2 comments/ 20526 views/ 2 favorites The Blue Ribbon By: Miltone "Hey Jace, what're you up to tomorrow?" crackled Joey's friendly voice over the phone line. "Going to the Concours. What else is there?" Jason replied with a laugh, not surprised at hearing from his best old car buddy. "I figured that and have a little proposition for you to consider." "Shoot." "You know that we're taking four cars there tomorrow." "Yeah. You were saying so the other day," Jason commented remembering their phone conversation from a few days earlier. "Well, Little John's mother passed away and he can't make it. I was wondering if you would want to come along with the crew in his place." It took Jason all of a split second to make up his mind. "I'll be there. What time?" "Can you be at The Shop by 6? We have to be on the road by 6:30. The Old Man gets pissed if we're late." "That's pretty early, but I can do it." "Great! It should be a terrific show." "Always is." The two old friends went on to talk over the cars they would be in charge of showing and a few other details. Jason had to admit that Joey had a great job working for one of the area's wealthiest real estate entrepreneurs who just so happened to have the area's finest collection of antique and classic automobiles. We're not just talking some really neat old Fords and Chevy's, of which he did happen to have several, but full blown classics from the golden age of motoring, Packards, Cadillacs, Pierce Arrows, Mercedes, Rolls Royces, Cords, Auburns, and of course three or four Duesenbergs. The Concours d'Elegance is one of the top three or four shows of its kind in the world. Over three hundred of the world's most collectible cars would be displayed on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall, the former estate of one of the areas automotive pioneers. The beautiful Tudor styled mansion and the lush rolling grounds made a perfect backdrop for the jewels of automotive styling and performance. This year The Old Man had been invited to bring four cars: a big old green Locomobile from the teens, a dark blue 1941 Cadillac convertible sedan that had been used as a parade vehicle by Eisenhower after the war, a sharp red and white Mercury convertible from the fifties, and a long dark green Duesenberg Town Car. Joey had recruited Jason in the past to help transport the cars to this and other shows, unload them from the hauler, drive them onto the show field, give them a final shine, and see how the judging went. It was a great experience to become a part of such a prestigious event, and Jason hoped that one day the old Cadillac that he was currently restoring would be invited onto the field at Meadow Brook. "Thanks for helping out, Jace," Joey said gratefully. "Thanks for inviting me," Jason replied. "See you in the morning." The rest of his Saturday flew by. Inspired by the prospect of taking part in the big show, Jason spent a little time putzing around in his garage working on his restoration project. Since his divorce it was about the only fun thing going on in his life. He had his work and a few good friends, but there was something missing from his life and spending a few hours each week painstakingly restoring his grand old Cadillac seemed to fill the void. Even though he got to bed at a decent hour, the alarm shooting off at o-dark thirty the next morning caught Jason by surprise. With a sleepy excitement he tumbled out of bed and headed to the shower. Toweling off afterwards, he appraised his naked body in the mirror. Not bad for an old man, he chuckled to himself. Tall, trimly muscular, a nice healthy tan, sandy brown hair bleached blond by the sun, and green eyes, Jason was okay with his looks. Not wickedly handsome, but none too shabby either. Although nearing his mid fifties, people often remarked that he looked thirty-five. Good genes, a healthy diet, some regular exercise, and an upbeat outlook on life had helped him maintain his youthfulness. Now if he could only find a woman who appreciated his finer qualities, his life would be complete. Noting the time, Jason quickly shaved and dressed, opting for a light colored golf shirt and a comfortable pair of slacks. He tossed a pair of shorts into his camera bag just in case it got really hot and headed off to The Old Man's shop. Just a few miles from his house, The Shop was in a nondescript brick building with a small office in front. Driving past you might think it was a modest tool and die operation. But once inside that first impression was quickly proven wrong. There were a dozen bays where cars could be stored and serviced. There was a machine shop, a paint booth, a woodworking shop, a metal working shop, everything you would need to completely disassemble and restore an automobile. Jason always felt a twinge of garage envy when he walked inside. If he had a place like this to work, his own project would be quickly finished. "Hey, Jace! What's up?" Joey said greeting his old buddy. He turned toward Billie Sue and Dave Bob, his co-workers "You remember my friend, Jason, don't you?" "Sure do," said Billie Sue, a short skinny gal who was the designated detailer. She was legendary for being able to coax a trophy winning shine from even the most weather-beaten old heap. "Hey, Jace. How you doing?" said Dave Bob, shaking Jason's hand. Dave Bob was a wiry dark-haired guy who was in charge of the shop. He was a fine all around mechanic but his forte was paint and finish. Several cars that he had painted had taken top honors in the car show circuit. "I'm doing great," Jason replied. "Looks like we have a great day in store." "Should be. Supposed to be warm and sunny. No chance of rain," remarked Billie Sue. "So what's the plan?" Jason asked. "We've got the Duesenberg and Locomobile already loaded in the trailer," Dave Bob said pointing toward the long two-car trailer parked outside. "Skippy here is going to drive the Caddy. Are you up to driving the Merc?" Jason had figured that he would ride along with the others. He hadn't planned on driving something, but jumped at the chance. "I sure am," Jason said. "Great. Then let's do it!" "We've got a long day," Joey remarked. "Say, what's that Skippy business anyway?" Jason asked his buddy as they walked toward the cars as Dave Bob locked up. "That's my new nickname, Skippy Whitebread. Long story. I'll tell you sometime over a beer." Jason chuckled. The plan was to have Joey lead the way in the Cadillac, Jason following in the Merc, and Dave Bob and Billie Sue bringing up the rear in the rig hauling the trailer. Jason found the keys already in the ignition as he slipped onto the firm red and white leather set. The car was a beauty, a 1956 Mercury Montclair convertible, the closest thing to a Lincoln that Ford made that year. It started right up and purred like a kitten, well, actually it purred like a big old tomcat. The drive out to the show was uneventful. It was a crystal clear Sunday morning and the car was running superbly. They rendezvoused in a large parking lot on the estate where a hundred other trailers were parked. Several other cars were in various stages of being unloaded and driven onto the show field. A spectacular Delahaye and an equally impressive Bentley were parked right next to them. It took several minutes for Dave Bob and Joey to cautiously unload the Locomobile and the Duesey from the trailer. Billie Sue must have spent a week polishing all of the brass trim on the big old