunshade. “Thank you, Lord! It was perfect! He is perfect! Thank you!” Then she blew me a kiss while I reeled and fought and watched the line unload as he would sound and take some distance back.

We ended the day with a beautiful, glowing captain, a well fucked man, and two tuna, a nice sized yellowtail that she brought in and the 46 pound albacore that I did. Thankfully, my freezer in the garage was between beef quarters. These were not little fishies.

That started our serious, consummated, permanent, loving, relationship. It went up hill. She did finally, after I seriously asked her to marry me, right before she went back to school, find out that I was not a poor indigent negotiator, living paycheck to paycheck. I’ve worked deals that brought millions in commissions. Many of them. Billion-dollar deals with two, three, and one that was at even five percent commission. That one job was over 70 million for me, in and of itself. It took months and was not a simple chore. My overhead was low. Travel and lodging expenses, which sometimes were provided by the principals. The good thing about my job is that it’s mostly tax free. A lot of it. Uncle Sam doesn’t charge Uncle Sam taxes. By mutual standing agreement, and contract, I am exempted by Uncle Sam in all cases when I put on the hat that I’m lucky enough to wear on his behalf. If the government is involved in, or invites me to the assignment, no taxes, even if the countries or corporations I am guiding negotiations for paid my fees. I still have to pay state and federal taxes on my income from my military retirement, but… Small price, right?

I think the biggest thing for her was the plane. I had a custom-built Cessna Citation CJ4 that had an extra three and a half hours of fuel. Six hundred and thirty pounds of Jet A. Yes, I was pushing it, but I could make Hawaii. I could make Great Britain without freezing my ass off in Greenland overnight. I had to give up four of my ten passengers when I traveled heavy, but trust me, I normally did not have an entourage. I don’t think I’ve ever had more than 6 people in my plane, and I was one of them. Normal load was just me, but sometimes three or four, if I wasn’t alone. I was a good little boy and tried to never stay at it more than five hours without company and eight hours with. Eight hours was the outside limit, anyway. I was coasting downhill, hopefully onto a runway, when that happened. The plane gave us freedom and range, though. 3600 nautical miles if I was with company. Ashley and I would be able to hop anywhere we wanted together.

In any case, when she found out about it, she was curious, so we went for a drive, a looksee, and a fly around. The good thing was that we could park at Montgomery Field. Montgomery-Gibbs, to be precise, out on Balboa East and beyond. Any larger of an aircraft, and we’d have to move downtown into the traffic of the San Diego airport. She enjoyed the flight, and asked some questions while we were in the air.

“You’re not a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, really, are you?”

“Yes, I am. I left the service a tad early, but I’m still working part time. I have a knack. I don’t understand it, but I can read people and situations. Precisely. I read you. I needed you because of who you are. You are a loving, caring person who got shit on so much, no one saw the beauty, inside or outside. I did. I do. I had to have you. I still do. I want you with me, Ashley Lynn Simms. Please tell me you’ll stay and be mine forever.”

“Most women would say put a ring on it. Me? Put a pilot’s license on it. Chuck. Love me. Keep me. Give me wings. Teach me to fly. Please? This is the ultimate, after being loved by you.”

Later, we flew together, a lot, but during school, she’d go to class, and I’d go solve a problem here and there. She finally got her private pilot’s license right after she graduated. She had the hours, she had the skill, she just needed to log the requisite birthdays. As soon as she lost her shirt tail, she buckled down to her instrument and then her multi and turbine, jet tickets. She was checked out at right seat in the CJ4 in two years and felt comfortable as PIC, Pilot in Command, in three. All this while on the dean’s list, albeit with a light class load, toward a degree in clinical psychology. She took her time and did seven and a half years, instead of killing herself over it and doing it in six or less.

But, back when we were still young, it was getting on toward the end of the summer. Our first summer. She was getting ready to go back to school. Backpacks, pink Keds, bobby socks, ruffled placket blouses, and cute skirts. She came to me, serious expression on her pretty little face. “Chuck, when I go back to school, I want to be wearing something that makes me yours. I need to feel it. I need to show it. I need to proclaim it. I’m Coop’s girl. Can you help me with that?”

“Can I get into your bag of tricks? I have an idea of how to put them to use.”

“God, yes. What would I do with loose gems, anyway? That is what you meant, right?”

“Yes. Give me a week or so. You start school in a couple of weeks, right?”

She nodded. “I love you.” She kissed me, almost to the point of a fat lip. There is a close, very close, line between passion and assault in the third degree. This was passion. God, how I loved this girl.

