Dick

"Yes, what about a schedule of trees and shrubs."

"This project interests me. I want to do a formal landscape plan for you as this is a beautiful setting and is worth it. Now where's the wine?"

"And a steak sandwich?"

"Why not."

"Down at the oasis?"

"Why not? I'd like to inspect the work of amateurs -- it looks pretty good from the highway."

"Strip off if you like," Dick said, removing his shorts. He'd been thinking all morning that he'd been a little rough on Kade. They would do better splitting their roles -- she being totally responsible for property development, although in consultation with him, and he being totally responsible for acquisitions, leasing and sales. Then she might keep her nose in joint. He'd also decided not to attempt to seduce even desirable woman he encountered and that included this one.

'This one' decided to strip off her jacket and leather bike trousers, which left her in just bra and panties. She pretended not being nervous and appeared to relax when Dick said 'Nice body' and as soon as she looked at him he looked away.

Therese opened the hamper and passed one of the bottles of wine. He looked down at the smallish breasts but really big nipple bumps pushing against the bra and regretted making his decision to basically hold back on other women until after lunch today.

He sighed and handed her a glass of wine.

"Are you wanting to seduce me?" she said evenly.

He sighed loudly and she laughed softly and said, "I see. Attempting to curb those nasty rumors are we?"

As he sighed again Jane said it appeared they were setting the parameters for a good friendship. Dick thought in the long run that would be more rewarding that having a couple of grunting encounters and then avoiding each other thereafter. He then worried that his interest in sex might be in decline.

Therese sat on her bike and was about to put on her helmet.

"Wait, friends kiss don't they?"

She immediately puckered for him and he attempted to deliver his number one kiss.

"God, I now believe there is basis to those rumors. It would take an iron-willed woman to resist."

He smiled and said to give him a call when he plan was ready. He'd like to see their set-up.

"You do that. I'm sure Kendall will enjoy meeting you. Winter is our dead season and he's big into hunting and fishing. He's your age, are you into that?"

"No but I'd like to think that's a couple of things I'd like to try plus ski snowmobiling."

Chapter 26

Kade arrived home with half-a-ton of shopping, mostly things for the apartment, and Dick decided to say he liked everything she'd purchased and noted she'd not purchased anything non-personal without prior consultation. Good communicator!

He'd heard the car arrive from the roof garden and refrained from rushing down in case she thought he was over-eager and took advantage of that. Instead he waited at the elevator with two flutes of champagne. Her eyes shone and she greeted him with hugs and kisses and taking her glass then pulled that free hand around her. Minutes later, when he said something to make her laugh she pulled that hand over her breast and Dick knew everything between them was sweet again. They pulled everything out of the elevator and closed the doors. Dick watched her butt as she walked to the fridge and pulled out the opened bottle of champagne and the second one, placing them on the bench. She then stared at him as she pulled off her panties, very slowly and then she tucked one bottle under her arm and grabbed the other in one hand and her glass in the other hand said, "Upstairs. I want you in our rooftop garden."

Dick swallowed and bowing waved his hand in the direction of the staircase and said, "after you." He looked forward to an evening of very close togetherness as well.

Later, after Kade arrived back showered and still energized, because Dick had decided there was no need to sexually pound her to near exhaustion. He'd apparently been erroneously under the impression that she'd hotly desired having a man capable of doing that while near his peak. In this turnaround he'd decided to engage in trying to smooth some of his rough edges and to tune into her needs and desires to achieve a more harmonious relationship with her. Why? Because he loved her. Initially he'd found it difficult to think those words -- 'the woman I love' -- because his mind seemed bent on trying to restrain him from emoting that. He knew of course that as a person he had reached maturity with a rather large deficiency in being loved and knowing how to love. But at last -- unnecessarily long overdue and he accepted that -- he was the only person capable of over-riding that deficiency. He knew enough to know in order to be loved one had to give love and had of late being asking what had he really been giving Kade in return for her affection for him? Apart from attempting to dominate her, that answer was very little in the emotional sense.