Locomobile. It must have made an impressive sight on the roads back in 1915 because it looked spectacular in the early morning light. But Jason's favorite was the long dark green Duesenberg Town Car that Dave Bob patiently backed out of the trailer and down the ramps. It was the epitome of classic elegance. A huge powerful engine that was years ahead of the competition in power and design coupled to an elegant and luxurious body, trimmed in black leather in front for the driver and in sumptuous cloth in the rear for the passengers. In an era when a fully loaded Ford sold for $500, the Duesenberg sold for nearly $20,000 and it looked like it was worth every penny. The party of four formed up and paraded onto the field, queuing up to check in and then being split up and escorted to their parking places. The cars were arranged in circles, each of which contained cars of a similar class. They were backed in behind a rope that was staked around the perimeter to hold back the viewing public. An errant belt buckle or swinging camera bag could quickly damage a ten thousand dollar paint job. Jason was pleased to see that his spot was the best vantage point of the entire group of cars he was joining. There were maybe fifteen other Fifties American convertibles in the group, Chryslers and Caddies, Lincolns and Packards. He climbed out and found a stack of clean towels in the truck and quickly went around the car wiping off the road dust and cleaning the chrome. He stood back and admired his handiwork. "Looking good!" said the marshal, a young college kid recruited as a volunteer to help keep things in order. "Thanks!" "What is it?" "Fifty-six Mercury Montclair convertible," Jason replied. "These cars are so awesome. I can't believe it. Did you see that black and orange one over there someplace? Unbeliveable." "No, I didn't, but I plan to," Jason said. Jason joined the others up on the patio for coffee and a cruller. While it was still early and before The Old Man showed up, they decided to cruise around the field and look at the other entries, but still keep an eye on their designated cars. The Locomobile and Duesenberg had been selected for special segments of the event and Dave Bob was the designated driver. They split up in pairs, Billie Sue and Dave Bob, Jason and Joey, and began their walk through, greeting friends and taking pictures and marveling at the gorgeous rolling sculpture on display. "So what do you think?" Joey asked as he and Jason walked around a circle of magnificent open classics. "I think I'm in heaven," Jason replied, standing in awe of the sparkling automobiles on the show field. "Hey, what about that one?" Joey asked, obviously checking out more than just the finely restored cars. Jason looked over in the same direction to see a walking wet dream of a girl on the arm of an older man. She was blonde and trim and walked with a certain assured saunter that told him to forget it, she was already taken. He smiled and looked anyway. "Hello, Sugar Daddy!" Jason cracked. They enjoyed this part of the old car hobby. Being admirers of beautiful cars often spilled over into admiring the women who always seemed to be in attendance. And Joey, a guy blessed with a tremendous gift for gab was never at a shortage for words and had found some success at meeting and mating with a few of the ladies. Jason had never enjoyed the same success but grudgingly admired his friend's sexual triumphs. The guys continued on through the other circles. Every circle of cars brought new and delightful sights. There was a ring of fantastic GM show cars from the early 1950's. There were dozens of Classic era Packards and Cadillacs and Lincolns. There were high-powered muscle cars from the 1960s. There were several circles of European sports cars and Classics, including dozens of Ferraris, Masteratis, and Lamborghinis. "Eleven o'clock," Jason said, his eyes trained on a gorgeously tanned brunette, her long hair sweeping back and forth over her back. She paused with her guy and listened intently as he gestured toward the gleaming silver Stutz and made some sort of comment. "Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!" Joey replied. "Now, that's what you call a high maintenance baby doll!" The guys chuckled and continued walking. There were so many gorgeous examples of automotive art on the field, many that they had never seen before. They slowed as they admired the circle of Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs. Each vehicle was like a gleaming jewel, the chrome highly polished, the deep dramatic paint glinting, and the wire wheels sparkling. "Whoa, dude! Check it out! Duesen Daughter!" Joey remarked. Jason looked where Joey had trained his eyes. Sure enough, Rob Michaels was in attendance and had brought along his family. Rob had the most enviable collection of Duesenbergs in the country. Not the largest, just the best. And his daughter outshone every car in his collection. She might have been all of eighteen or nineteen but was mouthwatering; tall and slender and raven-haired with a remarkably pert pair of breasts on prominent display in a skimpy strappy top. Her short shorts were skintight and barely covered her lower essentials, and what gorgeous essentials they were! "I'm picking up a camel toe," Joey cracked, looking skyward prayerfully. "Thank you, Jesus!" "Oh, my god! I think I'm in love!" Jason cried out when he saw Michaels's daughter. Sure she was barely legal and he was an old fuck, but that never kept him from admiring a beautiful young girl. Put him in the grave when he stops looking, was his motto. They continued to circulate, browsing around a circle of fifties era convertibles, and then a grouping of pre World War II European Classics. "Say, what about those two?" Joey said, nodding toward a pair of girls walking in front of them. "Hmm," Jason replied. "Very nice. Good eye, Skippy." "You can put a lid on the Skippy business," Joey remarked curtly, shooting Jason an unappreciative look as they paused beside a startling handsome foreign car, a Horch from the late 1930's. After quickly admiring the long sleek dark European beauty, Jason looked ahead to admire the striking pair of American beauties. Somewhere in their twenties perhaps, They were walking along and talking a lot more than they were looking. One was tall and slim with long jet black hair and creamy mocha skin, wearing a white halter-top and short denim skirt, that showed off a fine ass that sat high atop a long, long pair of legs. But as exotic as she was, it was the other girl who drew Jason's eye. She was shorter with shoulder length honey blonde hair, a great looking rack, and a round firm little ass. Her silky turquoise camisole top and short black skirt fitted her figure perfectly. Although the girls were dressed similarly, their individual looks, the different way each strolled along, and the colors they were wearing made for an interesting contrast. Just as Jason was appraising the figure of the shorter girl, she paused and glanced back in his general direction. For a moment he caught a glimpse of her dark blue eyes and her pretty face. At first her look was blank and distant, but then she seemed to notice him and her face warmed into a shy smile. That sweet smile faded when she turned back toward her friend to catch a snippet of conversation, but for that fleeting moment, Jason saw something, something strangely familiar. "You know, Skippy, if I'm not totally