Paula and Tom return to their regular routines in suburbia and enjoy meeting their new neighbors. Part 3 in the "Paula's Discovery" series.
After letting the coffee cake cool from the oven, Paula and Tom, began the short walk next door to meet their new neighbors. The moving crew departed an hour previously so they felt it was a respectful interval to allow their new neighbors to accept visitors.
As the door opened, Paula and Tom were greeted by a tall dark attractive man. Tom guessed he was about his same age, early 50's or perhaps a couple years younger. In good shape but still a reasonable hint of age. Tom found himself put off by "gym rats" so he was pleased with the impression the stranger made. Taking his outstretched hand the stranger introduced himself as Hunter and flashed a disarming smile.
Hunter stepped aside and vigorously motioned for them to enter. As they stepped inside a petite attractive brunette swept in to the room with two boxes stacked in her arms and as she peered around the side of her burden, she noticed Tom and Paula.
She exclaimed, "I didn't know we had company" as she looked at Hunter.
Tom stepped forward to take the boxes from his new neighbor and set them carefully on the floor. As he turned back he noticed a warm smile but one with a hint of mischief. She quickly was introduced as Sheila and as Paula extended the warm cake toward her they both moved toward the kitchen. Tom and Paula had of course been in the house many times so probably knew the house better than their new neighbors.
Tom noticed the girls seem to hit it off quickly as Sheila began to question Paula about local stores and services. Tom turned back toward Hunter who smiled again and shrugged. Tom knew instantly that the new neighbors would fit in just fine to the established neighborhood.
"Can I give you a hand with anything?" Tom offered.
As a matter of fact, I could use a hand moving some things into the garage. One feature of the house Tom had always admired was the generous three-car garage. As they moved through the kitchen into the garage Tom saw several tall tool chests and hoped that meant Hunter enjoyed cars as much as Tom. Hunter moved to a tall air compressor still on the shipping pallet. Tom knew anyone with a 220 volt air compressor was at a minimum, a medium to serious car nut!
The two men wrestled the heavy tool the last few feet to the electric hook up.
Hunter thanked Tom and said, "We better go inside before Sheila finds out all the local places to spend money."
Tom could tell he would like Hunter's sense of humor.
As they returned to the kitchen they could smell coffee brewing from a pot hastily located from its packing box and as Tom turned the corner he almost tripped on a pair of running shoes extending from inside a base cabinet surrounded by two rolls of self-stick shelf paper. As he moved aside he saw the shoes were attached to the young shapely legs he had seen earlier. He was embarrassed as his gaze followed the legs inside the cabinet to an incredible round ass inside a pair of shorts.
Sheila noticed Tom's dilemma and said cheekily, "Let me introduce you to our daughter, Shannon."
A hand waved briefly through the open door of the cabinet.
Tom had hoped that Sheila would not take advantage of his awkward moment.
No such luck.
"Long legs come from Hunter's side of the family," she said as she smiled at Tom.
Over the next 30 minutes, two cups of coffee and a piece of coffee cake, Tom and Paula exchanged the basics of new neighbors and budding friends. Jobs; Hunter was in corporate finance with a national firm, Sheila was in real estate. Interests; Tom had three classic cars stored nearby but was arranging the home shop to restore a numbers-matching '57 Chevy he just acquired and Sheila was a photographer. Their daughter, having extricated herself from the cabinetry, was helping for a few days and in her final year of law school in Boston. They had recently transferred to town from his firm's Chicago office.
Tom and Paula were careful not to overstay their first visit and politely excused themselves to let their new neighbors get organized. They invited them to join them for dinner the next evening and Hunter and Sheila readily accepted.
As they returned home, Paula turned to Tom and said "What do you think?"
"I liked them; both personable and with interesting hobbies," he replied.
Paula couldn't resist and said, "I saw you checking out their daughters ass," with a wicked smile.
"It just reminded me so much of yours, dear," he countered.
Paula planned a favorite meal of chicken and pasta. Tom had the wine chosen and ready and some tasteful music on the satellite. A few minutes after 7, Hunter and Sheila knocked at the back door and Tom welcomed them in. Tom and Hunter dressed similarly in slacks and polo shirts while Paula had chosen a knee-length skirt, to be longer than the apron and a sleeveless blouse and low heels. Sheila was wearing a mid-thigh skirt over her full hips with heels and a knit top. Although her top had a high neckline, Tom was impressed that the tight fit showed off a very nice full chest, something he had missed with her earlier loose sweatshirt. Although no taller than 5'3" she had a proportionate curvy figure.
Tom took drink orders and everyone went with wine. Conversation seemed to come easily and as with most neighborly gatherings everyone seemed to stay in the kitchen. Paula didn't mind the audience and was glad her guests felt at home there.
When the meal was ready, Sheila helped bringing dishes from the kitchen as the Tom freshened everyone's drinks.
By the time the meal was over, the group was behaving like old friends and as Tom and Hunter cleared the table Sheila helped Paula with things in the kitchen. Tom offered to take Hunter to the garage to show him his restored Triumph TR6 and the girls found themselves in the kitchen alone enjoying a fourth glass of wine.
"You're a lucky woman," Sheila said unexpectedly to Paula.
"I agree, but what makes you say that," Paula laughed.
"Your Tom is very entertaining and has a great sense of humor, I've always found that very attractive in men," Sheila said.
Paula laughed and said. "I have to admit that he keeps things in perspective and when my job is getting the best of me, he usually finds a way to loosen me up."
By the time the kitchen was straightened up or at least to the extent Paula would allow her new friend to assist, the guys were returning from the garage and definitely in "car talk" mode.
Sheila was the first to comment and said "So Tom has a four-wheeled mistress too?"
Hunter quickly quipped, "Like I always say, if you'd rather I collect two-legged mistresses, let me know."