CHAPTER 1
Tired from the long flight from Australia where he'd been on a long working holiday after completing a lucrative management contract, Willis Westwood looked at the exhausted-looking young blonde standing in front of him and grinned as he always did at a pretty face above a pair of great looking tits... er natural ones.
"Are you collecting for charity?" he joked before she had time to open her mouth.
"In a manner of speaking yes. I lost my billfold in this terminal last night. It hasn't been handed in."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Sorry enough to pay my fare to New York?"
"Er not that sorry."
The face turned pathetic. "You are about the 30th person who has refused me. I only approached people whose countenance gave me hope."
"Well it's an odd request. Most people would think you want to feed your drug habit."
The pale blue eyes and forward thrust of chin remained unwavering. "I only did drugs in my first year, going through the experimental phase."
"So you're a university student?"
"Of course I am."
Willis said patiently. "Okay no need to snap my head off. What stage are you at?"
"I graduate in computer studies in May."
Willis said he graduated in computer science. He probed and she gave the answers, indicating to his satisfaction she had a higher than normal knowledge.
"If I put up the money what security do I get?"
"My word."
She recited her home address in New York City.
"Let's have a look in your bag."
"Why, there's nothing of value in there. Just some clothes and my diary, a cheap camera and..."
"Hand me your diary."
"This is wasting time. I could be contacting other people."
"Yeah and you could be picked up by airport cops for soliciting."
"Oh god." The chin slumped in confidence.
The young woman handed across the diary and he saw the address inside the front cover was the same address in Manhattan she'd recited to him earlier.
"Why didn't you call your parents to send you money?"
"Oh mo. I didn't think that's why. Give me my diary and fuck off."
"I'll tell you what. I'll keep the diary and give you my card and hand over four hundred bucks that will be ample for your ticket, to have a decent breakfast and to get home by cab. You come to that address with the money and if I'm not home give the money to my mother and she'll give you the diary."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Jesus babe, you are the one owing money."
"All right. But don't read my diary."
"Oh, records the length of guy's dicks does it?"
"God you are foul. It contains notes about what I think but perhaps that's too deep for you."
Willis said, "I'm due at my lounge. What's it to be?"
"Take the diary, give me the money."
"I already have the diary. Here's four hundred bucks. For goodness sake have a shower and tidy up before your mom sees you; she'd have a fit but if you do that make sure you don't allow anyone to rob you of my money."
"Thanks. Do I kiss you?"
"Yeah I suppose so."
She scowled at that pathetic response and kissed him.
"Well as least you can kiss lady. Actually can I have another one?"
"Fuck off sailor," she smiled, her first smile. You better run."
Willis winked and raced off.
Two days later Willis was about to open the door when the bell went. He jerked the door open and the young woman jumped a foot into the air in fright.
It was the airport waif.
"Sorry Monique. I was just on my way out."
"You know my name. You awful man; you've read my diary."
"God, don't be so punishing. I looked at just the inside front cover to get your name so either mom or I could call you by your name."
"Oh, sorry. Here's ten 100s. Dad said to give you the lot because you were a Good Samaritan."
"Nah just the four hundred."
"Do you want me to shove the lot up your ass?"
Willis laughed. "Whew, just what do they teach you at university these days?"
"The basics of survival."
"I'll grab your diary; it's just inside the door. Want to come for a beer?"
"Is that where you were heading?"
"Yeah."
"No thanks."
Willis scowled. "I knew you'd rudely reject my kind offer. Here's your diary. Fuck off."
She stood staring at him. "I suppose I could come with you."
"Jesus!"
They sat on stools at the bar, looking at each other closely.
"You look pretty good washed up. Show me your legs."
"Is that what a gentleman would ask a lady?"
"No never, but those honorifics exclude us."
She ignored everyone around them and slowly pulled up her loose skirt. "How far?"
"As far as it goes."
Still calm, she pulled her skirt right up until flattening against the mounds of her stomach and breasts.