off my can, I think I know that girl," he said to Joey. "Who?" Joey asked. "The little blonde over there. Damn, I wish that I could place her." "Well then, let's get closer," Joey suggested, stepping up their leisurely pace. Jason followed along close beside his old buddy. The guys quickly closed the distance between them and did their best to act casual and nonchalant, pretending to be paying close attention to the gorgeous black Bentley roadster in front of them when they were really checking out the pair of girls who were now standing beside them, talking between themselves. "So are you sure they're going to be here?" they overheard the honey blonde groan. "I don't want to be walking around here all day looking for your boyfriend and his deadbeat friend." "They'll be here. I just know it," said the tall, dark-skinned girl. "Johnny is just so fucking cool. He promised he's going to be here. I just know it." "Okay. If you say so," said the honey blonde, rolling her eyes. "Let's keep moving, okay," the tall dark girl said. As the girls began to move, Jason looked over at the shorter girl again. When she looked back toward him their eyes locked together. Damn! She was so familiar. Maybe five-six with a curvy sexy figure, she had dark blue eyes and a cute little button nose and high rounded cheekbones. She grinned again slightly when her eyes caught Jason's. What a terrific smile! She couldn't have been more than mid twenties, but that didn't matter. Jason felt his heart snap. "Damn!" he muttered under his breath. "I do know her. Can't remember where or when ... but I know that girl." Joey had heard him and leaned over. "If it makes you any more comfortable, I would love to know her friend," Joey quipped. "Just give me a minute, okay?" Jason's mind flipped through his memory. She looked so damned familiar. It took another second for Jason to place her. Then it hit him. He really did know that girl. He had to picture her a few years younger, and a little skinnier, but he realized who she was. Maybe ten or twelve years before he had hung around with a great bunch of guys he worked with. One was named George Lovett, nicknamed Big George, a big hulking guy with a gentle spirit. Standing now on the show field at Meadow Brook Hall, Jason was certain that he knew the girl standing a few feet away was George's daughter. But how she had changed! He remembered a skinny little girl playing Barbies with a friend but now here was a grown up beautiful young woman and for a moment he was speechless. He double-checked his memory. The body was all grown up and new, but the shape of her face and the eyes and the smile reminded him of her mother and confirmed his suspicion. Then he took a deep breath and found his nerve. "Excuse me," Jason said haltingly as he and Joey approached, catching the girl's eye again. Her taller friend looked over at him with a disapproving look on her face and shot him that old "get lost quick" look. The object of Jason's attention smiled softly and ran her hand up through her hair. Her smile faded and her hand came to rest on her hip. "I don't mean to intrude into your thing, but you look really familiar to me," Jason said, his eyes locking on the short blonde with the big dark eyes. "I think I know you." "And what makes you think that?" she replied. "You remind me of the daughter of an old friend of mine," Jason said. He tried flashing his best boyish smile but she didn't seem impressed. "What's his name?" "George. George Lovett." "That's my father's name all right, but I don't remember you," she said. Her voice was soft with a slight sexy rasp to it. "You sure? You used to live on Warner Street over in Warren," Jason added. "Used to. A long time ago," she said, her hand still resting on her hip that jutted out to the side almost defiantly. "So ... you don't ... remember me at all?" Jason asked. He could hear Joey chuckling at his stumbling and bumbling pickup attempt. The girl just looked at him, her dark blue eyes looking him over up and down. There was a slight shake to her head. "Sorry," she said with a smirk and a slight shrug of her shoulders. The movement of her shoulders sent a jiggle to her breasts, which in turn sent a tingle straight to Jason's groin. It had been a long time since he had felt that sort of visceral feeling. It wasn't just that her shapely body was sheathed in a skimpy silky camisole and a short flirty skirt. There was something about the way she carried herself, something that drew him instinctively to her. Pheromones or hormones or some sort of mystical attraction. "Come on, Ashley," said her friend. "Let's go." The girl shrugged again and moved off with her friend. Ashley. Ashley Lovett. That clinched it in Jason's mind. It was her, he was sure of it and he felt his heart sink just a little as he watched the girls saunter away after getting blown off like that. He admired the swish of their short skirts as their asses swayed back and forth while they walked. Neither girl glanced back even a peek. Jason sighed deeply and felt Joey's hand patting him on his back. The Blue Ribbon "Good try, old man," Joey commiserated. "For a second there I thought you had her on the line, but she spit the hook." "Yeah," Jason grumbled. "My usual fisherman's luck." "Well, you know the old saying, plenty of fish in the sea," Joey remarked. "And speaking of which, would you check that one out?" Walking along the circle next to them was an absolutely beautiful woman. Late twenties or early thirties, short thick blonde hair, gorgeous tan, flawless figure prominently displayed in a snug yellow tank top and a short white skirt. Joey put his hands together in a prayerful pose. "Oh, thank you, Jesus!" "I know," Jason remarked with a laugh. "Just when I think I've seen every beautiful woman in the world, the good Lord blesses us once again." They both watched as she moved around the circle and joined up with a tall dark handsome guy, obviously her husband. The guys chuckled, shook their heads, and then moved on to look over the rest of the European Classics in the circle they had been touring. There was another group of closed American Classics that drew their attention, including a pair of cars owned by a mutual friend. Don Adams had the area's largest collection but was the nicest guy. He proudly showed off his Packard Twelve coupe and his Cadillac Sixteen sedan. They spent several minutes chatting with Don and his mechanic, looking over the cars more closely, and commenting about the show and the people who were filling up the field. They were just stepping over the rope that cordoned the cars off from the viewing public when Jason saw the two girls wandering past. When the tall girl saw them, she quickly looked away and kept walking. When her friend saw them, she paused for a moment, looking at Jason intently, her eyebrows furrowed. Was it a disapproving look, you know, the kind that says get lost, or was she trying to find some trace of familiarity in his face? Then she flashed a faint polite smile and hurried to catch up with her friend who was walking away in the opposite direction. Jason blew it off. She obviously wasn't interested. Who could blame her? He and Joey were both probably twice their ages and besides they were looking for some friends. Lucky young bastards. As Jason and Joey strolled around a circle of Italian sports cars, they met up with Ryan Thomas, who ran one of the areas best restoration shops. Jason had