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A Second Chance at Love Ch. 02

By: komrad1156



"Feel like eating?" Clint asked as Lauren made her way into the kitchen. 

"I do," she answered. "It's funny, but you were right. Getting my tooth fixed made me aware of the pain in my nose! The good news is I can eat without pain again. The bad news is my head is throbbing and I'm starved!" 

"I heard you stirring so I started making pancakes. Yours are ready." 

Clint handed her two medium-sized golden cakes which Lauren took to the table where butter, syrup, and fresh, cold milk was waiting. 

"Thank you, Mr. Pierce," Lauren said quietly. 

"You're welcome. And please call me Clint," he said cheerfully. 

Lauren didn't respond. As Clint was mixing the batter for his own pancakes he noticed a tear fall from the side of Lauren's face. He sat down the mixing bowl and took the seat next to hers. "Are you okay?" he asked tenderly. 

The tears were flowing now as Lauren sobbed. The loss of his wife and daughter had turned Clint into someone he no longer recognized. His emotions were always just under the surface and he was now able to empathize with people. Before the death of "his girls" he could sympathize to some degree but empathy was always beyond his range of emotions. He'd understood the concept but never actually experienced before. As he watched Lauren sob, he was so moved he couldn't help but reach out a gentle hand and brush away her tears and the hair that had fallen down over her eyes. "It's all right, sweetheart. You're safe here." 

Without looking up, let alone at Clint, Lauren managed to find the self-control to say, "No one has ever been this kind to me. No one. Ever. Why are you being so good to me, Mr. Pierce?" 

He didn't bother reminding her she could call him by his first name. His heart hurt with hers. "Why wouldn't I be nice to you, Lauren? You're a beautiful young woman who's been through more in 20 years than most people go through in 60. If we don't look out for another, what kind of world would we live in? I want to help. I enjoy helping you. Helping you does as much for me as it does for you, so..." 

Before he could finish his sentence, Lauren reached out sending her fork flying and threw her arms around Clint. He pulled her close to himself and she came up and out of her own chair and right onto his lap. She held him as though she was afraid to let go for fear he'd leave her the way everyone else she'd ever loved had left her. Lauren buried her face in between his wide neck and the huge trap muscles that sat atop his shoulder. "Thank you...Clint," she whispered through the last of her sobs. 

Lauren sat there for another minute just clinging to this man who had befriended her in her time of greatest need. She was in too much emotional pain to understand how deep her feelings for him already were. All she really knew was she felt safe and secure and that this man was the source of her new-found sense of comfort. 

Clint held her back just as tightly. He hadn't held another woman in his arms since he hugged his daughter after graduation over two years ago. It felt so good to have human contact and warmth again. And not just any contact but with someone whom he...he couldn't bring himself to use the word 'love' yet but 'cared about' came to mind and those words fit perfectly—or at least they would do for now. 

As she clung to him, he could feel the warmth of her breath on his neck and he became aware of the stirring down below. As his member grew, he felt conflicted. He didn't care for Lauren in that way. He couldn't. He'd just met her and she was younger than his late daughter, Kara. He was mildly embarrassed about the partial erection and yet in some odd way, it seemed...right. As he tried to sort out all of these new, pleasant, and confusing emotions, he thought he felt Lauren press her bottom against him and although he wasn't sure, he also thought he heard the softest of moans. 

Not sure of himself, he released his hold on her and she in turn, let go of him. "Hey, those pancakes are getting cold, young lady. Better get to 'em," he said. Clint smiled warmly at her and he was taken by the warmth in her eyes and then in her smile. He hardly noticed how badly she was in need of more dental work because the genuineness in her emotions overwhelmed him. 

Lauren sat there for another two or three seconds as they stared into one another's eyes. Both of them were smiling broadly until Lauren managed a laugh. "I can't believe I found you, Mr...I mean, Clint. Thank you for everything—including the pancakes." 

"I believe I found you, Lauren. And that makes me the lucky one." 

Lauren hugged him again briefly before standing up and going back to her own seat. She ate slowly savoring every bite. Still, she was nearly done by the time Clint sat down next to her. "Were they okay?" he asked. 

"They were delicious!" she said with enthusiasm. "I can't remember the last time I had something that good. Or the last time eating didn't hurt." Again that smile. This time, Lauren brought up her hand to cover her mouth. Clint realized she was aware of her smile and felt self-conscious about it. 

"Don't cover your smile, Lauren. It's beautiful." 

