Chapter 3

Startled, Michelle turned and was almost eye-to-eye with the big, tan and black dog, which was enthusiastically wagging its tail.

“I love dogs!” exclaimed Michelle, crouching to pet his large head, and let him lick her face, “is he a German Shepherd?”

“No, he’s an Alsatian,” replied Julie, returning from the house with the wine decanter.

“But his manners are purely American!” added J.J., with a hint of an Irish brogue, causing the trio to laugh, then added, “no offense dear.”

“Oh, none taken,” replied Michelle, “my apartment doesn’t allow pets so I had to leave my Chico home with my parents.”

Julie topped off Michelle’s wine glass and watched her pet and scratch King behind his ears, admiring the swell of the young woman’s breasts.

“You keep that up and he’ll never leave you alone,” Julie kidded.

“Steaks are ready!” called J.J. from the smoking grill, as he put three thick T-bones on a platter and carried them to the patio table.

King laid down in the dog bed, knowing better than to beg at the table. Looking over at him first, then at J.J., Julie said, “you’ll get your treat after dinner, won’t you baby?”

Michelle smiled, assuming she meant the steak bones.

The three ate, talked, and drank freely during dinner. Michelle learned that J.J. was from County Cork in Ireland, the same place her father’s mother was born and that he was an executive with IBM in charge of the international sales division. Between the wine, his brogue, and getting lost his emerald green eyes when he spoke, that’s about all that Michelle remembered at least.

“Oh, no, I have to drive home,” Michelle said with a little slur, putting her hand over the top of her glass, as J.J. went to pour her more wine.

“Nonsense love,” directed Julie, “you’ve had too much already, and we have a lovely guest room that you can use. I’ll just tell Mr. Nichols I had you run some errands for me, and you can come in a little late tomorrow.”

Michelle knew Julie was right, and besides, she was really enjoying their company, and there was nothing waiting for her in her small, drab apartment.

After a few more glasses of wine, Michelle was listening more to the lyrical nature of the English and Irish accents, than to the words of the conversation, and knew that she should excuse herself.

Julie showed Michelle to the guest room, which had a huge queen sized bed, and its own en suite bathroom, complete with a new toothbrush and all the toiletries she could need.

“Good night love,” Julie said to Michelle while giving her a motherly hug and peck on the cheek, “sleep tight!”

Michelle brushed her teeth, washed her face, stripped naked and slid into the Egyptian cotton sheets that caressed her skin like silk. No sooner did her head hit the pillow, than Michelle fell into a deep sleep.

“Oh god ... YES ... right there.”

The moans coming through the adjoining wall stirred Michelle out of her sleep. Her first thought was that she was home at her parent’s house, where she would regularly hear them making love in the next room in the middle of the night.