worked part time for Ryan several years back and was always interested in catching up with what Ryan had been working on. "How's it going, Jace?" Ryan asked as they shook hands. "Good. Great morning. Great field of cars. What could be better than this?" Jason said. "Maybe if this all belonged to you," Ryan cracked. He turned to Joey. "I saw you brought a couple of my favorites. If you guys ever decide to do the right thing with the Duesenberg, be sure to let me know. Those valves sound a little noisy to me." "Yeah, I know," Joey groaned. "It needs a few things here and there, but so long as it starts and drives, The Old Man doesn't want to touch it." "It's his money, right?" Ryan cracked. The guys stood around and commented on the cars around them. Ryan had a weakness for Italian cars, Maseratis actually, and was proud of having his own car on the field in addition to the half dozen others he had restored for the owners. When one of the other car owners approached Ryan with a question, the guys excused themselves and moved on. They had been facing one another, talking and not paying much attention to their surroundings. When Joey turned sharply around he ran smack into the tall dark-skinned girl, nearly knocking her over. She stood proudly upright, brushing her long black hair back over her shoulder. She had a definite dark exotic look about her that had obviously captured Joey's attention. "I am so sorry," Joey said, reaching for her arm. "Are you okay?" he asked. "I'm all right," she said, pulling her slender arm away. She adjusted her white halter-top. "You oughta watch where you're going." "I said I was sorry," Joey said. "Don't blame her," chipped in her friend. "She's all pissed off." "Why?" "We were supposed to meet up with a friend of hers and his buddy, but they just called and said they aren't going to make it." "My boy-friend," the tall girl added emphatically. She gave her friend a peeved look. "Why don't you like Johnny?" "Cause he's a jerk. You can do sooo much better than him." "Sorry. Didn't mean to start a war or anything," Joey said, holding up his hands with a mocking innocence. Jason couldn't take his eyes off the shorter honey blonde girl as Joey tried to mediate the little dispute. Ashley. She had to be Ashley Lovett. He could see traces of her mother's good looks in her pretty face, the cute upturned nose and the dark blue eyes. Finally she noticed his close look and looked back at him. "Do you have nose trouble or something, mister?" she asked. Jason shook his head. "No. It's just that I could swear you're Big George's daughter." "And if I was," she said, "why would it matter? It's not like I go for real old guys." "What do you mean?" "You've got to be what, thirty-five or forty? You're a little old for me, don't you think?" "Age is irrelevant," Jason remarked. "But maturity isn't." "So you're saying that you're an immature old fart?" the girl giggled. "No, I'm saying that ..." Jason paused in mid-sentence. What was he saying? That he recognized her, that he thought she was a beautiful, sexy young woman, and that he felt this strange tingling in his belly and thighs every time he looked at her? Hell, he couldn't say all that. She wouldn't understand. This was impossible. "Oh, hell. I give up," Jason said. "Didn't mean to break into your own little trip. Sorry." He turned away. "So you're going to give up that easy?" she shot back. Jason heard just a hint of a laugh. It was a nice laugh. "Give up? Who says I'm giving up?" he said, turning back to face her. Joey and the other girl had stopped to watch this little face off. "Maybe I'm just playing hard to get." "Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm the one playing hard to get?" she said, petulantly. Jason was ready to make a nasty wise crack when he noticed a grin flirting around at the corners of her mouth. "Wait a minute," he said instead. She was toying with him and he was letting her. He could play this game and call her out on it. "You are Ashley Lovett and you do remember me." "I never said that I wasn't," she answered. "But still doesn't mean that you can feel free to hit on me or anything." "The only hitting I might do is to put you over my knee and paddle your butt," Jason said. She laughed. "Oh, now you're talking," she said, playfully running her hand down over her ass. "That might actually be fun." "So you do remember me," Jason said caught off guard by her comment. "Yes, I remember you. Let's see. You're Jason Lang, right? You used to hang with my Dad a long time ago. With Greg and Ray and what's his name." "Donny." "Yeah, Donny," she said. "Of course I would remember you. You were one of my Dad's favorite friends." "Um, Ashley, right?" Jason asked tentatively. She nodded. Joey and Jason exchanged a knowing tip of their heads. Of all the beautiful women he had seen on the field, Jason had surprisingly connected with one, a very sweet and sexy girl, who sent tingles down his back each time he looked at her and heard her voice. "Hello, Ashley," Jason said, extending his hand politely. Ashley rested her hand in his. It was warm and soft and very feminine. "Wow! It's been a long time and you've really grown up ... a lot ... but it's great to see you again!" "I'm kinda surprised that you remember me," Ashley replied. "I was such a punk back then." "Well, I can see that you aren't anymore," Jason said. "Say, this is my buddy, Joey. This is Ashley Lovett and her friend ..." "Dona. My name is Donatella," said the other girl, slow to warm up to the intrusion of these two strange guys. But despite her cool demeanor, Jason could see that she was a strikingly beautiful girl, perhaps African-Italian heritage. "Nice to meet you," Joey replied. "Really nice." It had been so many years since Jason had last seen Ashley but how she had grown. His eyes swept down over her body again, taking in a healthy glimpse of her full breasts floating underneath the light silky fabric of her camisole, and enjoying a lingering taste of her narrow waist and the subtle flair of her hips. Some sparkling little charms dangled from the belly ring that dangled in her navel. He made sure to bring his eyes quickly back up to meet hers. And what beautiful eyes they were, large and dark blue, almost violet, and sparkling in the late morning sunshine. "After all these years, I can't believe I've run into you ... and here of all places," Jason said. "I would have never guessed." "I know," Ashley said. "Me either. But one of the guys at work was telling me about this show, and I talked Donatella into coming with me. I seem to remember that you were kind if a car guy ... do you have a car here?" "Yes, but it doesn't belong to me. I helped Joey bring it." "So you have a car here?" Donatella asked Joey, sounding as if her interest in someone other than her boyfriend was growing just a bit. "Cars, actually. We brought four cars here today," Joey said, and the girls looked incredibly impressed. "But they belong to my boss." His words came quick. It took a moment for the message to register, but the girls still seemed impressed. "Wow! Four cars! How neat is that?" Ashley said, lightly smacking her friend's arm. "Which ones?" As Joey recounted the entries, Jason observed the girls. Donatella was actually listening carefully to Joey and nodding as he pointed here and there around the show field with a subtle flirtatious grin. Ashley was listening but still keeping an eye on Jason. "I got to drive