Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 22

"These two ladies have become more than employees as far as I'm concerned," stated Steve flatly as he looked directly at Paula. "They came through for me when I needed it. Does anyone object to them attending this meeting and any future ones?"

Everyone was quick to assure Steve that the Sybil and Janice were always welcome, but Steve remained still with his arms around the two women as he looked directly at Paula.

"Whatever you want, Steve. You know that no one will go against you," replied Paula as Gwen and Lisa exchanged glances at Paula's less than warm welcome.

Steve removed his arms from the two women and walked over to where Ted and Paula were standing. "Ted, would you mind if I had a few words in private with Paula? It'll only be a minute or so."

Ted could easily see that Paula was agitated. She had been out of sorts and cranky all morning and he had no clue why. When he asked her about it, she insisted that everything was fine. Slowly it dawned on Ted that the problem may involve Steve. With more than a little relief, Ted nodded his acceptance of Steve's request. If anyone could get Paula out of her funk, it would be him.

Steve took Paula's hand and tugged it gently. "Paula, come walk with me for a while. I'd like to talk to you about a few things."

Paula looked around and noticed that all three of her daughters were watching her closely. Reluctantly, she allowed Steve to lead her out of the room.

"What's with Mom?" wondered Kate. "She seemed pretty cold to Steve, Janice, and Sybil. "It's not like her, especially to Steve."

"She seemed kind of grouchy this morning when we picked her and Dad up to ride over with us," allowed Lisa. "I wonder if it bothers her that Diane did so well and looked so hot in the movie last night. Could she be jealous? Look at how happy Diane and Will are. They haven't stopped smiling since last night."

"Mom did really well in her part in the movie," pointed out Gwen. "Why would she be jealous of Diane?"

"Why?" repeated Kate. "Maybe because Diane took a chance and also took her top off and had an amazing love scene with Steve. Everyone was blown away by how good she looked. She really did look great topless, didn't she? So where does that leave Mom? Suddenly, she's the other sister while Diane is the hot babe that made love to Steve in the movie."

"Could that really be it?" asked a surprised Gwen. "Mom has been offered some juicier roles and refused them. It was her decision."

"But she had no idea how well Diane's part would be received. Even the critics think Diane was amazing. It's all over the web," offered Lisa. "I don't think she's envious of Diane. She's more upset with herself and how things seem to have passed her by because she's so conservative most of the time. Diane was the 'wild child' of the two."

"I've been working on a script that's kind of like 'The Graduate'. I think I'll go mention it to Dad and see if he'd be cool with Mom as the 'Mrs. Robinson' of the movie," stated Kate.

"I don't think I'll have the time for a movie next summer," worried Gwen. "I have that two month stint on the hospital ship and then the wedding and hopefully a honeymoon."

"That's okay because I was thinking that I could play the daughter," replied Kate immediately. "I've talked to Chip about it. He doesn't feel comfortable in front of the camera like Steve does. He'd be willing to have a smaller, less demanding role. He's also fine with me doing a love scene or two with Steve. I guess I need to ask you if you'd be okay with that."

"You and Steve? Does that mean that Mom would be doing the dirty with Steve, too?" asked Gwen.

"It sure does, if she'll agree to it. She showed that she can act in 'Billie Jean'. Now we need to convince her to go for that brass ring and let her hair down, along with her clothes," answered Kate.

"That could be my wedding gift to Steve!" laughed Gwen. "He'll be all over me every time he thinks about doing love scenes with you and Mom. We'd be playing into his fantasies. I hope Mom agrees to do it."

At that moment, Steve led Paula into Billy's office and closed the door before turning back to face Paula. "What's wrong, Paula? Have I done something to upset you?"

"It's just that you and Gwen are going to be married soon. You really don't need to introduce more beautiful women into our group, do you? Are you trying for a harem? How do you think Gwen feels about this? Think about her feelings for a change."

"Excuse me? Did you just suggest that I don't consider Gwen's feelings?" demanded Steve. "That surprises me. I honestly thought that you, of all of our friends and relatives, understood how deeply I love Gwen and how her safety and happiness are the most important things in the world to me. Now I see that I misjudged you."

