After a Broken Heart

"My wife would have needed at least thirty."

"Thirty would be nice."

"Deal."

"You are a lawyer, aren't you?" she kidded.

I laughed and headed to the kitchen. When Kim joined me, I was taken aback - not that I hadn't noticed how attractive she was before, I guess I just hadn't taken it in yet, but she was, is lovely.

At close to 5'-9" and maybe 125-130 pounds, she is tall and slender, but not skinny. The blouse and slacks ensemble she was wearing showed a nice figure - moderate-width shoulders, slightly narrow torso tapering to a narrow waist, with a moderate flair to her hips. The blouse was kind of billowy, loose-fitting, but hinted at a fairly full bosom, and she had an obviously flat tummy, and long slender legs. Her dark, curly to wavy hair was gathered in a scrunchy thing - whatever they're called, and her long locks hung over her right shoulder to below her bosom. Her large, dark eyes are deep and soulful, with long lashes; and her well-shaped, dark eyebrows frame them in a striking manner. Her long, oval face is perfectly complimented by a long, slender nose and medium-sized mouth with full lips - quite attractive. Her tawny, kind of latte complexion hints at some mix between African, Anglo and Hispanic or Mediterranean heritage - a lovely combination.

"Well, good morning. Looks like you've been busy," she greeted me.

"I was up early; needed to get some groceries, do a couple things...Oh I have a car coming for you. It should be here in about an hour."

"So they're delivering it here?"

"Oh, um, yes - our company's contracted service. You'll just fill out the paperwork when it arrives and you'll be set."

"Wonderful!"

"Told you I was a big deal," I kidded.

She grinned, "Well, Big Deal, what are we having?"

"I hope scrambles, country potatoes, bacon, toast and orange juice are okay. I haven't made coffee or tea yet..."

"Perfect, and coffee would be nice...Quite a spread; I guess you're not handicapped in the kitchen like some bachelors."

"No, I'm pretty handy in a kitchen. We can go coffee or espresso drinks."

"I'd love a latte."

"Know your way around a Nespresso machine?"

"I'm on it."

"There's the machine, pods underneath, and there's milk, half and half, and a vanilla dairy creamer in the fridge. Knock yourself out. I like half and half - no sweetener."

As the potatoes and the bacon were finishing, I got the eggs on while Kim finished setting the table and getting our drinks. It was kind of nice having company for a change, especially present company.

As we ate, Kim remarked, "You have a lovely home here."

"Thank you. We bought it when my company moved me here. The move came with a significant promotion, and a home purchase assistance program was one of the perks."

"So your wife didn't take the house in the divorce?"

"No, not even alimony, all amicable, so to speak. She was already with her husband to be, and he was very well off, so..."

"Oh, so she was already seeing someone?"

"After we separated, she started dating him. She swore they never consummated anything till after our separation, but I had my doubts."

"Sorry to hear that. My situation was a little different...We were married thirteen years, and I came home from a quarterly buyer's trip. My first night home, I found an earring in the bedroom. I was devastated. He swore it was the first time, that he gave into temptation with a woman from his office that had been after him. He said she showed up at the house the day after I left and he caved. She backed that story up later. Anyway, as I said, I could forgive, but I couldn't forget. I had to go on these buying trips, and I didn't trust him. It ate at me; it alienated him; drove a wedge between us. After two years, we called it quits."

"Children?"

"We couldn't have them. He had a fertility problem - low motility, and I had, have a problem. Even when I have managed to get pregnant, I've never made it past the first trimester."

"Sorry. Guess I shouldn't have pried."

She smiled and patted my hand, "No, it's fine. Actually, I'm pretty comfortable talking with you about this stuff."

"Ditto," I replied.

Right as we finished clean up, Kim's car showed up. After taking care of that, we returned to the kitchen nook and had another latte.

"Well, I need to find a hotel. So, Mr. Big Deal, where do you recommend in your 'neck of the woods'?"

"If you're comfortable here, why bother with a hotel? I'll give you a key and you can come and go as you need."

She grinned, "I was hoping you would say that. This is very comfortable, and far better than any hotel. But are you sure I won't be an inconvenience?"

"I can't imagine how you could be," I remarked.

Kim responded with a sincere smile, "That's sweet, Brian."

"What's on your agenda for the rest of the day?" she asked.