the Mercury convertible," Jason interjected proudly when Joey mentioned it. "A really great ride!" "Wow! That must be so much fun," Ashley exclaimed. "I love cars and these ones here are sooo beautiful!" "Works of art really," Jason replied. "You have to show us which ones," Ashley said. "I love them but I don't know that much about them." "Well, sure. I'd be glad to," Jason remarked. Thus, they began an impromptu little tour, Joey and Jason leading the way. The boys pointed out a few familiar cars along the way, sharing facts and stories about the cars and dropping a few names of the owners whom they knew through their various classic car club associations. They had been standing closest to the Locomobile and when they pulled up in front of it, both girls remarked how old-fashioned looking the car was. Tall and angular with huge wooden-spoked wheels, and tons of polished brass trim. "Remember, that was a completely different era of motoring back then," Joey commented. "There weren't many paved roads anywhere outside of the biggest cities and cars had to be strong and durable. This was one of the finest of its time." They soon wandered over to the Mercury convert was parked. Jason waved to the young marshal he had met earlier and then invited the girls to step over the rope. Jason opened the driver's door so that they could get a better look at the interior. "Um, can I sit in it?" Ashley asked cautiously. "Sure go ahead," Jason said, holding the door for her. He enjoyed the view of Ashley slipping her ass onto the firm red and white leather. The short hem of her black skirt rode up affording him a great view of her long shapely legs. Ashley grasped the wheel excitedly. "You look good behind the wheel, kid," Jason said. "This is sooo cool!" Ashley said with a giggle. Then she looked up at Jason. "But in case you haven't noticed, I'm not a kid anymore." "Oh, I've noticed," Jason replied checking out her shapely legs again. "That and a few other things." He noticed that Joey had escorted Donatella around to the other side of the car and had helped her inside. The two young women were grinning broadly. Then Donatella reached into her purse. "Can you get a picture of us?" she said pulling out a small digital camera. "Of course," Joey said, taking the camera and backing away to get the best angle. Both girls smiled and waved at the camera like a pair of beauty queens as Joey snapped off a couple of shots. "Hey! The keys are in the ignition," Donatella said. "Let's make a run for it!" Ashley laughed but gave her friend a chill look. "So you want to see the other cars?" Joey asked. "Sure," Ashley said. "As long as they are as sweet as this." The Cadillac was a few circles away and as they strolled slowly over toward it, Jason took advantage to get up to date with his old friend's daughter. Joey spent the time chatting with Donatella, who seemed to have forgotten about meeting up with her so-called boyfriend. "I was sorry to hear about your parents divorcing," Jason said to Ashley. "I haven't seen your dad too much since then." "Thanks. Daddy's been busy putting his life back together. He's doing all right." "So what have you been up to?" Jason asked Ashley. "It's been a long time since I've seen you." "Well, let's see, high school, a couple years of college, a couple of shitty jobs, and now a really nice one. How about you?" "I'm working now as a sales and marketing manager for a small electronics company," Jason said. "We sell stuff to the auto companies and suppliers and a lot of other industries too." "Cool! So are you hiring?" Ashley asked. "I thought you said you had a good job?" Jason replied. "I do. But in this business climate a girl has to network every chance she can." Jason laughed. He was quite taken by the easy, comfortable banter between them. It was almost like they were old familiar friends. That familiarity almost made him forget the difference in their ages. He had seen the well-to-do classic car owners who met and often married a beautiful young woman like Ashley. Up till now he hadn't thought about hooking up with someone this young. But her looks and personality were so charming, Jason jettisoned all those concerns and embraced this moment of new-found friendship. "So ... million dollar question here," he asked. "Do you have a boyfriend? "Not really," Ashley replied. "I'm sort of playing the field." When she spoke Ashley looked up at Jason. He was intrigued by how his old friend's daughter had grown up. He was also intrigued by her open-ended comment and the fresh flirtatious look in her eyes. Could this pretty young woman possibly be as attracted to him as he was to her? "Well, here we are," Joey announced loudly as they reached the circle of open topped classics where the Caddy was parked. "This is the 1941 Cadillac Convertible Sedan." "This is beautiful," Ashley said with a rolling appreciation as they again stepped over the rope and took a closer look at the car. This time, Joey helped Donatella behind the wheel and Jason showed Ashley to the passenger's door. The dark blue metallic paint was sparkling in the brilliant sunshine and the maroon leather was warm to the touch. The girls insisted on another picture and Joey was only too glad to oblige them. "So what was the other car?" Ashley asked. "Duesenberg Town Car," Jason replied as he lent her a hand getting out of the Cadillac. Again he feasted on the sight of her firm young body slipping off the seat and standing beside him. The light silky fabric of her camisole had shifted down and revealed a little more of her gorgeous breasts. Even the gentle breeze had cooperated with enough of a chill to make her nipples appear. Although Ashley was aware of his appreciative glance, she made no particular effort to rearrange her top, as if letting him feast on her beauty on purpose, not that he was going to complain. It was a short walk to the Duesey and the dark green limousine with the white leatherette top was gleaming in the early afternoon sunshine. When they neared the circle of fine old closed-top classics, Jason put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her over the rope to where the Duesey sat. Her body felt warm and supple underneath the soft silk of her top. Her dark eyes flashed at him briefly as they walked up to the long limousine. "So this is a Duesenberg?" Ashley asked. "Is it like a German car?" "No, not German, although the designers were," Jason said. "Built in Indianapolis. Model J Duesenbergs are considered to be the ultimate in American Classic cars. A supreme combination of high performance and exquisite luxury." "It's ... it's ... it's beautiful!" Ashley exclaimed as her eyes took in the long hood with the gently curving louvers, the tall heavily chromed radiator shell, and the long curving fenders that swept back along the side of the car. Jason looked around for Billie Sue or Dave Bob but didn't see them anywhere around. Joey had already opened the door to the rear compartment and was helping Donatella inside. Jason did the same for Ashley on the other side. Jason had to chuckle at the expressions of the girls as they took a seat and ran their hands over the plush soft cloth and the finely polished woodwork on the doors and around the windows. "What's this thing?" Donatella asked, picking up the mouthpiece for the voice tube. "That's to talk to the driver," Joey said. "Cool!" Donatella giggled. Then in a very solemn voice she said, "Home, James." Ashley