Lauren kept her hand over her mouth even after the smile faded. She was so taken aback by his comment that she was briefly in shock. Lauren knew how bad her front teeth were and she'd been embarrassed for as long as she could remember. No one had ever told her she had a nice smile let alone that it was beautiful. 

"It isn't beautiful. It's awful. I just can't help smiling when I'm with you. I'm sorry I'm not pretty." She paused for a moment. "I want to be pretty...for you." Another tear fell from her eye. 

"Hey. Enough of that. You are pretty. You have beautiful eyes and a..." 

"You can stop right there," she interrupted. "I know how the rest goes after my eyes. I'm plain, skinny, flat-chested, and...homely." 

Clint tried to reach out to her again as he began to speak but this time she recoiled from his touch. "It's okay," Lauren said to reassure him she wasn't upset with him. "You don't have to pretend. A really nice guy like you can't help being nice. It's just part of who you are. I really do appreciate it—a lot—but there's no way a handsome man like you would ever think a girl like me is—pretty. So..." 

"Lauren. Stop right there," Clint said firmly but with compassion as he cut her off mid-sentence. "You are not 'homely' and I don't ever want to hear you say that word again. Okay? You are a beautiful young woman and any man would proud to be with you. Even an old man like me." 

Lauren laughed out loud again. "All right. You win. I'm not 'homely.' I'm just—plain. Is that okay, 'old man' Pierce? Can I call myself 'plain?'" she teased emphasizing the word 'plain' each time she said it. 

"You can but it's not true," Clint said with playful indignation. "You just don't see what I see, that's all." 

"Ha! That's funny. I look at you and I see the nicest, most handsome man I've ever met and you think you're old. I know I'm not pretty but you try and tell me I am. One of us is delusional here and it isn't me, Mr. Old Guy!" Lauren said trying desperately not to smile again. 

Clint reached out and put his right hand on her left. She responded by squeezing his hand and then he hers. "Lauren. I can't change how you see yourself. Only you can do that. But I can help you change what you don't like." He paused for a moment as she relaxed her grip on his hand. He could see a puzzled look on her face. "I don't think you need to change anything about yourself. You're young, kind, caring, and yes—pretty. But if your smile bothers you that much, we can change that." 

"Change it? How could I afford to do that when I can't even pay rent? I have no money. Everything I own fits in two small bags. How can I possibly change my smile when I can even buy groceries?" 

Clint looked down and then back at her directly. "The dentist who fixed your chipped tooth told me he would be glad to give you a new smile." Lauren started to interrupt but Clint went on talking. "You see, I helped him get through dental school a few years back. When he was in high school, he did all kinds of odd jobs for us around the house. He became like a son to me. He made it through college on a full academic scholarship. When he got accepted to dental school, I helped with his tuition. He offered to pay me back but I refused. He's a good man, Lauren. He just wants to help you by giving back. Please allow him to do that." 

Lauren seemed hurt. "So I'm a charity case? Is that what you mean? He wants to 'fix' me because you told him I'm broken? Is that what happened?" She pulled her hand away and turned her face down toward the table. 

"No. Not at all. It wasn't like that. I promise. It's just that he was, well—moved by what I told him. I didn't mean to betray any confidence, Lauren. I was just talking with him on the way out while you were in the lobby waiting. I was just sharing how much we had in common because of all of the emotional pain we've been through. Look, it's just an offer," Clint said softly. "I meant it when I said you don't need to change anything and I still do." 

Lauren had been independent for as long as she could remember. No one had ever cared about her since her mom died. Her dad had tried, but his addiction soon took over his life and Lauren was effectively on her own. She was roiling in inner turmoil. She felt like this was a case of pity for the ugly girl and at the same time she somehow knew Clint really did care about her. She blinked back another tear then softly said, "That's really nice of you. Maybe I'll think about it for a while first, okay?" 

"Sure. Of course it's okay. It's your call completely. The offer is on the table. Just let me know if you'd like to go back for a consult. No obligation. Just talk things over with him. He said you only need four new veneers and he could do the work in just a couple of hours—if you decide you want it done. Your teeth are still white so this wouldn't be all that big a deal." 

"If I say yes, then I will pay him back. Every dime. You understand? No charity for me, okay?" Lauren was adamant. 

Clint knew that would be next to impossible for her to do, but he humored her and said, "Of course. I understand and I respect your independence. Maybe we should try and find you a job first, though. It might easier that way. It's kind of hard to pay someone back when you're not making any money." He smiled at her as he said that last line. 

