Chapter 1

They say it's not what you know, but who you know, and that's why I found myself leaving Iowa. The father of a dorm floor-mate was the sales vice-president for an industrial parts manufacturer. I met him on parent's day of my junior year. By the winter of my senior year I had a job waiting me in a small town in central Tennessee. Came the end of May, I packed up my car, kissed my folks goodbye and hit the road. Tom, the floor-mate, was moving to Ohio, but he put me in touch with an apartment complex that offered furnished apartments month to month. I moved in on a Thursday and started work the next Monday.

I'd grown up and gone to college in Iowa. I was smart, top third of my class in both high school and college, though nothing to set the world on fire. I was considered handsome enough by the four girlfriends I'd had through the years, but neither Hollywood nor the modeling agencies would be coming a-knocking.

I alternated running a few miles with light lifting to stay in shape. I didn't have a six pack, but there was nothing hanging down over the belt. I get at least a first look from most women.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm Jim (slightly above) average. I am also somewhat shy and hesitant when I'm in new situations, which this was.

A few weeks later I had just finished a morning run and had stopped at a certain coffee shop to rehydrate (yes, I know that caffeine is a diuretic, but I'm an addict, so put down the espresso and back off). The cute girl in front of me stepped back from the counter, and I zigged when I should have zagged. Her latte was on the floor and I was both embarrassed and thunderstruck.

We all carry a template in our minds of the perfect girl. She matched mine completely. She was almost as tall as my five foot ten. She was slender and athletic looking. Her legs looked strong, without being beefy. She curved in where she should and curved out just right. I accurately guessed she was a large B cup, more than a handful with no sag, her breasts sitting high on her chest.

She had dark red hair that came down to just below her shoulders and the face of an angel. Her personality and temperament were immediately evident as the coffee sprayed all over the floor. I turned as red as a proverbial fire truck and began stammering apology after apology while insisting that I would replace her latte. Melinda laughed and, in her soft drawl, tried to take some of the fault. While someone mopped the floor and the barrista made two new lattes, I introduced myself and offered to do her laundry as we were both splattered from our shoes to our shorts.

Our hands touched when I handed Melinda her cup. It is so trite, but I felt a spark. I know I said I was shy in new situations, but I knew I had to make Melinda a part of my life. We sat and talked as the coffee we'd missed dried to a sticky mess. We walked to her apartment where she showered and changed and then to mine for me to wash up and change, as well as start the laundry.

Nothing physical happened that day. Mentally and emotionally, however, I was gone. Melinda and I began spending as much time as possible together. After a month or so, this being the twenty-first century, we exchanged STD reports. Neither of us cared much for latex. We met after work three days a week and spent half of each weekend together. We walked or took drives together. We would cook for each other and watch movies. And we went to bed.

Melinda was everything I could want either above or between the sheets. She was eager to start and could go for hours. Anything I would suggest, she was happy to try. Anything included anywhere. Having a responsive partner does wonders for your ego. My hat size must have doubled.

I was in heaven and wanted to have Melinda forever. After about six months together, one Wednesday night, I pushed myself up on one elbow and leaned over Melinda. I nibbled a nipple and moved up to kiss her lips.

"Melinda," I started, "could we talk about where we're going? I love you and I want you in my life more and more. Can we talk about moving in together and see if this is the real thing? There's more to a marriage than just being in love and I want to see if we have what it takes."

She smiled as she stared into my eyes. "Jim, I was going to bring that up myself, but you beat me to it. I love you very much and I so hope that you are the one I'm going to grow old and wrinkled with. Will you love me when my breasts touch my belly button?"

I laughed and bent down to lick her navel. Melinda gasped and bucked her hips. "No problem," I said. "It just means I can do that and suck your nipples at the same time."

Melinda giggled and called me a nut, but her nut.

Her smile dimmed and she told me, "There is one thing, though. We've spent all our time since we met together and none socializing. I have a group of friends that I grew up with here since we were in grade school. I have to tell you, Jim, my friends are very important to me. I'm not saying they have a veto over our relationship, but it will make our life together less joyful for me and will put a strain on things."

Smiling, I replied, "If they're your friends, I'm sure they're wonderful. Will I have to worry about any of them stealing you away from me?"

Melinda's smile returned and she said, "You have nothing to worry about there. We get together and have fun, but none of them hold a candle to you. I could have chosen one of them years ago, but I never did. None of them has ever shown any interest in me that way and none of them are so timid that they would hide it."

Her gaze drew me in as she reached up and caressed my cheek. "Jim, if we get to the point where we're talking marriage, I promise you total and complete honesty and truthfulness. Will you promise the same?"

I leaned down and whispered, "Absolutely and completely," and sealed it with a kiss. I rolled over and ground myself against her groin. "When can we start to meet your friends?"

As Melinda was leaving that night she kissed me and said, "Count on meeting Sally this Friday night. We'll have dinner at her house around six. That should give you time to shower and change. Dress very casually. I'll call you if there's a change and to give directions. I'll meet you there." Her tongue departed from my mouth and she followed along.

A minute before six that Friday I stood on Sally's porch. I had parked behind Melinda's little Honda and trotted up the walk. Before I could knock, the door opened and a squealing Melinda jumped into my arms.

"I can't tell you how excited I am that you're here and that you're going to start to meet the gang. I'm so psyched. Come in. Come in. Come on! We're in the kitchen. Sally's so excited also. I've been telling her all about you for months." I couldn't listen fast enough to follow her enthusiasm.

I walked down a short hallway and into the kitchen. Sally turned from the sink and smiled at me. She was a petite blond with a terrific figure. Melinda hadn't been kidding when she said to dress casually. Both Melinda and Sally were wearing a loose top with spaghetti straps and a pair of shorts. Anklets and sneakers completed the wardrobe. Sally was more ... gifted on top than Melinda. I knew from her hug that Melinda was braless and the sway of Sally's breasts indicated she matched my girl.

Sally wiped her hands on a towel as she crossed the room and tossed it on the table behind me. She put the side of her head against my chest as she hugged me. She pulled my face down and gave me a quick, but affectionate kiss on my lips.

"I am happy to meet the man who's made Melinda so happy. She's practically glowed the last few months. I hope we can become friends, also."

I smiled to Sally, reached down to capture her hand and brought it to my lips. "I shall make every effort to make that so," I said. Melinda and Sally glowed back at me.

Melinda grabbed a tray of appetizers off the table and dragged me to Sally's living room. Sally followed behind and laughed at Melinda. "Supper should be ready in about a half hour, so let's sit and get to know each other," Sally called.

Melinda and I sat on a love seat (where else) and Sally sat across from us. We talked, and drank from a pitcher of sweet tea that Sally had brought in, and ate those delicious appetizers. I was happy, delighted actually. I had worried for the last thirty-six hours that I wouldn't get along with her friends or that they would hate me. Perhaps Melinda had started me with the easiest of her friends. I could see that I had at least passed the first test and began to relax and just be myself.