by Anita Claire
Ana:Glamorously testing cat poop.
Mere seconds after pressing the send icon, I start questioning myself.Is it too soon for me to be sending him pictures? Will it make me look needy? Damn, I want to be in the place in our relationship where I don’t have to spend so much time second-guessing everything. Before these thoughts take hold, my phone beeps. It’s a selfie of Brody. It looks like he is standing in the hall of an office building.
Brody:Glamorously heading to my next meeting.
Now I feel emboldened and I think about dinner. It was excruciatingly uncomfortable. Even though his sister hates me, he did introduce me to her. This must be a sign that he wants to be with me. Should I tell him what his sister said or should I let it drop? I think we’re too early for this conversation. Let’s just hope Brody and I turn into more than what I had with Christian.
My gaze turns back to my phone and the picture of Brody. I’ve never asked him what he does at ClosedDoor. I just figured he was an engineer. But he dresses too nice, travels, goes to a lot of meetings and is always texting. Since he drives a fancy car and likes to eat in expensive restaurants I bet he’s in sales. Funny, I never thought I’d be dating a sales guy. Those guys tend to be flashy, they’re not the kind of guys who choose an outdoorsy woman like me.
Focus, Ana! I check to see if any of the lab results I ordered has come in yet. My heart jumps. The preliminary tests are back. The contents of my cat’s stomach and her blood test are both included. I scan the reports and find a number of potential smoking guns. There’s a long list of chemicals in her system that are higher than normal, and a few chemicals that are off the charts. With this list of toxins, I have to look up each compound’s name in the Merck Index. Damn, it’s like thewho’s who of first-gen rodenticides. I better confirm my findings with a chemist.
Ana:When are you free for lunch or coffee? I have a poisoned animal and a list of toxins. Can you review?
Rachel:E-mail me your list. I need to get out of my lab. Meet you at Tootsies 11:45.
Cool! I wasn’t expecting her to be free today.
***
I pull into the parking lot and spot Rachel walking down the street. We hug.
“It’s been too long. We’ve got to remember to meet when we don’t need help with work,” she exclaims.
“One of these days I’ll pull my social life together.”
We walk into the casual café, Rachel raises two fingers so the hostess can see we need a table for two. “At our age, if we haven’t pulled our social life together, it will never happen,” she quips.
I must have given her a horrified look.
“It’s not just you,” she reassures me. “With two kids in pre-school, I’m barely treading water.”
“Are they being dicks at work?”
“Always. Don’t get me wrong. I love what I do, but my boss doesn’t get it. I love my kids more. My day consists of prioritizing and managing my time. You don’t know how easy you have it. My kids after-school daycare charges five dollars for every minute you show up past six.”
“How often are you late?”
“With what they charge for daycare, I can’t afford to be late. But enough of my complaining, my life is exhausting but wonderful. I love being a mom.”
“And what about Jason?”
“I love him too. But it’s hard to remember romantic love when we’re so busy raising kids. When you meet the right guy, make sure he’s a good guy, one who puts family first. Sexy and hot are great when you’re single. But when you have kids, you want to know he’ll be on time when it’s his turn to pick the kids up. Marry a guy who has your back.”
She gives me a long look and raises her eyebrows. She’s too nice of a friend to ask outright if I’m dating. But I know she wants to know what’s going on in my life. Of course, Brody’s toned naked body flashes across my field of vision.
“You’re dating someone. Hallelujah.”
“Oh, come on, I’m not that transparent.”
Rachel waits until we’re done giving our server our order before she starts up from where we left off. “Ana, who have you been with since Dale? Christian? Sorry, that dick doesn’t count.”
“I’ve enjoy being single. It’s a relief not being responsible for someone else.”
“Then don’t choose another man like Dale or Christian.”
“Do you think I keep making the same mistakes with men?”
“Not the same mistakes. But the men you choose are all Peter Pans. Stop choosing men who don’t want to grow up.”
“Is it that? Or they weren’t ready to get serious?”
“And the difference is...?”
“I always thought when a guy meets the right woman, he’ll be ready to settle down.”
“Well, I think it’s the opposite. When a guy is ready to settle down, he meets the right woman.”
“I met a guy.”
“Met or dating?”
“He took me and his sister to Tamarine for dinner last night.”
“Fancy.”
“And he paid.”
“Good, it’s about time you met a guy who didn’t make you go Dutch.”
“I can pay my own way.”
“That’s not the point. If he doesn’t want to wine and dine you, then he doesn’t care. A guy who doesn’t buy you dinner is a guy who doesn’t pick up the kids.”
“What does one have to do with the other?”
“Everything.”
Our server brings over our drinks and sandwiches and I ponder Rachel’s comment. Would Brody be the kind of guy who would race out of work to pick up our kids? This thought is kind of scary since I’ve moved from wondering if I was pushing it by sending him a picture, to thinking about having his children. Then again, I’m almost thirty-six. If I don’t choose to date a man who’ll be a good husband and father, I’ll never become a mom. I flush at the thought of it.
“Are you having hot flashes or…?” Rachel inquires.
“Brody-induced flashbacks.”
