Warm Appointment

“We really need to get together and talk Jeff, I need to see you.”, She asked.

I still had not explained to Jen, what had happened between Beth and I , before I met her. I did want to get it out in the open, so if it ever came up, it would not be a surprise. Being family, it would not be odd to be seen with Beth, but I really thought the less we got together for now, the better it would be for both of us.

“What did you have in mind, Beth ?”, I asked.

“Lance is out of town, he won’t be home until early in the morning, can I come over now ?”, she asked quickly.

“I suppose so, I am not doing anything special.”, I answered.

“Ok, good, I am leaving work now, I should be there in about forty-five minutes.”, she responded.

As I waited for Beth, a lot of things were running through my mind. One thing I could not deny was that I did still care for Beth and to some degree, I did understand her situation. But on the other hand, I had really had developed strong feelings for Jennifer, she was an incredible lady. I think deep down, I really wanted to fall in love with Jen, I was just not sure if she was taking our relationship as serious as I was. I also knew that sooner or later I was going to have to tell Jen about Beth. That was something, I was not looking forward to at all.

The door bell rang, I got up and went to the door. Beth stepped in looking absolutely stunning as usual. She was wearing a black jacket, white blouse and short black skirt with black heels. I followed her into the great room and sat down in my chair, her on the sofa. I offered her a drink but she said maybe later.

“Jeff, I know I have left you hanging for quite some time now. I am really confused and the more I try to make a decision the more confusing it becomes.”, she said.

“I understand Beth, you have been married a long time.”, I responded.

“I’m trying to do everything I can to make my marriage work, but I feel like I am alone in the battle.”, she added, “But I really do not want to give up, things are somewhat better.”

“Then keep trying, don’t give up.”, I replied.

“Well……, I don’t really know how to say this, but……., I really do miss being intimate with you. It’s all I can think of.”, she stammered.

I guess my facial reactions told her I didn’t take that statement well, because she quickly shot back.

“I know that sounds terrible.”, she continued, “I want my marriage to work, but I want to have an intimate relationship with you as well.”

She looked own at the floor and began to wipe her eyes. I could see she was in some pain, struggling to get this off of her chest.

“Beth, the problem is still what we spoke of when we first discussed a relationship. It’s going to raise a whole lot of eye brows if we tell people, especially in our own family, if we decided to be together. How do you think they would react if they found out we were having an affair and you were still married ?”, I replied.

“I know, Jeff. It would be one hell of a mess.”, she responded.

“That is putting it mildly, Beth.”, I answered.

She continued to wipe tears from her eyes as we spoke, trying to find the right words to express what she was feeling. I was fighting every urge I had to get up, go over to her and put my arms around her. When I tried to look away from her tears my eyes would travel down to her gorgeous legs and that very short skirt. When I looked back up, she was staring at me, she saw me looking.
“Can I ask you a question, Jeff ?”, she finally said.

“Sure you can.”, I replied.

“Are you in love with Jennifer, is she in love with you ?”, she asked.

I thought carefully on how to answer this question, but I was always one to try keep things straight forward and simple. Less you have to try and remember what you told people later if things went bad. I decided to keep it truthful.

“ I have to admit, I have feelings for Jennifer, I’m not quite sure how she feels about me. We have been seeing each other a lot, but neither one of us have used the “Love” word as of yet.”, I replied.

“Oh, I see.”, she answered.

From the look on her face , I am not sure if she was disappointed that I told her I was seeing a lot of Beth, or maybe relieved that as of yet, no one had expressed being “in love” with the other. What I did notice, and I am sure intentionally, she had opened her legs somewhat giving me a nice view of her beautiful thigh’s and the crotch of her red panties. No matter how much I tried not to think about it, I was becoming aroused. I think she sensed it somehow, women have a gift when it comes to reading men. Although I have to admit, we are not at all difficult to read. I got up and once again offered her something to drink, excusing my self to get a glass of iced tea. I needed time to think.

