This is a sequel to my "Nude Noir" stories, using the few characters who survived to the end of the series. A few readers commented on the darkness of the closing chapter of "Nude Noir." There is darkness in this story too, but also redemption. This piece will be difficult to follow unless you have read the Nude Noir stories or, at least, Nude Noir Chapter Five.
This story is a work of fiction. It mentions or implies some real places and institutions. Those are used fictitiously here. As far as the author knows, no real person affiliated with any of those places or institutions has done anything akin to what is described in this story. Any similarities between any character in this story and any real person are coincidental and unintended. I encourage comments on this story, both favorable and unfavorable. Thank you for reading.
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I didn't respond to Paula Taft's suggestion that she could help me run Bougainvillea Cove. I didn't have anything against Paula. She was physically very attractive and had seemed an engaging and intelligent girl when Laura and I had met her in Jamaica. I simply had no interest in interacting with people after Laura's killing and the events that followed it. I blew Paula off saying something about The Cove having a manager. I don't recall exactly, but it was not meant to be encouraging.
About ten days after Paula called, a woman on the front desk called to tell me there was a "young lady" in reception to see me. That was perplexing because no one came to see me anymore, least of all young women. It must have been one of my better days because I went to the reception desk instead of ignoring the visitor. I didn't bother putting on any clothes though. When I walked into the office, a slim woman with shoulder-length blonde hair was standing with her back to me. Two nice legs extended below her shorts.
Hearing the door, the woman turned. The wide mouth broke into a smile and the blue eyes twinkled. "Hello Ian," she said. "It's good to see you still dress like you did in Jamaica." I was shocked and speechless. It was Paula! She looked more beautiful than I remembered from Jamaica. That may have been because she was by herself. When we were in Jamaica, Laura was always with us, and she outshone everyone.
"I, uh, uh, what are you doing here?" I asked.
Gretchen walked out from the back before Paula could answer. I suspect the woman at the desk had called Gretchen. I don't think The Cove staff trusted me to handle anything appropriately at that time. "Ms. Taft," Gretchen said, "it is nice to meet you after talking to you on the phone."
"You two know each other?" I asked.
Maybe there was something in my voice. In any event, Gretchen said, "Ian, may I speak with you in the back for a moment?" To Paula, Gretchen said, "excuse us. This will only take a minute or two."
I followed Gretchen into her office. "Did you invite her here?" I asked.
"No," Gretchen said. "She called. She said she had a marketing background and was looking for work, that she was interested in Florida and nude recreation. She said she had talked to you, and you had told her to talk to me. We talked for a half hour or so. Paul and Lillith relied on word of mouth. That doesn't do it anymore. We need to do marketing. Ms. Taft's been working in marketing at a large university up north. So, I told her to stop in if she was in the area. She also talked about meeting you and Laura in Jamaica. You apparently made a strong impression on her."
I started to say something objecting, but Gretchen cut me off. "Ian, you've just shut down. You aren't doing yourself or The Cove any good. This sure as hell isn't what Laura would want. There's an intelligent and attractive woman in the next room who apparently came here because of you. Don't you dare hurt her, yourself, and The Cove by running her off."
Various of my few surviving friends had given me similar lectures before. It hadn't had any effect. Something in what Gretchen said, however, hit me. Maybe it was because Gretchen and I weren't really friends. I'd become her boss when I inherited The Cove from Paul and Lillith. Gretchen seemed more concerned about The Cove than me personally. I didn't feel much anymore, but I did feel a duty to The Cove.
I walked back into reception. Paula smiled again, stood a bit straighter, and put a hand on her hip. She did look beautiful. "May I stay?" she asked.
Gretchen told the woman at the desk, "see what we've got open that Ms. Taft can stay in for a few days."
"No," I said. To Paula, I said, "you can stay with me in Unit 7. There's a guest room."
"Great!" Paula said. "Where do I go?"
"Go right out of our lot," I said. "Follow that street past the end of the tall fence then turn right again. That will put you at the entrance to resident parking. I'll come out and open the gate for you."
"Thanks," Paula said and started outside. I turned back towards the door into the resort.
"That's the best decision you've made in months," Gretchen said.
"It's the only decision I've made in months," I shot back.
"True," Gretchen replied.
Every part of Paula's Japanese sedan except the driver's seat was loaded with stuff. "Is that everything you own?" I asked.
"I told you on the phone I needed to get out of Ohio," she replied.
"So, you loaded all your stuff in the care and hoped you could stay here?" I followed up.
"Pretty much." Paula said with a smile. "I figured it would be harder for you to put me off in person than on the phone."
I had to admire her moxy. "What do you need right away" I asked. "This lot is very secure. Your stuff will be safe. We can get the rest of it later."