took the mouthpiece from her friend. "James. Could you please stop the car and come back here. I seem to have a run in my stocking." The girls giggled and the guys chuckled along with them. Joey's walkie-talkie suddenly buzzed. He spoke into it and looked instantly concerned as Dave Bob's voice crackled over the line. When he buzzed off, Joey stuffed the black box back into its holster on his belt. "Shit!" Joey said. "They're having problems with the Locomobile starting. They need it for one of the preliminary drive throughs and it won't start. I've got to go like right now. Are you guys going to be okay?" "Sure, I think so," Jason said with a casual shrug, checking the expressions on the faces of the girls. They sort of shrugged and looked at each other, and then Donatella took a step toward Joey. "Hey, Joey. Can I like go with you?" Donatella asked, her sudden interest surprising Joey a bit. "Sure, if you want" Joey answered. "But we've got to hurry." Donatella climbed out from the back seat of the Duesenberg and followed closely after Joey, her long black hair trailing past her shoulders. Jason watched as they disappeared into the gathering crowd. "That was kind of a surprise," Ashley remarked from the back seat, scooting over closer to where Jason stood beside the open door. "What do you mean?" Jason asked. "Your friend is a nice guy and Donatella kind of took to him right away. She never likes any guy right off, especially nice guys. She has a thing for bad boys." "Well, Joey is a nice guy who has a thing for girls who like bad boys." "Maybe there's hope for him after all." "Hopefully," Jason replied with a wishful sigh. Ashley began to climb from the back seat of the Duesenberg and the hem of her skirt rode up nearly to her hips. In the gleaming bright sunshine Jason caught a momentary glimpse of her skimpy black panties. For that moment he felt another stronger twinge right where it counted. Then she was upright and standing beside the car, straightening her skirt. Jason caught another whiff of her perfume, very sweet and feminine but not frilly. "So, here we are," he announced. "What do you feel like doing?" "I dunno. What else is there to do here?" Ashley asked. "Look at some cars. And when we're done, we can look at some more cars." The Blue Ribbon Ashley chuckled. Jason was about to suggest that they have a look at the art show in a nearby tent when one of the marshals came running up to him. "Is this your car?" the guy asked hurriedly. "Um, yeah. I'm with the car. Sure." "We need it right away for the fashion show. Can you bring it around to the staging area?" "Sure." "Great. Just follow that guy on the golf cart," the marshal said pointing to a guy on a cart stopped right in front of the Duesey. The marshal began lowering the rope so that the Duesey could be driven out. Jason wished that Joey and the others had given him a walkie-talkie so he could alert them. Probably, with all the excitement around the Locomobile, Billie Sue and Dave Bob had forgotten about this little excursion. He had driven a few big classics in the past, including a Duesenberg or two but hadn't really planned on doing so again, right at this moment. His heart skipped a nervous beat or two as he approached the car. "So what's going on?" Ashley asked. "Looks like I'm taking this baby for a little ride. Want to come along?" "Well, duh!" she said, her dark blue eyes widening. "Ride in the front with me. We have someone to pick up." They climbed up and settled into the firm black leather seat in front. Jason took a quick look around to get familiar with the controls. The gages were nicely arranged on the machine-turned dash panel. He found the ignition and switched it on. Then he set the hand brake, stabbed the clutch, shifted the tall gear selector into neutral, and depressed the gas pedal. The automatic starter kicked in. The healthy straight eight engine turned over and started quickly, roaring to a smooth idle with just a subtle hint of the power it produced. He didn't hear any of the valve tick of which Ryan had spoken. "That went well," Jason said, feeling a bit relieved. "Now let's see if we can get it moving." Letting off the hand brake, shifting into first and letting out the clutch, he felt the mighty Model J engine take over, the gears whining as the heavy old car lurched forward. Jason couldn't help but note the appreciative look of some of the bystanders as he pulled the big old car out to follow the marshal on the golf cart. With a mischievous smirk, he reached down and found the exhaust cutout lever on the floor at the edge of the seat. He flipped it open momentarily and gunned the engine. The unmuffled throaty rumbling sound of the high performance engine greeted the crowd, a few even cheered. Snapping the cutout shut Jason then followed the golf cart slowly through the field, looping around the outer edge of the show. "You look good behind the wheel of a Duesenberg," Ashley remarked with a smile. "Thanks, but I'd rather be the millionaire guy riding in back. The chauffeur rode up here." "Well, then maybe you should wear this," Ashley said. She had spotted a chauffeur's cap sitting on the seat between them and placed it on Jason's head. "Cute," she said with a sweet grin. Jason smirked and maneuvered the big old Duesey around to the staging area where he was motioned to wait. "So what is this all about?" Ashley asked. "This is what they call the Mode du Concours," Jason explained. "They pick out several of the cars and have fashion designers select outfits to match or compliment the style and color of the car. When we drive onto the ramp, we stop and the model gets out and does her thing, showing off the outfit. It's really kind of neat. Something to keep the interest of the ladies." "This is way cool!" Ashley replied. A minute or two later another larger golf cart arrived, carrying a half dozen beautifully dressed young women. The woman in charge took the girls in tow and strolled along the string of cars of which the Duesenberg was the last. A tall dark haired model wearing a beautiful dark evening gown and white fur wrap approached. Jason set the brake and hopped out. "Hi. I'm Dawn and this is the Duesenberg, right?" asked the gorgeous young woman. She had long jet-black hair and a startling pair of blue eyes and the softest creamiest looking pale skin Jason had ever seen. "Yes it is. Here let me help you." Jason opened up the rear door and helped the girl up into the rear seat. He rolled the window down so she would get some fresh air. Jason blinked at the stunning vision the model presented as she reclined on the seat and ran her long slender fingers over the silken cloth of her gown. Gorgeous as she was, he knew that she was unobtainable and was more interested in the sweet and sexy young woman waiting for him in the driver's compartment. He gallantly closed the door and he climbed back in behind the wheel beside Ashley. "Here we go," he announced as the line up of cars began to snake slowly ahead. When they finally got up to the head of the line, they could see a Packard sedan ahead of them stopped on the presentation ramp as the model moved about the car assuming various poses while a gaggle of bug-eyed photographers snapped pictures. "Hey, you made it," came a voice clearly out-of-breath. Jason turned toward it and saw Joey standing beside the car. "You want to take over?" "No that's okay. I just wanted to make sure the car