Holly watched as her boss lay her head down on a table and laugh at her.
�It�s not that damn funny, Lynn,� Holly insisted, scowling at the woman.
�Yes, it is,� Lynn gasped, her face red from laughing so hard.
�I didn�t find it so amusing.�
�Oh, goodness,� Lynn wheezed, trying to catch her breath. �It�s not so much what happened as the way you said it. I mean, look at it from my perspective. You�ve got this totally serious look on your face, telling me about an email you got. You to go the link and enter your real name to get your Smurf name. And even you have to admit, �Fat Ass Smurf� is funny. But the best part is when you said �How did they know?��
Holly shook her head and walked out of the instructional area as Lynn howled with more laughter. She knew better than to try to explain it to Lynn at that moment. She doubted Lynn would understand anything about that. Only someone who had experienced what she did would understand.
Holly sat down in a chair and pulled up the records of the students on the computer screen. They had a new student starting that afternoon and she needed to get the notebook set up. Lynn finally calmed down enough to go back to her office, snickering every so often as the thought hit her again, eliciting evil glares from Holly at the sounds. Thank goodness they were in two separate rooms or else Holly would be in trouble for that. After finding what she needed, she printed the information and headed back to her table where she began putting the notebook together
She became so engrossed in her work that she didn�t even look up when the doorbell chimed. Since school was out for the summer, they were getting lots of inquiry phone calls and walk-ins. Hearing Lynn go into her greeting in a super sweet and flirty voice, Holly shook her head. It never failed to surprise her how far her boss would go to get new enrollments. According to Lynn, a little leg or well-executed tears never hurt anyone. Holly always waited for that part of Lynn�s selling to backfire. And judging from the sudden change in Lynn�s voice, it just did.
�Holly,� she called, stepping back into the instructional area. �You have a visitor. Do you have time?�
A visitor, Holly wondered? The only visitors she usually got were her parents and she always knew when they came in. Curious, she closed the notebook she was working on and walked out of the little corner where her �desk� was. She made her way out of the instructional area and into the lobby. The smile she always wore when greeting people turned to a genuine grin when she saw Lance standing there.
�Hey, Miss Holly,� he said, giving her a big hug and a light peck on the cheek.
�Hey, yourself,� she laughed, hugging him back and returning the kiss. �What are you doing out this way?�
�Just stopped by to see what my favorite real estate agent was up to.�
�We don�t sell real estate here,� Lynn interrupted. �We�re an after-school��
�I know what you are,� Lance politely informed her. �It�s an inside joke we have, right?�
�Right,� she winked conspiratorially at him as he gave her a little squeeze. �You can come back to the instruction area, if you like.�
Lance followed Holly to the next room, taking in the sight of the area.
�Which one�s your desk?�
�That�s my table back there,� she told him, nodding to the back corner.
�I bet you were hard at work there the first time I called, weren�t you?�
�Actually, I was. Seriously, though, what are you doing here?�
�I can�t stop by just to see you?� He asked, playing innocent.
�Not dressed like that,� she commented, indicating his dressier-than-usual attire.
�Ah, busted me, then. I wanted to tell you this in person,� he began.
�Uh-oh. That�s never a good start,� she interrupted.
�Would you hush?� He laughed. �I�m not going to be able to make it for our date this weekend. I�ve been called out of town for some stupid shi�stuff. I am so sorry, Holly.�
�It�s okay,� she assured him, her heart dropping a little. She had been looking forward to going out. �You gotta do what you gotta do.�
�I know, but I feel so badly about this,� he told her, tilting her face towards his. �I promise you, next weekend we�ll do something, all right?�
�You don�t have to, Lance.�
�I know I don�t have to, but I want to. You deserve a night out with me.�
�Kind of sure of yourself, aren�t you?� She snickered.
�You know what I meant,� he chuckled, running a thumb across her cheek. �We�ve had nights at my place and yours. We�ve spent evenings with Harold and an afternoon with your parents. Let�s change the scenery one time. Okay?�
�Okay,� she agreed, looking up into his beautiful green eyes. �Are you leaving today?�
�Yeah,� he said. �I wish I didn�t. But��
�Lance,� she said, taking his hand off her face. �You don�t have to apologize for anything. You have your life to deal with.�
�But I�m not supposed to be dealing with it right now,� he jokingly whined. His watched beeped, interrupting his complaint. �Dammit. I�ve got to be going or I�m going to miss my plane. Take care of yourself and I�ll see you soon.�
Before Holly could respond, Lance leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. He pulled away, winking at her.