I returned a few moments later and noticed that she had taken off her jacket and was leaning back in the sofa. She had positioned herself, so that I had a really nice view up her skirt. I knew now exactly what she was thinking.

“Beth, honestly, I don’t know what I can tell you that would make this situation any better. Until you decide what to do in your marriage, I don’t think any intimacy between us is possible.”, I told her.

She sat up on the sofa, I think somewhat surprised at the statement, I had just made. She opened her legs for one second, then crossed her thigh’s quickly. I knew what this meant. She was telling me, it’s here now, if you want it. But just that quick, it will be gone.

“So, you are in love with Jennifer ?”, she replied.
“Beth, you are confusing one with the other. I do care for Jennifer a lot, I know I love you as well, but neither of those are the issue. I am simply not going to continue an affair with you behind everyone’s back. It’s not an option at that point.”, I responded.

“So basically your telling me, it’s all or nothing at this point. You’re not interested in me sexually ?”, she asked.

“Of course, I am interested in you sexually, Beth. You’re an amazing , drop dead gorgeous woman, any man would love to go to bed with you. But, I am not going to sneak around to be with you. It has to be out in the open.”, I replied.

She looked down for a moment, then back up at me. She reached over and grabbed her jacket and began to put it on.

“So I guess, I have a lot of thinking to do.”, she stated.

“I guess so.”, I responded with a smile.

She moved to me, leaned up put her arms around my neck and gave me a very quick, warm kiss on the lips.

“I guess I will be having sex alone tonight huh ?”, she said with scowl.

“I guess so.”, I once again replied.

She told me goodnight, she would be in touch soon and headed for the door. It took a few minutes for me to compose myself after she left. I really had wanted to go to bed with her. I fought every impulse I had. But in the end, I was glad I held my ground, things were better this way.

Chapter 18

I was anxious to leave work Friday evening, looking forward to possibly seeing Jennifer. She had been working late most of the week in an attempt to ease her schedule. I was hoping she would be free tonight, although we had made no definite plans. I called her cell on the way home, but only got voice mail. I left a message for her to call me when she could. Almost as soon as I put the phone down, it rang.
I looked at the number, hoping it was Beth. It was my mother-in-law calling from her house.

“Hi Honey, how are you ?”, she asked.

“I am fine Mom, how are you and Dad doing ?”, I replied.

“We are fine, thanks. I just called to see how things were getting along between you and Jennifer. I was talking to Jennifer’s mother today, she seemed as much in the dark as I am about you two.”, she continued.

“Apparently Jennifer has not told her mother much about you two.”, she added.

I went on to tell my mother-in-law that we had been seeing each other regularly for a while now, but things were still on a friendship type basis as far as I could see. No long term plans of any kind had been spoke of.

“Do you love her, Jeff ?”, mom asked.

“I really don’t know mom. I am not sure I can ever love another woman like I did Susan.”, I replied.

“Jeff, I know Susan would want you to be happy. Do whatever feels right to you. I love Jennifer, I have known her since she was a baby, she is like a daughter to me. Just treat her like you did Susan, go from there and see what happens.”, she finished.

“Thanks mom.”, I responded.

We spoke for a few more moments then she told me she had to go, but keep her updated. I promised I would. When I hung up, I though of how strange it was to be talking to my mother-in-law about another woman. Life had a way of throwing you for a loop sometimes.

I didn’t stop on the way home for dinner thinking that perhaps Jen and I would go out to eat later. I got home, took a shower, and sat down to relax. About thirty minutes later my phone rang, it was Jennifer.

“Hey Jen, how are you.”, I asked.

“I’m doing ok, and you?”, she replied.

“Just waiting on you to call.”, I laughed.

“Aw, how sweet. But I have bad news. I have to go to dinner with my boss and some other assistants to discuss a case we are working on.”, she said disappointedly.

