Chapter 2

Peggy— I told you I’d be back. While all this was going on I was graduating college with my finance and management degrees. I got a job with a Wall Street firm as a broker. I did not like selling stock very much, but I did like the son of the owner. He was handsome and smart. He had an ivory league education and had swept me off my feet the very first day. We dated for about a month before I slept with him.

I think I should have noticed a few things that in retrospect are obvious. He seemed really interested in my ass the first time we made love. I told him no anal until I knew him better. Also, he had no interest in eating my pussy. I thought I could change his mind. All young women think they can make their lovers better with time. One night, about two months into the relationship, his best friend joined us for supper. He sat next to Mick. That seemed strange. Then he told me how Mick and he had been lovers since high school and that if we were to marry it would be so that Mick could keep up appearances to his family. I would be well taken care of and not want for a thing. Mick looked like he was more in love with his friend than he was with me. He kept grinning and was even holding his hand. I just smiled got up from the table and told him not to ever call me again. I thought I had been a fool for not checking him out before the first date. That would not happen again.

I was in the office early the next day and packing up my desk as people were just coming in. I did not say anything to anyone, but I overheard one of the secretaries say, “I guess she found out”.

I started looking for another job that afternoon. In the help wanted section of the paper I found a company looking for what the ad said was a combination receptionist, secretary and office manager. I thought I would check it out.

At their office I met Doris. She had worked for this little remodeling company for 25 years. She started with the owner’s father and when he died, she continued with his son. She said, “This guy, Joe, is really nice. He works hard and is out working on the job sites most of the day. That’s why he needs someone to handle so many duties “.

I thought this would be something I might like to do. Doris was moving to south Florida with her husband, who had retired recently, and their 19-year-old son. I told her my qualifications, and she said I was probably overqualified. The job did not pay much but I told her I did not need much I was really looking for the experience. She liked me but said I needed to meet the boss and get his final approval. I asked when I could meet him and she said if I could wait another hour, he would be back in the office. We sat and chatted and in less than an hour he was back. This guy, Joe, was all business. But I did catch him looking at my legs. He kept avoiding looking into my eyes and I figured he was just shy. We talked about my qualifications and he agreed that I was overqualified. I told him about wanting the experience and not really needing a big paycheck. He never asked why I did not need the money but asked when I could start. I told him in the morning. We shook hands and I left. Doris winked at me as I passed her desk.

The next morning, I was just getting out of my car when this giant truck rolls up. A kid jumps out and comes around to the passenger door and helps Doris down. She introduces me to her son.

“You’re Joe’s new secretary?! Wow! He is going to love you. Hell, I love you!”

This guy is 4 years younger than me but it is nice to be appreciated. “That red hair is killer and those green eyes! Wow! Sorry I can’t stay and talk. I’m on my way to a big muddin’ party with a bunch of my friends. See you later.” With that he jumps in his truck and races out of the parking lot.

“Don’t pay any attention to him. He is just a big kid. His whole world revolves around that truck and muddin’, as he calls it. But he is right about that red hair of yours it is beautiful.”

I told her thanks and that I got my hair and eyes from my Grandma Ginger. I hope I got some of her smarts too. One day I want to take over managing the family trust. I think Grandma Ginger wants that also. She always had me helping her in the office and she was the one who guided me into studying finance and management.

Doris showed me around the office and the shop area. She arranged a seat for me beside her desk and introduced me to the file system. What had worked for her for 25 years was not going to do it for me. I just let her explain it all to me and never let on to her that after she left I was going to start a new system, starting with buying a computer. Joe passed through the office but was gone most of the day. When he was there, he stayed in his office with the door closed. I did notice him sneaking looks at me but nothing more. Towards the end of the week, I asked Doris what his story was and she told me everything. He was divorced but she could not get him to start dating again. She thought it may be that he was scared of getting hurt again or maybe he thought he had been made a fool for not realizing she was cheating on him all those years. Whatever it was he had not dated since he divorced. I told her I had grown up on a cattle farm. We rode horses every day and my grandfather and father had taught me that if I got throwed I was to get up, catch the horse and get back in the saddle. If not, I would be scared of horses my entire life. There was a saying around our house, “never was a horse that couldn’t be rode but there never was a cowboy that couldn’t be throwed”. Joe needed to get up dust himself off and get back in the saddle.