�See ya,� he called as he walked out of the center.
Holly waited to hear the doorbell ding before silently counting to ten. When she started on eleven, Lynn came barging into the room.
�You going to tell me about him?� She asked, using the copier as a pretense.
�Nothing to tell,� Holly evasively answered, turning away and smirking.
�Holly,� Lynn said, turning around, a hand on her hip. �Don�t try that again. That was him, wasn�t it?�
�Him who?� Holly was enjoying playing the dumb one for a change.
�It was!� Lynn exclaimed. �Oh, Holly, he�s pretty. You gotta get you a piece of that.�
�Lynn!� She admonished. �That is such a sexist thing to say.�
�What? Men do it all the time. Why can�t we?�
�Because.�
�Because it�s not a lady-like thing to do? What a load of crap. You need to try some of it. Mmh,� she grunted appreciatively at the memory. �Bet he�s��
�Lynn,� Holly said calmly. �Stop right there. We don�t need to go any farther than whatever you were thinking.�
�You don�t know what I was thinking.�
�I don�t need to know what you were thinking. Sometimes, I�m just better off in the dark. You�re a bad influence on me, you know that?�
�And you wouldn�t have it any other way. So, he ditched you for the weekend, huh? That will be all right. You and I need to go shopping so you can have something to wear out.�
�I have clothes, Lynn,� Holly told her as she began placing the students� notebooks on the tables.
�But nothing to wear out. Surely you weren�t thinking of wearing you work clothes.�
�Actually, I was thinking of a pair of jeans or dress pants and a nice��
�No, no, and no. I will hook you up, girl. He�s too much of a catch to let go with a pair of jeans.�
�But��
�But nothing. That is what we�ll do this weekend. I�ll get my mom to watch the kids, then you and I will head out to do some damage. And you can�t turn me down, it would just be rude and you know you can�t be rude.�
Holly glared at her boss, knowing she was right.
�I hate you,� she said.
�Great. Meet me at the mall around one Saturday afternoon. I am going to fix you up right.�
�Great,� Holly muttered, knowing no good could come out of this.
~*~
By the time Wednesday of the next week rolled around, Holly was ready to bet Lynn was more excited about her going out Friday than she was. Lynn kept asking her if she had heard from Lance yet and where were they going. Holly tried her best to explain that they were just friends and that Lance was still away on business.
�This is just killing me, Holly,� Lynn announced, pulling out a chair and sitting down. �You haven�t heard from him in a week now. Aren�t you worried?�
�No,� Holly replied, leaning forward over her table to catch a pen before it rolled away. �He�s got things he needs to do, just like I do. Only I bet his boss isn�t in his business all the time like you are.�
Lynn laughed, dismissing Holly�s comments with a wave of her hand.
�You wouldn�t know what to do if I wasn�t in your business. Don�t you think you might need to call him?�
�No. I swear, you�d think you�re the one going out on the date, not me.�
�I have three kids, Holly. I have to live vicariously through you. Get some excitement in your life. Do something.�
Holly opened her mouth to say something when the doorbell chimed, interrupting her. Lynn rolled her eyes and trudged to the front, putting on her best happy face. Holly was just settling back in to work when she heard Lynn call her name cheerily.
�What could she be up to now?� She wondered aloud, tossing her pen down and standing up.
Holly stopped in her tracks, her face lighting up as she saw Lance standing in the lobby.
�Holly,� he said, going to her and wrapping her in a big hug. He inhaled the scent of her hair.
�What are you doing here, Lance?� She asked, taken aback by this sudden display from him.
�I just got back in to town and wanted to see you. I hope that�s all right.�
�Of course it�s all right,� Lynn butted in; ignoring the look Holly shot her. �Miss Holly was just talking about you, anyway.�
�All good, I hope,� Lance said, letting Holly go, but keeping a hand on the small of her back.
