Chapter 22: Stars
You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars. – E. E. Cummings
“I never saw it moving. My kids did a field trip here and both times the tour guide said that the mechanism was unrepairable.” She said remembering those days. “My youngest didn’t get to come here. His was the first class to go to university planetarium.”
“You’ll have to bring them by.”
She nodded. “It’s really quite beautiful.”
“Yeah.” He accepted a water bottle from Emily. “Thanks.”
“Do you need anything else, sir?”
“I’m good. Helen?”
For the first time, she looked at him and saw his intent gaze on her. Not used to anyone looking at her like that she blushed and shook her head no.
Emily disappeared and Reese reached out and touched Helen’s cheek. It was a simple caress with his knuckle. But again, she blushed.
“You have three children, grown I’m assuming.” She nodded slightly and he moved his hand to toy with her hair. “And yet, a simple touch makes you blush. Makes me wonder what you would do if you knew what I was thinking.”
Her blush deepened and he chuckled.
“Come on.” Reese straightened to his six feet five, plus a few inches from his boots, and offered her a hand.
“Where?” she whispered.
“The best view in the house.”
She placed her hand in his and he led her to the security alcove that she had not seen before.
“Rufie at the solarium bar.” Childs said as Reese entered. “Joshua and Thompson have it. PD is in route.”
“OK. If they need me, call. I’ll be in the round,” Reese said as he gently pulled Helen behind him. He knew that Childs would keep his mouth shut and would not be telling everyone that Reese was taking a woman to the round.
He led Helen down the back hallway to an elevator. Once inside, he told her to push number four. She did and the elevator began its slow ascent. When it stopped, he led her down another passageway to a large
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Chapter 22: Stars
curved glass wall. Looking down, she could see the entire main area.
“This, is the round. It’s two way mirrors, no one can see you.” He said softly with his deep voice echoing slightly.
“What do you use it for?” Helen asked quietly as she looked beneath the solar system to dance floor.
“Security.” He pointed down the way where a man stood with a radio in hand. “All of my clubs have this in some form. Along with more cameras than anyone knows. All the security on the floor wear glasses with a camera in them. The wait staff have cameras on their name tags.”
“Is all that legal?”
“It’s posted at every entrance that surveillance equipment is used for the protection of staff and guests. And it’s posted that all common areas, including the washroom, not where the stalls are, are also filmed.”
“How do you do that?”
“The stalls are separate from where the sinks are. That area has no door, just a long hallway so there is no expectation of privacy. And so far, the only ones that have complained were two guys trying to sell drugs and an idiot who tried to rape a girl.”
“You’re serious about security.”
“I contract with a company, IGYS, for the security at all my properties.”
“You own this.” Helen said looking up at him.
“I do.” He saw the look of confusion and doubt on her face. “What are you thinking, my sweet mermaid?”
“You.” She motioned to encompass him from head to toe. “You look like that. You’ve got…” touching his biceps she blushed and trailed off. “And you have all that.” She jerked a thumb towards the bar. “And you
have women throwing themselves at you.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you up here with me? I’m fat and old-.”
“I’m going to stop you right there, sweetheart.” He said stepping closer to her and pushing her back against the glass wall.
Large hands pressed against the glass on either side of her head as he looked down at her. His body was not touching hers, but his body heat was engulfing her just as his cologne did.
“My dad is nearly a foot taller than me. All of us are tall and big. Even some of my sisters. I work out because I enjoy it. I enjoy the exercise and the comradery that I get at Golden. I work out because I expect
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Chapter 22: Stars
the guards at my clubs to do the same. And I’m not going to tell them to go to the gym if I don’t.”
“I learned a lot while I was in the Navy. I earned an MBA and have my real estate license. I am no where near a mogul nor do I want to be one. I just want to leave the world a little better than when I came in.”
“And as far as all those little girls that throw themselves at me, I am now fifty–two years old. I already have kids. I don’t want to raise a girlfriend. I want a partner. I want a woman, not a girl. I want a woman who is not going to get jealous over all the women in my life, and there are a lot of women in my life. I want a woman who understands that raising kids sucks, because I have my niece right now. You met her at the nail salon and you made her day.”
“Uncle Owen?” she squeaked out.
“That’s me, to thirty–four princesses. Like I said, a lot of women in my life. And if any of them call me, I will drop everything. Same with all my sisters. And my daughter and her siblings. But, my queen will always be my top priority.” He leaned down with his lips hovering just above hers. “Always, sweet
mermaid.”
“I don’t ever want to hear you say that you’re fat or old ever again. You’re experienced and life size. You’re beautiful and kind. You intrigue me, mermaid. And I want to know if that lovely blush covers your body.”
Helen let out a soft breath of air and Reese took it as an invitation. His lips lightly touched hers for the briefest of moments. They then returned and she grasped his shirt. She wasn’t sure if it was to steady herself or push him away.
Or pull him closer.
“Mermaid, I want you.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Your thighs.” He smiled.
“They’re fa–big.”
“Uh–huh. Perfect for me.” Reese reached down and grabbed her thighs and lifted her up wrapping her legs around his waist. “I have big hands. I need big thighs to hold onto. I love your mermaid thighs.”
He slid his hands down her legs and then back up on her now exposed thighs.
“Owen…” Helen whispered as she looked at him with wide eyes.
“Reese.” He corrected gently as he pressed into her.
“I…I…”
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Chapter 22: Stars
“However much I want you, I’m not going to do anything here.” He assured her. “Will you have dinner with me? Weekends are busy for me, but Monday is good.”
“Me?” she asked quietly, still amazed that he had so easily picked her up.
“You. I know you go to the gym after work. We can go from there. You can meet me, if it would make you feel better.”
“Me?”
“Baby, who treated you so bad that you have no confidence in yourself?”
Everyone, she thought as tears sprang to her eyes.
Chapter Comments
Heather Hackney Long
7 days ago
Finally a story for my age and size! This is really intriguing so far!
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