Lauren couldn't help herself. She not only smiled but burst out laughing. "I have no earthly idea what I might do. I don't have any skills. I've never had a real job. I didn't even finish high school." 

"No worries," Clint assured her. "I have friends who are always looking for help. Finding a job won't be an issue." He didn't feel like telling her he'd owned several print shops in the area. There'd be time for that discussion later. 

"Just one more thing," he added. "We're going to need to get you some nicer clothes to wear that you can interview in and some more casual things to wear to work." Lauren started to protest but before she could speak Clint held up his hands and said, "And before you can say it, yes, you can pay me back after you start earning your own money." 

Lauren squealed with delight. "New clothes? A job? Really??? YES, YES, YES!! Oh, Clint, I am SO happy." 

Lauren pushed her chair back, literally jumped back into his lap, and threw her arms around his neck again. "I'm going to get a job of my own! I'm gonna make you SO proud of me! I am SO excited! Thank you, Clint! I love you SO much!" In her excitement, she sat back and before he could react, she kissed him full on the lips. 

Clint sat there stunned by the kiss itself not to mention what he'd just heard her say. Well, at least he thought he'd heard her say she loved him. 

"Are you okay?" Lauren said as she grabbed his face and looked at him with feigned concern over his stunned appearance. "Hello? Earth to Clint? Anyone home?" 

"Ah, yes. Sure. I'm fine. Great in fact. So, uh, I guess we have some work to do today. I've gotta warn you, I'm not very good at shopping, but I do know where the mall is. How about we go do some looking and see what we can find for you this morning before it gets crazy busy?" 

Lauren's eyes were moist with tears again. "Thank you, Clint. I don't really believe in God, but I've been thanking Him for you since you first asked me to come with you. Let me brush my teeth and I'll be ready to go. Okay?" 

Now, he wanted to kiss her this time but didn't. He was sure this was just a passing feeling and he wasn't going to potentially destroy a good thing by doing something foolish just because he'd been lonely so long. After all, 'I love you' could mean so many different things. There was no reason to assume love meant love. "Get a grip, old man," he told himself. 

"Sounds perfect," said out loud to her. "I'll change clothes and be ready in just a couple of minutes myself." 

Lauren allowed herself to smile without covering her mouth. "If I had something else to change into, I'd do that, too," she said playfully. Clint smiled warmly back at her and to his surprise, she bent down and kissed him softly on the cheek. Their hands touched as she stood and their fingers caressed each other's briefly before she turned and walked away. 

No other words were spoken, but as she left the kitchen Clint heard himself say very quietly, "I love you too, Lauren."

A Second Chance at Love Ch. 03



Clint slipped his wallet into the pocket of his Levis and walked out of the bedroom while strapping on his watch. When he looked up, Lauren was standing right in front of him. "I changed my mind," she announced matter of factly.

"About what?" Clint asked as he finished adjusting the dressy-looking, silver Seiko watch his wife had given him on his 55th birthday. She always told him a nice shirt and that watch could dress up any pair of jeans and since she was always right about those kinds of things, Clint accepted it as the gospel truth.

"About the dentist, of course," Lauren said with a faux pout. That was a side of her he hadn't seen yet. It gave him mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was cute and it was also good in that showed she wasn't depressed. On the other, it reminded him of just how young she really was. He brushed it off and said to her, "Okay. Well. Let's see. I'll give Dr. Hansen's office a call and see when we can get you in. You know, I'm really glad to hear this. I can't imagine how much you're going to like your new smile. It'll light up your already very pretty face."

Lauren just stood there smiling back at him. It was as if she'd decided it didn't matter anymore. Or was it perhaps that she felt comfortable enough around Clint that she didn't care? Regardless, it was good to see her smiling. Her nose was still slightly swollen from where the break had been reset but it wasn't serious. In fact, she should be able to get the small splint removed a couple more days. "One thing at a time," Clint said to himself.

He pulled out his cell phone, punched the dentist's number, and in seconds he was on the line with Lorraine Hanley, Dr. Hansen's secretary. Administrative assistant he silently reminded himself. He hated political correctness but understood why people took offence at certain things so he played along. Lorraine was 40-something and very attractive. She'd always been a little flirty when his wife was still alive, but the last time he went in with Lauren she was so serious it was unnerving. Then again, she hadn't seen him since the death of his girls and she was very sweet expressing such genuine concern for his loss. Were he not so over-the-top into Lauren, Lorraine was the kind of woman he'd love to get to know better. 

