And He Called It Research

"So he's probably gone then."

"I'm sure he is. I still wonder what I'll find when we get there."

What they found was her home just as she had left it. Everything clean and in order, but Boyd's things were gone and only a short note on her bed remained. "Ann, all I can say is I'm sorry I fell apart. I know we didn't have the best of marriages anyway and I'm accepting at least part of the blame for that. My temper tantrum on the island cost me my marriage and my job. I've taken most of my things, or at least those things that I will need to start over. I'll be in touch. In my own way I still love you Ann."

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and handed the note to Mac and moved around the bedroom. Mac quickly scanned the note and then went to her and pulled her into his arms and held her close. "I'm sorry Ann."

"I knew it was over the day that he went so crazy, but it's still hurts a little."

"I'm sure it does. There is very little I can do to help you with that pain, but I'm here to do whatever you'd like me to do, and to help you in whatever way you ask of me."

"How long can you stay?"

"Until I know you are safe and in a position to get started with your new life. Then I have to get to my new job."

"I'm sorry you've been pulled away from your island paradise."

"I am too, but this isn't permanent, so I'll just make the best of it."

"Mac, let's lie on the bed and just be close and talk."

"I'd like that," and he started to undress her.

She put her hands on his and said, "Just to talk honey."

"I understand," and he continued to undress her before he peeled his clothes off and she studied his still soft cock between his legs.

They lay on their sides and right away she told him, "I fully expected it to feel so strange; so wrong to be in this bed with you, but I was mistaken. I like having you here with me right now."

"I'm glad I could be your escort home pretty lady."

"Do you know that I fell in love with you a little bit?"

"I didn't know that, but I fell in love with you too."

She looked into his eyes as she told him, "I know you did. I could feel it and I was so torn about that. You have Didi, and I know you love her, and yet you gave me a part of you."

"Enough that I was very afraid."

"What got you past that?"

"I don't even know," he lied. "I do still love you, but I do still love Didi."

"I'm happy for you Mac. You two have a wonderful and an amazing life together."

"It's beyond my imagination actually."

"Mac, you've made love to many women and I know that you will enjoy more, and I'm too selfish to share my man that much. I didn't mind knowing that you made love to a guest here and there, but you make an emotional investment in each woman that you're with I'm sure. I watched you as you stopped and talked to different ones, and I could see by your actions and your smile which ones were something truly special to you."

"None were as special as you were and are though."

"I really believe you Mac. I know that at least some of what I felt for you was because of my marriage, or that mess I called a marriage. I know that I need time to put my life and my mind together again before I can do anything else."

"But you'll stay in touch with me right?"

"Of course I will." Then she smiled and added, "I may find that I need you in a very carnal way before long."

He kissed her gently and told her, "I'll be sure you know how to find me."

"I even wish we could make love right now, but that would not be a good idea. I'm just too fragile to do that."

"I understand. So you feel safe and ready to face the world if I leave?"

"I'll be okay hon. Go do your thing, but never forget me."

"Forgetting you is one thing I could never do Be safe and remember, I keep my phone with me at all times."

"Well whenever you're dressed at least."

"Well I guess that's right." He kissed her again and then got up and dressed. She walked with him to the door where they shared one last embrace and a kiss and then he left.

Chapter Sixty Three

Mac found his rental home the next afternoon and spent half an hour getting settled. Then after a cup of coffee at the first restaurant that he came to, he headed south the few miles to Serene Gardens. There was activity everywhere he looked. Basements and foundations being poured in one area and homes being framed in right next to them. But he came to a stop where his temporary home would be and smiled because it was being framed in along with the two to the right of his. He knew that Liz and Darren would live next door to him, but he didn't know who would have the house next to Liz. He looked around his neighborhood to be and he was impressed with the progress. He just sat there for several minutes and watched carpenters crawl over the framework of one home and concrete trucks lined up to pour their load into the forms for the next home under construction. He smiled and composed an email for Kate. "Hi beautiful. I've arrived and Ann is home and quite safe. I'm at Serene Gardens and tell Melvin that the place is a beehive of activity You can also tell him that his assistant is an amazing woman and I can't wait to see her again." Then he sat there a second, smiled and hit the send button. Then one for Didi and he told her, "Ann was delivered safe and sound and no problems. I've been to my rental and that will serve my needs very nicely until I can move into my other house. Love you," and he hit send and then headed back to his place to rest and in fact take the rest of the day off.