I’d heard of a guy that did custom work, just north of Pacific Beach in southern La Jolla, up the road a ways from us. At least not too far. I made an appointment and paid him a visit, with the big emerald, two smaller diamonds, a few smaller emeralds and diamonds, and about twenty little baguette diamonds. I told David, this jeweler David, not the club owner David, what I wanted. He said two weeks. I asked how much to make it less than that and told him what my plans were. He told me. I handed him two little gold bars and one small silver ingot. THAT got his attention.

“Saturday morning. Go away, I have a lot to do.” He smiled, I laughed. It was Tuesday.

Saturday night we went to the club. I felt so amazingly proud that she was on my arm. She was gorgeous in a blue glimmering cocktail dress, her pearls adorning her perfect little sexy neck, teak stockings and blue satin sling back 4-inch pumps. They looked a lot higher on her pretty little feet. As we arrived at our table, I sat her down, pulled a napkin from the table, letting it fall to the floor, dropped to one knee and asked her to marry me, on Kauai, over Christmas vacation.

After a little squeal she tried to contain, her answer was ‘Yes’, accompanied by a hug that all my acquaintances saw and followed by several more enthusiastic, not very quiet yeses. That answer won the prize in box number ONE! It was a dramatic little affair, putting the ring on her finger. We both wanted to show off a little. Sue us. Everybody does, once in a while. She also said she’d take care of everything if I didn’t mind. I had a couple jobs coming up, so… “Yes, dear.” That would be fine. “Thank you.” Honestly, at that point I saw a vision of myself being pulled by the ear across a beach. Fine! I did NOT have a problem with her taking the reins of the wedding plans. My part was done. She said YES!

David and Michelle were there. Henri’ made a scene. His asparagus sauce recipe, a simple hollandaise with Lawry’s, could never be released to the public, he exclaimed dramatically. Kings would send their knights to war to abscond with that treasure. My Ashley worked it well, talking the feeble-minded man out of the recipe, to the delight of the patrons. We danced, her ring shining in the band stand lights. The huge emerald bordered by smaller diamonds on either side and anchored with not the smallest of baguettes. They are works of art, David, I must say.

Don’t worry about David, folks. He was paid well. I left a two plus carat prime Marquis, top of the line for color and clarity, with him for his expedited and wondrous work. Between that and enough gold to put it on a camel’s hoof, he was happy. Very happy. I paid extra, because while discussing the age of my young bride, he surmised she might be in public, possibly among crowds, unaccompanied, more than most older married women might be. Like school? The university? He took some of the stones I showed him and worked with them to make a replica, half size, and as we know with jewelry, that made it worth a tenth as much. It was a ‘mini me’ of the real engagement ring that she could wear to school without worrying about ‘problems’. When he explained that to her, the next Monday afternoon when I took her to his shop, she kissed him like it was HIM giving it to her. Damn, she was happy that he was so thoughtful. A twenty-five-thousand-dollar engagement ring, and a twenty-five-hundred-dollar miniature. Wow. She was beside herself with pride. I felt guilty. They were her rocks. Mehhh. I’d make it up to her someday.

School started the next week, and I had to leave for a job in Asia, just a couple days later. A treaty between two small countries, mostly involving trade, was being worked on and had stalled so they called me in. Three days later, it was a done deal, signed, sealed and delivered. Arriving home late Sunday night, I called from the plane on the way to the hangar after landing. I told her I’d be home in a little bit, I just had to gas the plane up and gather my stuff. Asking if I was hungry and getting a positive response, she had Mexican delivered. It and I should be there about the same time. She was studying on the kitchen table while we ate. Her new laptop was working out well, she said, and the phone we had gotten her was big enough she could actually use both at once for writing and doing research chores. School, she said, was going to be a lot easier than it was back in Iowa, what with all the technology we had gotten for her, and the fact that she felt like she was doing her homework on HER kitchen table, not someone else’s. That got her a kiss and a bite of my tamale. I was happy, so very happy, that she was considering herself home.

We went to a Halloween costume party at the club, me dressed as a beat cop, complete with billy club, and her as my jailbird prisoner. She wore a cheeky little striped outfit with a prisoner number across the front of a sexy crop top and tap pants, off black sheer to waist pantyhose, and cute little Mary Jane styled high heels. She spent most of the night handcuffed to me, in theatrical quick release cuffs, while I introduced her to anyone and everyone I knew. My friends that hadn’t met her loved her and made her feel more welcome than she already had been. Her outfit was not as risqué as it sounds, and there were certainly women there dressed sluttier and with less on. She was covered, more than during some of our grocery shopping trips, but she just oozed sensuality.

Thanksgiving was spent with Frank and Sally at Venetti’s. They were doing a spread for those that didn’t have the wherewithal to do it themselves, for whatever reason, no judgments, and they normally had ten or so sailors and marines who were away from home going through basic training. A lot of family-owned restaurant businesses did that. Frank and Sally were happy to be one of them.

