Chapter 9

Her dad was easy to talk to, and their military bond was solid. But they veered off the military path and got into sports, talked about cars, and even ventured into a brief but heated discussion about politics.

Unlike his hippie wife, the old man was a solid Republican, just like Rob, and so they railed against the Democrats until his wife put an end to that conversation with a stern look at her husband. They both smiled and saluted her and everyone laughed.

When it was time to leave, after getting walked to the door, he turned straight toward the old First Sargent and said “It was really good to finally meet you, Top,” referring to the man by an affectionate nickname for a soldier with his rank.

They shook hands, both with a solid grip, but neither trying to outdo the other. The older man leaned in a bit and whispered sotto voce, “I hope someday to hear about YOUR interesting missions,” with a wink. Rob just smiled.

“Your parents are great. I can see how much they love you,” he said, getting into the Corvette and starting it up after having opened the door for her. As the Chevy 454 rumbled to life, she replied.

“I think that is the first time he has called me ‘Kiddo’ since I left for California, and I could count the times he has hugged me since then on two hands...” She then reached over and squeezed Rob’s leg, and he felt the first twitches of an erection starting, such was his desire for her.

He put the top down, then eased out of the driveway and on down the road. He’d promised the Greeleys that he’d stop by their horse farm on Sunday to answer a few questions they’d had about purchasing security cameras.

When he’d mentioned this to Carrie, and said that they’d offered to let him take one of their Arabians out for a ride, she’d asked if she could tag along and maybe go for a ride too.

Rob drove with his left hand, reaching over with his right and holding her hand in his as they made the ten-minute drive to the farm. Life was good, he thought.

Rob stood in the small alcove, waiting on his girlfriend. He’d stopped by to get some of the salves from Carrie’s mom as his knee was acting up a bit but first walked up the steps to Carrie’s apartment.

She hadn’t invited him there since the first night that they’d met and he thought it was because that’d been kinda’ awkward. So, he’d dropped by, casually, to remedy that.

But now, after waiting over a minute for her saying to hold on that she’d be right there, and hearing some rattling sounds and other scurrying, he began to have second thoughts. Just as he was thinking of calling out and saying that he’d forgotten something at the office, the door opened.

Damn butterflies again, he thought and saw her smiling weakly. “Hi, I’m so glad you stopped by.”

Rob’s bullshit detector sounded loud and clear. Ut oh. He hugged her. This probably wasn’t a good idea. I’ll just make a cursory look around and then skedaddle out of here.

“I was thinking about going to the antique store to find a bookcase to go with my desk, and I thought you might like to come along. Besides, I have never seen your apartment.”

He looked around and noticed the brassiere that hung from the ceiling fan, spinning lazily in the afternoon breeze from the open, second-story window. It was a sexy bra to be sure, black lace, see-through, and for a moment he wondered what she’d look—and then he saw IT.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her color go from normal to hot pink in a flash, and it took his training as a ranger to not break ranks and laugh. Her dildo sat in the middle of her comforter like a purple exclamation point to her embarrassment, no doubt.

In a save worthy of Oscar consideration, he continued looking around the apartment, secretly wishing that he could break out his exclamation point for her.

“Sure! I would need a few minutes to...”

“Yeah, sure.” He wasn’t sure his poker face was one hundred percent in place, so he thought it best to leave to save her some face. He managed a smile. “I haven’t even been downstairs. I’ll talk to your mom and meet you after I have my stuff taken care of.” He saw her nod and he stepped back into the alcove and turned.

Walking down the steps, he grinned. At least she didn’t have one of those huge, oversized black ones, he thought. Now THAT would have been awkward. Well, at least her past hasn’t jaded her sexuality. He’d wondered about that, about whether she’d be able to resume a normal sex life.