Sure, in thinking in terms of pretty words and well-rounded phrases he could attempt to gloss over his indifferences and he could indulgently think that was readjusting in Kade's favor, but how pathetic. Kade reacting adversely to him at the restaurant the previous night had come as a big wake-up call. Not for the first time he sensed she had come close to walking out on him. Miraculously last night she'd decided on grabbing breathing space instead of terminating. That would have given her thinking time and being away from the fire she would have decided he deserved one more chance. Yes, he was in danger of losing her. The clarity of that assessment had left him in no doubt -- reform and reform quickly otherwise she was gone. Forever.

Despite his sins, omissions and mistreatments in his association with Kade, Dick knew he'd not chosen to put so much effort towards winning her with the goal of ending in failure. No way. That's why he'd been proud of himself today for not attempting to knobble Mrs Smith. Right thinking people would wonder what was so special about that but then they wouldn't be aware of his track record and peculiar sense of morality, if it could be called that. Further, he was pleased he had no intention of inviting Mrs Hart to picnic with him on the ranch, knowing what the outcome of that would be as Pearl had radiated her interest in the fact that nude picnics were hosted on D&K Ranch. He could easily go on for many years with women drifting in and out of his life but if he did and lost his focus on Kade she'd be one of those women drifting out of his life.

Dick had decided he was no saint, and never would be, and in all probability other women would continue to drift in and out of his life, but at a such reduced rate and certainly no longer as if he was conducting the flow-through like an art form. That's why he'd hastily decided to attempt to convert his two latest perceived sexual opportunities -- Pearl and Shannon -- into possible friendships that could develop into lasting friendships that would extend to include Kade. He was aware he wasn't inventing the wheel but was actually how other people possibly developed their contacts with other people they found themselves attracted to with sex being the prime focus.

* * *

After her nap Karen heard about Mrs Smith and her intention to produce a landscaping plan for around their ranch house.

"Oh how lovely. I welcome that," Kade smiled. "Um, did you involve Mrs Smith in your favorite pastime?"

"Do you mean sex?"

"Yes, did you have sex with Mrs Smith?"

Dick hotly denied it and denied even thinking about it and asked did she think his mission in life was to seduce every hot prospect he met?"

Kade smiled tolerantly and said, "Well darling I was under the impression...but stopped, seeing his horrified look. She grabbed her flute to cover her mirth and then said calmly, opening her dressing gown, "Darling come over an attend to me. You were so gentle with me earlier that I have the desire to be fitted up again."

When Kade returned from the bathroom again she found her flute refilled with champagne and Dick throwing her a big welcoming smile.

"This business communication deficiency that appears deep-seated within me," he began. "I will try to improve but it appears fused to my personality so you might gain the impression is slow."

Kade smiled as if expecting she'd expect to have been the initiator of this promising discussion. "An improvement would be most welcome darling but do take care not to wreck the mechanism that allows you to coddle together seemingly impossible to conceive business initiatives and deals that end up returning you oodles of money."

Dick blinked rapidly several times at her as if hearing something profound and totally unexpected.

"Oh, don't let my put you off darling."

Dick unveiled his concept of dividing their combined business operation into two divisions, he being responsible for new initiatives, negotiations, marking and sales and Kade being responsible for project planning, development and completion."

She said, "Y-e-s, and what will that achieve?"

"Less interference from me in your areas of responsibility, although there always will have to be crossovers between us to timetable, consider progress together and to meet targets but I'll know clearly where my responsibilities start and stop -- you will better understand if you think 'responsibilities' instead of interference and lack of communication."

"Oh I see. So you end up with the entrepreneurial aspects where all the challenges and kudos lies and I'm landed with all the hard work?"

"Okay, so you don't like it. Then let's swap. I'll be responsibility for project planning, development and competition."

"That would bore you stupid."

"I want you happy with me Kade. I want us to fuse a long personal commitment to one another."

"Oooh. I really like the sound of that."

"Me too."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She smiled and said she'd accept the initial offer of reorganization to establish clear boundaries of individual responsibilities. "I wouldn't have a rat's ass hope of being successful as an entrepreneur."

