It was cold and windy as Jim hurried down the steps from the Ell.
He unlocked his car and was backing out when he heard her screaming.
"Fucking Japanese junk," She shouted.
Jim stopped his car and drove back into the parking space beside her car.
Jim recognized her as a regular commuter but had not really met her, except for a nod or a smile in passing.
"What is wrong?" Jim asked as she continued swearing and kicking at the tires.
She turned toward him with venom in her eyes.
"This piece of junk won't even turn over," she shot caustically.
Jim walked around his car to hers, the icy snow crunching under his feet.
"Let me try," he insisted with a smile.
She stepped aside and allowed him access to the car.
"The fucking thing is junk and won't even turn over," she said as Jim twisted the key in the ignition.
He frowned. "It seems your battery is dead," he said gently.
"No fucking kidding," she sneered.
Jim recoiled slightly at her remarks. He wondered how such a beautiful woman could be so angry.
She saw his reaction and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry," she said but her words were still full of rancor. "I have had a bad day and this tops it off."
Jim stood beside her. "Let me help you." He released the hood with a snap and opened it. He could see the battery had a huge hole in the side and frozen water was hanging on the tray.
Jim unlocked the trunk of his BMW and lifted a small toolbox. He quickly selected some wrenches and removed the battery from her car.
"There is an Advantage Car Parts store a few blocks down the road. I would be glad to take you there and you can buy a new battery. You will need this one to trade in," he said as he put the tools and battery into his trunk.
She shivered slightly and moved into the BMW.
Jim turned the heater onto high and backed out of the parking space.
He smiled at her as he gunned the BMW into the traffic.
"I am Jim Mansfield," he said glancing away from the snow covered road toward her.
"And I am a bitch," she said softly. "I am Dona Winston," she continued. "I am sorry for my actions," she said sincerely.
Jim laughed. "I would have been much worse," he said allaying her anger.
He grinned when she smiled. "Now that is much better," he said. "You are much too pretty to frown like you were."
She blushed and looked down at her feet. Her dress had ridden up and the beginning of her thighs were in view.
She caught Jim looking but didn't try to adjust her skirt.
"You are quite nice," she said. "I don't know much about cars except to put gas in them and guide them down the road," she said shyly.
Jim had seen her every day for over a month. She seemed to always be smiling. Her long, jet, black hair fell below her shoulders and her button nose adorned her face. She had deep dimples in her cheeks. She was about five feet six inches tall and very curvaceous. Her legs were tapering and carried her elegantly. Most of all she was endowed with huge breasts. They seemed too large for her thin waist to carry. She was extremely attractive to say the least.
They had ridden in the same train, coming and going, for at least a month but Jim had never had the courage to talk to her.
He sat silently, trying to find something to say to her. After 3 blocks of silence, he spotted the parts store and wheeled into the parking lot.
He carried the battery into the store and the clerk found a replacement.
Dona stood at the cash register and waited until they returned. "He sure is handsome," she thought.
Jim was just over six feet tall and well built. His broad shoulders were muscular from his daily workouts and his abs rippled tightly and his arms were strong and muscular. He carried the battery without effort. His smile always lifted her when she was in a low mood. She too had often wanted to talk to him but never summoned the courage.
Jim sat the battery down by the register.
"$43.78 including tax," the cashier said.
Dona looked down at the floor. Her face turned ashen. "Oh god," she breathed deeply. "My purse is in the car back at the lot."
Jim began to laugh. "Allow me," he said and handed the cashier a fifty dollar bill.
Dona's face turned crimson. "I - You - I am so embarrassed," she exclaimed as they hurried out into the softly falling snow.
Jim smiled at her embarrassment. "You can reimburse me later," he said in a cheery voice.
Dona smiled and nodded her agreement. "I will give you the money as soon as we get back to the car."
The road was getting bad and he nearly missed the turn into the lot. He was distracted somewhat by the amount of thigh that was exposed again.
"How far away do you live?" he asked as he tightened the last bolt in place.
"Not far," she said. "133 West Van Buren Avenue."
Jim began to laugh aloud. "We are neighbors. I live at 243 West Van Buren," he said, grinning widely.
Dona felt her heart jump at the disclosure. Her smile widened and she felt a sudden stirring in her stomach.
"We sure are," she managed to stammer. She was not sure just why she felt so enamored by this man but--.
"I will follow you in case you have anymore problems," he said grinning. "Sometimes a new battery is not fully charged."
Dona shook her head affirmatively and twisted the key in the ignition. The car roared to life. She watched in the mirror as Jim followed her down the now very slippery street. She turned into her drive and watched reluctantly as Jim's BMW eased slowly by.
"See you tomorrow!" he shouted above the noise of the engines.
Dona felt that same stirring in her stomach as she watched Jim disappear into the driving snow.
She was met at the door by Bryan, her husband.
"I was getting worried," he said as she hung up her damp coat.
"I had trouble with the car. The battery was busted and a very nice man took me to get a new one." She stopped short. "Damn! I forgot to pay him."
Bryan looked confused.
Dona explained the preceding events except for the feelings she had experienced.
Bryan sighed. "Dumb broad," he whispered to himself.
Dona heard his comment but let it pass. She was to fascinated by her new friend to argue with Bryan.
She searched the phone book for Jim's number. When she found the number, she dialed it.