Thanks for the reads and the ratings everyone! It's been fun to come back to this story that I wrote a long time ago and make it sexy ;)
Constructive comments and ratings are appreciated!
The next morning Cydalia and Katarina were fighting vicious hangovers, but they still couldn't stop talking about what an amazing time they'd had. When Jennifer came down for breakfast the twins broke into a fit of giggles. Margaret ran to her oldest daughter and hugged her.
"There she is! The savior of our family!"
"What are you talking about?" Jennifer grumbled. She was NOT a morning person.
"You and David will be a perfect couple! Just imagine how beautiful your children will be!"
"Mother! One night of dancing does not equal marriage and children." Laurel told her mother trying to remain calm.
"Well of course not, but I would say it's a good start."
Jennifer grabbed a granola bar and went back to her room. Laurel followed her. They both sat on Jen's bed.
"So...?"
"So what?" responded Jennifer, refusing to make eye contact.
"Tell me everything!"
"He's...wonderful, magnificent, fantastic, and everything in between!" she finally admitted.
"So I take it you had fun?"
"How does 'it was the best night of my life' sound?"
"I think he'd agree."
"He'd better agree after what I did to his cock last night!" Both girls burst into fits of laughter then Jennifer continued, "I know I just met him, but I've never felt this way about anyone before. He seems perfect!"
"Well I'll guess it won't be too long before you hear from him again."
Laurel was right, David called that afternoon. He wanted to take her out for the dinner he had promised her, but he had to drive back to the city right away to take care of a marketing problem with the new Mario game release. He promised he'd take her out for dinner when he got back.
They texted daily and Jennifer received more than a fair amount of dick pics from David in exchange for some rather revealing photos of Jen.
It was heard that Urs was in New York City much of the time on business as well. He was using David's new home in Willow Springs as a get away from the city on weekends. David's sister, MaryAnn was in town, but had everything delivered out to the house so she was never seen in the shops in town.
Three weeks to the day of the first meeting between Jennifer and David, Jennifer received an invitation not from David but from MaryAnn to spend a weekend at the mansion on the hill.
Dear Jennifer,
I would like to formally invite you to spend the weekend with me at my home this coming weekend. I understand from my brother that you are horse lover and my horses have just been delivered to the now renovated stables on our estate. I look forward to your company as my brother and his friend will be out of town for the weekend.
Sincerely,
MaryAnn Miller
"Oh how heartbreaking!" retorted Laurel upon reading the invitation.
"What do you mean? It sounds lovely." Jennifer responded.
"But David won't be there," reminded Laurel.
"Well, that is disappointing but I'll get to know MaryAnn. I've been hoping we would have a chance like this."
"I have no idea why."
"Laurel, that's not fair. She may come across as a bit self-centered but I'm sure she's just shy."
"Whatever you say," Laurel rolled her eyes.
Jennifer went out to stay with MaryAnn on Friday evening. Laurel had not heard from her all weekend when she received a call Sunday afternoon.
"Hey Jen! Are you coming home soon? Do you need me to come pick you up? I assumed MaryAnn would drop you off in her BMW."
"Laurel I need you to do me a favor."
"Of course, what's up?"
"I jumped down from the horse with a little too much gusto and sprained my ankle. MaryAnn has insisted I stay here until the swelling goes down a bit."
"What do you need?"
"Just a couple changes of clothes."
"Of course! I'll throw things together and come right over!"
"Take your time," Jennifer said. "Oh, and Laurel?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell mom quite yet. She'll freak out too much."
"Got it."
Laurel packed up a bag of Jennifer's clothing and went to grab the keys to her car, but it was not in the garage. Laurel found Katarina in the living room attempting to watch a movie but was having no luck with working the DVD player.
"Kat, do you know where my car is?" Laurel asked.
"Cyd took it."
"Uh, where?"
"She went to the soccer fields in New Haven."
"Why?"
"The New York Nebulas are having preseason training there."
"Did she even consider asking permission to take my car?"
"Huh?" Katarina asked with her head under the television looking at the wires confused.
"Never mind. Is mom gone too?"
