A two-part sensuous slow-build up romance set in New Zealand; the hero is American and the heroine is a Kiwi who returns to her homeland to settle down. At the same time Any finds other women with a more enthusiastic interest in him.
Heavy clouds darkened the cemetery but it remained dry during the burial service, not that many would have soaked up rain as in attendance were the clergyman, Andy King, four women who'd been his mom's friends and standing a little distance away were the burial attendants.
The short, sharp and formal graveside service β appropriately reflecting the statue and manner of his mom thought Andy (Andrew) β concluded and he spent a few moments alone with her, staring at the white lacquered box. Then that was it. For Sylvia a long life and a very short ending.
What now? He had nothing planned as his mom's death had been sudden so he'd boarded a flight and rushed to make his final farewell, planning to be away from his work in Chicago for two weeks without thinking out a schedule. He had no relatives but he'd been to New Zealand to see his mom several times so wasn't exactly a stranger. Sylvia King first went to New Zealand fifteen years to visit her Chicago-based publishing house agents in Wellington and Auckland where she had an affair with the agency's chief executive, a divorcee. Returning home Sylvia arranged her divorce and returned to Auckland, offering to take Andy, then thirteen, with her but he chose to stay with his father Clive King who ran a small law firm. Sylvia's second husband Harry Stokes had died in a small airplane crash three years ago.
At the cemetery gates Andy found Lucy Shields the most outgoing of his mother's friends waiting for him.
"I've waited to drive you somewhere," Lucy said. "Anywhere you wish."
Andy smiled. She'd always made a fuss of him when they'd met during his three previous visits. Her husband Jerry was a magazine executive. They had two children β Gavin a scientist who worked on a research project in Antarctica, coming home for three weeks twice a year and Shannon who'd been completing her education in Europe whenever he visited his mother in Auckland. He accepted Lucy's offer and said could she take him to a hotel.
"Which one?"
"Any one,"
"So you have not booked in?"
"No, I arrived only two hours before the burial. I'd spent two days with friends on Waiheke Island to recover from jet lag."
Lucy took him by the arm. "Then you are coming home with me. Jerry and I will love to have you as our guestβ stay as long as you wish. Where's your luggage?"
"In safe custody at the ferry terminal."
"Oh, you poor darling; all alone in a foreign country. You definitely are staying with us."
Andy had expected Lucy would drive a Japanese or European SUV like many well-heeled women he'd already noticed but no, the only car in the parking lot made him gape. "My God, you drive a '57 fuel injected Corvette Roadster."
"Yes, it's my baby; I purchased it from my brother-in-law who is a collector and was offered a '56 model so out went the later version. I also have a Japanese mini car for shopping. You may have the Corvette while you are my guest. Here, take the keys β I assume you have driven in this country on prior visits?"
"Yes, extensively."
Lucy beamed. "I was so pleased you were able to recognize my car. The few Americans I know now living in this country have asked me "What is it?" when they see my car for the first time."
Andy said his favorite recreational reading was classic performance cars.
"Not girlie magazines?"
"Only when between girlfriends?"
"Are you in that status at present?"
"Yes."
"Good, Shannon is not going steady at present and arrives home permanently in two weeks; I'll have to get you two together."
"Lucy, please β I don't wish to embarrass your daughter."
The youngest of his mother's friends squeezed Andy's arm and smiled,
* * *
Lucy had carnal thoughts looking at Andy. She was not above having it off with a male who took her fancy β her only rule was she must know him. That's why she'd been seduced by most of her friend's husbands and apart from Walter Carter she was satisfied husband Jerry more than kept his end up, so to speak. Until now, Walter was the youngest male under her age to attend to her sex swings β an age difference of four years. Her stomach tightened as she thought about the possibility of seducing her unexpected house guest β an age difference of exactly twenty years.
Lucy, who had sex-need swings rather than the mood swings of other women, had a rush of imagines flit through her mind and felt hot and her breath began racing. She touched Andy's hand on the wheel and said huskily, "You drive this baby so well. It's...it's..." She stopped.
