Prologue
The blond sat on the edge of her bed, a shapely leg crossed over the other, her petite frame wrapped in a white, terry cloth towel. Having just had a shower, her damp locks were strewn about her pretty head. Checking her phone she hoped to see a message, and was slightly dismayed when it wasn't there. Suddenly, a familiar ring tone did sound, but not the one she had wished for.
"Fuck," she mumbled to herself before answering. "Hey."
"What's up?" The girl on the other end of the call replied.
"Not a lot, just hangin' out."
"It must be nice. I'm still stuck at work. Don't know when I'll get off."
"Sucks to be you," the blond said, gently mocking her friend.
"Nice Jess," the other answered sarcastically. "So, how are things going at Casa Watson since your parents left?"
"Same old same old," Jessica said noncommittally.
It wasn't really. Jessica Watson's parents were travelling across Europe for a month. Against their better judgement they had left the twenty year old on her own, with a couple of caveats. For one, there were to be absolutely no parties. Though disappointed, she couldn't really fault them for that. Not after what had happened back in early June. She could only vaguely remember the incident, her recollection clouded from having indulged in weed and a great deal of alcohol on that particular occasion. It had happened shortly after she had completed her sophomore year at university. Her parents had gone away for the weekend; the girl decided that was the perfect opportunity to have a bash to celebrate the end of the school year.
The little she could recall involved hordes of intoxicated college kids, several empty kegs scattered about the yard, one even afloat in the pool, music blasting throughout the neighborhood, and ultimately two police cruisers pulled up in front of the house. The following day she had suffered a brutal hangover, but with the help of a couple of friends she had managed to clean everything up, get the kegs removed, as well as any other incriminating evidence.
Her mother and father returned that evening, and for a few days afterwards were none the wiser, until her dad discovered a dozen empty beer cans and a used condom tucked away in the pool shed. The row that followed was one for the ages, but two months later all seemed to be forgiven, if not forgotten. Along with the aforementioned stipulation about gatherings being off limits, there was one additional requirement.
"And your babysitter, how is that working out?" the other girl inquired, her tone dripping with innuendo.
Jessica hesitated before continuing. Her parents had asked an old family friend, Jake Wilson, to check in on her from time to time, and help out with the upkeep of the property. He had attended high school with both of her parents; in fact he was her father's best friend. Growing up he had been much like an uncle to her, and she had referred to him as such when she was younger. He was affable and charming, with a great sense of humor.
His appearance belied his age, the forty-five year old looking closer to thirty than his actual age. He was fit and strong, the result of an active lifestyle, regular visits to the gym, and just plain old good genetics. Six feet tall, he possessed a full head of wavy, dark hair, some grey speckled across his temples. Subtly handsome, his pale blue eyes sparkled with equal parts intelligence and mischief. Kind and friendly, he and Jessica had gotten along fabulously for as long as she could remember. He had always had a soft spot for her, at least she liked to think so. In her early teens she had had a bit of a school girl's crush on the handsome older man, but then she went to high school and started dating and the school girl crush was all but forgotten...until now.
"Oh it's fine I suppose."
"Yeah, I bet
Uncle
Jake is taking good care of you," her friend said suggestively.
"Chrissy, that's disgusting."
"Oh gimme me a break Jess, I'm just teasing."
"Well, I don't think of Jake that way, he's really almost like a second father."
"All right I apologize. Hey, I'm off Wednesday. Mind if I come over for a swim?"
"Yeah sure, no problem."
"Awesome, thanks Jess! Anyway, I gotta get back to work."
"All right, talk to you later."
Hanging up, the blond sighed. Reaching across to her night table, her delicate fingers wrapped around a cup of tea. She brought the warm beverage to her glossy pink lips, taking a sip. Her back rested against a pillow propped up against the headboard as she contemplated the conversation she had had with her friend.
She had lied to Chrissy. It was true that for almost her entire life Jessica had never thought of Jake in a sexual way. Sure, there had been that crush, but at fourteen it was puppy love, and she had never considered actually fucking her
Uncle
Jake. But a discovery seven months ago had shifted her perspective a hundred and eighty degrees. Jessica could remember it like it had happened yesterday, rather than in the early hours of New Year's Day.
**********