Dreaming of Tomorrow Read online

  “Sure, it’s entirely up to you.” David swam over to one side of the pool, then reached out and took a sip of his tea. “At least until you mention it to Nicole. If you give her half a chance, she’ll pressure you like crazy. She’s looking for guinea pigs to work on.”

  David swam over to Emily who was floating lazily at the side of the pool. He kissed her gently. “I mean it. I’m not trying to change you.

  Emily finally realized what was bothering her about David’s kisses. They were thrilling but they were also tentative and almost too gentle. It was as if he was afraid of scaring her just because he knew she was a virgin. She thought for a moment and decided that she’d put an end to that nonsense as soon as possible. David was not only the nicest man she’d ever met but he was also the best looking. There was no way she was going to let him get away with that overly gentle act for too long. She got out of the pool.

  “I’m going into the hot tub for a while before we eat,” she stated.

  David got out as well. “Me too, after I put the clothes into the dryer.”

  They soaked in the hot tub for about fifteen minutes before getting out.

  “Shall we lie out in the sun for a while before we eat our picnic?” Emily asked casually.

  “Sounds good to me.” David toweled himself off and laid on a blanket spread out on the soft, plush lawn. “Come on, join me.”

  Emily joined him on the blanket and stretched out next to him, one hand gently stroking the dogs that came over to join them. They talked lazily, letting the hot sun wash over them. Soon David planted several soft kisses all over Emily’s face. He stopped suddenly, pulling back after giving her one long tender kiss on her mouth.

  “David,” Emily said softly, squinting into the bright afternoon sun, “it’s okay, I’m not that innocent. I do kiss men, you know. I even enjoy kissing men, at least, I enjoy kissing you.”

  She smiled softly and said, “It’s just that I don’t . . . well, you know.”

  “You don’t?” David fell back on the grass dramatically. “Ah, shucks, Ma’am. Ever?”

  “Not so far.” Emily blushed.

  “Just so you know, I’ll be working on changing that,” he warned her in a tender growl. “When it’s right.”

  Emily just grinned.

  Chapter Eight

  “Well for now, we’ll stick to just kissing.” David pulled her into his arms, then spoke with his mouth up against her lips, “But someday, maybe someday soon, I’m probably gonna try to change your mind.”

  “Is that a promise or a threat?” she asked with her voice full of exaggerated innocence.

  “It’s both.” He groaned but explained, “I’ve been trying to be a better man, lately. I’ve gotten more active in my Church and for me that means trying to be a better Christian, so I know it’s a sin, but you’re really hard to resist.”

  Those were the last words either of them spoke for a very long time as he took her into his arms and his mouth closed over hers in a kiss that was still gentle but also full of promise, passion, and chemistry.

  He used his tongue to gently tease her mouth open and was surprised to feel the intensity of the passion in her response. He was also surprised at the intensity of the response she aroused in him. After a long time, he wound up lying half on and half off Emily, kissing her and nibbling her neck. His hands were sliding gently over her body. He rested his thumbs against the sides of her breasts. Then with a quick move he rolled over, pulling her until she came to rest on his chest.

  “Emily? Emily?” he murmured against her mouth.

  She pulled back her head and replied, “What?

  “I think we’d better stop this if you don’t want to . . . Ah, I mean,” he paused, his usual relaxed confidence failing him, “maybe we should eat lunch.”

  “At the very least, I’d better get off you.” She grinned, joking as she quipped, “I wouldn’t want you to feel squished.”

  “Squished?” David laughed. “I don’t feel squished, I feel aroused.”

  Suddenly she was aware of his hardness pressing against her.

  “I can tell.” She kissed him. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  She stood up and reached her hand down to him. “Let’s have lunch.”

  Holding hands, they went into the house.

  “Why don’t you grab a quick shower?” David suggested. “I’ll empty the clothes dryer while you are in there.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Emily went upstairs.