"She and Heidi are at a music festival in Appleton all evening."
"Great." Laurel said sarcastically. Kat didn't reply.
Laurel turned to leave the room, but then came back and turned on the DVD player. It lit up the screen and Kat looked at her amazed.
"Try it now, Kat."
Laurel was frustrated as she pulled her bike out of the storage shed. It was at least five miles out to the Miller Mansion, but she wasn't going to put off seeing her sister. She tucked her hair into her bike helmet and pushed off down the road.
Almost an hour later Laurel hopped off her bike at the gate down the driveway from the mansion. Laurel had only been there once before when the previous owner had passed away and the estate had been sold off. Her father brought her along to pick out some furniture. She left her bike inside the gate and walked up the driveway. She took off her helmet and shook out her hair.
She got to the house and rang the doorbell. She was shocked when the door was opened by Urs Buhler.
"Mr. Buhler."
"Miss Bennett."
"I wasn't expecting you to be here." Laurel was suddenly extremely conscious of her appearance. Her hair was wild and she was sweaty and only wearing a pair of leggings and a workout bra with her sneakers.
"I just got back from the city and David gives all their hired help Sundays off."
"That's nice of him." Laurel smiled. "Can I see my sister?"
"She's upstairs," came a voice from the right. Laurel turned to see MaryAnn standing in the hall. "You'll find her in the second room on the left up those stairs." She pointed at the staircase. Laurel nodded her thanks and headed up the stairs.
Once Laurel was up the stairs and out of earshot MaryAnn spoke, "Did she run here?"
"I believe she rode her bicycle." responded Urs.
"She should have brought along a hairbrush." stated MaryAnn, smirking.
"I disagree."
"Excuse me?"
"I think that the way her hair curled around her face was quite becoming."
"I suppose you're going to say next that her yoga pants were figure flattering as well." MaryAnn rolled her eyes and continued down the hall.
Urs glanced towards the stairs where Laurel had gone up before returning to his own room.
~*~*~*~
"Laurel, I'm fine, really" Jennifer insisted. "I just stayed because MaryAnn insisted and she had a point. Things are quite a bit more peaceful here than at home."
"How long do you think you'll stay here?" Laurel asked.
"As long as she wants," came the voice of David from the doorway. He stepped in and smiled at Jennifer.
"David, when did you get here?" Jennifer asked.
"Just a few moments ago. I came up when MaryAnn told me what happened."
"Thanks David, but I'm fine."
Laurel added, "It was wonderful of your sister to let her stay."
"Jennifer can stay whenever she falls off a horse." David smiled and Laurel looked at him curiously.
"Not that I'd like you to fall off horses often," he reddened. "I just meant to say...that um...I, I just meant that I enjoy your company."
David and Jennifer gazed at each other for a moment before Laurel awkwardly cleared her throat.
"Ah," David refocused. "MaryAnn would like you to know, Laurel, that you are invited to join us for dinner tonight."
"I'd be delighted; what are we having? I heard your chef has the day off."
"Urs is a master griller and Maryann has made a most delicious smelling peach pie."
"Excellent. I'll wash up."
Laurel wandered down and somehow found a bathroom. She cringed when she looked in the mirror and saw the state of her appearance. She found a comb in one of the drawers and attempted to flatten out her hair a bit. She hiked up her workout bra in attempt to cage her cleavage at least a little. She washed her face of the sweat and smudged makeup as well as she could before going downstairs. David met her there and escorted her to the back patio where MaryAnn was already sitting and Urs was hovering by the grill. MaryAnn was sipping a cocktail and David grabbed a beer from a nearby cooler. Laurel took a seat by MaryAnn.
"The house is beautiful," she started a conversation. "I haven't been here in years, but I know you've already done a lot of work."
"Thank you," replied MaryAnn. "Interior decorating is one of my hobbies."
"I'd say it's more than a hobby. It's her talent and her passion," David added.
"Thank you David."
Urs brought the steaks to the patio table and they sat to eat. The conversation was bleak. Laurel tried to speak directly to David since he was the most agreeable of her dinner hosts.
"What brought you to Willow Springs?" asked Laurel.