"I saw you kick your ball from behind the tree on the ninth hole."
He watched her hair blowing in the wind as she accelerated through a changing traffic light. “That's a perfectly legitimate golf shot. It's called a foot wedge."
She chuckled. “You didn't execute it properly."
"Oh?"
"I'm just learning the game, but I'm sure that shot must be made out of sight of your playing partner. I saw you. That's a two-stroke penalty. I win!"
"Damn, you caught me,” he joked.
As they approached their driveway, Jodi asked, “When do you expect to hear from the voiceprint people?"
"Already did,” he grumbled. “They answered my email quickly. They want far too much money up front and a hefty percentage on every program I sell."
"So bite the bullet and create you own system,” she said as she set the parking brake and killed the engine.
"I may do that. I sent them a counter proposal for a small token advance and a set fee for each program sold."
"And?” she asked as the convertible top ascended.
"They haven't responded so far. I'm not hopeful at this point."
Jodi tugged on his hand as Nathan placed his foot on the first porch step. “I'm not ready to go in yet, Nate. Let's walk on the beach. It's such a beautiful evening."
He nodded. “It is that. The temperature must be in the low seventies. Summer is not far away."
Arm in arm they strolled down the ramp. Jodi pulled off her shoes and waded in the edge of the water.
"Tide's up,” he observed.
"The water feels great,” she said. “It's warmer than it was the other day."
"We should try fishing again tomorrow."
"I want to spend tomorrow killing Amberdonees."
"You know what all work and no play does to Jack, don't you?"
"My name is Jodi."
"God, you're beautiful."
"Thank you, kind sir."
"Moonbeams are dancing on your golden hair."
"And you're horny, Buckshot."
"You ever done it on a beach?"
"No, and I'm not going to unless we have a blanket or it is your bottom grinding into the sand."
"You ever make out in the water?"
Without warning, she tugged her shirt from her shorts. “Last one in washes dishes tomorrow,” she challenged as she tossed the shirt to the sand and reached for her bra hook.
"My God, Jodi,” he said with alarm. “What's that huge thing on your shoulder?"
She danced while flailing away at her back, spinning towards the water's edge. “Get it off, Nate! Get it off!"
He pushed down his shorts and struggled to get them and his shoes off.
She realized his strategy and pushed him to the sand.
She was stepping out of her panties when he regained his footing, yanked off his shirt and raced after her into the gentle surf. Nathan grabbed her hips as they disappeared beneath the water, pulled her firm buttocks against his groin and clasped her breasts as if they were handles for his use. He licked salty spray from her neck as she turned to face him.
Her nipples grazed his chest as his lips sought hers. She pinned his arousal between them and darted her long tongue into his hungry lips.
"I love you, Jodi Swanson,” he said softly, his fingers traveling down her back.
"That's nice,” she purred and then wondered why the bulge between them suddenly disappeared.
* * * *
"You awake?” Jodi asked.
"Yeah."
"I screwed up again, didn't I."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"One minute you were hot and bothered—the next you were imitating a wet noodle. You haven't spoken a dozen words since we came back to the house."
"The water was too cold."
"I thought it felt great."
"Cold water hardens a woman's nipples and shrinks a man to nothing in seconds."
"The water in the shower wasn't cold."
"The moment passed.” Nathan threw back the coverlet and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Not sleepy?"
"No. I think I'll check my email to see if I have a reply from the voiceprint people.” He pulled on his robe and tied the sash.
Jodi listened to his bare feet padding down the hallway and waited. Finally she slipped out of bed and put on his long-sleeved shirt that she used as a robe. Light glimmered from the bottom of his closed study door. She went into her study, booted the computer and loaded the game that tormented her all afternoon.
Jodi typed ‘Control L’ and frowned as the level choices appeared. He should have told me about this to start with. Does he want me to fail? After selecting the lowest level of difficulty, she typed ‘Control S’ and started the game.