As he was asking her about appointment times, he found himself feeling confident again. It was so foreign—all these feelings that were returning in such a short period of time were a bit overwhelming. If he had to put a label on it, he'd have to say he was happy.

"You're kidding. You can see her at 10 o'clock? No way!"

"Yes, way," she said emphatically. "We just had a last-minute cancellation, Clint. I tried calling another patient who was on standby, but I couldn't reach her. If you bring Lauren in, Dr. Hansen can take care of her veneers this morning."

"Wow. That's amazing! Thanks, Lorraine. We'll be there in half an hour."

"I'll look forward to that, Clint. We need to catch up."

Clint was so excited this was going to work out he didn't even respond to Lorraine's subtle hint. He just thanked her and hung up.

"I have good news!" he exclaimed. "He can see you right now!"

Lauren squealed with delight. "Really? Are you serious? Right now? No way! I can't believe this. I'm never lucky. Things never work out for me." She paused, looked away, then said with a coy kind of look, "Well, not until I met you anyway."

It was all he could do not to walk over and kiss her right then and there but he was old school and that just seemed wrong to him. It was too fast. Instead, he settled for telling her, "I feel like my luck is changing recently, too, Lauren. You ready to have a dazzling new smile?"

They'd already done the standard new-patient paperwork on their first visit, and Clint had paid for the chipped tooth repair in full. This time, Lorraine made it clear there would be no charge. She said it in a whisper as though she divulging some kind of state secret or something. Then she added, "Between you and me, Clint, I think Dr. Hansen might be a little bit sweet on your new 'daughter.'" Lorraine ended her statement with a wink and a smile, but it took Clint completely off guard. He wasn't a jealous man but then he hadn't been single in so long he wasn't really sure who he was or how he should feel. He just nodded and went to take his seat in the lobby when Lorraine said, "Clint? Say, listen. I was wondering if maybe you might like to get together for coffee or something sometime. You know, do that catching up I mentioned before. Yes? No? Maybe?"

Clint was still reeling a bit from her innocently-made comment and didn't really hear what she said. "I'm sorry, Lorraine. What was that?"

"Look at you. You're a million miles from here." Her pretend scolding ended as she said in an understanding tone, "I can certainly understand. I can't imagine how hard the last two years have been for you. I was just wondering if you'd like to get together sometime and talk."

Clint hesitated and then said, "Uh, sure. That sounds nice, Lorraine. I'll give you a call sometime."

"If I didn't know you better I'd think that was a brush off. But because you're such a great guy, I'll take that as a 'yes.'" Lorraine's smile was amazing. Her face was still youthful and pretty and her blue eyes and naturally blonde hair made her the kind of woman any guy would love to be with. She was obviously in great shape. Clint knew she worked out regularly doing yoga and Pilates. She was also smart and as of a about six months ago, recently divorced.

"No. No dodge. I'm just a little preoccupied right now is all. I'd love to get together. I will definitely call you."

The next 90 minutes dragged on endlessly as Clint wrestled with his emotions. Finally, he heard the sound of Lauren's voice along with that of Dr. Hansen's. As they approached the lobby, he could tell the Novocain had numbed her tongue and entire front lip as she was having a really tough time pronouncing words. Her "esses" sound lispy as though she'd had way too much to drink.

"She's all set, Clint. Take a look," Dr. Hansen said proudly as Lauren stepped in ahead of him as he held the lobby door open for her. "Smile for the camera, Lauren."

Although she couldn't actually smile because of the Novocain, he could see enough of her new front teeth to know they were perfect. "Oh, my goodness, Lauren. They're beautiful!"

"I know! It's so awesome! I can't believe how good it looks. Rick did such an amazing job! Don't you think, Clint?"

Rick? How in the hell was she on a first-name basis with her dentist already for God's sake? He fought off the feelings of jealousy that roiled inside him for her sake, but he was now in agony over something he had no real reason to believe even existed. And yet still.... "He really did," Clint told her. "That's a home run right there, Lauren. Great work, Rick! Wow! You look amazing! Was I right or was I right?"

Lauren ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am THO happy and ith all becuth of you!"

As his concerns washed away, Lauren let go of him and just as quickly turned to Dr. Hansen. She covered the two steps to him in the blink of an eye and threw her arms around him, too. "And becuth of you, too, Rick! Thank you tho, tho much for thith. And I will pay you back, I promith!"

Dr. Hansen was caught off guard but managed to keep his balance. He looked over at Clint with that "what can I do about this" kind of look as he said to Lauren, "You're very welcome. It's the least I can do. I owe my practice to that man right over there and I'm only too glad to help. You can worry about repaying me after you get that first real job, okay?"