Joe—Doris and Peg did not know that I had come in early that day and had gone into the bathroom. I overheard that entire conversation and started to think about what Peg had said. She was right. I had moped around long enough. I was over Linda, divorced and she was out of my life. Time to start living again.

Friday was Doris’ last day. She came by the office with her son. We said our goodbyes and she climbed back up into that truck. Her son shook my hand and said, “Good luck with that ginger over there, definitely a trade up”. He raced the motor of the truck and flew out of the parking lot. Peg was already back in the office when I came in. She was on the phone and taking directions.

“You have an appointment Monday afternoon at this address. This guy wants a deck built on the back of his house. I’ll put it on your calendar”. When she turned to leave, I noticed her butt. Nice butt!!

It was late in the afternoon when she came in to say she was leaving. I looked up from what I was doing and told her I would see her Monday. She asked what I was working on and I told her it was a loan application for a couple of new trucks. I was having trouble finding some of the information the bank wanted. She asked to see it then walked back out of my office saying, “I’ll take care of this, you do something else.” I went out to the shop and started to straighten it up. About an hour later the intercom went off and she told me to come back to the office. “Your loan is approved. We’ll go look at trucks on Monday morning. Right now, you owe me supper.”

“How did you...” that’s all I got out.

“We’ll talk over steaks, you like steak, don’t you? I love steak and I want a baked sweet potato with lots of real butter. I know just the place. We’ll take my car.”

She grabbed the keys and was out the door. I cut off the lights and followed her to her car. Damn nice car for a secretary. A brand-new Mustang with all the bells and whistles. I must have been in a real daze this past week. I had not noticed this car in the lot.

Nothing much was said on the ride to the restaurant. I was hoping we did not crash. She drives fast. At the restaurant she ordered a bottle of red wine. She never looked at the wine list, just told the waiter what she wanted. He made a big deal out of opening it then offered her a little in a glass. She sniffed it then swirled it around the glass watching it intently then sipped it. She grinned and said “Excellent, you may pour.” He poured two glasses and left. We had not ordered. “Tell me about yourself Joe King.” She was looking at me with those beautiful green eyes that I could not take my eyes away from. I told her my life story looking into those eyes. We almost finished that bottle of wine when the waiter re-appeared with two plates. Steaks with baked sweet potatoes, butter on the side. The steak was delicious and cooked just the way I like it, medium rare. How the hell did she know? About halfway through she ordered another bottle of wine and went through the same tasting as the first. The plates were removed and we finished the wine. I was hoping I had enough credit left on my American Express so that we would not have to wash dishes when she said we had to go. The car was waiting. The waiter thanked us and said to come back soon. I did not remember paying the bill and what is this about a car waiting? It was an Uber and it took us to my condo. She helped me walk to the door and unlock it. I was not used to drinking so much and I was drunk. She got me in the door and up the stairs. That’s all I remember.

I woke with my head killing me and the smell of coffee and bacon. I was in the bathroom when I remembered I was with Peg last night. What the hell happened? I finished my morning routine and staggered into the kitchen.

“About time you got up sleepy head. Sit here while I get you some coffee. You want eggs or is toast and bacon enough this morning?”

“What happened last night? I am so sorry I don’t remember a thing. That was the first time I drank in almost a year. I must have had way too much. If I did anything in-appropriate I apologize.”

“Relax, cowboy your honor is still in tack. I striped you down to your boxers before I put you in bed, nice shorts by the way. I slept next to you naked but you never knew so no harm, no foul. Now get some of that coffee in you. We have a big day in front of us.”

I finished two cups of coffee and had a piece of toast with some bacon. She told me to go shower while she got us a ride back to the restaurant to get her car. I had a hundred questions for her, but I would wait until I had a shower and was feeling a little better.

I came out of the bathroom to find her in my bedroom with my overnight bag on the bed. I had the towel wrapped around me, but I felt naked. This is my secretary. I have known her a week at most! and she is in my bedroom, me in a towel and she is starting to pack my underwear. As I start to say something I figure I will regret later she puts her arms around my neck and kisses me on the lips. I feel her tongue go deep in my mouth and I know she is feeling my hardening penis under the towel. I’m trying to hold the towel with one hand and hug her with the other when she breaks away and says, “You better get dressed, cowboy, before I have my way with you. Where are your swimming trunks?”