“I’ve been waiting for you to notice me at some point.I’ve loved you all my life, Wylie Pennington, and am so glad that we’ve been able to get together.”He kissed her again and started the car.She forgot that they had to drive home now and wasn’t looking forward to it.But he made her laugh, and that’s all she wanted right now.“I do want you to come into my house.Damn the neighborhood.I’m a grown-assed woman who knows what she wants out of life.And you’re it.It might not last forever, but I’ll take what I can get from you.What do you say?”
“I love the way your mind works.”They talked about their childhood on the way home.Wylie remembered a great deal about her as a child, and she’d been embarrassed about some of it, like the time he’d caught her watching him play basketball with his brothers.He and Raphael had gotten into a fight, and she’d defended him.“I never lived that down all summer.I always thought of you as a pest.You were sort of the way you hung around us all the time.I’m just glad that we were able to temper our language when you were around.There is no telling what your mom would have said about us with you hanging around us all the time.”
“I think she knew that I had this crush on you from about third grade.You were so tall then, and I remember thinking that if I were to ever get to kiss you, I’d need a ladder.”They both laughed and were almost home.“My mom would be all right with you staying the night with me.She’d wonder why it took you so long.”
It was still early when he got her home.Every one of her neighbors was out on their front porches enjoying the evening air.So Wylie took her up to her door, kissed her goodnight, and left her there.So much for being a grown-assed woman, she thought as she went indoors all alone.
Chapter 2
Wylie was enjoying the classes.He was ready to invest in something online so that he could double his money.Laughing to himself, he thought that he’d more than likely lose his shirt than double his cash.But he was enjoying learning how to invest his money in things and get a profit from it.Now all he had to do was watch one of the many investment portfolios that he’d been told about and decide how much he wanted to put towards it.He wondered if he’d be ready for something like that.
“I’ve been watching two of the ones we were told about.I’m going to buy shares so that I can get started.”He asked Kinsey if he was ready to do that.“I don’t know why not.We’ve been taking classes for a month and a half now.We’d better be doing something with our money.Plus, I’ve been getting with David, and he’s told me several things that he is watching.I know what that means, but I’m still nervous about putting some money on something that’s not a sure thing.But we have to start someplace.”
“I agree.Just where?”The six of them had been taking classes on how to be wealthy for two months.Some of them had to do with investments, others were a simple thing like learning to have a conversation with wealthy people.That part wasn’t so hard, but he still didn’t know how to start a conversation with someone yet.He was better at talking about how poor he’d been.But no one wanted to hear that.“I feel like I’m not getting anything from these classes.What about you?”
“I’m learning a great deal.Have I used it yet is the question.I’ve not, in the event you were going to ask me.I’ve not found myself in a situation where I might have to talk about stocks.I think I can hold my own, but that’s not saying much.Also, the class we had on eating in a formal setting was helpful.I would have screwed that up badly had I had to eat with all that silverware.”They’d been teasing one another for the past several days.“I still don’t know what to eat my ice cream with.Last night I ate it standing in front of the fridge, right out of the container.And the ice cream didn’t care that I was barefooted too.”
“It’s like we’re taking classes for dummies.I know how to eat a meal when I want one; it’s not embarrassing myself that gets me.How the hell can I avoid eating with a bunch of people I don’t know so that I can eat with my forks I know and understand?”Kinsey agreed with him, going so far as to say that he’d just as soon eat at home, too, the food was too odd.“When they say we’re having tiny plates, I expected them to bring out a tray of them for each of us.I can’t be that hungry again and not have some food in my belly.I’m eating before I go out to dinner so that I don’t sit there with my belly growling all the time.Meggie teases me, but she agrees that we should have a meal before going to dinner with some of these people.I think she’s learning how not to eat as well.”
They’d been having fun at the eating classes.The woman who was helping them was a Dame.Her house was large enough to accommodate them all, and she was helping them, but she would get frustrated too with how very little they were able to use the things that they were learning.She said she was going to have to have a party just so she could see how well her teachings had worked.Wylie didn’t know what he’d do if he had to eat and talk at the same time.He was the most nervous of all of them about screwing up things.
He really didn’t think that he would.He’d been paying attention in the classes, but he did enjoy the wine tasting parties that he’d been to.They were kind of fun in that everyone drank enough to get lightheaded, then they’d talk about how much the wine would go with certain foods.He’d had a cheeseburger the other night and wine to go with it.Yes, he was having fun in the classes like the rest of them were.
Walking into town when the classes were over, he’d have a bit to eat at the Dairy Mart in town.The food wasn’t the greatest, but it was warm and filling.He was having himself a hot chicken sandwichwhen Bodi sat down next to him.He asked him what was going on.
“I’ve been looking at houses, and I’m going to build.Once I find a house that I like, I walk through it again after seeing it the first time, trying to imagine myself living in it.Most of the time, the kitchens need to be redone badly, and I don’t care for the carpet that is in most of the rooms.Especially one with a fireplace.Have you ever noticed how there are burn marks on the carpet in front of the fireplace?Some of them are really bad, too.Like they tried to set the house on fire.”He told him he’d never noticed that before.“I notice all kinds of things.I’ve been through David’s house several times a day just to see how the construction is going, and it’s wonderful to see a home go up from just a few boards in the ground to a large house.And his house is going to be large too when it’s finished.”