“I forgot what it’s like when you’re new. When Jason and I were first together we had sex like rabbits. I’d forgotten about all the fun sex we used to have.”
“You don’t have fun sex anymore?”
“After a full day of work and two little kids, the two of us joke about how the thought of sleeping through the night is better than any orgasm. But it doesn’t sound like you’re sleeping through the night either.”
“We spent last weekend seakayaking in Tamales Bay. The weekend before, we were in the backwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains hiking, and camping. He was helping me with my work in the field.”
“Camping, hiking, and pays for dinner. Where’d you find this perfect man?”
“We both go to the same chiropractor.”
“Now that’s a new one. I’m glad to see someone is meeting in real life. All the singles I work with are addicted to either Tinder or OK Cupid. Now, what’s with that?”
“I tried online dating, but got depressed with how many dates I had to go on to find the right kind of guy.”
“So, this new guy Brody? Give me the details how old? Divorced?”
“I have no idea.”
“You need to find these things out. But most importantly, does he treat you well? Choose a man who treats you with a respect. If he doesn’t treat you with respect, leave. It’ll never get better.”
“We’re still in the early throes of passion, if you get what I mean.”
“Oh, I get what you mean.”
Since I’m not in the mood to discuss his crazy-ass sister, I figure we’re done with catching up and pull out my iPad.
“Predators are at the top of the food chain. Based on my lion’s labs, I’m thinking these barrels are full of this.” I show her my lion’s tox report.
“Sheesh, this is some nasty stuff.”
“We found a toxic dumpsite in her territory.” I bring up a picture of Brody uncovering the barrels.
“Is this Brody?”
&
nbsp; My face feels hot and my smile hurts my cheeks while I nod. Rachel zooms in on the picture.
“Nice-looking guy, good body, looks like he’s in fine shape. No ‘Dad-bod’ for him.”
“No Dad-bod is right.”
“Not that I’m complaining about Dad-bod. I’m not as slim and toned as you. If Jason was all buffed out, it would make me feel inadequate.”
“Don’t fill my brain with insecurities.”
“Has he met your family?”
“We’ve been dating for about a month. Don’t you think that’s way too early? I wouldn’t want to freak the guy out by introducing him to my family too soon.”
“He introduced you to his sister.”
“She was in town on business and forced him to invite me to dinner.”
“But he told her about you and introduced you. That has to be a good sign.”
“How long did it take before you met Jason’s family?”
“About three months.”
“How long did it take for Dale to meet your family?”
“I was living at home. I haven’t really dated since Dale and I broke up. I have no idea what the rules are now.”
“Don’t look at me, I’m an old married lady. Anyways, your preliminary assumptions about the chemicals you gave me look right. Give me some time to review this data. I’ll do a little cross-referencing back at my desk.”
As I head back to the lab I reflect that it’s a relief to finally have a theory as to the cause of my lion’s poisoning, but it is depressing to think of the depth of the mess. As I walk into the lab, I start checking my emails from California Fish and Wildlife, the EPA, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Maybe one of these agencies can do something. But, I know how long it will take for them to figure out whose jurisdiction this falls under. Then they’ll need to get a budget approved and perform studies on the extent of the contamination before they can choose a contractor. It will take forever to get the site cleaned up.
Ana:Labs are back, our assumption is rat poison from the 1950s are in the barrels we found. Looks like it got into the food chain.
Brody:How come that news makes me depressed?
Ana:Because success should be a reward.
Brody:This is conclusive. We found what got our lion.
Ana:As far as we know. We think this is the source of the problem, but like so many things, there will never be a definite answer.
Brody:What’s next?
Ana:Other scientists who work with smaller animals, native plants, and land management are now conducting a study to see what else has been impacted.
Brody:What about the dump?
Ana:It's out of my hands. All the agencies are now fighting to figure out who needs to pay for the clean-up. I’m not getting involved in that quagmire.
Brody:Not getting back until past midnight Friday. Hike and camp on Saturday? We never did swim in Loch Lomond.
Ana:That wilderness area is not open to the public.
Brody:One more thing I like about you.
Ana:I’ll pick you up at 6:30 a.m.
Brody:See you.
At dinner, I read over our texts,one more thing I like about you. This makes me smile.
Chapter 23 – Brody – Skinny Dipping
Hiking through the woods behind Ana’s khaki-covered ass gives my brain something to focus on as I relax and enjoy the scenery. This time we are not following our lion’s path. Ana takes me on her favorite trail to the lake. Our route is along the west ridge, with an amazing view of the ocean.
“Did you check to see if there are any predators around?” I question.
Ana stops, looks me up and down, and raises an eyebrow as she gives me a wicked smile.
“I should have never introduced you to my sister,” I groan.
“Brody, I think there are some secrets I could tell her now.” After looking at my expression, she smirks. “Don’t worry, personal things should stay private.”
Continuing on, we hike through the valley to the top of the east ridge where we admire the view of Silicon Valley from up above Los Gatos. In the south, I can see a reflection of the sky on Loch Lomond. We descend off the ridge and walk through the thick redwood forest. The trees break suddenly and then we arrive on the banks of the reservoir. A trail of sweat drips down my cheek and the cool water calls my name. As fast as I can, I unlatch my pack and start stripping.
