I had to bring the convertible in for regular servicing, and I said I'd wait for it. A couple of hours at the dealer wouldn't bother me. In fact, I was looking forward to it. Based on past visits, I knew I could myself up with a laptop and cappuccino at a desk on the edge of the showroom. Moreover, there I'd be near a counter for the parts department. And staffing that counter, I knew, would be Teresa.
She was a 20-something brunette who often wore short skirts. One couldn't immediately see her legs because she'd be behind the counter. But then at some point, she could be expected to walk out, into the showroom or back to the service department, to confer with a colleague or client, and that's when my gaze would follow her, as discreetly as possible. Her legs were gorgeous, whether bare or nylon-clad.
I'd never spoken much to Teresa. Just a few "Good morning's" or "Thank you's" on previous visits, when she'd gotten me a replacement fob battery or run the case register after some repair. I suspected that I was unlikely to catch her eye, a guy with some 10 years on her and a shy manner. But I always hoped for some longer interaction, whatever that might be. And this time, when the service guy told me I should get a new alternator belt and tire rotation, I was glad at the thought I'd spend a little more time just a few yards from Teresa, as she made calls and deal with customers who approached the counter.
She was wearing a short purple dress, dark tights and heels, and I gazed at her intently, though as surreptitiously as I could, every time she walked by. I guess I wasn't that subtle about it, as she caught my eye and smirked at one point while passing my borrowed desk. embarrassed, I looked down at my laptop screen. I could sense her pausing for a moment behind me, as if she were looking at what's on the screen. There wasn't much to see there, just a spreadsheet of auto expenses. I'd safely minimized the window with a short story I'd started to write about a hot young woman at an auto-parts counter.
Well, the repairs dragged on longer than expected, and it turned out the dealership was closing early today, 5 p.m. before the holiday weekend. It was 4:54 when the service guy handed me an invoice and told me I could pay it and get keys from the parts desk. He then called over to Teresa, "Thanks for locking up tonight," and walked out. As I shut down my laptop, I looked around. The dealership now was empty, as far as I could see, except for me and Teresa, who was looking over at me from the parts counter. She smiled, and as I approached, that took on more the look of a smirk. "I bet you got a lot of work done today," she said as I placed the invoice on the counter.