�Nothing else could be said, right?� Lynn told him.
Holly wasn�t sure, but she thought Lynn was flirting with him. Suddenly struck with a jealous feeling, she looped an arm through Lance�s. He caught the sudden attention and lightly tapped his fingers on her back to let her know he knew.
�Holly and I were just heading out to lunch. Why don�t you join us?� Lynn suddenly announced.
�Oh, no,� Holly blurted.
�Holly, don�t be so rude,� Lynn jokingly chastised. �I�m sure Lance would enjoy a beautiful woman for lunch, wouldn�t you?�
Lance knew he had been hit on more times than he could count: fans-both male and female, women, teenagers, mothers of teenagers, and the list could go on and on. There had been times it was more blatantly obvious than this, but for some reason, he found this time offensive.
�I sure would. Holly, you busy?� He gave a slight wink to let her know everything was all right.
�Not at all,� Holly went along with him. �There�s a test scheduled in a few hours and then we�ve got instruction. Why don�t we go next door and grab something from there?�
�Sounds great to me,� he agreed. �I haven�t had anything since I left LA early this morning. Luckily, I didn�t get stuck in any layovers, but I didn�t have enough time between flights to grab a bite.�
�Oh, well, they�ve got the best cheesecake next door,� Lynn interjected, determined not to be left out of the conversation.
�All the better reason to go then,� he winked noticeably at Holly this time. �I guess you�re coming, aren�t you�I forgot your name. I�m just terrible with names.�
�It�s Lynn,� she snipped, going into her office to grab her keys and wallet.
They walked next door and were seated at a table. Lance held out Holly�s chair and sat beside her, his arm draped casually over the back of her chair. They listened as Lynn rambled on about her kids, Lance absently stroking Holly�s shoulder and upper arm every once in a while just checking to make sure she was still there. He didn�t realize how much he had missed her.
�And then,� Lynn gushed for the millionth time waiting for their food. �Mandy, my two year old, held up her two pointer fingers like this and told me �Minutes� when I was trying to rush her. You know, how we always say give me a minute? Well, she decided she needed �minutes�. Isn�t that the cutest thing ever?�
�Absolutely adorable,� Lance agreed, playing with the short hairs on the back of Holly�s neck, sending shivers down her spine.
Just as Lynn was about to start off into another adorable baby story, their meals were brought out. Holly said a silent prayer of thanks for Lynn shutting up long enough for them to eat. As soon as the meal was over, they left the restaurant. Lynn announced she�d see Holly back inside the center in a little while.
Lance took Holly�s hands in his as they stood in the courtyard between the restaurant and the center. He looked down into her soft brown eyes, smiling.
�What?� She asked, smiling back.
�I�ve missed you, Holly. I didn�t expect that, but I have. I can�t wait for us to go out Friday.�
�Neither can Lynn,� she told him. �We went shopping over the weekend for something for me to wear.�
�You�ll look beautiful, no matter what. I wish we could have had a quiet lunch just the two of us, but sometimes you gotta kiss a little ass to make work run smoothly.�
�Is that what you had to do on your trip?�
�Yes, but I really don�t want to think about that for a while, yet,� he told her. �You need to get back to work and I need to unpack and get settled back into my house. I�ll see you around, okay?�
�Okay,� Holly agreed, stretching up to plant a kiss on his lips.
�I like that,� he told her, nodding his head. �You better go before, well, it just wouldn�t be very professional for either of us. Let�s just leave it at that.�
�All right,� she agreed. �I�ll see you later.�
�Most definitely,� he concurred.
Holly watched as he walked away and got into his SUV. She waited until he waved at her as he drove away before turning to go back into the center. She opened the door to find Lynn on the phone with a panicked look on her face and the other line ringing incessantly. She rushed to the instructional area to get the second line, only to find all hell about to break loose.
Chapter 8
Holly turned to look at the board that contained the students� schedule as she spoke with the person on the other end of the line.
�Sure. That�s not a problem. Be sure to call back and let us know something. Thanks.�
She hung the phone up, noticing two new names written in the day�s attendance grid. As she turned to see what Lynn was doing, Holly suddenly found herself face to face with her boss.