  When she came back down, she felt clean and refreshed. When David went up to shower she told him to hand her his bathing suit. She rinsed out both bathing suits and hung them up to dry. Then she went to the refrigerator and started removing the lunch she had fixed. Soon she heard David coming down the stairs.

  “David,” she asked, “where are the dogs?”

  “I shut them in the den,” he told her. “It’s not going to be much help for your dad’s allergies showering and washing your clothes and all that if we let dogs get all over you now that you’re all cleaned up.”

  “Makes sense, now next question.” She paused. “Why did you suggest a picnic lunch if we were going to be at your house?”

  “Because, my dear, I like picnics.” He came up behind her and slid his hands around her waist, nibbling her ear. “What are we having?”

  “I made roast beef sandwiches on french rolls, along with potato salad, some cheese and pickles. I brought some au jus so we can either have our sandwiches cold or warm them up and make them into french dip.” She grinned. “I also brought apple pie for dessert.”

  “I’m in heaven. I love french dips. Let’s eat!”

  Emily sliced the french rolls then picked up a plastic container of roast beef and au jus. “Put this into the microwave.”

  David followed orders. Then he turned and watched as Emily arranged the food on the counter, opening the bowl of potato salad, opening the plastic bags full of sliced cheese and pickles.

  “Is the roast beef hot yet?” she asked.

  “Yes, Ma’am. Any more orders?” he asked with humor, realizing that he was finally clearly seeing something he had only gotten glimpses of before: the real Emily, relaxed and totally at ease.

  “Of course, warm up these rolls, and don’t leave them in too long or they’ll get hard.” She looked at him wondering what was behind that expression on his face. “Do you want to use paper plates or shall we get fancy and use your dishes?”

  “Let’s use real dishes.” David smiled, a sneaky smile. “It’s Nicole’s night to do dishes.”

  “Then we’ll use paper, you brat. Nicole’s doing enough for us today,” she said with gratitude in her voice. “My father recognized her, you know. He was shocked to have a celebrity stay with him.”

  “Celebrities are people too.” David laughed. “Even bratty little sisters.”

  They dished up their food and carried there plates out onto the patio. They sat at a big redwood picnic table and ate, talking and munching contentedly. Emily went in to get the pie.

  “Do you want it warmed up?” she asked from the doorway.

  “Sure, and there’s ice cream in the freezer,” David called back.

  “Perfect, a man after my own heart,” she said, smiling.

  “You finally got the message.” His voice was full of meaning.

  Emily grinned to herself, absurdly happy as she sliced the pie and put it on plates. She put one piece in the microwave while she got the ice cream out of the freezer, then she took that piece out and put the other piece in. She scooped ice cream onto the pie, pulled out the second piece and scooped ice cream on it too. As soon as she replaced the ice cream in the freezer, she carried the plates outside. They sat side by side as they ate dessert.

  “Emily, would you go to Church with me in the morning?” David asked.

  “Can we take my parents to the Methodist Church on Wilkins?” Emily answered his question with one of her own.

  “Sure,” David agreed. “I usually go to the Luther
an on Central Avenue, but we can go to your Church now and maybe go to mine once in a while.”

  Emily carried the dessert plates into the kitchen and cleaned up.

  “How’s Laura?” David came up behind her and said, “I heard it was false labor last Sunday.”

  “But it wasn’t last night.” Emily grinned. “She had a little boy just after ten o’clock.”

  “That’s great! Do you think we can stop by the hospital and see her when I take you home?” David was enthusiastic.

  “Sure, as long as I call home first and find out how Nicole’s doing.” She looked at her watch and said, “We’d better get going though. Doesn’t she have a date of her own tonight?”

  “Unfortunately she does or I could keep you here a lot longer.” He grinned. “It wouldn’t be such an important date if she weren’t leaving Monday morning on a photo shoot. I don’t think she’s too serious about this guy.”

  “Why do I get the impression that you’re glad it’s not serious?” Emily asked.

