She had been really worried at first, but the phone call she just got on her cell phone had put her at ease now. A warm feeling of relief overwhelmed her as she drove down the wet rainy road. She had been traveling for hours now and it was about time to pull over and find a nice hotel with a warm comfortable bed she could climb into. She had hoped to drive straight through, but now that the emergency had passed she needed to stop for awhile. And she was looking forward to a hot shower and to change out of her t-shirt and shorts. She had always traveled in t-shirts and shorts for the comfort but always limited her public stops since no bra was also part of the usual traveling wardrobe.
She saw a dim light in the distance and hoped that was a hotel with vacancies. As she approached, she recognized it as such and pulled in. It was one of those chain hotels with bargain basement prices, just low enough to not afford awnings for late night customers to use in the rain. She parked as close as she could to the main office but was still some twenty yards away. She exited her car and ran across the parking lot to the swinging doors of the office. Water splashing with each step she took, it seemed an eternity. As she entered the office, she was dripping water from every part of her body.
Looking up at the young desk clerk behind the counter, "Some rain isn't it?". She noticed he couldn't have been more than twenty-five or so. Handsome in an odd way, but friendly and that is all she cared about now.
"Yes Mam. Been going like that for hours." he replied and reached under the counter and produced a white linen towel.
Taking the towel and realizing that her white t-shirt and shorts had become quite transparent from the rain, she blushed and thanked the young man. She quickly wrapped the towel around her and advanced to the counter. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly asked for a room and proceeded to check in.
"And if you need anything," the clerk said as he dangled the keys almost teasingly, "and I do mean anything. You just let Chris know. OK?".
Stunned, she grasped the keys and quickly made her way to the elevator. As she approached the stainless steel elevator doors, she noticed the clerk, Chris watching her to the elevator. When the door opened, she stole a quick glance over her shoulder upon entering and could still see his admiring gazes.
Feeling flattered, and half laughing it off, she spoke aloud, "Rita, he is young enough to be your kid." She watched as the floor number lit up for the second floor and heard the ding as the doors opened.
The doors opened and a long hallway with doors on each side stretched in front of her. She looked at the room key and saw her room was 216. She walked down the corridor and checking doors and finally found hers and entered.
She quickly stripped out of her t-shirt, shorts, and panties and got into the shower. She stood under the warm water and sighed loudly as if the water was washing away the stress from that day. They had called this morning saying her sister was in the hospital so she had started the day in a panic. But with the earlier call, she knew her sister was stable and would be ok. But she still wanted to continue the trip home for a visit anyway. She hadn't been back home in several years, work and children always kept her from going back as often as she would have wanted. But today was different. The children were being supervised by their father who had taken a couple days off work. They would enjoy the next couple of days and Rita knew she would relish in the relinquishing of responsibility.
Looking at the night table, she saw the complimentary alarm clock had nine o'clock. The night was early and since she was dressed so casually on the road, she had not stopped for dinner. She picked up the phone and instantly heard the clerk, Chris from downstairs.
"Yes, Mam. I was hoping you would call." he relayed in an energetic yet cocky tone.
"I was wondering if there was any restaurants open this late in town?"
"Well, the hotel bar serves some items, but I don't know if you would call that food..." he said in a joking manner.
"That will have to do, where is the bar, I didn't see it on my way in?" Rita asked.
"There is a hallway past the desk, come down and I will walk you back there." he offered.
Rita took a minute to check herself in the mirror. She paused for a moment and wondered if she was just making sure she was presentable or was she making sure she looked attractive for the young clerk. She laughed at the thought. She had been a dedicated mother and wife for twenty years and never had even thought of an affair. She gathered her purse and made her way down to the lobby.
The elevator door opened and Chris was amazed at the woman he saw standing there. She wore simple blue jeans but they were quite tight fitting and her shirt was a low cut blouse with a hint of cleavage. He cleared his throat and approached Rita as she exited the elevator.
"Wow. You look wonderful." he said unabashed.
"Oh stop. I know you are just flattering an old woman. But thank you though."
"No Mam," Chris relayed with a glint in his eye, "I am serious, you are very beautiful."
"Well thank you," Rita retorted as her face began to flush showing her embarrassment.
"Oh, the bar is this way." he pointed down the hall and extended his arm to escort her as a gentleman would.
Taking his arm, Rita followed him down a long corridor past the laundry room and the indoor pool. All the while, Chris was giving her the tour and pointing out the various rooms and features of the hotel.
Once they entered the stained glass doors, she could see a long dimly lit bar stretching the length of the small club. She could see a couple of tables and a couple of pool tables. By all appearances, it could have been anyone's small home town bar. She nodded her approval and Chris excused himself back to his desk. As Rita entered, she could see there was only one or two couples and a few odd men scattered about. Obviously the rain was hurting the normal patronage. But she was here to eat, not socialize. She took a seat in the middle of the room length bar.
"Can I help you honey?" came the voice of the lady behind the bar. She was a lovely woman probably in her early thirties and wearing a black tank top with a mini skirt. She had blonde hair, but not naturally, and green eyes and she was medium build.
"What do you have to eat here?" came Rita's inquiry.
The bartender turned and provided her with a small cocktail napkin sized menu. Most of the items appeared to be things that they possibly just microwaved straight out of the freezer. But she was starved and ordered a sandwich and since she was relishing in being child and husband free, she added a Rum and Coke. A few minutes later, the bartender returned with a sandwich and potato chips and her drink. Rita did not normally drink anything except the occasional glass of wine. But after the drama of the day and then the relief, she felt she deserved something.
She enjoyed her sandwich as she looked around at the bar in the mirror behind the bartender. From this vantage point, she could see the young couple dancing to the canned music that was piped in. Another couple, closer to middle age, sat in a booth and was whispering to each other. She could see a couple of businessmen apparently having several too many drinks. And another young man at the far end of the bar that was simply looking around the room. She noticed his rugged chin and once when they had made eye contact, she noticed his white smile. She finished her Rum and Coke and the bartender was already there with her replacement.
She continued to listen to the music, they were now piping in 80s music and she simply loved hearing those old songs of her younger days. She had several more drinks and was feeling quite relaxed. She apparently had begun swaying to the music on the barstool and had almost lost her balance several times.
"Would you like to dance?" she heard a deep voice from behind her.
She looked up in the mirror quickly and saw the man that had been at the end of the bar was now standing behind her smiling at her in the mirror.
"Why not?" she said as she turned and stood up. As she came to her feet, she had staggered a bit and the man caught her. She could feel his strong arms and she gazed up into his dark eyes and smiled. They walked to a small clearing and began to dance. The song was a slow one but Rita could not quite place the name, though she had heard it before. As they danced, she could feel that he had large arms and chest. He seemed to be in great shape and her mind danced around images of him without clothes. The song ended and they returned to her drink at the bar. The bartender had moved the man's drink to the seat next to Rita's. They sat down and after a moment Rita broke the silence.
"So, what is your name."
"James, James Dannon, but my friends call me JD." the man said as he took a drink from what appeared to be scotch.