"No! I didn't really mean that, Steve! I do know how much you love Gwen. It fills my heart with happiness that you two have such depth of emotion for each other. I'm sorry I made that foolish statement. I certainly don't believe it.

"You're an extremely wealthy, handsome, famous, successful, charming man. Women are drawn to you. I can vouch for that! But you're already surrounded by so many beautiful women. Is it wise to bring more into our group? Doesn't it increase the opportunity for jealousy and discontent?"

"I'm not bringing them into our group. They pretty much accomplished that when they saved you, Theresa, little Billy, and Diane from those gunmen. Then they saved my life on that road in Pennsylvania. Am I wrong to have special feelings for them? Do you have any idea how badly I'd feel if something had happened to any of you?"

"Especially Diane," mumbled Paula as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Especially Diane?" repeated a very surprised Steve. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that I'd miss Diane more than I'd miss you? Is that what you're saying?"

"I saw you two when you filmed that movie and again last night on screen. You love her. I can tell. That love scene was not acting! Don't treat me like I'm stupid," sobbed Paula.

Steve was flabbergasted by Paula's pronouncement. He studied Paula's face as he considered her words. He realized that Paula was unusually emotional and wasn't quite certain why.

"Paula, you're right. I do love Diane. I've never denied it. She's beautiful, smart, generous, athletic, and devoted to her family. You're also right that I wasn't acting in that movie. I suspect that I'm not really a very good actor. I have loved every woman I've had those scenes with. Jordan, Naomi, Stephanie... all of them, including Diane.

"I always thought that you knew that. I thought everyone knew it. Why does my scene with Diane upset you so much? What did I do wrong or differently with her? Help me understand so I can make it right. I never want you to be upset or unhappy with me."

"I don't even know why it upsets me so much," responded Paula. "I love her. She's my sister. But last night everyone was saying how sexy and beautiful she was in the movie. Then there was the way you made love to her. I could barely breathe when you held her breasts and kissed them. She's only a couple years younger than me, but she was unbelievably sexy. I guess it drove home how old I've gotten. I'm a grandmother! I love my kids, and Theresa is absolutely precious, but I feel like I've lost my identity while Diane has found hers.

"She's the sexy dance instructor with the gravity defying breasts, and I'm the grandmother. If Diane has a dozen grandkids, she'll always have that moment as the sexy woman that seduced Steve Hammer in one of the best movies ever made. I'll just be a mother and grandmother. You asked me, and I'm telling you that it bothers me. I feel old, unwanted, unappreciated, and left behind," admitted Paula as she began crying harder.

Steve was at a total loss. He had no idea that Paula was having esteem issues. In fact, he was stunned to hear it. He always thought of her as the perfect woman. She was a great mother, a devoted wife, a sexy, beautiful woman, and a wonderful person. How could any woman with all of that going for her feel so badly about herself?

Steve pulled Paula into his arms as he spoke. "I just realized that I owe you an apology. I have not been telling you the truth. Now I think it may have been a mistake to keep things from you."

"What do you mean? What have you been keeping from me? How old and wrinkled I am?" asked Paula as she continued to sob.

"The truth is that I have never met a more beautiful woman than you. I've never loved a woman like I do you. I've never felt about a woman the way I feel about you." whispered Steve.

"What are you saying? I know you love Gwen more than me. Everyone can tell that. Besides, I'm not trying to steal my daughter's future husband. I don't really know what I want," cried Paula into Steve's chest.

"Paula, I am not trying to tell you that I don't love Gwen more than I ever thought possible. She completes me. She's my life. I am telling you that you are so incredibly beautiful, so smart, so strong, so admired that I love you like no other woman I've ever met. I don't tell you often enough. I don't show you enough. Everyone always teases and makes a big deal about how I feel about you, so I tend to down play it. I'm not going to do that anymore. I love you very much and I want everyone to know it.

"This isn't about Diane. She was incredible in that movie and she lived out some of the fantasies that she and Will have. They both enjoyed her role and she loves the attention. I think you two are more alike than you realize. We've been treating you too much like a mom and not enough like the sexy, beautiful woman you are. We all need approval. I seek it all of the time. It's natural that you do as well, but you've always been the strong one. We don't see the fears and esteem issues you have because we all see you as having it all. You're the one we admire and respect the most.

