I have to admit that I found Tim attractive, and having been shell-shocked by a series, ( can two be considered a series?), of bad relationships, it had been awhile since I’d been with a man who wasn’t a crazy, violent ass-hole.
But for some reason I hesitated. Without being a crude pig like Enrico, who could make me shiver with revulsion, Tim would occasionally cut loose with a base compliment that would warm me to my toes and a few other spots, too. His most attractive quality was his silent and not-so-silent admiration for yours truly.
That may sound completely conceited and self-centered, but you’d have to understand that by coming to Alaska, I wasn’t only running away from Steven Kane, but I was also kind of running away from who I’d been. Although my old self was reasonably attractive and reasonably intelligent, I’d made some piss-poor choices that left me feeling insecure, pathetic, and kind of mousy.
And where were all the cheerleaders, sorority girls, Hooters’ waitresses? The girls that caught all the guys’ attention and snapped them all up? Not in Pelican, Alaska.
I was thinking all this as I managed to apply lotion and slide into clothes while I slipped out of my towel without exposing anything more than a bit of thigh and my bare back.
My audience was awestruck and dumbfounded. As well they should be.
“How’d she do that?” Tim asked Joy and Clark.
“Beats the hell out of me,” Joy replied, “but I can’t do that, so you two have to wait out in the hall for a minute. Don’t worry. My talent is that I’m fast.”
Obediently, the two guys walked out.
Joy quickly turned to me, “OK. How the hell did you do that?”
I grinned and shook my head, “Years of dorm living. Maybe a few awkward mishaps, but years of perfecting the technique. And always buy large towels.”
Joy made the smallest attempt at my technique, but even in her robe couldn’t manage.
“Oh, shit,” she said, standing there stark naked. She gave up and, as promised, was quickly clothed.
I’d sat down to comb my hair, which dries extremely fast, and apply makeup and jewelry. Tim and Clark also sat down at the table and watched me, still apparently fascinated, as though they were trying to pick up some good techniques for applying their own makeup or something.
Joy was standing in the middle of the room with a brush and battling her glorious hair. Her hair was winning.
“You don’t need to wear makeup,” Clark spoke to me for the first time.
Joy’s hairbrush ceased struggling. I stopped and turned to look at Clark.
“Do you have a problem with women wearing makeup?” I challenged quietly.
Clark smiled enigmatically. “Nope”. And I continued with my chore.
Clark was one of those guys who managed to be nerdy and kind of cool at the same time. It was like he was torn between the two extremes. He had a day-glo crew cut, black horn-rimmed glasses, black t-shirt, black jeans, and a black pea coat. He was cross between punk and beatnik, fun-loving and lonely desperation, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
“I give up!” Joy looked disgusted and threw her brush at the dresser. “Are you about ready or are we going to watch you apply makeup all night?” Joy was impatient, arms crossed and toe tapping.
“I don’t mind,” Clark smiled.
“God! Have a bit of patience, Miss Sitting-On-the-Shower-Floor!” I stood up and began searching for my long-lost coat, unworn since work had begun.
“You’re not wearing that, are you?” Joy pointed at my blue lace t-shirt.
“No, you’re not wearing that, Petra.” Joy reached into my cupboard and pulled out a black, rib-knit turtleneck. “Wear this. It’s still tight, but no flesh showing.”
“What are you going on about?” I started to argue, but Tim and Clark both pointed to the turtleneck and nodded.
After a quick, furious change, I grabbed my coat, brushed past my companions, and headed out in a huff.
I was five steps ahead of them, then Tim’s big hand softly enclosed around my upper arm. He spoke softly into my hair and I tried to not visibly quiver.
“Hey, don’t let it spoil your night. You looked great, but believe me, you still do. The bars are going to be full of really drunk long-liners and they’d have been after you if you’d shown up in your dirty work clothes. This isn’t like being on a campus. No need for overkill.”
I wrinkled my nose at him and then sighed. “Not going to let me sulk, huh?”
“Oh, you got about a good minute or two in.”
I slowed down until Joy and Clark caught up with us, then linked my arms with theirs, and we half-skipped, four abreast the boardwalk.
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