�Holly, I�m going to need your help this afternoon��
�When did you write the twins in for a make-up?� Holly interrupted, pointing to the board.
�Right after I came in. That�s what I want to talk with you about.�
�We really don�t have room for them this afternoon.�
�They�ll have to make room for them. Their grandmother called as soon as I walked in the door. Why aren�t the boys making progress like they�re supposed to be?�
�Excuse me?� Holly asked, her hand on a hip.
�Yes. Their grandmother isn�t pleased with the work we�re doing with them. The school is threatening to hold them back in first grade. And with grandmother being the one to pay, I�ve got to have an emergency meeting with her this afternoon. But here�s the thing, I also have a diagnostic assessment scheduled at four o�clock. The twins will be doing their make-up during that hour and I can�t meet with the grandmother and give the test. The teachers back here will have to deal with the twins. You need to tell me why they�re not making any progress.�
�First off, they aren�t consistent with their attendance,� Holly began rattling off her observations. �Second, they�re just not that bright. They come in tired, nearly fall asleep during instruction, and when they do show up, they�re always late. Tell me how do you expect us to do our job when their parents and grandparents don�t even put forth an effort to help them?�
�But there�s got to be something we can do. What about that homework we give them?� Lynn demanded.
�We don�t give them homework anymore. They never brought it back and I didn�t see any point in us continuously wasting paper for that. Why did you schedule that conference when you knew you had that test?� Holly was becoming more livid.
�Because I knew you would be able to take the test. Grandmother pays and we want to keep her happy. Do you think if the boys upped the times they come that we could get them ahead and at least in second grade by the time school starts in the fall?�
�Lynn, when I tested them back in January, they couldn�t even tell me when their birthday was. All they knew was that it was when it was cold outside. And they could barely write their name and alphabet in order. Trust me, getting them to associate c-a-t spells �cat� was a breakthrough. They didn�t get behind in five months and there is no way in hell they can be above grade level in the same amount of time. They�re stuck on �r blends.��
�Why would they be stuck on that?�
Holly looked at Lynn like she had grown a second head. �Have you heard either one of them speak? They have a serious impediment and cannot pronounce the letter �r� correctly. That�s holding them up. I think they�re taking speech in school, but we�re not trained to teach that here as well as everything else.�
�Well, can�t you work some of your magic back here, Holly? I�ve got to have something to tell the grandmother or she�ll pull them out. And they�re one of our biggest customers. We want to keep them happy.�
Holly groaned in aggravation. �I understand this is a business, but you have no idea what the hell goes on back here during instruction. I�m the one who has to deal with the teachers and the education part of this.�
�That�s why you�re the Director of Education. So, direct some education to keep those boys here,� Lynn instructed. �Now, the test this afternoon is a kindergarten girl. She�s testing in both math and reading, so that will probably keep you busy until about seve�What are you doing to the board?�
Holly turned back from where she was moving names. �I�ve got to teach this afternoon. That was Joy on line two. She fell in a hole in her yard on her way to her mother�s this afternoon. She cracked her ankle and won�t be able to come in this afternoon.�
�She cracked her ankle?�
�That�s what she said. She told me it was swollen badly and she was going to have to wait until her husband got home to take her to the emergency room so her mother could keep the baby.�
�You�ve got to get my test started,� Lynn told her, panic starting to set in.
�Well, if I have to, Vivian can start the hour of instruction. But you know how much she bitches about having more than three students at one time.�
�Vivian won�t be in to work today. She called and left a message while we were out to lunch. She�s got car troubles and doesn�t have a way in.�
Holly quickly looked at the teacher schedule. Lynn didn�t have any other teachers scheduled for the day and none were listed as call-in. She turned to look at Lynn, her eyes narrowed.
�You mean to tell me I�m going to have to teach all four hours by myself?�
�I can�t get hold of any of the other teachers. You know how it is during the summer. They all have something to do and��
�I can�t teach two tables for four hours!� Holly exploded. �Those parents are guaranteed a 3 to 1 ratio when they enroll their students. The students this afternoon range from Algebra to beginning reading.�
�You taught in a classroom full of more students than this,� Lynn tried to soften the blow.
