Northern Nevada is a great place to live, not that the Pacific Northwest is less by any manner of speaking but since I am in the electronics business and working with Software, and this has become the second Silicone Valley, it was the natural place for me to hang my hat, and here it hangs, at least for the moment.
My life has involved quite a bit more travel than I like of late, and my routes back and forth across the country and from top to bottom would resemble a spiders web if you were to draw them on a map, but here I was once again. I had some time on my hands again and had restarted a previous photography endeavor just to give my creative juices an outlet, and the money was not bad either. But you are reading this to hear more about Kristen and Stan, aren't you. Well, here is some background on the last few months, if you recall in chapter 3, my last act was a vow not to make Kristen wait that long ever again, and while it has been a while, I am happy to report that it was not all my fault. We have passed like ships in the night several times, each being in the same area but unable to connect for whatever reason, and the story I am going to relate to you almost ended on the same note, but we did get together, sort of…..
The last times my phone had rung that morning, I had missed picking it up, and there had been no message left. "Telemarketers." Had been my initial thought, then it rang again, so I answered intending to do away with them immediately. "Stan James." I said with my best business tone. "Hello is this Intimate Moments Photography?" Said the male voice on the other end.
"Yes," I replied, "Stan James speaking, can I help you?"
"Oh good," he replied, "I thought I had been given a bad number because of your answering message, but I double-checked and decided to try one last time, I am glad I reached you."
"This is just a sideline for me," I said, "something I enjoy doing but not my main focus."
"My wife and I heard of your work from Jim and Sandy McCallister, and would like to use your services, are you available to meet and talk this Friday evening?" He said.
"I suppose so." I answered "What is there to talk about?" "If you know Jim and Sandy, then you are aware of my stock in trade, so to speak."
"Yes, we are, but what we want is kind of involved, and we have some friends who would like to meet you as well, so a meeting first would be more appropriate, then if our proposition appeals to you, perhaps we can move ahead." He had finished speaking and waited quietly for a reply.
I must admit, he had piqued my curiosity with his mention of the words ‘proposition' and ‘friends' what exactly he had in mind was a mystery, but, what the hell, I did not have anything else going Friday night…..
"Where and what time?" I asked
He gave me the address and name of a local night club that I had not heard of before.
"Very well." I said, "How will I know you?"
"Jim and Sandy will be there, so just look for them." He replied, "See you Friday night."
With that he broke the connection, and I clicked over to Outlook express to note the appointment in my address book.
I did not think much more about Friday night until the following day, Thursday, when my phone again rang, this time with Kristen's number visible in the display. "Hi," I said, "what a pleasant surprise!"
"Hi yourself!!!" she said, "I have an even more pleasant surprise for you."
"Oh," I said, "what could that be?"
"I land in Reno tomorrow evening at 7:00!!!" she bubbled, "and I can't wait to see you again."
"Wonderful," I said "Give me the airline and I will be in baggage claim to meet you."
"Flight 5412 on American." She said
"See you then!" I said anxiously, "Where are you staying?"
"Well, I was wondering if there might be room at the Hotel James." She giggled
"I will have to check…of course you might have to share a room with an old fart, in order to get accommodations." I chuckled
"Well, I really doubt that he is that much of a fart, is he?" She laughed and said "Gotta run, see you tomorrow!!!"
Her reference to the "fart" without mentioning the "old" was due to our corresponding birthdays, we had both turned a year older, just 12 days apart and for 12 days we had been the same age, until I passed her by one year, again.
It was then that I remembered my appointment for that evening, but then dismissed it, I was certain she would not have a problem accompanying me while I met the folks and negotiated with them….my surprise was when I discovered, the following night, that the club we were meeting at was devoted to the "Swinging Lifestyle."
I had been watching television a couple of nights back when a bowflex commercial came on featuring this 50 year old woman with a "bowflex body" and while I watched it I had thought of Kristen and made a mental note to call her.
Let me say this about her appearance. 5'7" I think, probably 38D 24 36, I am not sure of her weight, she always says she needs to lose weight, I have no idea where she would lose it from. Her face is chiseled and fine featured, with a sparkling smile and eyes. Beautiful auburn hair and hazel eyes, and to compare her to the bowflex model is really unfair, she is so much hotter then the bowflex model, she makes her look like a saggy has been. She has been a professional model, owned a modeling agency, and is an all around beauty. Now add to that exterior, a heart full of love, the IQ of a genius, and the guts of a prizefighter in a business deal, and you know why I love her as deeply as I do. I just wish we could get our lives to coincide long enough to make it permanent somehow.
Anyway, back to the story, Reno International Airport, I am waiting at the carousel that will deposit her luggage when I see her striding towards me. All her confidence and professional air, mingled with her sensuality causing whiplash among the men she passes. Her coat billowing at the bottom, revealing long tanned, perfectly shaped legs, but she only has eyes for me, the hug, the kiss, filled with promise for the evening. The smell of her hair, and her closeness send my blood pressure climbing. We continue to hold each other, as we wait for her luggage, kissing and whispering. Finally, the luggage arrives and we are in the van and headed for my place, just a few minutes from the airport.
"What are our plans for this evening?" She asked as we deposited her luggage in the "old Fart's room.
I watched as she deftly unzipped her garment bag and helped herself to some closet space.
"I thought we could grab some dinner downtown, and then I have to make a brief stop, after which the night is yours M'lady." I answered.
"What brief stop?" she asked.
"I have a photography client that I have to meet, in order to finalize what they want done, I am to meet them at a lounge downtown, and I thought you might like to tag along."
"Ok," she said "but then Doctor Kristen says right back home and right to bed."
"Yes Ma'am." I answered with a snappy salute.
The Hilton, while not down town, was the choice for dinner. No reservation was needed and it afforded us plenty of time.
Kristen ordered shrimp scampi while I ordered a porterhouse, rare, thinking I might need the protein, if her attitude was any indication, and then came the wine.
It never ceased to amaze me how she could sip wine and enjoy it. I watched her lips as they touched the glass, drawing a small amount of the pale liquid across her palate, and waited as the fruit burst at the back of her palate, then, with an approving look at the glass she returned it to the table, and asked me. "So tell me about this new photography venture of yours."