"Nothing today; decompressing, recovering from jet lag. I might clean the pool and do some work in the back yard. If you'd like to get some sun, hang out on the patio..."

"Well, I didn't bring any clothes for that, you know, shorts, or anything."

"If you'd like, I could take you to a nearby mall. It was Dannie's 'go-to' with upscale shops."

"Dannie was your wife?"

"Yes, Danielle."

"If it's not too much trouble."

I suggested, "Well, why don't we go now. I'll take you to do some shopping and I'll run a couple more errands."

"Great."

We piled in my car and headed out. When we got to the mall, I dropped her off and ran my errands. By the time I was done and headed back to the mall, Kim called and said I could pick her up. After retrieving her, I picked up some deli sandwiches to take back to the house for lunch.

When we got home, I asked, "Do you want to eat on the veranda? It'll be a little warm, but I was going to go native - t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops."

"Yes, I'll go change, too; try on my new clothes."

I put on a t-shirt and swim trunks, and took iced tea and our sandwiches to the patio table, turned on the overhead fan, and waited for Kim. She joined me shortly, wearing a pale-yellow, sleeveless, lightweight blouse with matching shorts in a darker yellow. She had on a light-yellow, wide-brimmed, straw hat and matching sandals. The blouse revealed her full bosom, and the shorts revealed her stunning legs.

"What do you think?" she asked as she walked up.

"I think you look terrific, ready for the afternoon heat."

She smiled, removed her hat, and joined me at the table.

I couldn't help but comment on her long, tawny, nicely muscled legs.

"Those are some killer legs you have there, Kim."

She grinned, "Oh, I bet you say that to all your lady guests."

"Only the ones with killer legs."

"Well thank you. Um, speaking of legs, yours aren't so bad, either, very strong looking."

"I was a runner in school, and have kept up with it after a fashion. I get out and hit the bricks whenever I can."

"I like that. I mean, I like it when a man keeps in shape. My husband was very fit. But I know a lot of middle-aged men who start to let themselves go, especially those who are tied to office jobs."

"Yes, well, it's a fight. With all my travel, there is often not enough time to hit the gym or get my running in."

"Well, you look good," she remarked with a smile.

"Right back at ya. You know, I have to revise what I said about you being on television. I think you could have been a model."

She smiled, "Actually, that's how I got started, but with my big boobs, I was limited a little, and I didn't actually like it, so I got in the women's fashion end of things."

After our sandwiches, I got up and cleaned the pool. I have a pool cleaner robot, but the pool still requires some attention. Kim got a book and sat in the shade reading.

After a bit of work in the yard, I headed in and Kim joined me.

I brought up dinner arrangements, "How about we go out, tonight? And after dinner we can stop at the store, and I'll pick up some filets to grill for tomorrow."

"That sounds like a lovely idea. So what's on the menu for tonight?"

"Are you up for Mexican? There's a pretty good place not far."

"Sure, I'll try that."

"You've never had Mexican food?"

"No, I've had Cuban."

"That's different. Well if you're up for it, we'll go for fajitas and some fishbowl margaritas."

"I'm game," she answered, flashing her megawatt smile.

I told her I had to shower beforehand, and she concurred.

"Yes, I got a little sweaty out there. I'll join you."

"If you want to get to dinner anytime soon, we should shower separately," I joked.

She laughed, and playfully slapped my shoulder, "You know what I meant."

"Rats. I was afraid of that."

We showered, changed and went to the restaurant. I ordered top-shelf margaritas, in the 'fish bowl', schooner-type glasses. After our steak fajitas, we sat and had one more round, getting pretty silly, especially Kim.

"Brian, are you trying to get me drunk?"

"I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing."

"Too much of a gentleman?"

"We'll go with that," I smiled.

"I am enjoying your company. This is...a pleasant surprise," Kim revealed.

"Ditto; glad I 'ran' into you."

After dinner, we stopped by the store and bought fixings for grilling steaks on Monday, then headed home. I made espressos to help us counter the alcohol. After a pleasant evening, we retired to our rooms and I couldn't help but think about Kim. I was quite taken with her, and I felt the attraction was mutual. But I thought, "Don't get ahead of yourself, she lives in New York." Though I still wondered if perhaps there could be something there.

III. REVEALING ENCOUNTER

Monday, after breakfast, I headed to the office and left Kim to her run at her business. After a busy morning finishing up reports, I spent lunch locked in my office contemplating something that had been on my mind for a while - making a change in my employment. Kim called at one to tell me she wasn't meeting with the funeral home till Tuesday, and the attorney Wednesday morning.