�That was different! The students in my classroom were all doing the same subject at the same freaking time! This program is more intense than that! Damn!�
�Well, shit, Holly. What am I supposed to do about my test?�
�Deal with it. You�ve managed worse things before,� Holly shot back as she began moving the two horseshoe shaped tables and shoved them together.
�What are you doing?� Lynn asked, on the verge of tears.
Holly bit back the smart-aleck remark she had on the verge of her tongue. Lynn should save her tears for someone who didn�t know her as well as she did. Holly had heard her brag about her theatre degree one too many times to be affected.
�Dealing with the situation back here. If I�m going to teach six kids on different subjects at the same time, dammit, I�m going to do it right.�
~*~
Holly entered her garage around eight-thirty that night, still fuming about the whole afternoon and evening at work. Out of habit this time and not her usual �just because I can� mood, she walked around to the front of her townhouse and dug around to find her keys to unlock the door. She slung it open, muttering nasty things about her boss, when she heard her name. She looked up to see Lance coming towards her. She growled, not really in the mood to be nice at the moment.
�Lance,� she said, her words tight and clipped, �I�ve had a really bad afternoon and I�m just not going to be good company tonight.�
�Oh,� he said, a bit dejected. �How about I come in and be good company for you? I can rub your shoulders and you can tell me about your day. I�ve just really missed you.�
Holly took a deep breath, snarling under her breath. Lance raised an eyebrow and was tempted to take a step back to avoid being bitten. She saw the look he gave her and forced a smile at him.
�Fine. But I can�t guarantee I�ll be very chatty,� she told him, letting him in then slamming the door shut behind her.
Lance took her purse from her hands and set it on the table in the hallway. He then took her hands in his and led them to the living room. He sat down, pulling her down in front of him. He put his hands on either side of her neck and began to rub her neck and shoulders.
�You�ve got knots, baby.�
�Ow. I know. You�d have worse if you had to deal.... Ooooh,� she moaned.
�Feel good?� He asked, his thumbs firmly rubbing circles on her spine.
�Ooh, yes,� she groaned. �I think I might have to keep you.�
He chuckled, then asked her what happened.
�My teachers. I want to get rid of all of them and start over with fresh ones. We had one call in today with car trouble and she couldn�t make it.�
�That doesn�t sound so bad.�
�No, but the other one called in sick. I swear, she�s either a hypochondriac or has the worst luck known to man. Something�s always happening to her. So, that took care of the two teachers Lynn had scheduled today. Guess who had to teach their tables? Me. And Lynn�s on my ass about not being able to start the test she scheduled for this afternoon at four. I�m sorry, but that is not my job. It�s hers. I can�t control what happens with people. I learned that when I taught in a private school. And I was already pissed at Lynn about earlier today.�
�What do you mean?� He asked, trying to hide a grin. He had never known Holly to be this talkative or upset.
�Oh, her whoring all over you like she was. It�s not my fault she�s married to this sumbitch who drinks all the time and knocked her up right after they got married and then again not long after the baby was born.�
�It�s all right,� he told her, trying hard not to pinch the knots out of her neck.
�No, it�s not all right. She had the damn nerve to laugh at me the other day. Someone sent me an email with a link to a site for Smurf Names. So, of course I was going to try it out. I told her about it and she laughed. She actually laughed, Lance, when I told her it said my Smurf Name was �Fat Ass Smurf.��
Lance snickered, only to regret it when Holly turned on him.
�It�s not funny,� she informed him.
�Why?�
�Well, for one thing, I had an eating disorder when I was younger and for people like me to be told something like that, it�s just not good.�
�What eating disorder?� He asked.
�Oh, I was so stupid,� she told him. �It started when I was in middle school and this boy said something about me being fat. It�s awkward enough to be a teenager, but for the cutest boy in school to say something like that, you know� Anyway, I basically starved myself. I couldn�t do the binge and purge thing. The idea of throwing up is just horrific, but to make myself do it on purpose? I don�t think so. So, I just didn�t eat. When I started losing weight, everyone started saying how good I looked, so I kept doing it. I did this through high-school. And then when I finally got a boyfriend, he kept after me about staying thin if I wanted to keep him. He was such a great catch.�
�Jarvis,� Lance interjected.
