Daphne Rogers watched Henry Miller as he stretched outside their family pool. His youthful body, a warm chocolate brown, glistened in the Morning light. Not yet overly defined, it held a strength that was obvious only when he was naked. Or in this case, clad only in a loose pair of swim trunks. Bending over to touch his toes always gave her a perfect view of his firm butt and slightly toned legs. Licking her lips, Daphne silently closed the blinds to her bedroom and sank down onto her chair... and cried.
Henry felt it. She was crying again. Closing his eyes, Henry forced himself to choke down the rising warmth he wanted to share with her. Daphne was a bright and intelligent woman. Her crystal blue eyes always shone brightly. There was always a smile on her full lips. He'd never heard one ill word from her or about her. So why was she always alone? Where was the man... or woman... who held her tenderly? Finished, he turned towards a slight sound. It was almost natural. Almost. A smile graced his lips as his father approached.
"She's crying again, son."
"I know. I wish there was something I could do."
"You mean besides teasing the ever lovin' hell out of her."
"Me? Dad..."
"Son I know something about women. Look at her sideways sometime and you'll see it. Remember how I taught you? Anyway... you have a phone call. Jessica."
"Shit," grumbled Henry. "Never should have taken her out last week."
"Lesson learned. Now comes the hard part... and the knowledge and understanding that comes if you're patient and open minded enough. Talk to Jessica then drop by Miss Rogers."
* * * *
The conversation with Jessica went better than he expected. He was still amazed at the power of truth to shatter lives even as it healed the wounds it made. Their date did not mean he loved her. It was cold knowledge, but in the end she saw that it was much better to have a friend than a Sunday Lover. That finished, he returned to the pool.
Daphne, eyes now dry, returned to her perch. Henry was there, but something was different. His movements were... tense. He was on edge. Then, with agonizing slowness, he rose. Standing absolutely motionless, he looked like some ancient Egyptian God surveying the Earth. Then his head lowered, and he bounced into his home. Happy. Her head cocked to one side, and then she turned and began getting dressed for the day.
She chose a deep blue sundress to hide her rolls. She hated being fat, but no diet had yet helped her in her life long battle. Sans makeup, she walked downstairs to the livingroom. The doorbell rang as soon as her foot hit the hardwood floor. She opened the door, surprised that Henry was on the other side.
"Hi, Miss Rogers. I was wondering if you'd like to join me at our pool for today."
"I don't have a bathing suit. And if I did, I wouldn't want to scare you with this old, flabby body."
"The bathing suit isn't a problem. And I think you're attractive. Besides... it's a sunny day. No one should be inside. See you in ten minutes?"
She wanted to say no. The look in his soft brown eyes... warm, caring... and lustful? She found his impish smile contagious, and was soon chuckling softly. "So I'm going skinny dipping with a teenager? What would your parents say?"
"They'd say I was flirting with a beautiful woman and give me shit about it. That's about it. Seriously... I don't care if you go naked. No one other than you has a view inside the pool area. C'mon. Please?"
"And what do you get out of this, young man?" she said jokingly.
"Aside from looking at a beautiful woman naked? Well... I get to know that same beautiful woman in the process of ogling her body." He laughed heartily. She joined him, her heart pounding beneath her heaving chest.
"I see I don't have a choice. Ten minutes. And mind your manners; I am an old woman."
"You're only as old as you think. Ten minutes, Miss Rogers."
"Daphne. Call me Daphne."