"Brian, my attorney visit will conclude my business, so I need to arrange my return after that."

"When do you need to leave by?"

"Well, I talked to my boss, and she said it would be good if I could be back Thursday, so Wednesday afternoon or so, I guess. I hope I won't be in the way till then?"

"Of course not. I look forward to your company, and I'll get you a flight for Wednesday, if you like."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Do you know what time you will be home?"

"I'm wrapping things up here. I should be home by three."

"Oh good. I'll see you then," she replied, sounding pleased.

When I arrived home, I found Kim on the patio, sitting under the fan, sipping tea and reading. She was wearing an attractive, diaphanous kaftan done in light, pastel blues and yellows.

"Oh, you're home," she greeted me with a bright smile.

She looked great, and I knew enough to compliment her, "That's really lovely, Kim."

"Thank you. I had trouble finding something that worked, but I was happy with this...Um, Brian, I was thinking of braving your pool."

"Certainly. the water should be perfect. Go for it."

She hesitantly remarked, "Um, well, I have a small concern...I have a bathing suit on under this, but um, I'm a little nervous about, you know..."

"Oh, I gotcha. Well, I can't say I won't look; kind of impossible not to, but I will try not to stare," I kidded.

She chuckled, "Thank you. It's just that I couldn't find a tasteful one-piece. No one was carrying any in my size. Predictably, they were stocking one-pieces for larger women, so I had to go with a two-piece, a bikini," she finished, emphasizing 'bikini'.

"We're grownups, I think we can handle it. Um, tell you what, I wouldn't mind a dip myself. So, if you don't mind me joining you, I could go change while you get in the pool, and I'll bring us some chilled bottles of water."

She smiled, "Thank you, counselor, good solution. That will help."

I changed into trunks and a t-shirt, then returned with the water. Kim was doing a lap when I got back. I walked up to the edge and waited for her.

"Is it okay if I join you?"

"Oh, of course, and you were right; it is fabulous."

I pulled off my t-shirt and tossed it on a chaise. Kim gave a small wolf-whistle.

"Wow, counselor, nice physique," she grinned, looking up and shading her eyes.

"Okay, now who's gawking at whom, here?" I playfully groused.

"Sorry, but couldn't help it," she smiled, "You're looking pretty buff there, Big Deal."

I laughed and dove into the cool water, swam down the length of the pool and surfaced at the deep end. Kim swam down and joined me.

"You really have a nice place here. The grounds are lovely, all the trees, the pool of course, and your house is very well appointed, well decorated."

"That was Dannie. All that fell to her when we moved here. I was off and running before we even finished moving in."

"Well, she did a marvelous job," Kim remarked.

"Yes she did, at everything..." I paused, a little emotional.

Kim put a hand on my arm, "Brian, things happen the way they happen. We can't go back. I'm learning that. We just have to move forward, learn from the past. That's all we can do," she softly said, holding my eyes with her penetrating gaze.

Then, after looking at me for a moment, she questioned, "Um, Brian, you know, I can't figure out how old you are. Your history makes me think late forties to be where you are today, and with what you've gone through, but you look early to mid-thirties, except for the smattering of gray in your hair, and your body definitely looks younger."

"I'll be 42 in a couple months, and thank you for the compliment."

"You're 42? Damn, counselor, you look hot for...Sorry, I'm embarrassing you," she realized.

"Well, okay, now that you've embarrassed me, I'll do the forbidden and ask how old you are."

"I don't mind. But let's see if I can embarrass you a little more. How old do you think I am?"

"That's not fair, but okay...You said you were married thirteen years before that incident with your ex, then two years later, you divorced, and that was about a year ago..."

"You were listening."

I nodded and smiled, "Well, that means you should be between 34 and 37. I'll guess 35."

"How did you come up with that?"

"Well, first, without knowing anything, I would have guessed you to be early thirties, but figuring a marriage age of between eighteen and twenty-one, doing the math leads to those figures," I finished a bit smugly.

"How much you wanna bet you're wrong?" she grinned.

"I'm an attorney; I don't bet; I investigate, evaluate, then based on relevant facts, I surmise."

"Well, what if your one of your relevant facts is incorrect?"

"You mean how old when you were wed?"

"Yep."