Lauren couldn't stop smiling—or at least trying to. She turned back toward Clint and slurred, "Ith it thsill pothible...I mean...could we thsill go...."

"Shopping?" Clint said anticipating her question. "It's not only possible, it's a definite-for-sure as long as you feel like it."

"I moth definitely do feel like it. I feel tho....happy. I feel like I could just burtht from all the happineth wanting to get out!"

They scheduled a follow-up to come back for the actually veneers which would replace the temps put in today in a week. As Lorraine handed him the appointment card, she showed him the back side. "That's my number just in case you forget." Clint took the card and noted again how attractive she was. He told himself it was just coffee, not a date. It wouldn't be "cheating" on Lauren. He shook his head as realized what he was thinking. "How can I cheat on someone who isn't even my girlfriend?" he mused to himself. Before turning away from Lorraine's desk he said, "Note to self. Maybe it's time to change that. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?"

As he opened the door for Lauren, she waited just outside and as soon as he stood next to her, she slipped her arm inside of his and pulled herself close to him. "I am the luckietht girl in the entire world, Mr. Pierth. Did I menthion that I love you?" Lauren stopped them both and looked directly at him as she said it. Her crooked lip and lopsided smile made him smile. 

"You did, but I'm happy to hear you tell me again. I love you, too, Lauren." He decide to go for it and leaned down to kiss her on her numbed lips even as she stood up to kiss him—on his cheek. It may have been an innocent mix-up, but the turmoil he'd felt just a few minutes earlier returned with a vengeance. The enthusiasm didn't fade from Lauren's eyes which made him think she had no intention of kissing him "that way." 

Her bubbly follow-up temporally broke the spell. "Come on! Leth go thopping!" Lauren said excitedly. 

Clint hadn't felt this way about a woman since high school. That all-too-familiar merry-go-round of "she loves me, she loves not" had him spinning around until he didn't know what to think or feel. Not sure what else to do after the awkward attempted kiss, all he could manage was a half-hearted reply of, "Yes indeed. Let's do that. Let's go shop."

Lauren clung to his arm all the way to the car, but Clint was now wondering if he maybe he wasn't possibly just an old fool but a genuine idiot.



A Second Chance at Love Ch. 04



After what felt like a week, Clint looked at the handsome Seiko watch on his wrist and realized he'd spent more time in this mall than he had in all malls in his entire life combined. He thought he'd learned his lesson the first time he took his daughter shopping and vowed never again after a two-hour marathon which she thought was unbearably short! Kara could spend the entire day looking through a single's mall shops and stores. Like most men, Clint never shopped. When he needed jeans, he'd go straight to the store, pick up a pair in his size, and leave.

Six hours. That's how long they'd spent looking, trying things on, putting them back, trying on other things, paying for them, and traipsing around every store in this oversized shoebox. The only bright spot was a 20-minute break for lunch in the noisy food court. Sheesh. He was old was all he could think. Well, other than that he was exhausted and sick of shopping.

As they carried the armloads of new stuff to his car, the pain of so much shopping was offset by the pleasant, almost non-stop chatter coming from Lauren. He'd never seen her so happy and so....confident. Once the Novocain wore off, she hadn't stopped smiling and Clint had to admit that was another big plus. Her smile was now perfect and she was simply amazing. Okay, so maybe the day had been a net positive rather than as bad as he'd thought. At least he'd spent the day with Lauren, right?

Clint was barely able to reach into his pocket and hit the remote to unlock the car due to all the stuff he was carrying. The trunk popped open and Lauren unloaded her armfuls of bags and hangars with cellophane wrappers as Clint stood there waiting for her to notice he needed help. "Oh, I'm sorry! Here. Let me get the door for you." She moved in between him and the car and opened the back door allowing Clint to start unloading. "Hey! Careful. That dress is expensive!" she teased—kind of.

"Thanks for reminding me," he teased back—kind of. He didn't even want to think about the total amount they'd spent. They? What they? Actually, he meant that he'd spent. He smiled again when he thought how genuinely excited she'd been every time he signed a credit card receipt for some new item. Money most definitely couldn't buy happiness but on days like this one, it came awfully close and he didn't really care what the bottom line was in terms of dollars. His bottom line was seeing the new love of his life so happy. He was still smiling as he walked Lauren around to the passenger's side and opened her door.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Funny? No. Nothing's funny. I'm just so glad to see you so happy. That's all."

