The guys crowded into my cubicle first thing Monday morning with grins on their faces.
Dale was the first to say something.
"So, did Kathy make it up here?"
"Yeah. She got in Saturday afternoon," I wasn't going to offer any free details.
"How does she like the house?"
"Loves the house. Also loves the pond. Was surprised it was so far out in the country. The quiet at night."
Silence, as they all looked back at me.
Ken grins at me, "You look all relaxed."
I had to laugh. They all laughed as they headed back to their own cubes.
The VP of engineering passed me in the hallway a couple of hours later. Rolled his eyes and shook his head. I grinned. He grinned back.
Lunch time. We all got into my car... I volunteered to drive. I pulled up to the bar's parking lot. It was the bar where you would grill your own burger. I thought it would be the perfect setting to socialize around the grill with a couple of beers.
I smiled when I saw Kathy's car. I wondered what she would be wearing. It would either be one of her sun dresses, or a tight tube top and shorts. I didn't care as either choice would be wonderful for these first impressions.
The guys headed straight for the bar to place their orders and get a beer. I saw Kathy sitting near the window at a large high table. She looked enticing. Her blonde hair framing her face. Her white teeth shining as she gave me a huge smile.
She was wearing a form-fitting pastel green tube top that hugged her half apple sized mounds and flat tummy perfectly. The top began just above the swell of her small breasts. The bottom hem just resting at the top of her white shorts. The soft green offered a nice contrast to her lightly tanned shoulders and accentuated the blueness of her eyes. Being a high table, she sat on a chair with her legs crossed, the bottom of her shorts resting upper-thigh. Her toned and tanned thighs and calves on display. Everything accentuated by the delicate white sandals. Her toe nails painted white.
I left the guys and immediately went over to her. Dale noticed me leave and saw where I was heading as he nudged Ken and Mark.
She stood and wrapped her arms around my neck briefly. Unknown to me, at the time, that caused the bottom hem of her top to rise up about three inches, exposing more soft tanned skin. I swear I heard a hushed, "Oh my," from behind me.
I took Kathy's hand, and led her over to the guys. The bottom of her top now only about an inch, or so, above the top of her shorts.
"Ken, Dale, Mark... This is Kathy... Kathy, this is Ken, Dale, and Mark."
"It's nice to finally meet you Kathy," Ken said. His eyes, still in awe, "The photos of you, on his desk don't do you justice."
Kathy gave a soft grin and blushed. I loved it.
"Same here," Dale added, "We know that he's been
really
looking forward to having you join him. It sounds like you've got a really big house."
"Yeah. The house is more than I ever imagined. Before he told me what he had found, I was imagining a regular apartment."
"Now I see why Bill didn't make me an offer to be his roommate... I wouldn't either," Mark chuckled along with the rest of them.
It was fun around the grill. As always, Kathy's personality shined... the 'Kath affect'. The conversation was light. They asked what her job prospects were like. Kathy explained she was working on her resume this week and would most likely get an appointment with the same agency that had placed me next week. That the agency had already said that, with her communication major and business minor, there shouldn't be a problem. That she was just happy to unwind a bit after the last few months.
Each of the guys looked at me and grinned. I was sure they knew how much
I
was helping her 'unwind' and vice versa.
"I can't believe you guys have beers during lunch, and then go back to work. Bill told me about that, and I just found it strange. I never would have imagined such a thing, in the working world."
"It's not a big deal," said Ken, "We usually keep it to a couple... although sometimes it might go beyond that. On those days, there are no major decisions being made in the afternoon. Although, there have been times, like when someone is leaving, or a special birthday where we may be gone for more than an hour. We make sure to let our boss know. Doesn't happen very often."
Everybody laughed.
I walked Kathy to her car, parked just a short distance from my own. I was unsure... Do I lightly kiss her cheek...? A quick hug...? In front of my co-workers.
She sensed my dilemma, "Save the kiss for when you get home, my love," as she stroked my cheek and grinned.
In the car, Ken was the first to speak, "She's quite a girl. I can see how much you two are together."
Ken, being the only married one in our group, spoke with a tone of experience.
"Yeah. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky."
Ken continued, "Just from this last hour; I know a lot of married couples that would give their eye teeth to have a fraction of what you two have."
"Thanks. That means a lot."
............................................
I parked the car inside our garage. I was halfway to the house when Kathy came bounding out of the house dressed in a pair of short -- shorts and a tank top... no bra of course. Her nipples making sharp dark peaks through the thin light pink material. She leaped into my arms, wrapped, and locked her legs around my waist, as I twirled her in a couple of circles. Our lips met.
Pulling back with a playful grin, "Well, did I pass inspection?"
"With flying colors, my love... with flying colors," as I held her tight.
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of something Italian. Kathy was making spaghetti and meatballs. The sauce and meatballs were simmering on the stove. I saw a loaf of French bread that would become garlic bread. Inside the refrigerator were the makings of a couple of green salads. On the table sat a bottle of red wine.
"I thought I would make
you
dinner this time, so I stopped at the store to get everything. This is recipe from my grandmother."
"Kath, this smell and looks wonderful... You know, you're going to spoil me," as I kissed her cheek.
"That's my job... just like it's
your
job to spoil