Take It Farther Read Online Free Page B

Walt
will certainly make her feel like a princess. His charm is relentless."
    "Walt, huh?"
    She shook her head. "My pet name for him. Don't call
him that to his face."
    I grunted.
    She said, "What do you do for fun?"
    "Read business magazines for the comic relief."
    She rolled her eyes with a knowing look. Business magazines
were pure propaganda. "About as fun as a tabloid?"
    I gave her a grin. "What about you?"
    "I collect antiquities."
    I gave her an appraising look. "That's unusual."
    "Is it?"
    "What's your favorite piece?"
    She touched my shoulder as we sat on the couch. "A
gemmed comb unearthed from Akkadian Babylon."
    "Babylon? Wow."
    "That's what I thought. Paid dearly for it, but I love
looking at it. The workmanship is still evident after four thousand years."
    "I'd love to see it."
    "We'll have to invite you to our home."
    I raised an eyebrow. Getting invited to Jacqueline Preston's
cabin was special as it was. To her home? Quite special. "I look forward
to it."
    "I'm relieved you're comfortable with my husband paying
attention to your wife."
    I wasn't sure what to say. "I… think we understand each
other."
    She nodded. "He said you two spoke in the
kitchen."
    "I would not see my wife treated like—"
    She stopped me. "No one wants to see their loved ones
treated poorly. Rest assured Walter would never treat your wife in the wrong
way."
    I sighed, breathing a little easier. "I don't know
about anything heavier…"
    Her look said nothing, just watched me.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Walter returned with Jolene about two hours later. They came
walking through the falling snowflakes holding hands. Or holding gloves.
    Right outside the door they hugged. Briefly.
    I had time alone with Jolene in the bedroom as she changed
into something for inside. "You were holding hands?"
    "Ah, yes. There was a muddy patch in the meadow and I
started to slip. He saved me an embarrassing fall. After that he just sort of
held on."
    I couldn't say much about them holding gloves, could I?
"He was nice?"
    "Very. He showed me the meadow beyond the trees and the
creek that borders it. There was some ruins of a water mill there. All
collapsed."
    "He hugged you, too."
    She gave me a look. "Yes, it was very sweet."
    I pursed my lips.
    "Oh, come on. We were both bundled like Eskimos."
    She had a point and after saying it, I didn't feel bad about
it.
    "You're alright?" She sat next to me on the bed.
    I considered our conversation the previous night and how I
felt now. Walter was being kind and a gentleman. I had nothing to complain
about. "Yes, I suppose I am."
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Dinner was more touching between them. It distracted me. I
wanted to see and I wanted to say something, but there was nothing to say. It
wasn't salacious and a part of me firmed a little in happiness that my wife was
receiving so much admiration and attention.
    Seeing something flirtatious like that had me expecting to
be defensive, and then realizing that I was alright with it. I wanted her to
have fun and be happy.
    Walter made a fire after dinner in the huge fireplace. He
reclined in front of it next to my wife. They both lay with their feet towards
the fire. They were on their sides, facing each other, still talking. And they
were talking about banking, of all things. What could be so interesting about
banking? But he had her laughing about how serious his wife was and how focused
I was.
    Were we that strange? I looked at Jacqueline. She was
looking at me over a cup of tea, one leg crossed over the other, foot swinging
idly.
    Walter leaned a little closer when my wife looked at the
fire. "That perfume is wonderful. What is it?" His nose was close to
her neck.
    Watching a man's face so close to her made my heart thump a
little, but it settled quickly.
    "Oh, I don't wear perfume. Bad chemicals."
    "Smart woman. So that's just soap?"
    Jolene shrugged with one shoulder. "Soap and
skin."
    His voice was low. "Intoxicating."
    She sort of jerked her head to him. "My smell?"
    But he was