"Well, I am happy. I'm very happy!" Lauren's eyes met his and she threw her arms around his neck again and said, "I don't think I've ever been so happy in all my life. Thank you, Clint." Before he could respond, she kissed him—on the cheek—then ducked inside the car. Another kiss on the cheek. Once again, he had that empty feeling inside that had had gnawed at him so deeply earlier in the day.

The feeling passed when Lauren slid all the way over next to him and put her head on his shoulder. Clint started the car and put his arm around her and headed for home.

"I feel like watching a move tonight," Lauren announced during dinner. "What kind of DVDs do you have?"

Clint wasn't much of a movie guy and honestly didn't know what was in the house. "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not really sure. Why don't you take a look around Kara's room and see what you can find. I know she had a bunch of movies. If you find something you like, I'll watch it with you."

Lauren had never been in Kara's room before. It seemed somewhere between a forbidden zone and a room you just didn't go into out of respect. "Are you sure it's okay for me to go into your daughter's room? We could just go to a theater or something instead."

Her ever-present concern always touched him. Clint assumed she'd learned that from having to essentially care for her late father from such an early age. Regardless of where it came from, it always charmed him. "No. It's fine, Lauren. Go ahead and look around."

"Okay. If you're sure. What would you like me to wear for you tonight, Mr. Pierce? I have so many new possibilities, you know," she said playfully.

"I think you'd look great in any of them. Why don't you surprise me?"

"That hardly seems fair. I'm choosing the movie and the new outfit. Don't you have a favorite?"

"Well, sure. I mean, I liked everything you chose but I particularly liked the navy blue sweater and jeans."

"Done! That was easy. Now why did I think you'd want to see me in the little black dress?" Lauren was positively radiant. Her large, doe eyes were set off by a perfect smile and this new confidence was very appealing.

About an hour later, Lauren snuck up behind Clint where he was setting in the large sofa in front of the huge flatscreen TV in the living room. "Close your eyes," she said. He could hear her move around the couch and in front of him. "Okay. Open!"

Clint gasped involuntarily. "Oh, my goodness. Lauren, you look amazing!" He wasn't just flattering her. She'd washed and styled her hair with the new curling iron and it now long and full with a soft wave which framed her oval face. He'd never seen her wear makeup before and he was simply stunned at how beautiful her eyes were with a bit of shadow and some mascara. She cleaned up her once-bushy brows and was sporting a coat of lip gloss on her full lips. Before he could say anything else, the scent of her perfume hit him. He felt physically dazed. He sat there for a moment taking her in then realized he hadn't felt that kind of stirring in a very, very long time.

"Wow. I don't know what else to say. You are truly beautiful."

"Thank you, Clint and that's more than enough--for now at least," Lauren told him while showing off her new smile. He was so taken by her beautiful face he hadn't noticed how great her body looked. The sweater hugged her slim figure and the jeans showed off her great-looking ass. In a word, she was hot. His generation said "fox" or "babe" but somehow hot seemed more appropriate as he felt warm all over.

"So how about this?" Lauren asked holding up the DVD cover to Sleepless in Seattle.

"Looks good to me. I haven't seen it so this should be fun."

"You haven't seen Sleepless in Seattle and you live in Seattle? What in the world is wrong with you Clint Pierce? This is a romantic classic."

Clint didn't feel like explaining why he hadn't had any interest in romantic movies or even romance for that matter for the last two years. Instead, he just told Lauren to pop it in and have a seat.

She put the DVD in the Blu-Ray's disk tray then said, "Okay. We have to have popcorn if we're going to watch a movie. Please tell me you have popcorn in the pantry."

Clint thought for a moment then said, "If you look on the top shelf I'm pretty sure there's a box of microwave popcorn right there."

In less than three minutes, Lauren came in with a bowl of hot microwave popcorn in a large bowl. She also brought in two Diet Cokes and sat them on the coasters on the table in front of them. She handed Clint the bowl then plopped down right next to him.

For the next 30 minutes, they watched the movie, munched popcorn, and exchanged comments about Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. "She's just so cute!" Lauren said as she grabbed a few pieces of popcorn.

"No cuter than you, sweetie," Clint said as he also grabbed another handful.

"Am I cute enough to attract an older man?" she asked rather seriously.

"Uh, you are more than cute enough to do that. Why do you ask? Is there some older man in particular you have in mind?" Clint's heart was pounding as she rested her head on his broad shoulders. Between the smell of her hair and her perfume, his cock was rock hard with anticipation.