Zip. Zap. Zip. Zap. Zip, zip, zip. Zap. “Take that, you dirty rat,” she laughed. Zip, zip, zip, zap, zap. “You can't sneak up behind me now, you ugly lizard!"
Fifteen minutes later a trumpet call sounded while the screen filled with fireworks and the legend, “Congratulations! You saved earth from the Amberdonees!"
She rushed into Nathan's study. “I did it, Nate! I killed..."
He was sitting at the conference table with two neat stacks of envelopes and one open letter before him. “I'm sorry. I'm interrupting,” she said, backing towards the door.
He looked at her sadly. “These are the old letters from my wife—my former wife."
"I'm sorry, Nate. I barged in on a private moment."
"It's okay."
The look in his eyes confused Jodi. Did he want her to leave or stay? “You want to talk about it?"
He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head slowly. “There's not much to talk about. She thought I was boring and found someone she loves more than me."
"You still love her, don't you?"
"How do you fall out of love with someone?"
"It happens."
"Not to me."
"Maybe I'd better go,” she said.
"She's the only one I ever said that four letter word to—until tonight."
"Oh, Nate. I'm so sorry,” she said, recalling her response to his declaration. “I thought you were joking. I thought ... I thought we were ‘in like’ with each other but you wanted me to respond in kind, didn't you?"
He shook his head and stuffed the letter back into its envelope. “Not if you don't mean it."
She sat beside him and reached for his hand. “Nate, I do care about you. I want a close, personal relationship with you. I want to love you, but I don't think I can ever love anyone again."
"You still love your husband?"
"Hell, no! I hate his guts, but I loved him once. I loved him completely and unconditionally. I screwed up. It hurt so bad and for so long. I won't ever let that happen to me again."
He nodded as he made one stack of envelopes out of two and secured them with a fat rubber band.
"Nate, isn't it enough to be ‘in like’ with each other—at least for now?” Jodi asked, pressing his hand to her lips.
He shrugged his shoulders and faintly smiled. “Whatever."
She kissed his hand repeatedly and looked up when he withdrew it from her grasp.
Nate placed his hands on either side of her face and gently slid the down over her neck and shoulders and cupped her breasts while looking deep into her eyes. Slowly he unfastened the buttons on her shirt. “I want you,” he said softly. “I want you right here and right now—on the table.” He opened the shirt and teased the nipple of her left breast.
"Is it me you want, or your ex?” Jodi asked, running her fingers through his hair.
He lifted his eyes. “Does it matter?"
"Nate, I don't deserve that."
"It's close, personal and certainly a relationship. You like it and I like it. Isn't that what being ‘in like’ with each other is all about?"
"It's your term, not mine. I certainly hope it involves more than just a convenient way to avoid sexual frustration."
&
nbsp; Suddenly he yanked her to her feet, jammed his hand between her legs, tested and smiled. “You want it too,” he said huskily.
She backed up to the table, placed her hands on its edge and lifted herself onto it. As she eased onto her back, she mumbled, “Whatever."
Darn, she thought as she stared at the ceiling. There's a cobweb I missed. Her eyes drifted to the rippling muscles on his chest. She smiled and strained to look at her own chest, where his eyes were focused. They're shimmering like two molds of Jell-O as he pumps his hips into me. Wonder why that turns guys on?
"Nate, do you want children someday?"
"Hmm."
She chuckled. “That's not much of an answer. I can't have kids, you know."
"Yeah, Baby,” he huffed.
"Just another of my screw-ups. Why I let him talk me into a tubal ligation I'll never know."
Nate's breath was coming in short gasps as his hands sought and clutched her breasts.
Jodi's eyes returned to the ceiling and she began to count the cracks in the plaster. She heard his groan through clenched teeth and she forced herself to imitate the sound.
"Oh, God, Jodi. You're the greatest,” he moaned as he slumped over her, supporting his weight on his elbows.