�Yeah,� Holly laughed. �He was such a jerk. All he wanted was this Stepford girlfriend to fit in with the Country Club people. I hated him.�
�Then why did you stay with him?�
�I didn�t think I could do any better. I never had a boyfriend in school. I always wanted one. I mean, what girl doesn�t? But when I finally did get one, I was quite surprised to find out that a lot of the things other girls talked about weren�t true.�
�Oh?� He inquired, rubbing her arms.
�Yeah.�
�Like what?�
�Like the whole romance thing. I�ve seen more of it with you and we�re not even dating.�
�He was a jerk,� Lance concurred.
�Oh, my, yes. And don�t even get me started on the whole sex thing,� she said.
�Huh?� He asked, not sure if he heard right.
�Yeah. He had to have things a certain way. And every time, it had to be in the same order. I�m telling you, for the longest time, I thought foreplay consisted of me sucking his��
�Holly!�
�What? Well, it�s the truth! And then for him to just be a hit it and get out type of guy. Always told me it was my fault I never enjoyed it.�
�Enjoy?� He echoed.
�You know��
�How did he explain that?�
�Oh, simply that I was too fat and he wasn�t able to fully get in.�
�Holly!� Lance admonished, shocked by her sudden frankness, feeling his face burn.
�What a bunch of bull. I starved myself more and ended up in the hospital hooked up to force feeding tubes. And, I had to visit a damned shrink. Even though he kept saying it was my fault, I felt it was because of his three inch self.�
Lance�s ribs hurt from holding back the laughter. �But?�
�Yeah, but. The shrink said it had nothing to do with that and it was me�that I�m unable to�you know�because I�ve repressed something and am not happy with myself and therefore won�t let myself enjoy it. You know what? I�ve done research since then on women who can�t and I�ve come to realize that I�m just one of those women who can�t. No deeply hidden psychological reason. Just can�t.�
�Maybe it was just him,� Lance hypothesized. �What about the others?�
�What others? He�s been the only one. What a jackass,� she snarled, not even realizing she had just spilled her darkest secret to him. �It�s a wonder I didn�t become a lesbian.�
�Holly,� Lance pulled her close to him, speaking low in her ear. �It�ll be okay, baby. What can I do to make this day better for you?�
�Get me teachers who will work when they�re freaking scheduled. Guarantee me enough students to keep the owners happy. Let me go back and start this whole day over again. Can you do that?�
�No, baby, I can�t. If I could, I would.�
�It was worth a shot. I just really hate my job sometimes. I feel so...I don�t know. Under-appreciated and used. Stressed is another good word.�
�I can tell.�
�Yea, I guess you can. I get like my dad when I�m stressed. I just ramble about anything or anybody that has ever pissed me off. Don�t ever piss me off, Lance.�
�I won�t,� he chuckled, a rumbling sound in her ear. He was quiet for a few moments, rubbing her arms and shoulders. �Do you have any bubble bath?�
�Yes,� she answered tiredly, gently playing with the hairs on his forearms. �Why? You wanna borrow some?�
�No,� Lance laughed, kissing the top of her head. �Despite what you heard, I don�t play like that. I think what you need is a nice, hot bath with lots of bubbles.�
�Mmm,� Holly murmured. �That sounds heavenly. I just don�t want to have to fix it.�
�You don�t,� He said, disentangling himself from her. �I�ll go run it for you.�
�You going to join me?� She tried to flirt, looking up at him with tired eyes.
�Not this time,� he told her, leaving the room.
Holly shrugged and laid her head back on the couch. Her neck still felt stiff and achy and her head was starting to throb with the beginnings of a headache. She tried to get comfortable, but wasn�t successful. She was just getting ready to throw a nice hissy fit when Lance returned.
�Come on,� he said, taking her hand and helping her up. �You�ve got a tub full of hot water and bubbles waiting on you.�
�Lotsa bubbles?�
�Lotsa, lotsa bubbles,� he promised.
As they walked in the bathroom, Holly turned to face him.
�What?� He asked.
�What? You�re not going to stand there and watch me, are you?�
�You invited me to join you.�
�You turned me down, too,� she reminded.