When Bodi ordered too, the two of them sat waiting for their food, talking about how Kinsey and Meggie were living in the most perfect house.How the kitchen is now up to date, and they love everything about it.
“I’d love to have a house ready-made for me.I have been looking at blueprints.It’s taken me some time to figure out how to read them, but I think I’m getting it now.Have you gotten that far in building a home?”He said that he’d not, but he would like to learn.“I can help you.I’ve been speaking with the construction crew at David’s house, and they’ve been really nice in giving me advice.Some of the things that David is having put in his house are warmed floors for the winter months.I love that idea.”
“I like that too.Warm floors are something that I could get used to.And a towel warmer.I’ve seen those online when I’m looking at houses.You should have a large bathroom too, Wylie.One that has several shower sprays so it hits you everywhere.”They talked about silly things they wanted in their homes when their food was ready.
They ate in comfortable silence for a little while and enjoyed each other’s company too.Bodi was someone who didn’t have to be talking all the time, and Wylie loved that about him.When they finished eating, they talked about staff.It was something that no one had spoken to them about, but Kinsey had.They weren’t in the way or anything and seemed to make the house seem cleaner all the time.
“I think I’d like to have someone come in and dust all the time.Also a cook.”They agreed on the cook but not the dusting part.“Have you seen a speck of dust anywhere in their home?I mean, not even any dust bunnies under the bed when I lose a sock.And having the laundry done up by someone surely does make it better for us having to do it.I know you have to pay for all that stuff, but they surely do make things easier for you.”
“But Meggie was used to that sort of thing before, and she works some.I bet she likes coming home to a clean house every day.I know that I would if I were her.”They did agree on that.Meggie was good at being wealthy.“I’ve learned a lot from her, too.All kidding aside.She is good at having a meal with all of us, but I watch what she does when she’s finished.You can’t teach that to new wealth.That comes from having someone drill it into your head from being an infant.”
They spoke about having dinner parties and going to them.He didn’t think that Rosie would enjoy going to a dinner party with him.He knew that he was stiff at them, and it wouldn’t be fair of him to invite her to something that he didn’t care for.However, she might make it fun, he thought.He’d love to see her all dressed up again.Almost as if she knew he was thinking about her, she pulled up in front of the little diner in her cruiser.She’d been looking for Bodi.
“Did you quit working for Ralph’s gas station the other day, Bodi?”He said that he’d given him a month’s notice and had worked that and beyond.“He’s telling people that you got too good to work for him and now you’re planning on opening a gas station to run him out of business.I don’t care one way or the other, but there is some powerful meanness coming out of some of the people who believe him.”
“Why would I do that to him?He’s a good guy.I just got tired of working all the time, and he was not looking for anyone to replace me.I have things I have to do now.”She said that she believed him but wanted to give him a heads-up.“Thanks for that.But I have no intentions of owning anothergas station.As far as I can see, Ralph’s is a good place to get some work done on your car and fill it up, too.If you see anyone or they ask, I’m not going to be doing anything like that.”
“I understand.He’s just lonely without you there all the time.”Bodi said he could understand that, too, as he didn’t have much in the way of business.“I just wanted to let you know about what’s being said.No problem from me if you were, but he’s got it in his head that he’s going to be run out of business by you, and that’s what he’s saying.”
“I’ll talk to him again.I had to quit working because he was leaving me there all the time.I really do have other things that I have to do.”Rosie said that she believed him and would spread the word around, too.“Thanks, Rosie.Sometimes I don’t know what this town would do without you hanging around.You sure can nip a rumor in the bud when it comes up.Can’t you?”
“It’s my job to keep the peace.”She looked at him and winked.“How about a second date, Wylie?I’ve been thinking of that new Mexican place in Zanesville.We could go there and get some food and have a picnic.”
“I’d love that.Tomorrow night, all right?Bodi and I were just talking about having dinner tonight together.”Bodi said that he could eat some Mexican food with them, and Rosie rolled her eyes.Apparently, Bodi was thick-headed because he was making plans to go with them tonight.He’d have to have a talk with his little brother.“Bodi, she asked me out, not you.You and I can go out tonight, but I’m saving myself for the pretty officer for tomorrow night.”
“I see how you are.You don’t want me messing with your date.”Bodi laughed.“I get it.I wouldn’t want a third wheel around either if I were dating a pretty lady, officer or not.”Bodi got up to take the trash away, leaving the two of them alone.
“Are we really going to have Mexican?”Rosie said they were going to pick some up and have it at her house.They could do whatever he wanted after that.“Anything?I mean, that leaves a lot open for me.I could use some more foot massages.Or whatever else you need.I’ve been thinking a great deal about you.”
“I have you too.I want to see you again if you don’t mind.The first date was just a teaser, I believe.We can have some fun watching a movie and eating, then you could stay the night.I’m not kidding when I tell you, you’ve been in my thoughts a great deal lately.”He had to adjust his cock again for the hundredth time since he had been out with her.She was all he thought about as well.“Well, I have to go.I’ll see you tomorrow night.I’ll get with you on what I want to eat from there.They’ve brought in some menus that we can use, and I think that will be the way to go for us.Just bring it to my house, and I’ll have drinks.”
