The Fling

36

"Who's a good boy?" I asked Cosmo as I drank my coffee on the patio with him. I'd accidentally thrown the ball into the roses, but he carefully stepped around the pretty pink blooms to retrieve it.

The door opened behind me, and then Abigail sat down at the table wearing her workout clothes. "Okay, so that was rough," she commented.

"Sore?" I didn't mean her leg muscles.

"Yes, and normally it would be fine, but pairing that pain with a bicycle seat for forty-five minutes was pretty bad."

"I'm sorry," I told her, but secretly I was flattered. Like many men, I worried about my size, so knowing I'd created enough friction for her to feel it the next day was an ego boost.

"I'm not mad, Shawn. I love having lots of sex. Before we do it again, however, I will be taking a long hot soak in the tub."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Alone?"

"You can join me, but it's just a bath."

I nodded in agreement, though I wondered how we'd keep things from turning sexy when we were naked in a bathtub. "I made some pour-over coffee. It's still hot. Can I get you a mug?"

"Yes, please. Half a Splenda and a little milk."

I went inside and prepared her coffee. Before going back outside, I grabbed us each a banana.

Abigail took a sip. "Thank you! This is perfect."

"What's on today's agenda?" I peeled my banana and took a bite.

"I need an hour or so to finish up some work I didn't get to yesterday. After that, we could take a hike if it's not too hot."

"Do you mind if I go to the gym while you work?"

She smiled. "Of course not."

"Cool. I'll be gone longer than an hour."

"That's fine. I can get a little ahead, though I'm not sure it's worth it. I'm getting pretty tired of this job."

I finished my coffee in one gulp. "Do you have to work?" From all appearances, she seemed pretty well off.

Abigail sighed. "Technically? No. I got the house in the divorce and my monthly alimony covers everything else. Obviously Bert pays child support, but I put most of that in the kids' college funds."

"Why not quit?"

"I like working. My mom sometimes worked two jobs to make ends meet after my dad left, and I've never wanted to be someone who sits on her butt all day. I just don't really like this job."

"If you could do anything, what would you do?" I asked her.

Without hesitation she replied, "Write."

I smiled. "That's awesome? Like a novel?"

"Yes. I have a journal full of book ideas, but between the job I have now and raising my children, I don't have time to develop any of them."

"The answer is right in front of you, honey. Quit the textbook gig and be a writer."

"But that's not real work," she said.

"Bullshit! Creating art is a job!"

Abigail made a face. "I guess, but it feels very privileged to do that instead of something that earns a paycheck. Let's go take that bath after I eat this banana."

When we got upstairs, she started the bath water, adding some oils that filled the room with a wonderful scent. We both stripped naked and I climbed in first, leaning against the sloped side of the soaking tub. She got in next, positioning herself between my legs. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head. As she leaned back, I could feel her body relax into mine.