Shadows of Yesterday
“Come on,” he said on a sudden burst of inspiration. “I’ve had this seven-foot-long, four-foot-deep mosaic-tile bathtub for two years and I’ve never been in it.”
She let herself be led into the bathroom after first checking to see that Sarah was still sleeping. The bathroom was indeed decadent in its opulence. The tub was surrounded by plate glass that overlooked a private, fenced garden—except there were no plants growing in it.
“Chad, why haven’t you ever planted anything out there?”
“Because I never planned to entertain ladies in this bathtub. I promise if you’ll take a bath with me, by this time tomorrow there’ll be a tropical rain forest out there.” He spoke with his hand over his heart and with such sincerity that Leigh laughed.
“By all means, let’s initiate the bathtub.”
While the huge tub was filling up, they rid themselves of the mussed clothing. The process took an inordinate amount of time. They assisted each other, but prolonged kissing countered helping hands. When they were both naked and stepping into the tub, Leigh lamented, “It’s a shame you don’t have any bubble bath.”
Chad thought for a moment, then said, “Just a minute.” Undaunted by his nakedness and wet feet, he left the bathroom.
Leigh lowered herself into the tub, which was still only half-filled with warm water. Chad returned with a plastic bottle of dishwashing liquid. “You’ve got to be kidding!” Leigh cried as he stood over the tub and squirted a long stream of the liquid soap under the tap.
“When in need, improvise,” he quipped.
The dishwashing liquid made a mountain of suds over the surface of the water as they sat facing each other, Leigh’s legs lying over Chad’s. They luxuriated in the feel of wet skin under lathered hands. The bar of soap was often lost and searched for by hands that found more delightful quarry under the water. Lips were granted kisses for the most trifling of reasons.
One kiss lengthened to the point that Leigh forgot their bath, forgot everything but the mouth that wreaked havoc with all her senses. A hunger that should have been appeased only intensified, until she felt the pressure of his hands on her hips, drawing her closer. “Chad,” she said in wonder, freeing her mouth from his when she felt his tender probing between her thighs. “Is… is it even possible to do with… with the water… and…”
She had only an instant to marvel over a smile that could be both devilishly wicked and lovingly reassuring.
* * *
Sarah had cooperated and didn’t wake up until they were dressed, albeit in clothes somewhat the worse for wear. Chad, commiserating with the crying baby, declared that he was faint with hunger. Wrapping Sarah warmly, he took her and her mother outside for a brief glimpse of the Christmas lights that had come on automatically at dusk.
Sarah was fed first and then put on a pallet on the kitchen floor to play while Leigh and Chad ate omelets.
“I’ll have to buy a swing and a playpen or something, won’t I?” he mused between bites. “I sure can’t be hauling those things back and forth from your house in the Ferrari.”
“You could always use your truck,” Leigh said sweetly, batting her eyelashes. “But then, it’s always so cluttered, isn’t it?”
He shot her a killing look as he got up to pour himself another cup of coffee. “You’ll never let me live that down, will you?” He came back to the table with the full, steaming mug and slouched in his chair. “At the time it was safer for you to think I was a mechanic. I didn’t want to arouse your suspicions by driving up in a Ferrari. Besides,” he said with a lascivious wink, “I was too busy arousing everything else.”
“Stick to the subject please,” she said with mock severity. Then she shook her head in bafflement and idly played with the remaining food on her plate with her fork. “You’re quite wealthy, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been very lucky in some investments,” he hedged.
“And you get paid a lot for the work you do.”
“Yes.”
“The airplane business…?”
“A buddy and I started a charter service a few years ago with two planes. Now we have four. It’s been a lucrative sideline.”
“Yes, I can see it has,” she commented, her eyes taking in the evidence of his success. “You must stay busy all the time.”
He reached across the table to take her hand. “We’ll work it out, Leigh. It’s worth it, don’t you think, to try to work it out?”
She wouldn’t commit herself to an answer just yet, so she avoided it by asking another question. “What other enterprises do you have going?”
She knew he didn’t want to talk about his businesses by the way he avoided her eyes. “I own some land here and there. I haven’t had much to spend my money on, so I’ve invested it.”
“Land? Grazing land, commercial property, what?”
He shrugged self-effacingly. “A little of both I guess.”