Chapter 26

As the last of the whimpers and hitching giggles died, I stood in the middle of “Paradise Intimates.” My gaze flicked between the curtained dressing room and the entrance to the empty store. At the sudden yanking aside of the curtain, my chest tightened. Once more in the black and red-flowered sundress and with her emerald eyes glittering, Cindy strutted towards me. With her arms full of swaying lace, Yeshia tore for the register. After a low chuckle at the disappearing girl, Cindy slid beneath my arm.

“I’m wicked, aren’t I, baby?” As her fingernails skimmed my bulge, she tapped her lips against mine. When I leaned in to return her kiss, she pulled away with a giggle. “Such a naughty little white whore.”

Just as I was readying a response, Yeshia burst back into view and my brain sorta locked up. As she scanned Cindy, wrapped tight to me, her dark eyes flared. Jealousy. Really? After what, twenty minutes? While I struggled with that, Cindy pressed into me, rubbing her cheek along my chest as she stared at the young woman. My whore was making a point. Yeshia would have to ... Well, earn me.

Nevertheless, all Yeshia did was flash us a forced grin. After a curt nod, she shoved a bag into Cindy’s outstretched hand.

“Thank you for, uh, shopping with us, Ma’am, um, Cindy.” After stumbling backwards a step and skimming her palms over her brown leather-clad hips, she flashed me a wider, yet nervous, smile. As her lower lip trembled, the light glimmered off her lipstick. “And, uh, nice to meet you, um, Hiram.”

Right as I opened my mouth to reply, Cindy gave Yeshia a swift wave of her hand before pushing us towards the door. Once we’d stepped from the shop, Cindy pranced from me to stash the bag in the rear before climbing inside. After settling into the driver’s seat, I exhaled. As my fingers slid onto the steering wheel, I squinted at the store window. There was a brief flash of dark hair.

At the snick of Cindy’s seatbelt, I sighed and pulled from the little, oak-shaded gravel lot. After a slow shake of my head, I rolled us onto the main road and headed for the highway. Once more, my brain whirled, and I remained silent.

I was at a total loss for words.

As we drove on, I nodded to myself. No way would Yeshia appear at dinner. Cindy had only been teasing, rewriting whatever script we were following, or pushing her boundaries. However, the Findler? Built in the 1900s, it was one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. Which meant expensive. More than a high school coach’s wife could afford. Then my mind whirled back around to Yeshia. Why’d Cindy teased her like that? What was she trying to accomplish?

With her legs stretched out and ankles crossed, Cindy gazed out the windshield as I drove on in silence. At last, I couldn’t take it. After clearing my throat, I gripped the wheel tighter. I’d start with the simple question.

“The Findler? How can you afford that?”

Cindy was quiet for a while before rolling her head to stare at me. With her hands clenched in her lap, she sighed before exhaling.

“My sister. She’s got money and”—although she chuckled, Cindy’s knuckles whitened—”when I need to get away, she, uh ... She arranges things for me. Well, at least finds me a decent place to stay. And I’m rather fond of the old hotel. It’s got charm.”

As my brain, again whirring faster, processed her words. Wait a second. What? As my pulse raised, a curt hiss fled me. The slight inflection in her voice right as she’d said...

“When you ‘need to get away?’”

“Hiram. What I said to Yeshia. Back in the store. About us girls having secrets. Well...” As her tightening hands squeaked, Cindy sucked her lips deep into her mouth. “You mustn’t tell Denny, okay?”

With a murmuring sigh, I nodded. Why’d I agree? Because let’s face it, by then I’d a pretty good idea what she’d say next.

“Denny...” Cindy smacked her lips and gulped. “Well, he’s not aware of, um, all the men I’ve been with. Of course, he knew most since we’d selected them together. And of those, um, he mostly knew whenever I’d meet them. But it’s, uh, just that—”

“Why do you even stay with him, Cindy?”

There I’d asked it. The million-dollar question.

“Because he’s a good man, Hiram,” she replied without hesitation. “You think for one second any of those other guys would’ve taken care of me when I had the flu? Or held my hair as I barfed?” After a brief pause to inhale, she flashed me a tight grin. “As far as Denny goes, before you ask. Well, although he realizes I’ve been with more men, he won’t admit it. Nor do we discuss it, but he knows. So, truthfully, the better question would be why Denny stays with me.”

“Because you’re gorgeous. And smart. And fun,” slipped from me before my brain could catch them.

Although, what the heck did I know about Coach’s thinking? But I’d keep her, no matter what she did. Or with whom.

“Well, that’s sweet, Hiram.” As her grin widened, her fists loosened. “Perhaps. I don’t know. It’s just—”

To this day, I’ve no clue why, but I peeled a hand from the steering wheel and clasped hers. Although trembling beneath my grip, they were so warm and soft. Cindy should never be hurt. Never.

Whirling, my mind was pummeled with images of Cindy, Yeshia, Cindy and Coach, and, of course, Chanelle, somewhere alone. The silence extended. At the memory of Yeshia’s shadowy eyes gazing at me as we left, my pulse thundered, and my hand twitched on Cindy’s clenched fists. Once we’d struck heavier traffic, she returned to me with a sigh.

“Do you know why I did that, Hiram?” Cindy’s wavering voice was muted.

“Huh?” was all my brain could find to say.