"Let's go back in there and celebrate the holiday and all the things we have to be thankful for," suggested Steve. "I hope you're ready for me to be more demonstrative about how much I appreciate and love you. I hope Gwen and Ted are good with it, because I'm not going to bury it any longer to avoid the teasing and remarks from everyone else. You deserve much better."

"I can't tell you how happy I am that Gwen has you," smiled Paula through her tears. "I'm so proud that you're going to be my son-in-law. If you want to be a little more affectionate with me, Ted and Gwen will just have to live with it, because it appears that I do need it. Your opinion means more to me than it should. You know that, don't you? In another time and place, I'd be doing my best to make you mine, but not in the world we live in now.

"I feel conflicted about you. I would love to climb into bed with you and have sex all day long, and I know it's wrong to feel that way. I'm a terrible mother and wife and it makes me feel so guilty at times. I think I may mental issues or something. Normal mothers don't feel the way I do. I should not love you like I do. It isn't fair to Ted and Gwen. I know that, but I can't change it."

"Now there's a problem we should be able to solve, although it may embarrass you at times," reasoned Steve. "You must know that I have the same feelings. I'd carry you off and have my way with you for a month if it were possible. We feel the same way! We also know that our feelings cannot be allowed to control us and we can never have sex, as much as I am certain we'd both enjoy it a great deal.

"What we can do is accept it and live with it. It seems like everyone else thinks I have a thing for you and you have one for me, so why do we keep dancing around it? You're far more to me than my future mother-in-law. You're my beautiful, smart, sexy friend, like Lisa, Naomi, Kate, and Jordan. You're not the mom; you're the sexy woman that drives me crazy with desire. There are a few of them around, but you're certainly in that group.

"From now on, I'm not going to pretend that you don't get my motor running. Gwen and Ted know that we would never break our promises, but we can enjoy each other a little more than we've been doing. What do you think?" concluded Steve.

"Let me wipe my face a little and put some make-up back on and I'll be ready to go back. Thanks for taking time to help me through my personal emotional crises. I'll try to get a better handle on my feelings," promised Paula. "Do you really think Ted and Gwen would be okay with me being more open about my feelings for you?"

"We'll find out before too long," predicted Steve with a big smile. "I would suggest that you be certain to make Ted secure in your love for him. As long as he's sure you're his woman, he'll be fine with you being more demonstrative."

"They've been gone for ten minutes, at least," worried Gwen as she once again glanced at the doorway in hopes of seeing her mother and fiancé step through it. "I hope Mom's okay."

"You know she's with Steve, right?" chuckled Jordan. "Have you even seen her not be alright when she's around him?"

"Yes, a little while ago, and for the first time," replied Gwen. "She was kind of cold and bitchy and that's really not like her."

"I feel terrible about all of this," revealed Sybil as she glanced nervously toward the doorway. "Your mom shouldn't feel uncomfortable with her family because of a couple of strangers. Janice and I should have stayed in the other room."

"Sybil, you did not cause any problems and you will not reject Steve's suggestions when he's trying to bring you into more things. You and Janice are part of our group now. I told you he'd love you for many reasons and he does," insisted Gwen. "Steve has a way of handling Mom that even Dad doesn't have. She'll be fine, but do not think you're going to be able to extricate yourself from us. Steve has made his decision, and I agree with it. You and Janice are part of us, so get used to it."

Just then Steve led Paula back into the room. Both of them were smiling as they entered. Looking around, it was apparent to them that they had held the meal up as the group waited for them to return.

Paula surprised everyone when she noticed a sprig of mistletoe hanging from a light fixture just ahead and stopped under it as she pulled Steve's face down to hers for a steamy kiss!

"My God, that guy is a miracle worker!" blurted Kate as she watched her mother break her kiss with Steve and then hurry to Ted to deliver an even hotter, longer kiss.

Steve took the opportunity to pull Gwen under the mistletoe and kiss her passionately.

"You don't need any mistletoe to kiss me any time you like," beamed Gwen as Steve raised his lips from hers. "You do need to explain what's going on with Mom when we get a chance to be alone. She's okay now, isn't she?"

