If Stevie Nolan had been born a hundred and fifty years ago, he'd have been one of those lone drifters roaming aimlessly across the wide open spaces. While it would now be impossible, he still managed to live a relatively similar lifestyle. As a representative for a large global company specialising in electronic process control systems, he spent three weeks out of four on the road. Stevie started career his as an engineer and drifted into sales, he however just couldn't keep his hands off his tools which he still carried in his late model company vehicle. More than a few years ago, he just fell into the mode of calling on his valued customers and repairing anything thing that was suspect while vying for new sales opportunities. He knew his product and his customer applications so well, that there wasn't much he couldn't do. His customers appreciated his abilities and attitude, and his visits were always appreciated. As for his employer, well they just knew that Stevie was one of a kind and made sure that the undemanding and likeable character was looked after.
Stevie enjoyed the long days on the road, he'd become a widower many years since and his children had long since deserted the roost. He enjoyed his own company and liked nothing better than cruising the lonely roads with only the air-conditioning and a full CD player to keep him company. He always wore the same clothes while on the road, faded jeans topped with a denim shirt sporting his company logo, not quite the corporate image that some thought he should aspire to, but he didn't care. At forty six years of age, Stevie was in good shape. He was tall and wide shouldered, but he would be the first to admit that the love handles were starting to appear. His dark hair was thick and wavy, his jaw was long and strong, his eyes a silvery grey. He had an easy going manner which seemed to put people at ease. The opposite sex found him desirable but soon realised he could never be tamed, whether this was an attraction or a turnoff depended on the individual. As for Stevie, he didn't really care what people thought of him, he was his own man and loved the life he lived.
It was a Friday in late September that things went pear shaped for Stevie as he prepared for his next trip leaving on Monday morning. A text message summoned him into head office and he cursed the inconvenience. An hour later, Stevie sauntered into the Area Managers office after harassing his secretary, an old habit he just couldn't resist. He should've known by the amused and knowing look on her face that something was up. Larry had been Stevie's boss and good friend for many years. He more or less gave Stevie free rein on most things, so long as the sales figures were on target and the customers were happy.
Stevie knocked on the door and entered Larry's office; he was surprised to find a young lady sitting in one of the spare chairs. Stevie shot Larry a 'What's she doing here?' look. Larry smiled and waved him in.
"Stevie, this is Julia Gilmore. Julia's a management graduate majoring in marketing, and she's just joined us."
Julia stood and muttered a greeting as she offered her hand to Stevie, he hesitated a second before responding and shaking it.
"Pleased to meet you Julia."
"You'll be pleased to know that Julia will be accompanying you on your trip. You'll be able to show her the ropes; you know, applications and so on. It'll also be a good opportunity for her to meet some of our major customers."
Stevie's eyes bored into Larry's as he took in the implications, he noticed Larry was struggling not to smile.
"Nope. Sorry, I travel alone as always." Stevie replied.
Larry smiled at the unexpected polite reply. "Sorry Stevie, but you've got no choice on this one, it comes from the top."
Stevie turned to Julia, "Would you mind waiting outside, you might not wanna be around to hear this."
She grinned and left the room leaving the two men staring at each other over the table. The battle raged for many minutes but in the end, Stevie accepted defeat, Julia was going with him but only for a week or so instead of the whole three. The secretary took great delight in providing Stevie with new accommodation for two separate rooms at his favourite hotels and motels. He cursed even louder as she cheekily informed Julia not to worry and that his bark was worse than his bite.
The rest of the weekend, Stevie moped around almost depressed at the thought of his solitude being destroyed, the thought of some jabbering female sitting next to him for a week was almost too much to swallow.
So, on the Monday morning, Stevie rolled up to head office where his nemesis awaited him. Before he could get out of the car, Julia opened the back door and placed a large travel case on the back seat before getting into the passenger seat. Stevie stared up at Larry's window and could make him out gleefully watching their departure. Sticking his hand out the window where Julia couldn't see, Stevie flicked him the bird as he eased the vehicle away from the kerb.
It was a few minutes before Julia broke the silence.
"Sorry about this, it wasn't my idea."
Stevie just shrugged his shoulders as he settled back to concentrate on the road in front of him.
Not getting an answer, Julia continued, "Look, I'll try not to be a pain in the arse. If I am, just tell me to shut up. If I don't, you can kick me in the shins; that's if you can catch me." she added
Stevie turned to her and grinned, "Don't push your luck?"
"Ahh, he smiles. So, where are we going today, who are we seeing and why?"