was here and it was you. We finally got the Locomobile started and then panicked when we saw the Duesey was missing. Just go for it. Have fun!" Joey patted him on the shoulder as a marshal waved Jason forward. The emcee announced the car, describing it for the gathered audience before turning the microphone over to the fashion coordinator who introduced the fashion model. Jason set the handbrake and then slipped out to assist the model from the rear compartment with a polite bow that was acknowledged with a smattering of applause and chuckles. She stepped down to the click and snap of the photographers. She sauntered to the front of the car, showing off the lovely dark green silk gown and ermine wrap that matched the car perfectly. Jason stood out of the way as the fashion coordinator described the elegant evening ensemble and from where it came. Like a dutiful chauffeur, Jason lingered in the shadows until it was time for him to help the girl back into the car. To a polite splash of applause, they pulled away and followed the marshal to the appointed spot where the model could exit. As Jason helped her down, she gave him a big smile and whispered a sexy, "Thank you!" When Jason returned to drive back to the circle, Ashley turned to him. "No wonder you'd rather be sitting in back." "What do you mean?" "Sitting back there would have given you a better shot at that pretty girl." Jason glanced quickly over at Ashley. Sure, the model was tall and beautiful and elegantly dressed, but he honestly preferred the girl sitting beside him, her figure intriguingly rounded and her smile wonderful endearing. "Actually, I would only want to be in the back if you were the one back there with me," he remarked. "Good answer," Ashley replied. "Smart man." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. They made it back to the circle where the Duesey belonged and Jason managed to park it without incident. He and Ashley lingered inside for a few moments before climbing out of the car. Jason tossed the chauffeur's cap back onto the front seat. "So do you do this kind of thing often?" she asked. "Once or twice a year. I used to work part-time for one of the area's best known restorers and help him take cars to shows every once in a while." "Thanks for having me along. That was a lot of fun." "Glad you enjoyed it." They decided to get a bite of lunch and ran into Joey and Donatella on the way. The four of them found something to eat and sat in the shade of the exhibitor's reception tent. "Not a bad deal, eh?" Joey said. "Beautiful day, beautiful cars, beautiful women ... and a free lunch!" The Old Man had shown up in time to notice that the judges had tucked a blue ribbon under the wiper of the Duesenberg, indicating that it had taken a class award. Of course he would be the one to drive the car through to accept the award, the privilege of ownership. That didn't bother Jason at all since he had already enjoyed his moment in the spotlight. Ashley didn't seem to mind either as they circulated around the field, checking out the magnificent cars on display and greeting some of his friends. Many of them eyed Ashley appreciatively when he introduced her a friend. Ashley just smiled sweetly and sexily. "It's really hot," Ashley said after one long conversation with some old good friends of Jason's, where they had been standing in the direct sunlight for several minutes. "Then let's find a nice shady spot and have a seat," Jason suggested. Along the back of the grounds ran a long copse of trees. They grabbed a couple bottles of water and found a quiet seat on the grass in the shade. They could still see the cars and hear the sounds of announcements, but could relax and rest. "You know we almost didn't come today," Ashley remarked. "I wanted to come but Donatella didn't until her useless boyfriend agreed to meet us here and bring along a friend for me. As it's turned out, I'm glad he didn't show." "So am I. This has been really nice. Of all the people that I usually look forward to seeing here year after year, you are the last one I would have expected to meet." "That's a good thing right?" "A very good thing. You're a very sweet and sexy girl." "Thank you." "I can't believe how much you've grown. I remember you as a skinny little kid playing with Barbie dolls." "Like I was telling you before, I'm not a skinny little kid any more." As Ashley spoke, she sat up and arched her back, enough to project her breasts out appetizingly against the soft silky turquoise fabric of her camisole. "Oh, I've noticed, Ashley," Jason replied. "Believe me." "Good," she said with a flirty giggle. She sat beside him on the cool grass, her legs sort of curled up around her. "So, the second million dollar question: are you married now or single?" "Single. Happily. Well ... most of the time." "Nice to know." They exchanged a look that surprised Jason. He had been trying to be polite and entertain her but when she looked at him he began to wonder if she didn't have some different ideas. "I wish I knew what you were thinking, just now," Jason said. "It's a secret." "Figures." "But you might be able to persuade me to tell you." "Oh, yeah? Persuade you? How?" "You'll have to find out, won't you?" "Ah, the old trial by error approach, uh?" "Something like that." They were sitting side-by-side and seemed to lean toward each other a little closer. The closer he drew to her, the better Ashley looked to him. He noticed a light dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks. Her skin looked soft and smooth and creamy. Every feature seemed perfectly formed. He felt himself drawn strongly toward her and was almost ready to forget the difference in their ages. Her eyes were darting from his eyes to his mouth and back again, and her lips were looking pretty attractive. "So, if I was to kiss you," Jason said softly. "Would that be considered persuasive enough?" "Depends on how good a kiss it is," she replied. He leaned toward her and brushed his lips against hers. Ashley welcomed his kiss and returned it with a soft little moan. Their kiss lasted a minute or more before their lips parted. "So what do you think?" Jason asked. Ashley's eyes flickered open. "The combination to my safety deposit box is 34-24-32 ... oh, wait! Those are my measurements." She giggled and bit her lower lip. Jason couldn't successfully stifle his chuckle. "Those are some pretty impressive numbers." "Thank you," she said with another sexy giggle. Jason leaned over and kissed her again. This kiss lasted a little longer and went a little deeper with the touching of their tongues. It brought out another louder deeper moan from Ashley. "So are you going to tell me what you were thinking?" "Huh?" Ashley murmured softly. She lifted her hands up to Jason's shoulders. "Oh, that. I was just thinking ..." she whispered before kissing him again. "That you're a very ..." More kisses. "... very ..." Still more kisses. "... handsome man." "And you are a very pretty girl," Jason replied. "Thanks," Ashley said in a soft breathy voice. Jason had been a gentleman, pretty much keeping his hands to himself, but as the warmth was growing between Ashley and him, he eased his hand over to touch her, letting it rest softly on her back, feeling her smooth supple skin shifting underneath her top. He leaned toward her, brushing his lips over the right side of her neck, and felt her purr softly. As he pulled her closer to him, his fingertips slipping