Steve nodded slightly as he turned to see that Ted was smiling broadly as Paula released him and strode over to Sybil and hugged her briefly, and then Janice. "I'm so sorry that I was so cold and bitchy earlier. You two have earned your position with us and I am extremely grateful to you for saving us from those gunmen and for helping out Steve so well when he needed it. Please join us this morning and always feel welcome in the future."

"Okay, everyone, let's eat!" announced Stephanie. "We'll have a little business discussion afterwards. Merry Christmas!"

Soon everyone was seated, enjoying the delicious food, and chatting merrily. Suddenly, Billy stood up and led Charlotte out to the middle of the floor and loudly cleared his throat. Everyone looked at his way. Gwen noticed that he appeared to be perspiring and flushed.

Billy suddenly dropped to one knee and Charlotte squealed in delight. "Charlotte DeVries, will you make me the happiest man in the world and agree to marry me?" managed Billy before Charlotte propelled herself into his arms.

Caught by surprise, Billy fell over backwards with his arms wrapped around Charlotte. For her part she kept shouting "yes" between the many kisses she planted on his cheeks and lips.

Everyone stood and applauded as Billy managed to break Charlotte's death grip on his neck and help her stand up. "That's why you insisted that Mom attend this brunch! You are such a romantic. I love you, Billy Marsh!"

"You knocked me over before I could get the ring out," complained Billy but with a big grin as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it and handed the ring to Charlotte as her hands trembled slightly. She sighed loudly.

"It's beautiful!" was all she could manage as Billy slid it gently onto her finger. Soon all of the women were gathered around Charlotte as she held her hand out for everyone to admire her engagement ring.

Billy's father was the first to heartily shake his hand just before his mother planted a big kiss on his cheek.

"Weren't you the guy that razzed me about getting engaged a day ago?" demanded Steve. "What the hell are you thinking? You told me that I should stay single and enjoy my freedom, and then you go and ask Charlotte to marry you?"

"What can I say?" laughed Billy as the guys began shaking his hand and congratulating him. "I'm in love!"

"Now that Billy's engaged, maybe he'll stop perving on us women," suggested Jordan with a laugh. "He won't try to watch me nurse Ruth all of the time, although it hasn't stopped Steve. I think he has Ruth's schedule memorized because he's always dropping in just as I prepare to nurse her."

"I fail to see the connection between being engaged and being dead. As long as I can draw a breath, I'll admire those beauties every chance I get!" promised Billy.

"I don't have your schedule memorized," protested Steve. "I have noticed, however, that every time I stop in to discuss important, manly things with Charlie, you decide to pull out those remarkable breasts and nurse Ruth. You could feed a small nation with those amazing puppies!"

"So you have noticed? I keep telling everyone that you're a bigger lecher than Billy. Gwen, your fiancé likes to watch me nurse my baby. You may want to reconsider marrying a guy like that," cautioned Jordan.

"I call bullshit!" declared Billy. "Steve doesn't even come close to 'leching' as well as I do. I was peeking down your top while you were putting three slices of bacon on your plate. I watched Lisa bend over to pick up Theresa as her top opened up. I saw Diane drop a small piece of fruit down her top and dig it out. Can Steve match that?"

"He did strip me naked and spank my bottom a little while ago. Does that count?" asked Paula innocently.

All conversation stopped as everyone looked from Paula to Steve and back to Paula. Steve was a bright red as he squirmed nervously.

"Oops! Was I not supposed to mention that? Sorry Steve, but I couldn't let Billy think he's sicker and more perverted than you, could I?"

"Mom!" exclaimed Kate. "We don't talk about the spankings Steve administers to those of us that require a strong hand from time to time. Naomi, has Steve ever laid a hand on your big ass?"

"My ass isn't that big, and so what if Steve finds it necessary to discipline me on occasion? I don't have to share that information with you," quipped Naomi with a smirk.

"I stand corrected," admitted Billy. "There can be no disputing it. If you somehow managed to strip Paula and spank her perfect ass, you are the king, and I am your humble apprentice, which means that you'll have to show me how you do it!"

"Well, Grasshopper, first you grab your victim like this," replied Steve calmly before suddenly grabbing Paula around the waist and easily picking her up. Then he took a seat and somehow managed to get a squirming Paula stretched across his knees.

"Now all you have to do as my apprentice is to lift her skirt up over her ass and pull her panties down, if she's even wearing any," continued Steve.