Stevie sighed and began to talk; he spoke of the customers they were going to visit, the strength and value of their accounts and what their history was. He told her about applications of their product, their competition in the market and about the people he liaised with on a regular basis. Julia sat back, listened and took it all in. Stevie stayed on the road for four hours before stopping. After gassing up, they purchased cold drinks and sat at an outdoor but shaded table watching the traffic passing.
It was the first opportunity that Stevie had of taking Julia in, he snatched passing glances as she sipped her drink. She was around average height, her dark brunette hair hung in tight curls to her shoulders. Her face was pretty but not beautiful; her large eyes were a pale green, high cheek bones gave her face an angular look. Her perfect teeth were hidden by full lips highlighted in a pastel lipstick. Small breasts pointed out of a tight burgundy top. Her black trousers tapered into a narrow waist before flaring outward over full hips and then hugged her shapely thighs downwards. Red painted toe nails were plainly visible through black open shoes. Not a figure to kill for, Stevie thought to himself, but nice enough to run his eyes over. But at twenty or so years his junior, he was bright enough to realise that looking was all he was good for. The last thing he wanted was a sexual harassment case against him and he had every intention of keeping this trip on the straight and level.
The next two days passed without incident and Stevie began to enjoy Julia's company. She showed professionalism beyond her years when in the company of customers and saved all of her questions until they were alone. By then the sassy side of her came to the fore. She made him laugh with her black sense of humour, and then argued fearlessly when she disagreed with him. She would listen quietly as he told her about his personal life and then made him laugh when she recited hers. They ate together at restaurants and talked at the bar afterwards before retiring to their own accommodation. Julia was an observant person and took in the familiarity and the casual flirting of the females at both of the motels they stopped at, they obviously liked Stevie. His casual charm seemed to stretch far and wide.
It was hard to know when the sex thing started, it was probably on the third day when Julia was thumbing through a magazine she'd purchased at their last stop. She'd stopped at a series of pictures of catwalk models and glared down at the page.
"Bitches." she murmured loud enough to cause Stevie to glance across at the page.
"You wouldn't like look like that would you?" he asked while turning his eyes towards the road.
She laughed, "I'd kill to have a figure like that."
"Dunno why, they're too skinny. They hold no appeal for me. I reckon most men like to have a bit of meat on their women."
"You mean they've got have big tits to be appealing?"
Stevie laughed, "Nah, I mean curvy all over, tits legs and bums."
"Like me, but with tits?" she suggested cheekily.
"Dunno really. Wanting to avoid any exposure to a sexual harassment charge, I haven't taken the time to visually explore your likely womanly figure."
Julia threw her head back and laughed, "Nice try but it won't work. I've noticed the odd furtive glance."
He grinned, "Yeah, but being aged and with poor eyesight, it doesn't count for anything."
"See, you've lost the plot just like every other man I know. You just don't get it. Women like men looking at them. I don't dress nicely and put makeup on every day just to get ignored."
"I thought that was for your husband."
"Nah, he sees the real me every day. Can't fool him, he's used to the flabby bits. So, what about you, I know you've got kids, what happened to the wife?"
"Lost her some years back in an accident." he said.
Her face dropped, "Oh shit, sorry. I was looking for some sort of mucky divorce or something."
"That's okay. It was just one of those things I guess."
"So, no one new in your life?"
"Not really; there's been one or two serious ones but nothing came out of it, now its just casual relationships."
Julia smiled, "Somehow I think you're just being a little coy."
"What makes you say that?"
"Just women's intuition. Observing the way you act around the opposite sex and how they interact with you, you've got a way about you that women like. There's plenty of time to meet someone and settle down again. And maybe a few more kids." she added.
He pulled a disapproving face, "Too late for the kids, I've been neutered and got the scar to prove it."
She laughed. "Too much information I think."
They chatted aimlessly as they ate up the miles, after a lunch stop, Julia immersed herself in her magazine in a comfortable silence. Then she put the magazine down and gazed out the window.
"Do you mind if I ask a personal question?" she asked.
"How personal?"
"Well pretty personal requiring a truthful answer. Have you slept with many women?"
He looked around at smiling face and turned his attention to the winding road without answering.
"Well, answer the question."
"You don't wanna know."
"Yes I do, and for a good reason. It'll become clear, I promise."
He hesitated before answering, "More than a few."
"Is that more than five, ten or twenty?"
"Lets say twenty."
"Okay, here's the next question. "How many would you say enjoyed sex?"
Stevie laughed, "Most of them I hope."
"No, seriously, how many?"
"All of them were consensual. But I reckon they all did, maybe some more than others. What's this about anyway?"