Guys were peering behind Willis when he said, "Great legs and immensely pleasurable stocking tops and yes you are wearing something almost large enough to be called panties. Pull your skirt back down."
A couple of guys behind Willis went "Oink, oink, oink." He ignored them.
He patted her shoulder. "I have embarrassed you. I truly had no idea you had the guts to do that. I expected you to chicken out."
She smiled coldly. "I suppose I ought to say pull out your dick for me to suck?"
"God Monique. This is my local bar. Have a heart; that would get us tossed out and banned for life. Then where would I meet you?"
She said curiously, "Are we to meet again?"
"Yes, very regularly I hope."
She sipped her beer and studied him intently. "And exactly what do you think we have in common?"
"I have no idea. But over time we'll find out, won't we?"
She drummed fingers on the bar. "I was going to look up old boy friends to see what was doing but I suppose you could substitute. Will you come to my house for Christmas dinner?"
"Yes if you come for Christmas lunch at my house. I shall be cooking for my parents."
"What a can of beans followed by a can of fruit?"
"Something like that. You really are a cheeky bitch... aw and brave. God at LA in your position I would have died rather than scrounge for money."
"Well I did consider that possibility but then I got thinking about how I valued life. I am beholden to you. I guess I better let you have sex with me and then I'll have written off my debt."
"No you will not. No way would I slither up you on those terms."
"Slither up me? God no one has ever said that to me before. If you use that term regularly it's a wonder you ever get laid."
"Well I require some other compelling reason before you'll experience that from me."
Monique smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."
"You appear to have wonderful legs."
"And you appear to talk a great deal for a guy. You're not bi are you?"
"God no. Monique please, Oh how could you?" Willis said, with some arm waving and two slaps to the head.
"Calm down. I accept from that denial and animated display you are not bi-sexual."
"Thank you. You must not frighten me like that."
Monique looked at Willis as if undecided he'd been seriously reacting to her comment questioning his sexuality.
Later Monique left for home thinking about him. That was something she rarely did about a five-minute guy, er any guy she'd just met. He was well... a little unusual and that made him interesting. God all that talking from a guy was tiring.
He'd even surprised her when she was leaving. When she stood and said she was off although he stood he made no effort to reach out for her. She had to walk forward and kiss his cheek and say goodbye. Talkative Joe, the guy who slithered, then nodded instead of saying anything and looked grave.
Grave? Christ he expected never to see her again! Well that made him interesting. All guys expected to see her again, especially the dreamers. She repeated her Christmas Day invitation in three days' time and he appeared pleased to have the offer confirmed.
That evening when putting on her sleep-to-dream CD before jumping into her bed (the bed she'd thought in the depth of despair at the airport at LA she'd never sleep in again) Monique thought of her hero; a hero who slithered? He had to be kidding, she giggled, and reached for her phone.
Willis had another beer after Monique left with the image of her stocking tops burnt into his mind. He'd always thought the appearance of a woman at her stocking tops was indicative of breeding: slender thighs where the stockings top met exposed flesh classified a woman, providing she wasn't emancipated, as a thoroughbred. Say what you like about quality grandparents and parents, manners and intelligence but in his book slender upper thighs was the real measure of a classic-bred woman.
On the short walk home he thought about Monique's slender upper thighs.
He entered the apartment and his mom chided him for not wearing a coat and he thought god don't women like to fuss, er older women. Monique wouldn't care if he wore nothing. Er maybe. There was not much he knew about her.
In the warm apartment the smell of cooking adding a little extra to the atmosphere. "Mom, dad... is it okay this year if we have our main Christmas Day meal around noon?"
"We have done so for the past five years. You father thinks he can eat more if he eats at midday and it works well for him also at Thanksgiving."
"Thanks."
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you so anxious to have Christmas dinner at midday? For the past five years you did nothing but groan about it. Ohmigod you've found a woman mad enough to invite you home for Christmas dinner."