Thom shook his head no, taking another moment to allow the situation growing between them to settle.He took a braid into his hand, realizing it wasn’t her actual hair.Then he looked at the lips.Gently, he kissed her again, desiring more than anything to take her to his bed, but this wasn’t how he wanted them to start the journey together.
“When you leave here, I want you to call me to let me know you've arrived home safely.I'll wait until later on Wednesday to text, asking to see you again.You'll wait until Thursday morning to reply, then Thursday afternoon, I'll call and let you know I'm arriving in Chicago around six on Friday and ask if you wish to meet for dinner.”
“Where to meet me for dinner?”
“Yes, your favorite spot for cocktails and apps or the restaurant you love but never like to go there alone,” he said.“I'm at the restaurant when you arrive, in a suit, with flowers, looking at you like I'm going to devour you whole.After dinner, we head to your place.I pretend I'm interested in the train engines you've collected, all the while working our way to your bedroom.”
“My bedroom,” Mae said, staring at the mouth she wanted on her boobies.
“Yes, I will have with me my weekender because I'm staying all weekend, Mae, to love you properly,” he said.“Saturday night, maybe we go dance, do a little stepping, perhaps some karaoke, and I get up and impress the folks who didn't think an average looking white boy like me has any pipes, then we come back to your place, and well, my pipe goes to work again.”
He began to laugh along with Mae.“Intentional, Baby.I move with intent.I'm not a jump-off, or a one-nighter, and I'm letting you know that.When I come to Chicago this weekend, I'm staying all weekend, and when I leave, you might need to start thinking about how we're going to work this out for the long haul.”
Thom got to his feet, his hands under her bottom as he held Mae.He kissed her again before placing her on her feet.She sighed heavily, running her hand across the pipe he’d referenced, saddened there would be a waiting period, but she liked this man.She liked him a great deal.
“It has been a hell of a long day, Mae, and I am tired,” he said.“I placed fresh towels on the end of the guest bed.I shall see you in the morning.Rest well.”
“Rest well,” she parroted, watching his strong back walk down the hall.In the guest room, she looked about the beige walls, noting the room was as bland as the rest of the house.
She listened to the lock engage on his bedroom door, realizing the man was serious.Mae Weston had thrown herself at him and he had turned her down.He had turned her down after singing to her and turning her up; now she was all alone and sad.She was also horny as a road lizard, which made Mae feel off centered.
“This entire house feels off,” she said, going to the kitchen.
She checked the cabinets, and there was a full set of dishes to serve 12.Under the cabinets were full sets of cook and bakeware, plus the Butler's pantry.He’d either built the home for a family and woman who enjoyed cooking or for himself since he also seemed to enjoy cooking.The wines were of excellent quality, as if he were collecting them as well.
Mae made her way down the hall where there was another bedroom, but in the back of the home, she found another room.The door wasn't locked and she opened it, letting herself inside.She flicked on the light, and her breath caught.This was Thom Brown.
A wide mahogany desk sat in the corner.Floor-to-ceiling shelves, complete with a rolling ladder for access to the higher storage areas, were evenly spaced with books, albums and musical CDs.His guitar sat on a stand near a bench seat.The trumpet rested next to a worn-out armchair, which sat next to a small table where a doily rested with a circular stain from his tea mug.She walked to the shelves, spotting the Grammy award.She peered at it, and true enough, his name was on the award for “Overdressed Toads” as a featured artist onShitty Blues.
“Well damn,” she said.“A lady needs to be a bit more intentional with you, Mr.Brown.He sings.He mentioned stepping.I guess I need to prepare a nice weekend to spend with my new man.”
She turned off the light and exited his private space.Mae Weston needed time to think.
****
MEGAN DOOTCH SAT ONthe porch of the small home, which turned out to be nicer than the home she’d left in South Dakota.The Jiminy guy didn't seem like a creep as he brought in a twin bed frame with a mattress.He cut away the wrapper and the mattress began to inflate from the foam compression.Next, he returned with a dolly, pushing a perfectly sized love seat.
“Thank you so much.”She told him, feeling her face get warm.“As soon as I get operational, I will start paying rent.We do need to come to terms on that pretty soon so there are no misunderstandings.”
“There are no misunderstandings, Ms.Dootch,” Jiminy said.“I'll draw up a contract giving you four month's free rent, then we will go a thousand a month, considering I'm providing water and power.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“Let me help you begin unloading your camper,” he said to her.
“No, I got it,” she said, feeling her tummy rumble.
A man wearing an apron appeared at the side of Jiminy's home.He pulled behind him a wagon loaded with bags.His eyes searched the two people, resting on Megan.
“I have a grocery delivery here,” he said, bringing the little red wagon forward.
Megan pointed him to the tiny house, looking at Jiminy, who shook his head no.Thom Brown did this.Although he’d rejected her as his woman, he kept his word on wanting to be her friend.The grocery bags were a truly friendly gesture.
Jiminy reminded her about the wood stash for the fireplace in the home, warning of spiders in the stacks.In the home, she put away the groceries, grateful for Thom and Jiminy and not having to return to South Dakota with her tail between her legs.
“I can do this,” she said, feeling better as she opened a can of chicken and made a quick chicken salad.“I've got this.”