around her side and brushing against the curve of her firm round breast, a voice called out from across the fairway. "So there you are," Joey called over. He and Donatella were walking up slowly. "We've been looking all over for you." "Just catching some shade," Jason answered as he and Ashley parted, the blush of their arousal slowly fading. "The Old Man is happy. The Duesenberg took a Best In Class and Most Elegant Car award. Dave Bob and Billie Sue are driving him through with it for the awards." "Cool." "The Old Man was saying that he wants to take us to the reception in the house after this shindig is over. You interested?" Joey asked. "That would be fun," Jason replied. He glanced over at Ashley who nodded agreeably. The two couples spent the last hour of the show sitting with some old car friends watching the last of the trophied cars pull through. There seemed to be no need to impress Donatella and Ashley; the guys just relaxed and enjoyed the balmy summer breeze and the spirited companionship of the girls. It had been such a pleasure getting to know Ashley and Jason was surprised at what they had in common. "So what kind of music do you like to listen to?" Jason asked. "Hmm, really anything at all. I like all types, rock and roll, R&B, rap, oldies, Ska, pop rock. I enjoy everything except for country. About the only country girl I do like is Shania Twain, but that's it. But my favorite artist is of course the one and only Prince." "I'm a jazz fan myself," Jason replied. "But I listen to most everything except the real warbling opera and wailing, hurtin' country." "And your favorite artist?" Ashley asked. "Sinatra." "I've heard of him," Ashley answered with a sly smile. "Okay, favorite movies." "I love horror movies. I just love getting scared out of my skin. But I like sexy romantic movies too." "I like them all, except maybe for the smash 'em crash 'em action movies. Believe it or not, I'm a real sucker for romantic comedies." Ashley looked him over and smiled. "I'd believe it." "What's the best book you've read lately?" Jason asked. "Hmm, that's a hard one," Ashley answered. "I'm so busy that I don't really read all that much. I am a very bad girl about it ... I slap myself for that. But if I do read I like to read poetry or philosophy books. And I also love to read about the stars. I'm a Scorpio, just to let you know." "I'm a Virgo," Jason remarked. "And one of these days I just may have to put you over my lap and spank your sweet ass if you don't start reading more." "Mmm, that almost makes it worth trying to be bad," Ashley replied. Jason grinned at the teasing sound of her voice, but somehow he got the feeling that she wasn't exactly kidding and the thought of putting her over his lap and spanking her sweet little ass sent another tingle of arousal through his body. "I love to read," he continued. "Fiction. History. Poetry. Biographies. Everything." "So that's why you know so much," Ashley remarked. "No, that's because I'm a really old fart," Jason cracked. "You're only as old as you feel, right?" "True, and I feel like I'm maybe twenty-five or thirty." "Then you're in big trouble cause I feel like I'm sixteen." They were sitting close together on the shaded grassy hillside. Ashley had curled her legs up by her side and was leaning toward Jason, who was leaning back on his arm that was extended protectively behind her back, savoring the warm presence of the sexy young woman beside him. They could see Donatella and Joey similarly connecting, talking about anything and everything and nothing all at once. The only thing to break the spell was Joey's walkie-talkie that suddenly sounded off. "Time to marshal the troops," Joey said after he buzzed off. "Dave Bob wants us to bring the cars around to the hauler. Guess we're going to park the Duesey out front alongside a couple of the other old classics during the reception. You know, establish some atmosphere." As they began to walk across the show field a distant rumble of thunder sounded. "What if it rains?" Jason asked. "It ain't gonna rain," Joey said. "It can't." They split up and headed toward the cars they had driven in. When the show was over, Jason took his time driving the Mercury convertible back to the lot. The sun was slowly setting but the day was still warm and had grown humid. The gentle breeze played with Ashley's hair and she gazed over at Jason, her big dark blue eyes twinkling in the late afternoon sun. Her left hand was resting on the seat between them and Jason reached over to hold it. There were things that Jason could have said, but just left them unsaid since being able to slowly cruise along with Ashley along the side road leading back toward the parking lot said it all. Putting up the convertible tops on the cars, Joey and Jason secured the Mercury and Cadillac while Dave Bob loaded the Locomobile onto the trailer. Billie Sue had followed in the Duesenberg and drove them all back to the mansion where the reception was being held. The skinny little woman wheeled the big Duesey deftly up into the courtyard outside the front entrance and parked it carefully beside the other cars that were arranged along the elegant cut stone drive. Inside, the ballroom was warm and loud as dozens of the area's car collectors mingled with drinks in hand. A society orchestra was playing endless medleys of favorite old standards. The couples weren't inside for long when Jason got a chance to introduce Ashley to The Old Man. "Good to see you again, Kevin," The Old Man said jovially, shaking Jason's hand. "That's Jason," Joey interjected, but The Old Man ignored him. Jason shook his head anyway and chuckled. No matter how many times Jason had been introduced, The Old Man insisted on calling him Kevin for some reason. "And who is this?" The Old Man said, giving Ashley a big approving look. "This is Ashley Lovett," Jason said. "Ashley, this is Charles Longworth." "Call me Chase," The Old Man said, reaching out to take Ashley's hand. "It always makes my day to meet a beautiful girl," he said with a harmless but appreciative leer. "This is my wife, Doris." The tall slender and expensively dressed woman beside him smiled and shook Ashley's hand too. "Nice to meet you. Did you enjoy the show?" "Oh, yes. It's been awesome," Ashley replied. "Well, thanks for helping out today, Kevin," The Old Man said. "I really appreciate it." "Always glad to help out. It's always a great time," Jason said with a nod. The Old Man and Doris were corralled by some other classic car club friends and moved away with a parting wave. The two couples mingled themselves for a while, sampling the delicious hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine. But when Jason noticed Ashley fanning herself, he leaned toward her. "It's kind of hot in here," he said. "Wanna catch some fresh air?" "Sure," she answered. They each grabbed a fresh glass of wine. "We'll be outside," Jason told Joey on their way out. Although it was hot inside, there was a decided change to the weather outside. A cooler breeze was coming from the west and the clouds were growing darker. Just to be on the safe side in case it did rain, Jason fitted the removable top over the driver's compartment of the Duesey. Then he and Ashley found a seat on a bench that overlooked the front courtyard of the mansion with the elegant old Classics parked in front. The strains of the society orchestra wafted out through the open windows of the ballroom.