“What are you doing?” Ana cries out in surprise.
“You can’t skinny dip wearing clothes.” I get my boots and socks off and start working on my shirt. Ana watches me. “Hey, Ana, this isn’t a show.”
“What?”
“Are you watching or joining? If you don’t start stripping, I’ll take you in the water dressed.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Do you want to try me?”
She shakes her head as she unties her shoes and wiggles out of her socks. By now I’ve pulled off my boxers. I stand there in all my glory with my hands on my hips, watching her.
She looks up as she unbuttons her top. With a devilish smirk, she slowly takes off her shirt. “Are you enjoying yourself? Oh wait, I don’t need to ask. I can tell you are.”
My dick twitches. She laughs at her own joke as she peels off her sports bra. My excitement builds while I watch her slide off her pants. I’ve been thinking of Ana since I left her early Thursday morning. She’s managed to crawl into my brain and disrupt my concentration. My company is large and growing fast. We’re getting a lot of attention. The last thing I need now is to lose focus. But, what I want more of is Ana. It’s surprising what I thought was a hook up has turned into an obsession. I never knew I could feel like this.
As she kicks her panties off, her beautiful body is on full display. I’m caught up in staring for so long that I almost miss the signs when her lips quirk into a sly smile, and she runs toward the water.
“First one in wins!” she yells.
I catch up, but she slips through my fingers as she dives in. The water feels chilly and refreshing when I join her by diving in, too. Underwater I open my eyes and see her form moving in front of me. When I come up the first thing I see is her face. It’s lovely. The sun highlights the drops of water on her long dark lashes, making them sparkle. Treading water, I reach for her. She squeals. With a big smile, she splashes me in the face. Her resistance only makes me want her more. As she starts moving away from me, I reach out and grasp her arm. Sputtering out a laugh, she continues to try to move away. But I pull her to me. As our faces get closer together and her smile collapses as she lets out a small gasp.
Our lips collide. She throws her arms around my shoulders and our kiss gets intense. My dick is now so hard it’s poking her leg. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a woman this much.
We’re not mermaids; we can’t do it in deep water. My attention is on her body while my focus is on getting us back to the shore. Her hands and legs wrap around me as we continue to kiss. Once we’re on dry land, I lean over and lay her on the ground. Her long wet hair has come undone from its braid, it wraps around us like a weed. My fingers move it out of my mouth and then I grasp it like a rope. Holding myself up on one forearm, I lay a trail of kisses down Ana’s wet torso, licking the water off of her chest. I feel totally out of control as I take a nip of her tit. Not so hard that I bring blood, but hard enough that she moans out loudly and arches her back.
Emboldened by this, I move further down her torso, licking her skin along the way. When I reach her folds, I run my tongue along their entire length. Then I suck on her clit until she starts to buck. She tastes surprisingly sweet. I continue to suck her clit as I stick a finger inside her. I know the wetness is hers and not the lake’s. My dick is throbbing and screaming for release. As I feel her body shudder, I grab the back of her knee and lift it to her chest. Now that she’s open to me, I plunge inside her.
“Brody,” she wails.
“Tell me what you want.”
“You, I want you.”
Good answer.
My body is on fire as I ram myself inside of her. She grabs my shoulders with her fingers. Her nails bite into my skin. The pain feels deliriously good. My dick is screaming for more. As my rhythm increases, I can hear her gasping loudly. Her foot is on my ass, encouraging me, as my rhythm gets frantic until I feel myself peak. Opening my eyes, I look down at her face. Her head is tipped back in ecstasy. Closing my eyes, I allow the strong, amazing tingle to run through me and the world stops. My breathing is heavy, I feel the sweat from my brow roll down my cheek. I stay inside her as my dick relaxes and shrivels up.
Then it hits me. “Shit, I forgot to wear a condom.”
Ana’s eyes pop open. She gently runs her fingers down my face. I roll off her and onto my back. Never,I mean never, am I stupid about sex. As I lie on the bank with the sun beating down, I am surprised that it’s a sense of calm, not fear, that floods my brain.
Ana reaches over, grabs, and then squeezes my hand. “I have an IUD.” Her soft voice whispers in my ear.
I turn to look at her a dark strand of her hair is plastered across her face. Moving it aside gently with my fingers, I’m not sure how to explain the sensation I have. But I know this is right. Rolling onto my side, I reach out and cup her head. Then I kiss her deeply as I pull her close. We remain entwined on the bank, my toes still in the water, and life feels good. I relish in her proximity, having her here with me feels right. Even more surprising, the thought of it doesn’t scare me.
As her breathing and body calm down, she tilts her head as our eyes connect. “Are you hungry?” she purrs with a soft smile.
I nod as I reach for her one more time.
“We’re going to burn all those spots that never see the light of day,” she says with a laugh before she stretches and gets up. She heads to her pack and pulls out some food. She returns to me and lays out a series of baggies filled with dried meats, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
“You are covered in mud,” she purrs as she runs a finger along my arm.