  “Because you’re as intelligent and perceptive as you are beautiful?” David returned the question.

  “Don’t answer a question with a question. Is there something wrong with this guy?” she kept probing.

  “I get the feeling he could be jealous, maybe even obsessive,” David admitted. “And I think he cares more about Nikki because she’s a model than because of who she really is. I hope I’m wrong.”

  “I’d bet on your instincts. Let’s finish cleaning up this mess and I’ll call Nicole.”

  They washed the serving utensils and put the leftovers into the refrigerator. Then Emily called her house and spoke to Nicole before they got back on the motorcycle and headed for the hospital to see Laura and her new son.

  “How are things at home?” David asked.

  “Fine. Nicole has everything under control,” Emily was pleased to report.

  They reached the hospital and pulled into the parking lot. After checking at the information desk they headed for the nursery first, then Laura’s room. When they arrived at her room, they found out that Laura had other visitors: her husband Jack and her friends Kate and Bob Simmons. They began to mutter something about coming back when she had fewer visitors but Laura would have none of it. Kate, Bob and Jack were promptly banished to the coffee shop so that Emily and David could visit.

  Just as she left the room, Kate looked at Emily and David then turned towards Laura and gave her a thumbs up sign, “Good job, how did you manage it?”

  Laura, wide-eyed, just shrugged.

  Emily looked at Laura and said, “So. You did set us up.”

  “Honestly? No. I hoped you’d meet somebody nice there, and David’s the nicest guy around, but I really never guessed . . .” Laura grinned. “What the heck, if you were going to hand out an award for Matchmaker of the Year, I’d accept. Enough of this, have you seen Josh?” she mentioned the baby.

  “We sure did,” Emily said. “He’s beautiful!”

  “Congratulations, Laura. He looks wonderful.” David leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “We should have brought flowers.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Jack’s brought me plenty.”

  “We can’t stay long, Laura. Nicole’s at home with my folks,” Emily explained.

  “At least tell me what you two have been up to today,” Laura pleaded.

  “We went riding and swimming,” Emily told her.

  “Horses or the motorcycle?” Laura asked.

  “Both. And we had a picnic,” David added.

  “Anything else?” Laura persisted. “Did things get, um . . . Interesting?” She watched as Emily blushed. “Never mind, I know.”

  “Well, we’d better go,” Emily said, squirming just a bit.

  “Bye, Laura,” David added. “We’ll have to find Jack and give him our congratulations, too.”

  “Thanks for coming.” Laura sighed as they left the room.

  They left, finding Jack outside the door. David and Jack exchanged a few male comments, as though Jack had done all the work in producing the baby. Emily hugged Jack, and then Jack gave both of them candy cigars. They told Jack they had to get going and then headed for Emily’s house.

  They arrived at Emily’s to find her parents and Nicole watching television. Nicole left in her car to go get ready for her date and Emily and David sat at the kitchen table talking.

  “David,” Emily started, “can I ask you something?”

  “Sure. What is it?” He looked at her.

  “Well, I was thinking of asking Nicole to help me work out like you suggested, but so far I’m only interested in seeing if she can help me with the externals, hair, make-up and clothes.” Emily paused. “I even want to find out if she’s right about getting a few modeling jobs. Let’s face it, we can use the money.”

  “Sounds good to me. What’s your question?” He was curious.

  “Would she really be interested in doing that or would she be after me to make major changes?” She then added, “And what would you think?”

  “I think she’d love to help you. In fact, there is a reason why she’d be more than happy to do it but it’s her story to tell.” He grinned. “And, get this straight, I like you no matter what. Got it?”

  “Got it.” She nodded, grinning.

  David stayed a little while longer before he left. He gave Emily a goodbye kiss that knocked her socks off, and another, and another. They made a date for Wednesday evening.

  Wednesday proved to be a wet, rainy miserable day. Riding, whether it was done on horses or motorcycles, somehow didn’t seem like a very hot idea. Emily was so convinced that David would call her up and cancel the date that she was reluctant to answer the phone when it rang.