"Just wondering," she said as she popped another kernel into her mouth. Then she added, "And yes. There is someone special I'd love to have ask me out."

Clint was reaching to put his arm around her. He was determined to by-God kiss her this time. Just as he lifted up his massive arm, the phone rang. "Damn it all to hell!" he thought to himself. Who could be calling him at nine o'clock? He excused himself to get up and answer the phone making sure to keep his back to Lauren so she couldn't see the bulge in his jeans. "Hello? Oh, sure. Hey doc. No, she's doing just fine. We had quite a day, though. I now know more about The Southcenter Mall than I ever cared to find out. Yeah, sure. She's here. Hold on."

Clint brought the cordless phone to Lauren and said, "It's Dr. Hansen. He's calling to see how you're doing after the procedure today." He smiled and winked at her as he handed her the phone. He just couldn't stop staring at this young woman and he couldn't wait to tell her he felt the same about her.

"Hello? Yes! No, I'm doing just fine, thank you. No, nothing hurts. Well, except for my mouth from smiling so much! Uh, huh. Really? Yes!!! I'd love to! When? Okay, sure. That sounds great! Thank you so much, Rick. I'll see you then."

Lauren handed the phone back to Clint. "You were right. I am cute enough to attract and older man! I was just sitting here daydreaming about him asking me out when the phone rang. Rick just asked me to have dinner with him tomorrow night! Isn't that wonderful, Clint?" Lauren was absolutely beaming with happiness.

Clint took the phone, turned away from her, and forced himself to say, "Yes. That's great news." He hung up the phone and stood there for a moment as waves of emotion flooded over him. He was so overwhelmed he couldn't even describe everything he was feeling. Hurt. Sadness. Frustration. Maybe even anger? How could she repay him like this? How could he have so misread her? How could he be that foolish?

Clint barely spoke two words the rest of the movie. Even when Lauren asked, "What's wrong?" he only said 'nothing' in more than a whisper. When she hugged him goodnight, he didn't even put his arms around her. He just mumbled, "Good night, Lauren," and headed off to his empty king-sized bed alone—again—as usual.



A Second Chance at Love Ch. 05



After a fitful night's sleep, Clint was wide awake at 5:30 am and out on the road by six o'clock. He pushed himself hard through his favorite four-mile course in order to break this obsession about Lauren going out with Dr. Hansen. By the third mile he found some relief and by the end of the run which he finished in a half-mile sprint, he felt like his old self. He knew the endorphin high would only last a few hours, but any break from this adolescent heartache was a godsend.

By the time he got out of the shower, he could smell the scent of bacon wafting into his bedroom. After he finished dressing he walked into the hallway and could see Lauren in the kitchen standing over the stove. As Clint made his way toward the breakfast table, he stifled the first hint of a return of those awful—feelings. "Coffee?" Lauren asked cheerfully. Before he could answer she said, "You were out early. How'd you sleep?"

Clint poured himself a steaming cup of black coffee, took a sip, then lied, "Not bad. How about you?"

"I couldn't sleep all night! All I could do was think about going out with Rick. I mean, can you imagine a guy like him being interested in a girl like me?" It was Clint's turn not to be able to respond before Lauren chattered on. "I mean, he's gotta be like 30 years old AND a doctor. Okay, he's a dentist but that's still a doctor, right? I mean, why would we like call him Doctor Hansen if he wasn't like a real doctor? You know what I'm saying?"

Clint fought off the annoyance Lauren's repeated use of the word "like" stirred up inside of him. And who says "you know what I'm saying?" Instead of telling her what he was really thinking he said, "Who wouldn't be interested in a beautiful young woman like you, Lauren? You're irresistible."

Lauren put down the tongs she was using to turn the bacon and ran to the table where Clint was sitting. She practically jumped into his lap and threw her arms around him. "See? That's why I love you so much, Mr. Pierce. You're like the Dad I never had." Lauren jumped back up and returned to her duties as breakfast chef. When she started humming, Clint thought he might crawl out of his skin. 

Somehow, he managed to put away the eggs, bacon, and toast Lauren had made along with a second cup of coffee. Lauren had a single piece of dry toast and half a small glass of orange juice. "Oh, don't forget. I'm getting my splint off this morning at 10 o'clock." It was a splint anymore, per se, but the final thing—whatever it was—had to come off and her nose given a final check.

Clint was putting his plate into the dishwasher when he finally heard what she was saying. "Right. Ten o'clock. Sounds good."

"Hey. Are you okay?" Lauren asked with genuine concern.

