Since the beginning of Junior High, it had always been "Stan and Fran." They had started dating even before most kids started dating and all through High School. Everyone assumed they would end up together and everyone was right, they married upon graduation from University. Married for nearly 20 years, with a daughter now off to University, they should have been enjoying life, things should all be absolutely perfect, but things were far from that.
It had been a hot & heavy marriage for the first fifteen years, but now -- it had simply run out of steam.
Fran wasn't interested in his life. Whenever Stan tried to confront her about why things seemed so dull, why she wasn't herself, the tiny, sexy redhead with a zest for life he'd loved for so long, Fran avoided the question or changed the subject. The only answer he'd been able to wangle out of her to date was "Things are dull and predictable."
Stan had no real way to answer that. How could things not be somewhat predictable after being together for nearly 25 years? Stan also disagreed with his wife, he thought of things more as "stable" and stability wasn't a bad thing to have in these uncertain times. He had a good job and all the perks that went with it, their home was entirely paid for, they could do anything they wanted. Yet, the couple continued drifting apart; Stan often came home at night to find the house empty. Over lunch one afternoon, he confided in one of the secretaries he was friendly with.
"Do you think Fran's having an affair?" Deneice asked him.
"It's possible," Stan asked, biting down on his hamburger, laden with "the works". Why watch his weight if his wife didn't give a shit? "She seems to think I'm the dullest human being on earth, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility."
"You're far from dull," Deneice smiled, taking a bite of chicken salad. "You are predictable, but that's a good thing. You're very reliable."
Stan smiled and thanked his new friend. He always wondered why Deneice didn't seem to have lots of friends; she had such an engaging, warm personality. Partly, he imagined it was because she never seemed to display any personal zip; she dressed very plainly at work and hid behind her horn-rimmed glasses, pulled her long, dark hair back. He figured she might actually be cute if she allowed herself to be. Stan decided he'd try and coax Deneice out of her shell and let her blossom, she deserved to be with a nice guy -- or
girl
, he wasn't really sure what her sexual preferences were.
Their lunches became a daily occurrence, which gave Stan a sense of comfort. He had someone to talk with and Deneice was easy to talk to, and when she let her guard down, quite witty and charming. He found himself becoming quite smitten, in a totally
platonic
sense -- of
course
-- with the efficient, friendly young secretary.
He knew that Fran wouldn't be home on Thursday evening as she was going away with their daughter and some of her friends to a small lakefront cottage. Over lunch Thursday afternoon, he asked Deneice if she had any plans for dinner that night and was pleased when she said "No, why?"
"I'm dying to have a cook-out while the weather's still nice enough and Fran's away, so would care to come over and I'll grill us a few steaks and you can have a swim and just a nice, leisurely evening with a friend?"
Deneice blinked a few times, then took a mouthful of Green Tea. "Sure, that sounds lovely. What time would you like me to come over?"
"Around 7. I'll arrange it so you don't have to work tomorrow, that way, you can have wine or whatever you like and not have to worry about driving, you can crash in our guest room."
Deneice raised an eye and said "That sounds great, I'll look forward to it."
Being one of the Higher-Ups, Stan didn't have any obstacles. He left a bit early, around3, picked up two huge steaks and had them marinating when the doorbell rang. It was a bit before 7, so he assumed it was Deneice. He answered the door to find a dark-haired beauty on the doorstep, wearing a tiger-striped miniskirt, heels and stockings, with a sheer, citrus-colored blouse on top and a face that would have stopped traffic.
"Hello. May I help you?"
"Stan." The young woman giggled. "It's Deneice."
HOLEEE-FREAKING-SHIT
! If he hadn't heard her familiar, soft voice, Stan would not have believed it. Her jet-black hair hung down to her waist, her dark, almond-shaped eyes were lined with a bluish-green eye shadow, lashes thick and her face was almost glowing with vitality. Her glasses were gone and those eyes seemed so deep and intriguing, but lord ...
Her body. Deneice was THIS hot? Why would she hide this centerfold-quality beauty? Deneice picked up on what he was thinking from Stan's expression.
"I hide behind the frumpy clothes because at my last job I kept getting hit on. No one would take me seriously, I couldn't get any work done and my bosses were blaming me for it, instead of my co-workers. So I played it safe, although I must admit, a girl does get lonely at times. You're the first man to see me dressed like this in quite a while. What do you think, Stan? I clean up nice, don't I?"
Stan could only nod, words had left him momentarily. He escorted her indoors and to the pool where he told her to get comfortable and enjoy the sunshine. He checked on the steaks, the salad in the refrigerator and went outside to join a smiling Deneice. He offered the Korean beauty a glass of white Zinfandel, which she accepted.
"Wow. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before, but I am absolutely floored. You're a stunning young woman, you shouldn't have to hide it either. Be yourself at work Deneice, it might be odd at first, but as one of the bosses, I'll do my best to make sure you're not hassled. Someone as lovely as you shouldn't have to be anything or anyone other than who you are."
Deneice lifted her glass and said "Thank you Stan, you've always been a good friend to me and I appreciate it. This is a lovely home and pool, I don't see what Fran feels she needs to complain about."
Stan sighed. "I don't either, but let's just enjoy the evening. The steaks are marinated enough, I think. Hungry?"
Deneice drank a mouthful of wine. "God, yes. Famished."
"I'll bring out the salad and steaks and put them on, there's rolls warming in the oven, freshly baked from the Portuguese Bakery near work. We can eat and talk and have a swim after dinner, okay?"
"Okay!"
It turned out to be a lovely evening, the meal was wonderful, steaks so tender you could have cut them with a fork, the rolls delicious and the wine relaxing. Stan couldn't take his eyes off Deneice for a minute, her legs, face and breasts had cast a spell over him, but he was properly respectful. After dinner, he knew a swim would likely cool him down. They went indoors to change, Deneice had packed her suit in an overnight bag she'd brought with her.
When Stan got out to the deck of the pool, he saw that he'd beaten Deneice there. He heard the click of heels on the deck behind him and turned and ...
VA-VA-VA-VOOM
! In a tiger-print bikini, much like her earlier mini, there was Deneice. The suit hid nothing, her long shapely legs, smooth torso and gorgeous breasts were all nicely displayed, that body was sculpted perfection. She even walked differently, with a sensual sway, a saunter that would captivate any breathing male -- and