  As she had feared, it was David. “Hello Emily.”

  “Hi David,” she greeted him. “I guess it’s too wet to go riding this evening.”

  “Well, we could still ride but we’d feel like drowned rats when we got done. That’s why I called you,” David admitted.

  “Do you want to cancel our date?” she asked softly, fearfully.

  “Hell, no!” he said loudly. Then he dropped his voice and said, “I just thought we’d change our plans to dinner and a movie.”

  “That sounds perfect to me.” She was relieved.

  “Fine, I’ll be over in about half an hour. Nicole’s still out of town, but I have a friend who should be reliable enough too stay with your folks. Unless you think they’d care to come along?” he suggested.

  “That’s really a sweet offer but I think Dad should stay out of this weather . . . and David,” she paused, “I want to be alone with you.”

  “I’ll be right over, you sweet talker, you.” He was pleased.

  David arrived a half hour later with a woman of about sixty, whom he introduced to Emily as Julia. It turned out that she was his nearest neighbor. She was an R.N. and had worked until recently as a private care nurse. She seemed warm and capable, so Emily left with David without a qualm.

  David took Emily to the nearest movie theater and they bought tickets for the latest action thriller. David stopped at the snack bar to buy popcorn and sodas, but Emily whispered in his ear.

  “I brought some popcorn and a couple of cold sodas.” Aloud she said, “Let’s skip the snack bar, they overcharge for everything in these theaters.”

  They found two seats near the back of the theater. As soon as it was dark, Emily pulled out the popcorn and the soft drinks. They watched the movie and munched, stopping occasionally for some sloppy buttery kisses. All in all, they saw very little of the movie. They saw just enough to decide that they hadn’t missed much.

  “Want to sit through the movie and not watch it again?” David asked, nibbling her ear.

  “Let’s go some place where we can talk,” Emily suggested.

  “Good idea.” David stood up and held out his hand to Emily. “I know a quiet restaurant near here. We can have a cocktail and talk for a while before we eat.”

  “I
certainly want to wait for a while before dinner after that popcorn,” Emily said.

  “I’m glad you didn’t make any more, it was just enough, and it tasted better than theater popcorn, too.” He kissed her as he held the car door then said, “It still does.”

  “I have a better idea than just sitting and having a cocktail,” Emily offered.

  “What’s that?” He was openly curious.

  “Let’s go into the arcade next door and play some video games, or better yet, find a table and shoot some pool,” she suggested.

  “Emily? Are you a pool shark?” David was surprised.

  She didn’t answer, instead she just smiled, a soft innocent smile. They drove to a nearby pool hall and rented a table.Watching as Emily expertly racked the balls, David knew he had found the true Emily, the one hiding beneath her shy and rather prim exterior. He had a hard time playing up to her ability. In fact, he lost most of the games, but he did manage to win a few. Then they left the pool hall and went to a nearby restaurant and got a table.

  Over dinner the conversation took a serious turn. “I may not be able to see you as often for a while, David. My father’s getting worse, I can tell,” Emily explained sadly, her eyes misting.

  “Then, I’ll see you at your house,” he told her gently. He reached out and took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “I’ll be beside you wherever you are, whatever happens.”

  Emily nodded, her throat too choked up for words.

  “I have an idea,” David said as they got up to leave the restaurant. “If the weather’s warm and your father’s up to it, why not bring him and your mother over to my place this weekend to see the horses? It might be good for them to get out.”

  Emily thought a moment then said, “Mom loves horses, she used to ride as a girl.”

  “Could she still?” David asked. “On a gentle horse?”

  “I’d better check with her doctor, both of their doctors, before I make too many plans.” Emily was more worried about her dad.

  “I’ll give you a call on Friday to find out what they said,” David told her.

  True to his word, David called her on Friday. Emily told him what her mom’s doctor had said.