Miranda gave a small sigh of resignation and slumped forward against the steering wheel. She had been staring at the taillights of the Chevy pickup for the last twenty minutes. And it didn't look as though the scenery was going to change any time soon.
She reached into the CD carrier attached to her sun visor and chose some music. "Hmmm, Ella, perhaps..." she thought. Something she could sing along to.
Miranda smiled slightly as Nelson Riddle's orchestra broke the silence in the car. She needed something -- anything -- to take her mind off of the day's events. This stop-and-go traffic was doing nothing to stop her remembering the conference she'd been attending all day. And Robert. She just couldn't stop thinking about Robert.
Miranda had arrived at the Saturday conference an hour late, having spent a good portion of the morning lost in unfamiliar traffic and streets.
When she'd finally found the hotel, the morning's workshops had already begun, so she slipped into the classroom and had to stand at the back. Though it felt good to be standing after her three-hour drive had stretched into a five-hour ordeal, Miranda hoped a seat would become available. She leaned back, propped her foot against the wall, and rested her notebook on her knee and began to take notes.
Just as her hand began to cramp from the effort of taking notes, Miranda looked up and saw a familiar smile. Robert entered, carrying a chair under each arm. He pulled them against the wall and motioned for Miranda to sit. She smiled gratefully, and sat down next to him, smoothing the skirt of her gray business suit over her thighs.
"I am surprised to see you here, Miranda," Robert whispered to her.
Miranda smiled warmly, "It was a last minute decision. And besides, this time the company is picking up the tab."
Miranda remembered Robert from previous functions, as they were in a similar profession, and lived in a relatively small town.
"How're the kids?" Robert asked softly.
"Home with Dave," Miranda said, "he is much better at keeping them entertained than I."
Robert smiled again, making Miranda catch her breath. His leg brushed against hers.
"I find you highly entertaining, " he said, his blue eyes sparkling, "you look delicious today."
Robert's eyes dropped to Miranda's crossed legs. She laughed softly, delighting in the warmth spreading over her face.
She spent the rest of the workshop taking notes and casting sidelong glances at Robert. She sighed softly at the way he stretched his legs. She inhaled the smell of his cologne letting the scent of it seep down her spine straight to that spot deep in her stomach that made her shiver with pleasure.
When the presentation ended and Robert went to speak to the instructor, Miranda stayed in her seat to watch Robert make his way across the room -- his khaki-clad legs so long and muscular. She trembled slightly at the way he smiled at her on his way back.
The rest of the afternoon was a blur for Miranda. It was an endless droning of speakers, punctuated only with dry banquet fare, handshakes and brochures. The evening proved better, however, when Miranda made her way to her car to get her dinner clothes. She had planned on changing in the ladies' room and sitting in the coffee shop until dinnertime, but in the parking lot she heard her name being called in a hearty voice, "Miranda! Honeycakes!"
She turned to see Lewis, her friend and mentor, gliding towards her to sweep her up in a great bear hug. Lewis was a retired engineer who had helped her get started in her business, and her joy at seeing him spilled out of her in girlish giggles.
Lewis offered to let her use his hotel suite to change her clothes and to sip tea with him to pass the time before the banquet. She hugged him gratefully and followed him into the elevator.
They arrived at Lewis' room, and he motioned her towards the bathroom.
Miranda shrugged out of her suit and stood in her black satin panties and bra, admiring her figure in the mirror. She took some stockings out of her bag and slipped them on over her legs. They were black with a touch of lace at the top where the elastic hugged her thigh. Her hands brushed the smooth skin of her leg above the stocking top. Her eyes closed slightly at this feeling, and her hand moved on its own to slip inside the edge of her panties. Just as she felt the moist edge of her sex, her eyes flew open. "What am I doing?" she muttered to herself, remembering where she was. Miranda took a deep sighing breath and dressed in the red gown she brought and slipped into her high heels. She brushed her hair, put on a touch of lipstick and stood back to look at herself in the mirror. She knew her black hair looked particularly good against the deep red velvet, and she smiled. The dress was clingy, mid-calf length, and had wide straps that Miranda slid over her shoulders. She put the matching jacket on and decided she was ready. She emerged from the bathroom and turned the corner, startled to find Robert with Lewis busily making tea in the kitchenette. Lewis stopped and gazed at Miranda and gave a low whistle.
"Hello there," Robert smiled at her, not bothering to disguise the admiration in his eyes, "You look fantastic."
Miranda smiled and blushed slightly, "You look pretty good yourself," she said, noticing the tailored suit and how well it fit Robert's shoulders. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity. Lewis broke the silence.
"Well, well, well! I had no idea you two knew each other," Lewis beamed at them, chuckling heartily.
