"Would you like to go to Maui?" Kaz asked her.
She paused, thinking about the last time he asked her to go. He had asked via a text message and Charlene had texted him back saying no. It wasn't because she didn't want to go, it was more because it was out of the blue.
She and Kaz had been seeing each other for several weeks. Their sex life was amazing, He was kind, smart, fun to be with, attractive for his age. She still never new exactly how old he was. Clearly a couple years older than her forty-four years.
She still didn't know why her fingers typed no and then hit send. When he didn't reply, her pride prevented her from taking it back. She didn't expect to not hear from him again. She just assumed he got busy and didn't see her text.
After an hour had passed, she began to wonder why there was no reply. All sorts of thoughts went through her head, but again, her pride prevented her from texting anything else. She was not going to chase after him.
She didn't know how much her rejection had hurt his feelings. She also didn't know that he decided to leave town until a couple of weeks later when she drove out to his house. She wasn't expecting to see a moving van sitting in the driveway.
It was so long ago and yet, it felt like yesterday.
When he eventually back to Texas, he wasn't sure if she would want to see him. He took a chance and went to an open house she was hosting. As a Real Estate agent, she frequently spent a couple of hours on a Sunday showing homes. He found through a friend where she would be.
When he should up a flood of emotions swept over Charlene.
Now he's asking her to travel with him again.
She looked him in the eyes, stood on her toes and kissed him, paused a moment and said,
"No."
Kaz put a puzzled look on his face.
"No?"
"No. I wouldn't like to go. I'd LOVE too."
It had been several months since they had spent the night together. They talked, held each other's hands like teenagers and eventually, made it back to Charlene's house. Kaz lied and told her he had a hotel that he was staying at if she thought he should go.
"I'm going to Maui with you. Do you think I want you spending the night someplace else?"
"I made arrangements in case you didn't want to see me or hated me, or wanted to punch me"
Feeling exhausted and emotionally drained, they fell asleep on the couch. A few hours later, Charlene awoke, lifted Kaz' head off her and slid off the couch. She walked to her porch, wrapped in her robe and stared at the stars. She wondered if there was another Charlene out there, somewhere in the universe and did she feel the same nervousness as she did right that moment.
She thought about the relationship with Kaz. At first, like most new relationships, was a burning flame at both ends of a candle. The closer it got to the middle, the hotter the intensity and the faster it melted. Did she want this relationship to burn up quickly and melt away? she asked herself silently. She had that once before, a fireman that was twelve years younger.
Her friends naturally called her a cougar, that she exuded sex and that she shouldn't get tied down so quickly after leaving her husband of twenty plus years. She had married young, too young. Never giving herself a chance to experience life. Maybe that's why she said no the first time. Was Kaz in love with her? Was she with him?
She loved being with him, she loved the way her made her feel special. She loved his laugh, his generosity, his confidence. She loved his smile, his looks, his touch. Yes, she loved his touch. She's not in love, she's in lust. Charlene convinced herself. Not love, just lust.
The next few weeks they were focused on their jobs. He still living in a hotel until he could find a house, she continuing to build a larger clientele list. She didn't push for him to make a home purchase and he didn't bother looking very hard.
Most nights they were out together anyway and he was frequently spending the night. Charlene was starting to feel closed in. Kaz had frequently spoke about the upcoming vacation to Hawaii.
He had suggested a few things but Charlene just told him to surprise her. She didn't want to have any expectations and thought she would enjoy the trip if things were done spontaneously.
The day had finally come for them to leave. Their American Airlines flight left Dallas just after 9 am and flew non stop to Kahalui, Maui. Kaz rented a Ford Mustang convertible and they made the forty-five minute drive to Wailea.
They checked into their deluxe ocean front room. Charlene unpacked. Each piece of clothing set aside. She decided on a new two piece bikini, one she purchased specifically for the trip. A Michael Kors logo ring halter end top and hipster bottom. The color was a bright notice me yellow.
It accentuated her large breasts and fit nicely on her butt. As she and Kaz made their way through the hotel lobby, Charlene noticing the many stares she got. She liked it. Kaz noticed too. He didn't mind, he enjoyed watching other people look at her. He knew that his time with her was probably limited. She was not the kind of woman he could keep forever, but as long as she was with him, he would take every advantage of it.
