"Claire, Could I talk to you a minute?"
"Sure." She stood up and walked over to my desk.
"Would you like to go to the regional meeting in Grand Junction?"
"Are you serious? I thought that was just for management."
"It is. The boss is impressed with you and you've been here long enough, maybe you should see what it's like. I'll be going too."
"I'd love to go."
I'd worked with Claire for about a year when our boss asked me if I would mind taking her along with me to a tri-state conference and giving her some exposure to that side of the business. She was due for a promotion and he thought she should see how things worked on a multi-state level. We got along very well, and had worked together on the same projects several times. Now and then, we'd take a walk outside together during a break and that's how I got to know her better.
Claire was an attractive redhead. Curvy and a bit on the busty side. She always dressed well, but changed into running shoes when we'd walk. I'd learned that she was happily married with two kids who did well in school, and her husband travelled too much but she was resigned to it. He was sometimes more interested in work than her, the house or the kids
I think Claire saw in me a willing listener. Someone she could vent to without trying to solve all her problems. She was also nearly 20 years younger than I was. My wife, Kathy, met her one day at the office, and we ended up going to lunch together with some other colleagues. Kathy gave me the arched eyebrow when she learned I'd be working with Claire more in the future. Maybe she saw something I didn't at the time.
I knew Claire's husband, kids and mother by name, but I'd never met them in person. She talked about them a lot, both the good and the bad, and it felt almost as if I'd known them for years.
The conference was about a 5-hour drive from Denver. I liked the drive through the mountains so the next day I stopped at her desk.
"Claire, I'm going to drive instead of flying to Grand Junction. It won't take much longer than the flight once you add all the business of driving to the airport, checking in and passing through security. You're more than welcome to ride with me."
"Sure. That sounds good. I've always liked scenery on that trip and I can help with the driving if you want me to."
Her husband wasn't at all happy about her going out of town for four days with another guy, but he finally relented when she told him I was an older, married guy and she knew my wife. Besides, he was gone all the time anyway. Kathy wasn't too thrilled with the idea either. I could tell she had her reservations about me taking this trip.
It was early when I picked Claire up at her house. She wore a simple black skirt and white silk blouse, a string of pearls and heels. I put her suitcase and overnight bag in the back seat. She threw her leather jacket on top of our bags. After a stop at Starbucks, we got on the Interstate and headed west.
Normally, I'm kind of quiet when I drive and just listen to music, but Claire needed to talk. "Gary was being a real jerk this morning," she said, "he didn't like the idea of me being in a car alone with you for five hours. What's the difference? I work with you eight hours a day."
"Kathy wasn't wild about it either, Claire. She said you were far too young and pretty for me to be going off on a trip like this with you."
Claire looked at me and asked, "She said that? Your wife feels threatened by me?"
"She must feel that way I suppose. I told her not to worry, that it's strictly professional."
Claire reach over, punched my arm and said, "Gee thanks, Sir!" and laughed.
She went on for a bit, venting about her frustrations: He was gone too much, he was preoccupied when he was home, work always came first and what she wanted always seemed to come in second. I'd heard it all before, but I didn't mind listening. It wouldn't last long.
I could relate to some of the things she said and I knew that she needed to get them off her chest. After a few minutes, she stopped and said, "You must think I'm a basket case. I'm sorry for ranting and raving like that. But you're so easy to talk to."
"You're fine," I told her. "I understand your frustrations and after 32 years of marriage I've had a few of my own. Kathy is totally into her own things, always busy with meetings with her friends or craft shows or her damn cat." We laughed and talked about funny things our spouses did and the things that aggravated us.
I noticed that Claire's skirt kept riding up. She tugged it down when it got too high, but I got an occasional look at her legs, just enough to be enticing. She was sitting in a way that was more or less facing me. I tried not to be too obvious. We talked about work, the conference and meetings we needed to go to.
"Would you reach into the back seat and get my brief case?" I asked her, "It's got the schedule of meetings in it. I think we have one as soon as we get there."
"Sure." She unbuckled her seat belt so she could reach it.
As she reached into the back seat, her breast rubbed on my arm. I looked down and her knees were apart giving me a glimpse of her legs and hot pink lace panties. I felt a jolt run through me. She retrieved the file and sat back down, straightening her skirt. She was blushing and said, "Sorry."
I smiled. "No worries. The schedule is on the front page."
Claire read from the schedule. "We're going to have to go to the first meeting before we check in. Do you think we'll make it in time?"
"I think so. We're making good time." The image of her legs and her panties kept running through my mind. I felt the bulge growing in my pants. We talked about the purpose of the meetings and I told her about some of the key people she would be meeting and their roles in the things our company did in the region.
I went on, "There's a few you might have to watch out for. Pete Donovan is a bit of a womanizer. I'm sure he'll hit on you. Mitch Stillwell will find a way use your words against you. Beth Stevens likes to undermine people in front of a room. You'll see. I learned the hard way."
"About Pete?" she asked, smiling at me.
I laughed, "No, but I've seen him in action. I'm sure you probably will too."
"Oh, I see. Thanks for the warning. I'll keep you close."
"Everyone else seems great to work with once you get to know them."
We drove along in silence for a little while. Just enjoying the scenery.
"What's your favorite part of the state?" Claire asked.
"Let's see, I love the area up around Steamboat when the wildflowers are in bloom. You can see moose and elk too. The Uncompahgre down by Montrose is beautiful too. Of course, I like Estes Park. How about you?"
"I love Estes. I like skiing anywhere when I get to go. Glenwood Springs is nice, too bad we're on a schedule."
"Maybe on the way back. I didn't bring a suit."
"I did. Just in case."
I looked at Claire and smiled.
"What did you do before you became a program manager with this company?" Claire asked.
"I've done a lot of different things. Some were fun. Some not so fun." I started telling her stories about when I worked overseas, some of the places I'd been and about some of the things I'd done.