They toasted and sipped their wine.

Kade suggested one additional action, that each day at the finishing of their tasks they email one another a summary of their day's activity and allied thoughts.

"Okay."

"Then if I require more information I'll know to ask. There is no need for you to note any woman you visit that should remain confidential information."

"Fair enough."

Kade said carefully, "Pearl was all over you last night. It was a wonder that Mal didn't snap at her."

"Yeah."

"How can I put this? If you seduce her it could spoil a business relationship and chances of a promising friendship developing between us."

"Yes, I had similar thoughts. I won't fuck her unless she tries to fuck me."

"Dick!"

"Just pulling your wire darling. Pearl's too close to home so she's off limits, okay?"

"Yes, and thank you."

"You are the woman I wish to retain focus on, do you understand that Kade?"

She nodded and said she knew that and added she still thought he needed a backstop. "A little mousy woman who can go half the night."

"Ignoring that description, you thought that would be Carolyn, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"First, I didn't want to risk her coming between us, long term. Second, she was going off to college. Third she'll have sex coming out of her ears there. Fourth its immoral of her trying to steal her sister's guy who is too old for her anyway."

"Dick, may I say they are compelling reasons why I no longer think your backstop should be Carolyn."

As that evening cooled they went down to the apartment and as Dick phoned out for pizza delivery Kade walked slowing through their new home and came back and kissed him. "You have done marvelously well. Just about everything is perfectly placed."

"Er Kade?"

"Yes darling."

"The boss woman told the moving crew where to put everything."

Kade smiled and said she'd already worked that out. "But thanks for your honesty but be careful. If you become too honest I'll be obliged to trust you implicitly and where is the excitement in that?"

Dick had no answer to that so just smiled and received a lovely smile back and thought oh how happy he was to have Kade back home.

"You know," Kade said biting into flavored cardboard that was someone's idea of pizza, "we are overdue for having an office. I have stuff piling up at McKenzie Law and in Rosalie's office and in boxes in our spare bedroom and I keep being distracted by taking so many calls. I would..."

"That's my area of responsibility darling. Leave it to me."

"Thank you darling, I was about to suggest that."

* * *

Next morning Dick was having coffee outside the coffee shop opposite the hotel and idly noticed scarcely anyone entering the sewing and embroidery shop on the uptown side of the hotel. His phone went and India advised him that their new company, Random Property Developments was now a legal identity.

"Thanks -- oh damn, I can't remember if I told Kade I was forming it."

"I'm not aware of your communications with Kade but she does know because I called her in to counter-sign the company registration application as she, I and you are the listed directors."

"Oh thanks."

"Don't you tell Kade anything?"

"That's a cheap shot from a guy's lawyer."

"Up yours. Have a nice day."

Dick smiled and thought India was scared of no one, not even Iain McKenzie. He paid for his coffee and crossed the street to enter the sewing supplies store.

"Good morning," he said to the woman behind the counter knitting.

She jumped up and straightened her skirt and smiled broadly. "Oh Lordy. One of those rare creatures called a customer but you are the wrong sex."

"Sex?"

The under-forty females said males tended neither to sew nor do embroidery.

"May I buy your shop?"

"I don't own it but you may buy my three-year lease."

They talked on. Beyond the rear firewall there were a shoe and boot repair shop, also not doing well and the space above them was only used for storage.

The woman said, "This side of town is in recession -- from here up to the movie theatre that some out-of-town big shot has purchased. The sunny side opposite is far more popular. This whole section should be pulled down and rebuilt as offices but it won't happen in my time, and possibly not ever before you expire young man."

Dick purchased a pair of scissors, they were always handy, a set of expensive Italian placemats for the table in the apartment, and an armchair hanger to store knitting gear that he thought he could put the newspaper in as Kade was always at him not to leave it on the floor. The woman stung him almost one hundred bucks and for a moment he wondered if he'd purchased the rights to her three-year lease.

He returned to the coffee shop and ordered lunch, the surprised woman asking hadn't he just departed after morning tea and he smiled and complimented her for taking an interest in a regular customer. "Please call me Dick in future," he smiled.

