Iāve made this drive down to Lexington and back every Thursday for the past several months. If it werenāt for the scenery and the flirtatious truck drivers, Iād be bored to death. Although our main office is located in Cincinnati, I have to make the trip once each week to our branch office for a staff meeting. Iām getting used to the drive, usually listening to a few cdās to help pass the time.
I doubt if Iām the only woman traveling I-75, the truckers flirt with. I consider myself attractive even though I am 35. Iām 5ā9ā, average build with shoulder length dark blonde hair. Iāve still got the same figure I had at 25. Although I doubt if my husband ever notices it. His interests have tended to wane from sex this past year. Maybe itās me. I might not stir his sexual desires anymore. I try to dress sexy when weāre together but that doesnāt seem to get me noticed. For work, itās a different story altogether. I have to look professional, very businesslike. Iāve probably got a small fortune wrapped up in business suits and high-heels. Itās a good thing I make good money with plenty of benefits to help pay for them.
I probably get honked at half a dozen times on my weekly trips. My skirts arenāt all that short but once in awhile I do have a tendency to tease by pulling my skirt up to the top of my nylons. From their elevated vantage point, Iām sure the truckers get an eyeful. Maybe my teasing helps break up the their boredom as well. Iāve often fantasized about what it would be like to climb into the sleeper with a trucker and have hot, crazy sex! Iām sure I share the same fantasy with alot of other women.
Todayās meeting lasted longer than usual. The branch manager had quite a few charts and graphs he wanted to go over with everyone. I wasnāt impressed, but I donāt have to be. I sit in on the weekly meetings just to make corporate presence known. Just my luck to get tied up in rush hour traffic on the south side of town. I knew it would be late when I got home this evening. I didnāt realize it then, just how late Iād be.
Iād been following this trucker with a load of steel for several miles when he slowed down suddenly. I changed lanes to pass him but he swerved over into my lane and then back to the outside lane. I had to apply plenty of pressure to the brake pedal to keep from getting too close to him. I got back behind him just a few yards before spotting a large crate in the passing lane. I realized heād pulled over to block me so I wouldnāt hit it at 65 miles per hour. Hard telling how much damage it would have done to the car, or me for that matter. I breathed a deep sigh of relief that heād saved my butt. A few miles up the interstate and after Iād regained my composure, I decided to pass him. As I sped past him, he honked his horn. I sounded my horn in return.
I drove on for another twenty minutes, spotting a rest area just ahead. It was still quite a few miles to Cincinnati so I decided to stop and use the restroom and get a soft drink to take along with me for the remainder of the trip. I pulled into the crowded rest area and found a parking space at the far end. I locked my car and headed for the restrooms. As I strolled along the walk, I observed the trucker whoād helped save my butt pulling into the back lot.
I happened to notice the driver exiting his truck. He was quite young, maybe in his mid-twenties, maybe a little older. He was wearing a black cowboy hat. His 6ā height and athletic build added to his handsome face. I was impressed with his neat appearance, dark blue jeans and a blue and white striped shirt. I thought to myself, āHello Cowboy!ā
After exiting the restroom, I looked around for the vending machine area. I found it located outside, under another shelter next to the main building. I had just enough change to get my preferred soft drink. I put the coins in the machine and pushed the button. I heard the machine whirr but nothing dropped down. The machine had taken my money and left me empty handed. I hit the machine with my fist, out of frustration. I checked to see if I had a dollar bill then noticed the bill changer was out of order. This definitely wasnāt my day!
āTheyāre like one-arm bandits arenāt they?ā I heard a pleasant voice exclaim.
I looked over, seeing the trucker, the cowboy! He could plainly see the look of frustration on my face. I stuffed my billfold back into my purse.
āYes. It sure seems like it.ā I replied. āEven the bill changer isnāt working.ā
āBe my pleasure if youād let me buy your drink, Maāam.ā He stated. āMaybe Iāll have better luck!ā
āI couldnāt possibly let you do that.ā I replied. āItās not that important.ā
The cowboy put several coins in the soft drink machine and motioned for me to press the button again. I pressed hard on the selection button, holding it down. The machine whirred and two bottles of soda dropped down the chute.
āJackpot!ā He exclaimed. āLooks like weāre even with the machines!ā
I smiled at his remark and thanked him.
āThatās twice youāve come to my rescue.ā I quipped.
I twisted the bottle cap but it was on too tight. The trucker twisted on his and it released. He handed his soda to me, taking mine. He had to apply alot of pressure to get the cap to twist off.
āThatās the third time youāve come to my aid.ā I said smiling.ā
āMaybe itās just your lucky day!ā He said, smiling. āBy the way. My nameās Dean.
He put his hand out to shake mine. I shook his hand, his grip firm but not hard.
āIām Kaitlyn, most people just call me Kate.ā I stated.
Dean and I held our handshake for several moments before releasing our hands. I noticed an odd reaction when he let go of my hand, sort of an empty feeling.
āThereās a bench over by that shady area.ā He stated. āWould you care to sit down with me?ā
I didnāt want to seem unfriendly and say ānoā. Actually, I was glad heād suggested it. We strolled over towards the bench and sat down next to each other. Dean mentioned the large crate incident. I made it a special point to thank him, placing my hand on his lower arm.
Dean and I chatted about various things. He mentioned he was from Abilene, Texas although he didnāt get home but once or twice a month. I asked Dean about his family. He was divorced. His ex-wife had remarried and moved with their two sons to Oregon. He hadnāt seen them since theyād moved. I could see Dean was getting depressed thinking about them so I quickly changed the subject. I told him I worked for a food distribution service and traveled down to Lexington every Thursday for a business conference. I also mentioned I lived in Cincinnati with my husband. I donāt know why I was offering him so much information about myself. Iām usually not very talkative with friends, let alone a perfect stranger. Our conversation just seemed to flow.
It was getting close to sunset. We sat there finishing our soft drinks, watching the traffic speed by. I think we were both trying to think of something to say but I couldnāt come up with anything interesting to discuss. I should be getting back on the road. I was reluctant to leave for some strange reason.
āWell Dean, guess I should be going.ā I said. āIāve really enjoyed talking with you.ā
We both got up from the bench and shook hands again. Dean walked with me towards my car parked at the far end of the rest area. We strolled casually, neither of us in a hurry. My hand brushed against his. I felt Dean holding my fingers with his. I didnāt make any attempt to pull away.
āBet youāre anxious to get back on the road.ā I stated.
āWell, Iām going to be stuck here till early morning.ā Dean replied. āIāve already driven the allowed limit of my hours for today.ā
I didnāt think Iād want to be stuck here for most of the evening with nothing to do. I certainly didnāt relish his situation. We finally made it to my car; time to say our āgood-byesā. Dean had my hand in his, holding it gently. I didnāt want him to let go. The two of us stood beside my car for several awkward moments. I started to say something but couldnāt speak the words. I looked around, my eyes scanning back towards the trucks parked along the rear of the rest area.
āWould you like me to stay awhile longer?ā I asked, my words not much more than a whisper.
āYes.ā Dean replied. āYes, I would like you to stay with me.ā
Dean and I walked across the grassy area towards his truck. We didnāt say a word to each other. My high-heels sank a little in the soft ground as we made our way. We walked up to the passenger side of the truck. Dean unlocked the door and swung it open. I had to pull my skirt up a little to step up on the running board. Dean put his strong hands at my waist and lifted me up high enough to put my foot on the step just below the floor level of the cab. I grabbed the door and pulled myself into the cab, sitting in the high-back leather seat. Dean closed my door and entered on the driverās side.