“Tease that little girl in the store. Yeshia.” As she spoke, she shifted my hand between hers, pushing it into the damp warmth while easing her legs apart. “For years, years, Hiram, I fucked around just for fun. Why? Nothing complex. It was exciting. It still is exciting.” With a gentle thrust of her pelvis into my balled fingers, Cindy sighed. “Yeshia wanted you, baby. Did she want to marry you? Date you? No. But you can be damned sure she wanted to fuck you, Hiram.”

As I let her shove me harder against the sodden crotch of her sundress, a whimper left Cindy’s trembling, glossy lips. At her giggle, I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow.

“Actually, Hiram, I’ll bet she’s wanted a tall, handsome, muscular man like you to fuck the living shit out of her for a long, long time. I know exactly how that feels. No matter what happens, at least now she’s got a fun little memory and an example for any future life partner. Where’s the harm? You enjoyed teasing her, didn’t you?”

Despite my life becoming even more complex, the glimmer in Yeshia’s dark eyes as we’d left the parking lot flashed again into my memory. Such hunger. Hint of jealousy. Anxiety. Was she thinking about me?

“Yes.”

“Well. I also enjoyed it. Oh, hmm...” Her words ended in a moan when I unfolded my fingers to shove into her silken dress. “Oh, baby. You’ve got such wonderful, uh, firm hands. Mmm, t—that’s nice. Oh. And, uh, we both know she damned sure loved it. Oh, baby. Mmm, yes. So nice.”

Even as Cindy’s hips lifted, pushing into my hand, an image of Chanelle’s soft eyes, and slender figure, popped into my brain. As my breath hitched, my fingers froze and brows knitted. What was I doing? What if Yeshia did appear at dinner? Cindy was only “business.” No, she wasn’t, but ... After prying her eyes open, Cindy looked at me. In the sunlight, her emerald pools blazed as they bored deep.

“Chanelle?” At my jolt, Cindy emitted a low chuckle. “I can read you like a book, Hiram. Let me tell you something. Another secret us women hold dear.”

After she’d eased my palm to her thigh, Cindy crossed her legs and sat up straighter. The sudden blast of a truck’s horn took my attention from her. While returning my hand to the wheel, I slowed to match the other crawling vehicles.

“Hiram, think about it. You said Chanelle knows you’re with me. She doesn’t mind us fucking. However, the making love, I’m guessing from your expression, she doesn’t know about.” At my soft gasp, she patted my hand. “So, ask yourself this. At this point, so what if you fucked somebody else?”

After a lengthy exhale, she glided her hand up my arm. As we inched closer to the urban skyline, my pulse rose as her fingers skimmed higher.

“And another thing, Hiram Boetticher. If there’s one thing I know, it’s men. And you’re a spectacularly handsome man. Well, you’re going to fuck a lot of women.” When, eyes widening, I glanced at her, she nodded. “Um-hmm, you are. Because you’re good at it. And, this is important. You care, Hiram. Any woman in your life, including me and your sweet Chanelle, better be prepared for that simple truth. Or they’re going to be sorely disappointed.

“As I’ve said, Denny understands me. All these years he’s helped find the men”—she chuckled under her breath—”or most of the men, to fuck me. If he’d stopped or told me to stop, I’d have left him. It’s the God’s honest truth. And he knows it. Besides, let’s face it, from the very beginning Denny’s enjoyed knowing I’m with them. After all, I always return to him.

“So, add that to your ‘how the hell do Denny and Cindy make it work’ study. Life is complex. People are complicated. You are who you are, Hiram. Just as I am who I am. You can go through life hoping to be different. To restrain your baser desires. Keep yourself in”—catching the sun, her nails glinted as they clawed at my shoulder—”shackles. But then you’re not only punishing yourself. You’re punishing all those women who’d have shared your life. Think on that, Hiram Boetticher. Think about it all. God knows I have. For decades.”

When at last Cindy fell silent, my heart was thumping so hard, the cars and trucks around me were blurring to its rhythm. As we left the highway, my mind continued to whirl. The ever-taller buildings around us also spun. Truth. She’d spoken, honest, blunt truth. Cindy understood—me. And right then, as she flapped her hem, airing her dress, likewise, I agreed. Sorta. Was that who I would become? Whenever I shot her a sidelong glance, Cindy’s narrowed eyes remained fixed on me. Waiting.

Except, I had no response. At that point, I wasn’t even close to being her mythical “God’s Gift to Women.” And I damned sure wasn’t comfortable hurting Chanelle. Although I’d also have included not wanting to harm Cindy by being with Yeshia, the way she’d played with the young woman sent shivers along my spine. Duh, Cindy was no mere whore on this trip. If indeed she’d ever been one. By my side, she’d become an imp—a sexy-as-fuck imp. Yet, my heart stumbled; she’d still be hurt when I told her about Vegas.

As all that sloshed inside my skull, I remained silent, weaving us through the city until I found Peachtree Street. With Cindy’s hand firm on my biceps, her green eyes glimmered. As my pulse raced, I forced a smile before turning onto a narrow, one-way street. On the left, a rectangular red carpet was laid on the sidewalk before a set of dark gray marble steps. The short stairs lead up to a pair of gleaming gold-trimmed double doors set in a towering marble edifice. Air whistled from my lips.

To read this story you need a Registration + Premier Membership
If you have an account, then please Log In or Register (Why register?)

Support the author's future writing by purchasing this book from Bookapy

The Coach's Wife

INtrinSicliValud

$2.50