"Yes, that would obviously affect the outcome, but it couldn't be by much. There is no way you're over 36...is there?"

She grinned, then gleefully exclaimed, "I'm 45!"

"No f...oops, I mean, no way!"

"Sorry, counselor, the court finds for the defendant!"

I laughed, "Well, I submit that the court was presented with misleading evidence, your honor."

"Misleading? How?" she asked, eyeing me.

"Well, you look way too hot to be 'that old'!" I kidded.

She smacked my arm, "I object, your honor!" then splashed me.

"The defendant is out of order! Splashing counsel is forbidden!" I joked.

She laughed, "Well, thank you. I was sort of fishing, but I'm glad you think I look that young. I also try to take care of myself."

"You're doing a heckuva job of it," I remarked, "But again, doing the math, I figure you were 29 or 30 when you married..."

"I was married before, my third year in college. It was a tumultuous relationship and we divorced after five years."

"Well I guess we both have plenty of history."

"Yes, and some of it, not the best," she lamented.

"Well, I think both your husbands were crazy for not hanging onto you," I commented, then blushed.

"Thank you, Brian. Um, I'm a little cool now. How about getting a little sun?" she asked.

"Good idea," I replied, and we went to exit the pool.

When we got to the steps, Kim paused, arms across her chest. I went ahead, got a towel and held it up for her as she exited, but I still got a look at her spectacular body. There was no way this woman could be 45 years old. Her long, svelte, but shapely body was quite fit. And her face was flawless, with only the slightest character lines.

Her tawny skin glistened with beads of water dripping in little rivulets down her subtle curves as she exited the water. I tried to be as casual as possible as I held the towel up, but I was quite affected by her beauty.

"Thank you," she smiled nervously, and quickly wrapped up, tucking the towel around her bosom.

I handed her another towel for her hair, and watched as she damp-dried her long mane. She laid the towel down and began to shyly untuck the other towel from around her bosom. I averted my eyes. After she toweled off, she spread the towel on the chaise lounge and stretched out. I couldn't help but notice her sleek, well-toned body next to me.

Gradually, the heat got to us as the afternoon sun blazed down, and we jointly rose to get in the pool again. When we stood, I took in Kim's body as she walked to the steps ahead of me.

The prominent muscles of her long sleek back led to the most perfectly rounded, firm derriere I think I ever laid eyes on. It was nicely cradled in a pastel blue panty that matched her kaftan coverup. It looked like it was painted on. She stopped at the edge of the pool and turned, momentarily facing me. Her full bosom filled her slightly narrow chest. The matching bikini bra cradled her large, plump breasts creating a dramatic cleavage and displaying them perfectly. I could make out the puffiness of her areolae and the thick points of her nipples through the fabric. Her narrow, flat stomach was lightly muscled with a small round navel, and her bikini panty rode high on her moderately-flared hips, dipping down to tastefully encase her pronounced vulva, obviously covered in a thick mound of pubic hair. I felt myself getting aroused, and had to divert my gaze from her body. I met her eyes. When I did, she gave me a coy, questioning look.

I smiled, "You are a stunningly beautiful creature, Kimberly."

She returned my smile, then turned and descended the steps into the water. I quickly followed to cover my growing erection, hoping the cool water would help. It gradually abated as we swam and lazed in the pool, cooling our bodies down. As we relaxed in the water, I decided to share with Kim what I had been thinking about; especially because meeting her, had prompted me to give it more consideration.

"Kim, I want to share something with you."

"Yes?"

"I am thinking of making a change. I've been considering it for a while; and it should give me a fighting chance, a chance to change my life, my lifestyle for the better. I'm working on a proposal for my company. I'm going to tender my resignation..."

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Yes, and make them an offer - I'll contract as a consultant, work with some of our senior attorneys, passing on my corporate knowledge and expertise, but diminishing my role as lead counselor on projects. This job is going to make me old before my time, and before I know it, the second half of my life will have passed me by. I've already wasted the first half..." I choked up a little on the last part.

Kim laid a hand on my arm, "Brian, what matters is what you do now, and I think you are doing the right thing."

I patted her hand, and she leaned up and gave me a kiss on the cheek, getting embarrassed in process.

"Um, I think I'm ready to go in," she informed me in soft voice.

"Sure. Why don't we shower and change?"

"Sounds great," she smiled shyly, only briefly meeting my eyes, then headed for the steps.