Author's Note
When I published The Plumber Always Rings Twice, I was intending it to be a short, sweet slice of life story. A single, short slice of life. Now, over six months later, I'm thinking maybe there's room for a second slice. This one's a little steamier, but like the original, still short, sweet and slightly sappy.
* * *
Third Ring
I stood up and flushed. Watching the water swirl round and round the bowl, going down without stopping. With my fingers still on the handle, I smirked as I heard Jess's voice in my head. "Bob's your uncle," she said, wearing an impish grin.
After toweling my hands dry, I turned my attention to the mirror, picked up my mini tube of Beso Stay All Day, and puckered up. I pursed my lips, relaxed, and took a step back to take it all in.
"Not bad," I said, with a quick nod. I ran my hands over the sides of my dress and tugged at the mid-thigh hem, pulling it a little lower, while congratulating myself on the fact I could still pull off wearing an outfit like this.
I took another look in the mirror and frowned. My bra strap was showing. I tucked it back in.
I did a little twirl, casting my gaze to the floor as I finished. I raised my eyes just enough to peer into the mirror while I tucked a bit of hair behind my right ear with my fingertip, hoping it looked sexy. "Hello, Jess," I whispered.
Too much.
I stood up straight, squaring my shoulders. I thrust my hand out and put on a smile. "Hi-ya, Jess."
Lame.
"Jess," I said, my arms wide, leaning sideways. "Bruh. How long's it been?"
Definitely not.
I stood there for a few minutes, gazing at my reflection, pushing my beso-covered lips out, trying to perfect my sultry pout. I noticed my bra was showing again.
"Damn," I said, fiddling to hide it back under the strap of my little summer dress.
I heard the rumble of a truck engine from the street and sucked a quick breath, picturing Jess seated behind the wheel. When I heard the engine stop, I took a last poke at my hair, before turning and reaching for the light switch.
I stopped short, turning my eyes to the mirror again. My bra strap had slipped out. "Damn."
I heard a truck door open and close and scowled at the errant strap peeking out.
"Fuck it," I said, hiking my dress up as far as I could to get my hands underneath. Reaching around, I unhooked my bra, pulled my arm in and through on one side, and pulling the uncooperative garment out the other.
I held it high in my clenched fist.
Victory!
Once again, I let my gaze linger on the mirror. My nipples were poking out through the thin fabric of my dress.
The doorbell rang.
"Fuck it," I said, slinging my wayward bra over the unused towel hook on the back of the door and marching into the hall.
* * *
I opened my front door to find Jess nicely framed in the doorway. She was wearing the same impish grin I imagined, blue jeans that I absolutely adored, and holding a bottle of wine.
"I... I brought..." Jess raised the bottle and studied the label. "The guy said it was good... At the store... The wine guy." She dropped her eyes to my front porch.
"Come on in, Jess," I said, taking a step back to make room. And, if I'm being honest, to take her all in.
She looked up and did the same, letting her gaze wander up and down. And we stood there for a moment, like a couple of teenagers, neither of us saying anything. I felt my nipples tighten and wondered how much they were protruding through my dress.
Jess was the first to speak. "You look... Wow."
I flashed a smile, adding just a hint of a Beso Stay All Day pout, before shamelessly focusing in on her ass.
"I know," she said, "I feel a little under-dressed. I probably should have worn khakis."
"No, you're fine," I said.
So fine.
It hasn't even been five minutes and already I'm busted checking out her ass.
"So, when I looked online," Jess said, "it said alcohol was permitted in the park, but only one bottle per person."
"You hiding another one somewhere?" I asked. Looking up and down those formfitting jeans, I knew she wasn't.
"No." She blushed. "I just didn't want you to think we were going to get hassled."
"Come on, Jess." I said. "I've got the perfect picnic cooler. It holds a bottle and two glasses." I gave just a hint of Stay All Day pout and turned on my heel, hoping Jess was watching as I sashayed to the kitchen.
"Shoot," mumbled Jess. "I forgot to bring glasses."
"You're in luck. I have those too." I put a little extra effort into my sashay.
When we got to the kitchen, I pointed to the cupboard over the refrigerator. "They're up there," I said. "Can you reach? I'll have to use a chair."
"Mm," she said. "Mm-hmm."
"Left side," I said, and made no effort to move my eyes from Jess as she stretched to reach the high cupboard.
As much as I was enjoying the view, I began to wonder if me standing on a chair, with my bare legs wiggling in Jess's face while I reached and stretched, might have been a better idea.
"Almost," she said, extending her hand.
I felt a wave of heat run through me. I knew my cheeks had gone pink.
"Got 'em." Jess came back to earth clutching two stemmed glasses in hand.
"Thanks," I said, taking them and setting them on the counter. "Cooler's up there too. On the right side."
"Right... side?"
"Yep," I said. She didn't even get to turn around before I sent my eyes crawling over her.
Jess pawed around in the cupboard.
"It's the vinyl soft-side kind," I said, studying her ass as she moved.
"Got it," she said, pulling the zippered cooler down and closing the cupboard door.
"Thanks," I said, plucking it from her hand and bouncing over to the counter with it. I set it down and stopped.
Resting my hands on the edge of the counter top, I took a deep breath and held it.
What was I doing here? Acting like a schoolgirl.
"Eve?" Jess was behind me, I could hear her breathing before the words left her mouth. "You look nice," she said. "I meant to say it before, but..."
I turned around, dropping my gaze in the process. I thought back to my pout practiced in the mirror. I chickened out and sighed instead, keeping my eyes on the floor. "You don't think it's too much?"
"Too much is not exactly what comes to mind with that dress."
"You know what I mean." I pursed my beso-colored lips for a moment. "It looks like I'm trying too hard, doesn't it? I should change. I'm not a teenager anymore, and I shouldn't--"