"You too, Buckshot,” she cooed, running her fingers through his hair, locking her ankles behind his back and grinding her pelvis against him to speed up the aftershocks. Now maybe we can both get some sleep.
She sat up and allowed him to press tissues strategically between her legs. He slipped his left arm under her thighs and his right under her shoulders and lifted her from the table. Jodi clung to his neck as he carried her to the bedroom.
"I wonder if they let couples who are ‘in like’ with each other adopt children?” he said as he eased her onto the bed.
Chapter Nine
Jodi stared at the computer screen, rereading her first chapter. She moved the arrow to the printer icon and clicked the left mouse button. Immediately a warning message appeared on the monitor: “Printer not ready."
"I can't do anything right,” she sighed as she reached for the printer switch and snapped it on. She sat back as the inkjet churned out twelve pages of double spaced text and, when the printer became silent, grabbed up its output, not caring if the ink smeared.
She stormed into Nate's study. “My stuff stinks!” she shouted.
Nate whipped his head away from the keyboard and for just a moment his eyes flashed. “What now?"
"I ... I'm sorry, Nate. You'd think by now I'd learn not to disturb you."
"It's okay, Jodi,” he said, smiling and reaching for the manuscript.
"It's terrible,” she whimpered as she slumped into a chair.
"We'll work it out,” he said, his eyes already traveling over the first sentence. “It took a week, but we got your outline in good shape. I'm sure the writing isn't as bad as you think."
Jodi propped her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands as she watched him to read the first chapter. She smiled in spite of her mood as his lips silently moved. Finally he dropped the pages on the table and grinned.
"I told you it stinks."
He shook his head slowly and she knew he was searching for the right words. “I wouldn't say it stinks,” he said softly, “but it is a little stiff."
"Well, how do I soften it?"
"You need a break, Jodi. You're trying too hard. You haven't done anything but sit at your computer all week long."
She jumped up and worked at the snap on her jeans. “Damn it, Nate. All you think about is sex."
"Hold it, Pretty Lady,” he said, also standing. “I said nothing about sex. Yes, for your information, I've missed it, but that isn't what I'm talking about. You haven't walked with me in the mornings, gone fishing, played golf, gone bowling or even out to dinner with me. The only conversations we've had have been about this damn manuscript. Your precious little brain needs to relax from time to time."
"Little brain is right,” she hissed, grabbing the manuscript.
"Jodi, honey,” he said, moving towards her, “that's not what I meant and you know it.” He circled her with his arms as her tears began to flow.
"It's what you said,” she whimpered with chin trembling.
"You have a great head on your shoulders, Jodi. You're just trying too hard. Let's take the rest of the day off and go skinny dipping."
She lifted her head and searched his eyes. “I'll make you a deal. Tell me how to fix this chapter and I'll play with you all day tomorrow."
"I don't know how to tell you, Jodi. I would if I could."
"What do you mean when you say it's too stiff?"
"I don't know how to explain. It ... it reads like a ... like an encyclopedia article."
"In a way it is an encyclopedia article, Nate. It's a manual, for crying out loud."
"Yes, but you said yourself that there's no reason a manual can't be easy to read and entertaining. Why don't you try telling me what the game is all about and write down what you say?"
"Yeah, right."
"I'm not joking,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. He pulled away from her and rummaged through a desk drawer, producing a snapshot of himself. “Here,” he continued, “prop this up beside your monitor and tell me what the game is about."
Jodi took the photograph while looking at him skeptically. “I'll try anything once.” She moved to the door, stopped and turned. “How's your work coming along, Nate."
"I don't want to brag, but I'm on a roll. C++ came back to me much faster than I dared hope. I'm almost at the point where I need to plug in the voiceprint software."
"How are the negotiations going?"
Nate frowned and hesitated.
"I'm sorry,” she said.
"You misinterpreted my facial expression. I have something to tell you I'm afraid you won't like."
"I'm listening."