Andy turned, his white teeth flashing and a smile that reached her soul. "What is it: have you had a memory lapse or were about to say something naughty?"
Oh God, how could he read her mind so accurately?
"I have a great memory," she said, aware that her pussy was twitching which probably meant she had wet her panties a little.
"Argh, so a naughty thought was it?" he said, glancing deep into her eyes. She noticed his eyes were an intense mid-blue that suited his blonde, close cropped hair.
Her grip on his arm tightened; he grinned and told her to tell him, holding nothing back.
"You are embarrassing me; watching your hands caressing that wheel made me think of them traveling over my skin." She closed her eyes waiting for the dismissive laugh. Instead there was silence. She opened her eyes to find him ending a thoughtful glance at her before he resumed watching the road. Her pulse-rate accelerated; while she'd read nothing in his face the fact he'd looked thoughtful was something β not much but better than being ignored or even worse projecting a sneer in answer to her audacious comment.
They traveled chatting quietly, diverting to the city centre to pick up his two soft carry bags before taking the southern motorway to the metropolitan rural fringe area of Karaka β a Maori name of a berry tree endemic to New Zealand and the Kermadec and Chatham Islands.
Jerry arrived home just after Andy and Lucy at 4:30 and the two men related over a cup of coffee and meat sandwiches.
"Do you ride?" Jerry asked. Andy had noticed the horses so knew his host wasn't meaning bicycles or ATVs (all terrain vehicles).
"Well enough to stay on."
"Good, come with me," the hobby farmer said. "I breed horses but most of the land is occupied by grape vines grown for a local winemaker who cares for them as part of the contact. Each evening I ride to look at my ten mares and off-spring and ride the two access tracks through the vineyard with part proprietorial interest. Following this ritual allows the trauma of the day in the city to seep out of me."
Lucy sat on the veranda watching the two men ride back in to the barn while she stroked the inside of a thigh softly, thinking of the pounding she'd receive later that evening from her husband who appeared to be in a very good mood; in the morning she'd made a play for her guest.
During the very leisurely dinner of casseroled meat, roast vegetables and beans and peas picked fresh from the homestead's garden followed by rhubarb tart and thick cream β the best cream Andy announced he'd ever tasted, Lucy allowed her lower leg to touch Andy's leg. He pulled away but she was satisfied because he pulled away unhurriedly and he'd glanced at her with a slight grin, making her think she was in with a chance. After all, she was a fading beauty, full-breasted with a gym and horse-riding trimmed body; her firm ass for her age seemed to attract the attention of men so why should Andy be any different? If he ignored the signs of an ageing skin he could easily imagine he was fucking a woman of his age. At least she hoped he'd think like that.
It was mid-summer with still signs of daylight in the sky when Jerry announced at 9:30 he was off to bed. He said to Andy he'd leave for work at 5:45 to beat the traffic build-up. His working hours at the magazine were officially 7:00 to 3:30 but he started earlier and mostly managed to slip from the city centre by 3:45 to beat increasing traffic congestion. As Jerry walked from the room Lucy stretched and yawned, giving Andy the opportunity of seeing what she carried on her chest but didn't look at him to ensure he focused properly. She then walked to him as he stood up and said he'd have an early night.
"I'm sorry about your mother," Lucy said. "She was one of my best friends." She then kissed Andy on the lips lightly and ran her fingers through the back of his hair. "Sylvia lives on through the lovely man who is her son."
Andy's sigh was deep and prologue so Lucy drew him down and kissed his forehead. He showed no inclination to respond in any way but she knew her warmth and gentle actions would have reached to his core.
"Off you go," she said. "I'll clear these coffee cups and put the dishwasher on."
Andy said good night and thanked her for being such a warm and charming hostess. "I'm sad about mom's death but really don't miss her β we've been parted for such a long time."