After his first meeting with Leon Fleming, the general contractor late in the afternoon, he went home and showered, and traded in his jeans for slacks before he called Liz. Just hearing her voice made his mental picture of her much clearer. "Hi Liz, this is Mac Patterson from the island."

"Oh my god, hi, how are you doing?"

"I'm great, am I calling at a bad time?"

"Not at all. I just got home in fact, are you in town?'

"I am, and I'd like to invite you and Darren to dinner at the Bonefish Grill."

"We'd love to see you again so of course yes."

"Great, I'll be waiting for you at the door at six if that isn't rushing you too much."

"Not at all, we'll see you there."

That was the plan, but it didn't appear that things were going to work out as he had hoped. He recognized her immediately as she approached him and they shared a light embrace and a quick kiss before she said, "I'm sorry Mac, but Darren went for a job interview and he called and said that he would be late getting in. I asked him to join us here if it wasn't too late, so I hope that's okay."

""That's fine, it's you that I really need to talk to, and you can share everything with him later."

They were seated and as soon as she had ordered a red house wine and he a Manhattan, she reached over and took his hand in both of hers. "You look great, how is Didi?"

"She's very busy but doing fine. How has life been for you since the island?"

"Well to be very truthful, it was pretty rough going for a few days after we got home, but we're doing fine."

"And your friends?"

"Allie and Martin are doing great too."

He smiled and asked her, "Can I ask you a very personal question?"

She smiled and said, "After all that time on that island? Of course you can."

"Do the four of you still swap?"

"We do. Not often at all, but we have a few times."

"Fantastic. Okay, here's a serious question, and I have a very good reason to ask it."

"Okay."

"You said that Darren had a job interview, so it's safe to assume that he isn't back to work."

"No and we're starting to get very nervous."

"And you? Are you back to work?"

"I wish, but no."

"Tell me a little about your work history. Maybe I can help you."

They waited while their drinks were served and then told the waiter they would order a little later, and then Liz told him, "I worked for an insurance firm until I was laid off a few months ago. Before that I was an administrative secretary at Power Industries, and before that..."

"Okay, that's good. So no problems with being fired or drugs or anything like that?"

"Oh no. I moved to my insurance job because it paid more, which by the way was why I went to Power Industries before that."

"I hate this term, but I'll use it anyway. How are your people skills?"

"Fine. I can hold a smile even if I'm mad, or at least for a little while. I'm good at remembering names and conversations and..."

"Would you consider working for me?"

"What? I'd love to Mac, but as much as I'd love to, I can't move to the island and leave Darren here."

Mac smiled and told her, "You'd be working about fifteen miles from here."

"You're not on the island anymore?"

"For the next few months I'll be living in this area, but then, most likely anyway, I'll go back to the island and Didi."

"Then the answer is yes, of course I'd work for you."

"But you don't know what your duties would be."

"Okay, so what would my duties be?"

It was his turn to reach for her hand as he smiled and told her, "I'm not sure."

"What?"

Then he explained what he could and then told her, "In the beginning you won't have a lot to do, but I didn't want to wait until you'd found work. I had a feeling that you were the one I wanted to hire, and with your experience with the island, you'll have a real feel for the development. Do you and Darren still plan to move to Serene Gardens?"

"I want to, but if we don't get some money coming in, we may be living on the streets."

"We can't have that happening. Okay, so we're going with the fact that you'll move to your new home in a few weeks, and guess what? I'll be living next door to you."

"You're kidding me."