Christmas, we did at home. Our first one together. No one else around that we really wanted or needed to share it with. My family was all gone. Her family was all gone. We were a pair of orphans, but we were all smiles in that we had each other, and our lives were fuller and happier for it. Our gifts were a FitBit from her with the caveat that it didn’t have a hidden meaning. She loved me like I was, but it did have a heart rate monitor and would let me show me texts and calls I receive, without having to look at my phone. I thought it was a neat gift. I got her a tennis bracelet with a gold charm showing CXC. I got some smooches for that as well.

She was in charge of the wedding, so she had me file a flight plan for the next day, Boxing Day, to Lihue on Kauai, then, we were going to a nice hotel she found in Princeville. She arranged a stay that does not involve timeshare presentations. For that alone, she was worth her weight in gold. I joke about that, but before I had enough resources to protect myself, that happened a few times. Once, even afterwards, but it was just me wasting someone’s time on purpose.

Our arrival was met at the terminal with a rental car and a young lady that welcomed us with leis for each of us, hers being blue and highlighting her outfit, mine in a yellow. Both looked extremely well made and were very pretty.

We had reservations for a steak and seafood place in Princeville for that evening, breakfast in the hotel in the morning, then our wedding on the beach about a mile away, early in the afternoon. I was amazed by what this little urchin had accomplished.

For dinner we dressed up, her in her green cocktail dress with the cutouts. It was just so pretty, and sexy. I loved that dress. She was also wearing stockings and her green heels. I was the envy of the place. Next door they had a band playing with some music we could dance to, so we did. We had a wonderful time but left before it got too late. She wanted to make love and be asleep before midnight. Her last night as a single woman. Then tomorrow, no sex until after the preacher made us a wedded couple. Her timing worked fine. We were probably sawing logs, well, she was probably purring, before eleven thirty. A late morning wakeup, then breakfast was brought to the room for us. Toast, eggs, ham, coffee, pineapple juice. No special selections, but it was excellent.

Then, we dressed… Down. Her in a simple floral sundress and flip flops and me in a white shirt, khakis, and sandals. We arrived at the location they had decided on. The photographer started right in. Ashley kicked her sandals off, had me roll my pants up, and take off my sandals, then walked me about 6 feet away where the island girl witnesses pointed. There we were. On the beach. A real barefoot, in the sand, waves at our ankles, flowers in our hair, wedding. When she said, ‘I do’, I took her engagement ring off and slipped the emerald and baguette inlayed band onto her finger, kissed it in place, then put the engagement ring back and kissed it into place. I said, ‘I do’, and she placed my matching band on me. The pictures were intimate, and amazing. Good light, good angles. A real pro handled the camera.

We were married. My little wonder, my beautiful bride, had taken care of everything. She was incredible. We spent a few more days, just luxuriating in Kauai’s ambiance. We did go out a couple evenings, and did have fun, but the evenings we stayed in were nice, too. She was an enthusiastic and very flexible, very capable lover. Some of the things we did were… They were inventive. I’m sure she saw them someplace on the interweb. It’s a good thing her iPad didn’t melt.

One thing she had me try, I’m pretty sure came from her seeing two women ‘tribbing’. She said it was the deepest inside her I’d ever been, and her clitoris rubbing on the tendon of my inner thigh, she said, was over-stimulating. And something she said we’d be doing over and over, if she had any choice in the matter.

We finally had to get home. She had a senior year to finish, where she was getting perfect marks and attendance. I had to traipse off to Southeast Asia for an updated agreement between three countries that needed to work together but couldn’t stand the thought of it. Mostly the bluster is all for show and national pride. In this case, I was working with the same people I had been two years ago, and there were no major changes in political direction, so it wasn’t too bad. Afterwards they could brag about what they held out for and what they compromised on, showing they were the ‘bigger heart’. Behind the scenes, there was just a little squabbling, a little very, very smooth rice whisky, and a lot of talking about how they can grow their countries’ economies with each other’s help. That part wasn’t just for show. Two more years of prosperity, as long as some idiot dictator didn’t overthrow anyone and unravel the whole ball of string.

After my two-day flight back to San Diego, I was greeted, not at home, but at my hangar. This was a nice surprise, to say the least. Ashley was her bubbly self. It was six o’clock in the evening and she said she was taking me out to dinner then home to relax. She helped me with my bags, getting them into the back of the truck. She’d Uber’d over and with her keys was able to rearrange, open the doors, move the truck outside, and was waiting for me to taxi straight into the hangar. My welcome home kiss was special, and welcome. Her hug made me feel whole again. I really missed my urchin when I was away from her. We discussed her traveling with me and helping me, but realized, except in the summer, or a lucky break over a break, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

That was a preview of The Little Thief. To read the rest purchase the book.

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