Take It Farther Read Online Free

nodded. "Say you'll come. We have six bedrooms and
four baths. There's an indoor Jacuzzi and skiing close by if you're into
that."
    "I… I'll have to ask my wife."
    "Please do. We'd love to have you as our guests."
She rose and left as quickly as she'd come.
    I pulled my cell and hit Jolene's number.
    She answered, surprised. "Richard?"
    "Yeah, I know. We usually text. Jacqueline just came in
and said she and Walter wanted us to be their guests at their cabin. Next
weekend."
    "Valentines?"
    "Mm hmm."
    "I don't know…"
    "You busy?"
    "Me? No. Just going over enrollment figures
district-wide."
    "They have a half dozen bedrooms and four baths. Indoor
Jacuzzi."
    "Sounds like a vacation spot."
    "I think it would be nice."
    She hesitated. "I…" She trailed off.
    "She came down to my office to ask. I get the
impression they would really enjoy having us there."
    "You want to go?"
    "I think it would be fun. Relaxing. A bit of snow, some
Jacuzzi. Yeah."
    "Alright then. Yes, it does sound fun."
    "I'll tell her we'll go then?"
    "Sure. We'll need to get some clothes for the cold,
though."
    I could tell she was compiling a mental list. "Alright,
see you later tonight."
    "Love you."
    I smiled into the phone. "I love you, too." I
pocketed the cell and hit the com-button and punched two-two-zero.
    Carla's voice sounded. "Mrs. Preston's office?"
    "Carla, Richard Franklin. Please tell Mrs. Preston that
my wife and I accept."
    "I'll let her know."
    "Thank you." I clicked off.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Their cabin was an odd one. Converted from a lodge, the
structure had been reworked and refurbished into a home in the snow. It was
almost as big as our own McMansion.
    It was snowing very lightly, big flakes coming down with a
grace reminiscent of my wife's sexiness.
    She shook her head. "Has it really been two
months?"
    "Since my promotion? Yes. Time flies by so fast now.
Blink twice and the year's gone."
    She was looking out the window. "How much do we miss
when we blink?"
    I pulled to a stop behind their Mercedes SUV. They had the
G-Class.
    Walter was out while Jacqueline remained in the vehicle. He
gave me a grin when I joined him. "Nice, isn't it?" He motioned to
the former lodge.
    "Spectacular, really. I love that deep roof."
    He nodded vigorously. "That's what caught my eye, too.
Let's get the ladies in before the snow gets thick."
    The interior looked modern. In fact, it looked like our
offices. Wood paneling and recessed lighting. There were even live plants with
automated drip systems. The place looked and smelled fresh.
    I said to Jacqueline, "You have people come out here
and keep the place?"
    "Once a month. Walter handles it. This place was his
idea and money. But it's sort of grown on me."
    It was late enough on a Friday that dinner came next. I
chopped up a salad while Walter grilled steaks. He seemed to know his way
around the kitchen.
    I said, "You do the cooking in your house?"
    "Mm, hmm." It was hummed with finality. "She
likes my cooking better than she likes her own. She doesn't like to bother with
it now."
    "Jolene loves to cook – she's a wiz with spices."
    He shot me a wondering glance, then tensed perhaps the very
slightest. "Yes…" His tone seemed exploratory. "An intriguing
woman. Quite talented?"
    Feeling awkward, knowing he was meaning additional things
about my wife, I faced the quandary of not knowing what was appropriate. How
does one talk about his wife in ways suggestively intimate? Was it proper? Crude?
Done with a secret handshake? "She's everything to me."
    He bounced the spatula on the steaks. "I imagine it
would be hard not to appreciate her."
    I grunted. I just wasn't sure what should be said.
    He said, "I hope you don't mind if I pay her some
compliments?"
    "Not at all. She deserves them."
    He half turned to me, still keeping an eye on the steaks. He
flipped one. "Some women can't be appreciated enough."
    I was silent. Was it so bad if someone else also appreciated
my wife? Considered her worthy of admiration?