"It's real. That will put both of us right there where we can be most effective. Then after I go back to the island, my house will go on the market and you'll get new neighbors. Now here are some details both good and bad." He pulled a paper from his jacket pocket and slid it across to her as he said, "The hours may at times be a little irregular and the pay won't be great in the beginning, but once we're at the development you'll get almost twice as much." While she looked at the numbers he told her, "Plus, I'll do my best to come up with a few perks here and there to sweeten the pot for you and Darren."

"But what about after you leave" Then I'll be out of a job again."

"I can't promise you anything at this point, but it's my hope that you'll be able to take over my job because a fair amount of it will be done. Then as long as they are building and selling homes, you'll have a job, and that could take quite some time."

"Of course I say yes. I'm looking forward to working with you Mac."

"I think you and I will make a good team."

"May I ask you a personal question Mac?"

"Of course."

"What is poor Didi doing while you're up here slaving away?"

"They've shut the island down for a large remodel and she's in charge of all of that. She'll be busier that I will be I'm sure."

"But the island. It will be back right?"

"Yes and for paying customers except for Tropic Treat. That will be reserved to continue Melvin's research."

"I'm glad. Will it be a clothing optional island?"

"He hasn't said, but I'm willing to bet it will be a very adult environment."

"Even though I'll never be back there, I'm glad that whole idea won't be abandoned."

Mac pulled out his wallet and handed her his card telling her, "You are one of the very few that know how to contact me day or night, so put this someplace safe."

"I will Mac."

"Once we're there and things are picking up, would you be willing to dress a little sexy?"

She smiled and asked him, "How sexy? Topless or see through or..."

He kissed her hand and told her, "I wish, but not quite like that. Maybe a plunging neckline and shorts a little shorter than average. A little heel to enhance your walk would be good too."

Mac honey, I understand, and of course I don't mind. So I will be dressing casually."

"Oh yes. I want potential buyers to see you as their neighbor rather than somebody trying to get them to buy. I want you to be an enthusiastic resident, but not overly so."

"I understand. When do I start?"

"Well for now, we'll just get together and study. I have a fat file and more coming with information about Serene Gardens, and the more we know the more we can spin our web to trap our buyers."

"This sounds like fun. Serious and all business, but still a lot of fun."

"If you can have fun that will show on your face and that's good. Yes, we're going to be so good together."

By the time Darren appeared, Mac and Liz were enjoying their dinner, but he had coffee and Liz told him about her new job. He smiled and said, "That's fantastic, and congratulations honey, and thank you Mac."

"Don't thank me, I'm just going for the best woman for the job."

"Now my good news. I think I'll get that job."

"Oh honey, that's wonderful news. Two new jobs and a new home. Life is so sweet once again."

"But there is a down side to my job. Every other week I have to fly out to wherever they send me. Sometimes for two days and some for three days. I don't like that part, but we've been through that before and I'm so damn glad to get a job that I'll deal with it."

"So much good news almost at the same time. I feel like I could cry with happiness. Oh and I'll be working with Mac starting tomorrow because we have to study and almost memorize a huge file right Mac?"

"That's right It's going to be boring a lot of the time, but if we don't know all of the facts we'll never be able to answer the tough questions and have the information we need so we can argue with others if the need arises."

"Knowledge is power."

"That's exactly right. Now you know how to get to my temporary place right?"

"Yes, I have that, but what time?"

"Let's make it nine if that works for you."

"I work for you, so nine it is."

They finished their dinner, and then the three of them walked out together. Liz stopped and gave Mac a firm hug and then kissed him before she told him, "Thank you again Mac, and you have no idea how much you're helping us."

"Liz, we're going to help each other. I'm going to rely on you a lot in the coming days and weeks. We do have our work cut out for us."

"I'm ready. I'll see you in the morning Mac," and she kissed him again and then turned to Darren and told him, "Let's go home honey because I have more to tell you."

Chapter Sixty Four

Liz was right on time as she pushed the doorbell button. Mac came to the door and opening it he said, "I'm sorry, I lost track of time. Come in and I'll go get a shirt on."

"Mac, you don't have to put a shirt on if you don't want to. We're just going to be sitting around studying right?"

