Careful not to appear too anxious, Sam waited two days to call Cass. He tried to sound calm after she said hello, but his voice came out shaky instead.
"Why'd you wait so long?" she asked. "I gave you my number."
"It's not that," Sam answered. "I'm widowed, you see. Haven't been with someone since my wife died."
"I'm so sorry, baby. How long ago?"
"Eight months, but I knew it was coming." Sam's voice had recovered. She'd put him on steady ground. "She got really sick, but the doc found out too late."
"Oh my, no wonder you sounded so nervous. You seemed pretty calm 'round your friend at the bar. "
"Oh yeah, Joey. We go way back. Quite a place he has, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but I'd rather go somewhere more private," Cass answered. "Since you haven't been with a woman for a while."
Sam took a short breath. "Yeah, me too." What do you have in mind?"
Cass gave him the hotel and room where she was staying. "It's the Premier Suite, top of the place. I plan to be here for a little while."
Sam went through the rest of his day carrying about his business. Fords always sold briskly. Most buyers already knew what they wanted, but he had the rare one who'd dared to look at a Chevy and challenge him to lower his price. Occasionally, he'd relent and drop the price a few bucks, if he had that sixth sense the customer would come back when the time came for a new car. He'd done that once today with a young couple who'd put money down. But twice more he said 'no'. The buyers tried to talk him down too much. "Go buy the Chevy, " he told them. "Put the money in the mechanic's pocket," he said as he shook their hand at the door. However, while his grip was firm, he was nervous inside.
The nervousness continued as he drove to Cass's hotel. His foot did a soft jig on the elevator floor as he watched the arrow slowly point to the top floor. When he reached the Premier Suite, he knocked on the door. His heart beat faster as he heard footsteps approach from the other side.
Cass opened the door. "Hey baby, C'mon in," she said, licking her lips.
Sam's heart beat faster as he looked down first. She wore a low-cut blue silk top and a very short skirt that stopped just above her knees.