CHAPTER 1
Through the shades of the family office Dan Elliott watched the woman approach the font door of the house. Cripes, she was old and ugly. What was his mom thinking, arranging a date for him like that? Only then did he catch a movement behind the woman.
Dan's mouth dropped two inches. Mom had brought the kid who looked like she could be twenty, no more. What was going on here? Mrs Street's daughter -- the one being lined up for him to seduce...er, date...had just turned twenty-four. Where was she? What a right cock-up.
He was only getting used to being back home in New Zealand with all the rain, none of his formers dates wishing to know him because they were married or in a relationship and another two couples were in the trauma of divorce. He'd been better off in Special Ops being ordered around by imbeciles and having sleazy hard-faced women as old as his mom for one-hour company once a week.
He heard his mom call "Oh Daniel, Mrs Street is here and wants to talk to you. Please hurry a long. Mrs Street hasn't all day."
The authoritative tone in her voice made his think of being back in the army. His mom was ex-army who'd taught guys and the few women about something almost as bad as bullets or shrapnel -- STDs. Well she actually taught prevention and how to deal with problems when they occurred and oral hygiene and dealing with sand in the ear canals. That sort of thing. Other guy's moms had worked in offices or were cabin attendants on airplanes, but not his mom. Dan had lied that his mom was a special agent and it seemed so preposterous that school and college buddies believed him. Now she was procuring a woman for him to encourage him to get out more.
"Hello Mrs Street, long time no-see."
"Good morning Daniel. I take it that means we haven't seen one another for quite some time?"
"Right on the button Mrs S."
"Mrs Street please. Mrs S sounds like someone who cleans toilets."
"Oh sorry, do you have someone in to do that for you?"
His mom turned military. "Daniel, shut up and stand up straight. Don't tease Helen."
Mrs S looked grateful and turning to the doorway said, "Come in dear, don't be shy. Daniel, allow me to introduce my youngest, Carla. She is substituting for Bonnie who only an hour ago received the chance of a real date -- someone from her office. She apologizes. Nobody wants to date Carla so I said she must fill in to avoid you being disappointed, as you're only just home from active service."
"Good morning Mr Elliott."
"Hi Carla. God you look cute."
Mrs S looked thunderous and his mom said menacingly, "Daniel!"
The 28-year-old redhead knew by the way the babe swallowed he'd over-awed her. No problem about getting into her pants.
Mrs S came in so close they were almost touching noses. "I am permitting Carla to accompany you to the Graham family's annual garden party on the understanding that you behave at all times like a gentleman when in the company of Carla. Do I have your word on that?"
"As an officer and a gentleman you have my word on that."
"You were a sergeant, not an officer," said Big Mouth.
"It's almost the same," Dan said, smiling and patting Mrs S on the arm.
Phew that was a close one. He was aware gentlemen had sex wherever, whenever and from whoever they could. But his relief was premature.
"If you dare touch Carla sexually I shall personally remove your testicles with my favorite meat cleaver."
"Of course, your concern is totally understandable. But please don't terrify me like this."
Mrs S smiled triumphantly and that was the end of that.
As the two women watched Dan and Carla walk to Dan's car, a gap of 2ft between them, Carla asked, "Would you risk losing your balls for one decent fuck?"
"I don't think so Carla. Do you have one decent fuck in you?"
"I'm not sure. Never been properly tested. I only have a series of nervous quickies as the notches on my watch strap indicate."
"How many notches?" Dan sighed, thinking she was a near virgin. But then hope shone.
"Fifteen."
"How old are you?"
"I turn twenty next month."
"Not yet old enough to go out without a note approving the outing?"
"It looks that way. You can fuck me if you wish on the condition we do it somewhere secure and you approach is slowly and lovingly."
Dan almost groaned but he had to tell her. "Carla, I'm old enough to be your father."
"Bullshit. May I drive?"
"Yes but be careful. When the supercharger cuts you the output exceeds 400 horsepower."
"Is that good?"
Dan thought about praying. Yet the kid turned out to have the brains and ability to touch the gas pedal with an educated light foot. They arrived at the venue and parked she said, "Your car seemed rather sluggish?"
"My apologies," Dan said, having no desire to say the vehicle was designed to provide high performance under hard driving.
"Why have you been invited here?"
"Three years ago when I was in a yacht race I dove into the water and rescued the near-drowned Mrs Graham who'd fallen off the leading yacht unnoticed. She was quite pleased I saved her. She gave me this car plus $100,000 and invites me to her garden party each year and to Christmas dinner each year."
"And is one of her daughters to marry you?"
Dan smiled and said good thinking but Mr and Mrs Graham had three children, all male.
An elderly woman rushed over and kissed and hugged Dan. He introduced Mrs Graham to Carla and Mrs Graham said it was lovely seeing Dan 'patently out of his age group'.
"Was that good or bad?" Carla asked, as they watched the hostess hurry off to greet the Prime Minister.
"She's just jealous."
The music was great, a number of people knew Dan but Carla knew no one and after ninety minutes she suggested to him they go for a walk. Before Dan could reply a fight broke out and a large guy completely demolished his opponent. Mr Graham and his three adult sons rushed in to quell the loudmouth guy who was by then swearing and ready to act violently. He broke a bottle on the back of a metal chair. People scattered and the Graham men backed off.
Carla said, "You were in Special Operations -- go in and deal with him before he hurts someone badly."
"What if I'm hurt?"