"That's true, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Mac, it's me and I saw I don't know how many naked men on the island and here you are in saggy shorts and no shirt. I think I can deal with that just fine."

Then he stopped and told her, "Damn you look sexy."

"I was beginning to wonder if this was what you meant, because you didn't even react."

"I'm sorry, but I was caught off guard and...well anyway, you look hot."

"So this is about what you meant last night?"

"That's about exactly what I was talking about last night."

"Good. I wanted you to see me like this so I'd know if I needed to make some wardrobe changes."

"You are nearly perfect. Nice shorts. No, very nice legs under those nice shorts, and your top is just dangerous enough to make the guys stare."

"But I don't want to alienate the women either, because they will be a powerful part of the mix."

"You're right of course. You're good at this and we haven't even started."

"Like you said, we're going to be great at this."

Studying began at the kitchen table, but after about half an hour of that, they refilled their coffee cups and moved to the little living room where they sat next to each other on the sofa and studied. There was little talk between them for quite awhile until he put his papers down and said, "My eyes need a break. Can I get you anything from the kitchen?"

"No thanks, but I could use the bathroom," so she dropped her file and disappeared for a few minutes. Then it was back to studying again until he slipped on a shirt and took her to lunch.

"Liz do you know anybody that might make a good housekeeper, or more importantly, a cook with a little housekeeping thrown in?"

"Not right off, but give me time to think about it."

"It occurs to me that for what I'll spend in restaurants in the coming weeks, I could pay for a part time cook slash housekeeper. That would save all that time used to drive back and forth to restaurants too."

"Hmm, a thought comes to mind."

"What's that?"

"I'm going to guess you lounge around here in your skivvies or less when I'm not around."

"Now why would you guess that?"

"Because you live on the island where clothes are nothing more or less than an inconvenience. You wear them for your guests for a few days and then you're naked until the next guests arrive, am I right?"

"You are, but how did you know that?"

"Just a process of logical thinking. I couldn't know if I was right, but I had nothing to lose either."

"Maybe you're going to be too smart for me to work with."

"Oh sure."

"I do have one an observation to share."

"What might that be boss?"

"I'm having a hard time studying."

"Why?"

"Every time I look at you, my eyes drop to your blouse and that long teasing vee leads my eyes right down into that sweet valley between your breasts."

"Now Mac, be serious, you've seen more naked women...you've made love to so many women, that seeing my cleavage can't be a big deal to you."

"Sometimes less is more. There is something so very sexy, at least on many women, when they nearly show something rather than being naked and showing it all."

"I still say you're over stating at the very least."

"I'm just telling you that you are very sexy."

"Thank you. Would you rather I sit over in one of those chairs?"

"You're fine just where you are. We'll sit here and share files and comments and I'll just do my best to concentrate." She just smiled at him and then went back to her studying, but she enjoyed being with him even if he was lying to her.

Tuesday was much the same, with them sitting on the sofa and studying. Then in the afternoon they took turns quizzing each other about floor plans, and projected dates of completion for different home groups. Then they got into the area of the expected lifestyle of Serene Gardens. "Okay Liz, how do you see us handling the delicate area of clothing optional?"

"That's going to be a little tricky, but really we're going to be very dependant on how the realtors do their job. They are the ones that need to plant that seed. A little comment here and there about total privacy except from their closest neighbors. Things like that. Once the potential buyer has those little tidbits wandering around in their brain, we can come along and add to that whole idea. But in the end we're going to have to trust our instincts, because different people will react to things said in different ways. I might make a reference to having spent a glorious couple of weeks on a clothing optional private island, and see where that leads the conversation. I could talk about how I love to lie in the back and sunbathe topless, and then very secretly I'd whisper that I sometimes sunbathe nude. Things like that I guess. But if they seem fragile, I'm not sure."

"If they seem too fragile it's okay if we scare them off because that's not what we're looking for. We'll have to talk about our connection with different institutions of higher learning and some of those details. About once a week they'd fill out a questionnaire, and in return their maintenance fees would be reduced."