�I know,� he grinned. �I�m going back to keep Harold company while you do your thing in here.�
�Good. He needs some male bonding,� Holly joked, closing the door behind him.
She disrobed; glad to be shedding the whole image of work. At that moment, she wondered how long she could go without ever working again. Literally snorting at the idea, she knew the question really should be how long could that place do without her. She reached behind her, undoing her French braid and pulling it into a pony-tail and tucking it under. Glancing at the tub, she nodded appreciatively at the extra bubbles Lance had put in. It had been a long time since she had had a bubble bath and she as going to make sure she enjoyed it. Sighing as she dipped her toes into the hot water, she slowly submerged herself into the bath.
Holly sat in the water, letting the heat take away some of her tension. She laid her head back against the wall of the shower and closed her eyes. She lost track of time and startled a bit hearing the handle softly click as Lance slowly opened the door. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
�Changed your mind?�
�No,� he smiled back. �You got so quiet in here, I wondered if you�d gotten lost in all the bubbles.�
�Nah,� she lazily answered, taking a quick peek to make sure bubbles were covering all the right spots.
�I can�t see anything,� he promised, wrinkling his nose at her. �You need anything?�
�Yes,� she said, beckoning him close.
�Yes?�
�Yes.�
He nodded, walking to the tub and sitting on the edge, discreetly behind her. Holly rose up a bit, handing Lance the loofah glove. He chuckled, taking it from her and sliding it on. He began to rub it across her back, getting a few sighs of pleasure from her.
�Feel good?� He murmured.
�You have no idea,� she gasped as he rubbed firmly across the small of her back.
Lance reached around Holly to grab the washcloth and dip it in the water. He held it above her back, wringing the water out, letting it flow across her skin. After doing this a few more times, he took the towel from the counter and shook it out.
�Time for you to get out,� he told her, holding the towel up behind her.
Holly stood up only to have him instantly wrap the towel around her from behind. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her neck.
�Just call when you�re out.�
He walked past, never once looking in her direction. Holly grinned as she began drying off and lathering up with her favorite lotion. She noticed he had hung a bathrobe on the back of the door. Of course it would have to be my favorite faded green fuzzy one, she mused, taking it down and sliding it on. Opening the door, she didn�t see him anywhere. From the living room, she could hear Harold �talking� about something. She went into her bedroom and found her favorite pair of summer pajamas. She slipped on her guilty pleasure-soft cotton panties and followed with her light gauzy pajamas. Holly opened the door to find him standing on the other side.
�How did you��she began.
�I just had a hunch,� he grinned, turning her around and leading her back into the bedroom. Standing extremely close, he reached around and took her hair down. Sitting her on the bed, he grabbed her brush and began gently brushing out her hair. It had that same shine about it he had seen the first time he laid eyes on her. He realized it was the second time he had ever seen her without her hair pulled back. He liked this look-feminine and soft. Holly smiled hesitantly at him, not really sure of what he was doing.
�Ssshhh,� he whispered, using his fingers to comb her hair away from her face. �I just wanted to see you looking beautiful in a different way tonight. Lay back.�
Holly was feeling too relaxed to argue. He�d been right about everything else so far, who was she to argue? She did as he instructed, scooting over as he joined her. He pulled her into his arms and held her, absently rubbing her arms. She sighed again, inhaling his cologne as she turned to lay her head on his chest. Lance chuckled, accommodating her and beginning to lazily trace up and down her spine.
�Tell me about your sudden trip,� she asked, her voice sounding far away to her own ears.
Lance continued to softly touch her as he told her about where he went and why. He noticed that after a while, her breathing had become deep and in a rhythm.
�Holly,� he whispered. �Holly. Are you asleep?�
When she didn�t answer, he smiled tenderly down at her. Easing himself out from under her, he pulled the sheet around on the bed to cover her. Bending down, he softly kissed her forehead. As he left the room, he took one last look at her sleeping with a peaceful expression on her face. He turned the light off and made his way down the hall.
�I�ll call in the morning to wake her up,� he told Harold as he let himself out, making sure the door was locked behind him before he headed across the courtyard to his house.