"We're close to agreement. I'm going to fly down to Atlanta Sunday afternoon and meet with them Monday morning. If we sign a contract, and I think we will, I'll be there for several days, becoming familiar with their code."
"Sunday? That's tomorrow!"
Nathan nodded.
"I thought you were afraid of flying."
"I am, but it takes six hours to drive and fifty minutes by air. Jodi, I'll miss you."
"Right. You'll be partying in Hotlanta while I struggle with this manuscript. Go on. Live it up. Don't give me a second thought."
"Jodi, don't be like that. It's only for a few days."
"Have fun, Nate. I'll be okay."
As she propped his picture beside her monitor, Jodi thought, He could have invited me to go with him. She leaned back and looked at the picture. “Amberdonees from the planet Yordon are determined to exterminate all earthlings and claim our planet as an extension to their vast empire.” She giggled and continued, “You, and you alone, may stop them by using your two laser guns. Your task is to slay the Amberdonees before they devour you."
Jodi snickered as her fingers flew over the keyboard. She leaned back and smiled as she read the three newly entered sentences. “By George, I believe I've got it."
Suddenly her smile retreated. Damn. I've reduced twelve pages of text to three sentences. I can't do that. I need to pad. Let's see now. Who are the Amberdonees? Where is their planet Yordon? What's it like? How did they get to earth? When did they arrive? Why do they want to conquer the earth? Why do they want to destroy all mankind?
She scribbled her thoughts on a notepad and returned her fingers to the keyboard.
* * * *
"Jodi."
She looked up at the sound of Nate's voice and beamed. “You did it, Nate. I wrote the chapter as if I was simply talking to you about the game and it's great!"
He squeezed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “I knew you could do it."
"Just wait ’til you read it,” she said excitedly.
When Nate realized she was about to click the printer icon he stopped her and laughed
. “Save the paper. I'll read it on the computer while you put on your face."
"What's wrong with my face?” she asked, her lips drawing into an intentional pout.
"Nothing. I just thought you'd like to freshen up a little and change clothes."
"Change clothes?"
"I think you're sexy as hell wearing nothing but panties and my shirt, but I don't think you'll want to appear at Mammy's Kitchen dressed like that."
"What time is it?"
"It's six thirty and I'm starving."
"I had no idea,” she said, pushing away from her computer desk. “I'm going to eat every shrimp Mammy has in her kitchen tonight. I'm starved too.” Before passing through the door, Jodi paused, turned to Nate and grinned. “If you don't think it's the best manual chapter you ever read I'll never speak to you again."
Jodi's adrenaline was pumping and she began to hum a Glenn Miller tune as she showered and dressed. After a week of depression, she felt alive again. She had done it. She had figured out a way to write the perfect computer manual. Now that I know how, I'll knock out all of those game manuals in a hurry and move on to more complicated stuff. Maybe Nate will let me write the documentation for his new program.
Nate was shutting down her computer when she burst back into the study. “Well,” she asked, “what do you think?"
He smiled as he snapped off the computer. “I think we are going to have a hell of a fight over Mammy's shrimp."
She locked her arms around his neck and made sure he felt the appendages he liked most pressed tightly against his chest. “What do you think of my chapter, Buckshot?” she demanded.
"I've ... I've never read anything like it,” he replied, caressing her back.
"And?"
"You have certainly found a new approach to computer manuals."
"And?"
"It's ... it's like you said—great."
"I knew it!” she shouted, pushing away from him and dancing towards the door.
Jodi droned on and on about how wonderful she felt about her chapter as Nate drove the convertible to Mammy's Kitchen. When she could think of no further superlatives, she began to ponder aloud how she would approach chapter two. Nate nodded politely from time to time to let her know he was listening.
He parked in the crowded lot and, as he opened his door, Jodi grasped his thigh playfully. “I've been neglecting you, Buckshot. I've been neglecting both of us. I promise that when we get home, you and I are going to enjoy the wildest sex you ever imagined."
Sintown Chronicles III: In Dark Corners Page 38