“It’s ok, I understand, you have a job to do.”, I answered.

“Can I come by after dinner tonight, I want to talk to you about something ?”, she asked.

“Sure, I will be here. Let me know.”, I replied.

After we hung up, I started to wonder what Jen wanted to talk about. The more I thought about it, the more I thought my mother-in-law and Jen’s mom may have been putting things in her head. Plus with the way things were with Beth, I had no clue what was going on.

I guess it was about ten-thirty when Jen called. She was leaving the restaurant and wanted to know if it was still ok to come by. I told her it was no problem, I was still up wide awake. She said she would be about twenty minutes. I got up, straightened things up a bit, so every thing looked perfect. She was right on time, as usual.

From her appearance, I was guessing she had went on to change first. She had on jeans, a tee-shirt and running shoes and smelled great. She kissed me quick on the lips and came in, she appeared to be in a great mood.

We sat down and quickly caught up on what was going on with each other. She had been busy prepping cases for court all week and had been working late every night. She did however say she would be free most of the weekend, which was good news. Conversation went back and forth, but in the back of my mind I was wondering what she wanted to talk about. I asked her if she wanted to watch a movie or perhaps go rent one or two. She picked up the remote and scanned through the cable HD Movie channels and found several she wanted to watch. I went to make several iced tea’s and microwave a bowl of popcorn. When I returned to the sofa, I sat next to her and she put the movie on. About a third of the way through the movie, it was apparent this was a dud, or at least I thought so. A few minute’s later she must have come to the same conclusion.

“You interested in this movie ?”, she asked.

“Nope, not really.”, I replied.

“Good.”, she said lowering the volume on the TV to zero,

“Jeff, I told you that I wanted to talk to you earlier about something.”, she said.

“Yep” , I replied.

“First, I want to tell you what a great time I have had since meeting you. You make me feel special in everything that you. Your polite, caring, you make me feel like I am the most important woman in the world. You don’t judge me, you let me be who I am.”, she said.

“I find myself thinking more and more about you during the day, I miss you a lot during the week.”, she added.

“I miss you too.”, I admitted.

She leaned over and gave me a quick hug and a kiss, apparently glad to know I was feeling the same.

“But, I have to admit you something. I am very scared right now. I think I could be falling for you, but, and please don’t stop me. I am really frightened to go any further, I am scared I am going to be hurt. I know how you felt about Susan and I know there is absolutely no way I could ever measure up to her.”, she said with some trembling in her voice.

“I don’t want to fall in love with you, then you realize that.”, she continued quietly.

“And now after saying all of that, I am really not sure of how you even feel about me or am I way out of line ?”, she asked.

I could tell instantly she was sincere. This powerful woman who routinely stood before judges, attorneys and criminals and argued the law was helplessly admitting her worst fears to me. She lowered her head and I think waited for an answer. I reached over and took her small hand in mine.

“No Jen, you’re right, you will never be Susan. I don’t expect nor do I want you to be. Trust me, I am as scared as you are right now about being hurt. I’m not sure I could have life take another women from me.”, I answered.

She looked up and I could see some relief in her face. A smile returned to her face and looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes that could melt your heart.

“So what you are saying is you think you might be falling in love with me Jeff. Did I get that right ?”, she asked.

“Yes, you got that right.”, I answered softly.

She smiled a bigger smile, leaned over and kissed me passionately on the lips, then hugged me like she was holding on for dear life.

“I had some reservations, perhaps that after the night we had at the club, you wouldn’t think of me as someone that you could share your life with.”, she said looking down nervously.

“Jen, that’s one of the things I love most about you. Your willing to be who you are in front of me. You don’t play games, your honest. That’s always the best foundation for a relationship.”, I replied.

She looked back up at me smiling again. I could see in her face she was relieved. Her hand came up and touched my right cheek. She looked deep into my eyes.

“I could get used to this.”, she said softly.

“So could I , Jen.”, I quickly replied.