"Dinah," she blushed, smoothing back her hair and that pushed forward her breasts.

Pulling out his phone when seated under an umbrella, Dick called Kevin his Realtor and asked how was his golf.

"I'11 probably be fined right now for using my phone on the course."

"But its prime business time?"

Kevin sighed and said mornings were usually slack for him, that peak time was late afternoon and into early evening. "What can I do for you?"

"Buy me -- Dick looked at the building -- the building next to the hotel containing 'Mother's Sewing Center' and buy out that three-year-lease effective from the first of next month to give her time to run a closing down sale."

"And that's it? You're interrupting my game of golf to have me buy you that pokey little building?"

"It's right next to the hotel buddy, potential space for extension eh?"

"Oh yes, of course. All this sun and fresh air is affecting my thinking."

"And then buy up all the remaining property right through to King Street and up to my movie theatre acquisition."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure and have existing leases transferred to the new owner without changes. I'll have to sell something before I can rebuild. Existing assessed value plus 15% is the offer, but only if our new subsidiary company Random Property Developments gets the lot. For the sewing and boot store offer only 75% of exiting assessed value -- it's a millstone to the present owner."

"Yes sir and I suppose my fees at the lower end of the scale?"

"Yes, unless you have valid reason to seek a change?"

"No, I'll clean up the twenty bucks riding on this game and then get onto your case. To your continued prosperity my friend."

While waiting for his salmon salad Dick called Kade. "What are you doing babe?"

"What am I doing?" Kade called in an unusually loud voice. "Nothing but squirming as Rosalie puts those lush lips of hers over my left nipple."

Dick heard Rosalie's scream of laughter in the distance. He was sure it was from across the room so grinned.

"Just calling to keep you informed with a hot thought. "I've decided to buy all the real estate in the block bounded by Main Street and King Street between our hotel and our movie theatre complex."

"Those crappy buildings?"

"Yes."

Dick thought he could hear her thinking.

"Brilliant move providing it doesn't cut us short on the stadium."

He waved to the passing Meg Tompkins and was aware he was being given 'a glad eye'. "We won't have to finance the stadium. We will be brilliant enough to have the incoming new Mayor seek election on having the town own and lease out the stadium as an ideal community-owned asset for the next thirty to fifty years and whatever happens in the future that publicly-held land will be worth a fortune."

"Oooh, I like that. Only problem is you don't know which mayoral candidate to piggyback on as the winner -- nominations have closed and there are five mayoral candidates."

"No problem, we commission a poll to try to establish favoritism and then talk to the candidate who tops our poll."

Sounding worried Kade asked, "Can we do that?"

"Yes, it's not interfering with the individual rights of voters and it's not illegal for us to favor any particular candidate. We are allowed to fund a candidate up to a maximum of a miserable $500 but there's nothing stopping us from providing our advice and the advice of our consultants to him or her on election winning strategies. Being upright citizens we wouldn't want him or her to succeed on just our single platform, would we?"

"No, we certainly would not."

Her honesty was so appealing, Dick thought. "The thing in our favor is that cream rises to the top anyway."

"Yes."

"You will have your office by the first of next month in the sewing store next to the hotel."

"Oh, I know the store, an excellent location."

"Keep away in the meantime but get a plan of the premises from the Council and you can begin renovations. It will be the head office of Random Property Developments. India called me earlier to say it's now legally registered."

"Oh, that's lightening-fast reaction from you, based on past performance. India called to advise me that a couple of hours ago. I must go darling," she said loudly. "Rosalie is panting for more than a nipple."

Dick snapped his phone shut and wondered did those two actually do it, but then thought probably not. Soft lips touched the back of his neck, his long hair being lifted to accomplish that. He didn't swing round to confront the attacker because he guessed the identity of the only likely person. "Coffee Meg and a cream cake?"

"Oh darling," she whispered, "how simply lovely. What can I give you in exchange?"

Dinah pushed aside the assistant about to take Dick's order saying she would attend to the gentleman. He thought that suggested she was either the business manager or the owner.