"Me? Sure. I'm fine. Just a little preoccupied, I guess." A second lie and it wasn't even 8am. Nice.

It was ten minutes before ten when Clint pulled into the parking lot of the medical/dental clinic which was home to not only the outpatient medical clinic where she was being seen but Dr. Hansen's office, as well. He and Lauren walked right passed the dentist's office on the way to her appointment. He got Lauren checked in, paid the $150 fee for her office visit, and took a seat in the waiting room. 

As he was mindlessly flipping through a golf magazine—a game he rarely played in rainy, wet Seattle—he heard a familiar voice say, "You couldn't even stop in and say hello?" He looked up to see Lorraine standing in front of him with a pretend scowl on her face. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you walking right past me like that, Cling Pierce?" She raised her eyebrows for emphasis.

"Well, yes. Uh, no. I mean....gee, I'm really sorry, Lorraine. I haven't been thinking too clearly the last day or so."

"Oh. I get it. Someone isn't happy about someone dating someone else, is he?" Lauren said as she sat down next to Clint.

"What? You mean Lauren and Rick? Nah. Come on. Why would that bother me? And why would I be interested in her? She's only a kid, Lorraine."

"It's okay. I get it. I had a crush on Dr. Hansen the first month I worked here and he's a LOT younger than me."

"Crush? What in the world are you talking about? I don't have a crush on Lauren. She's Kara's age. Sort of. I mean...."

Lorraine interrupted him. "Clint. I've known you a long time. I see the way you look at her. It's okay. I'm not judging. She's a beautiful young woman. Why wouldn't you be attracted to her?"

Clint put the magazine down and stared at the clock. It was ten after ten. It seemed like he'd been sitting there for hours. "Clint?" Lorraine said interrupting his train of thought. "I really didn't mean anything by what I said."

"Oh. Umm. It's okay. You're right. I'm guilty as charged. I guess maybe I just thought that there might be more to it than me just care of a fellow lonely soul. But you're right. I'm almost old enough to be her grandfather."

"Nonsense! That's ridiculous," Lorraine countered. "Her Dad? Sure! Grandparent? No way. Besides, a guy like you is bound to attract a lot of women—of all ages, I'm sure." Lorraine looked away as she said that and then she looked right back into Clint's eyes. "I mean you're not half bad lookin', Clint."

Before she could prattle on, Clint blurted out, "Do you want to have dinner with me tonight, Lorraine? You know, while our crushes are out with each other on a date for Christ's sake?"

"You know I would, Clint. But please don't ask me if I'm just some kind of gap filler. I can wait." Lorraine paused before adding quietly, "Hell, I've waited for two years now."

Clint was jarred back to reality. For the first time since he lost his wife, he really looked at Lorraine and he was amazed at just how attractive she was. She was clearly intelligent, she had a great sense of humor, and she was as friendly as any woman he'd ever known. How could he not have noticed before?

"Gap filler? No way. I'm asking you because I'd like to have dinner with you. So....will you?"

"In that case, I'd love to and the pleasure is all yours, Clint Pierce." Lorraine flashed him that dazzling smile of hers as she stood up and said, "Break's over. I've got work to do. So what time is dinner tonight?"

"Seven o'clock sound okay? I'll pick you up a few minutes before that and we'll head downtown to someplace nice."

"It's a date! See you then."

Just then, Lauren emerged her nose bandage-free when she too, flashed Clint a beautiful smile. She stopped in front of him, turned her head sideways, and asked, "So. What do you think? Am I perfect now or what?" Lauren was positively radiant and happier than he'd ever seen her (to include last night.) 

Clint's own date with Lorraine softened the blow of his disappointment that he'd be taking a "gap filler" to dinner and he was able to say with almost genuine cheer, "You are indeed perfect. Dr. Hansen is a very lucky man, Lauren."

"Oh, my God, no! I am the lucky one. I am SO totally excited about tonight. I can't wait! What should I wear? That blue dress? No. Not the blue one. How about the black one? Or do you think the red one is prettier? Help me here out, okay? I really need you right now."

Clint sighed. If only Lauren knew how much he needed her right now. "Slow down, kiddo. You'll look fine in any of them. Just take a deep breath and relax, okay? I'll help you choose after we get home. He'll like anything you choose. I promise. And hey, I've got a date of my own tonight. What do you think of them apples?"

"You do? With Lorraine? Oh, Clint. That's wonderful! You deserve to be happy, too. Did I tell you I'm happy? Can you tell?" Lauren's happiness was infectious and Clint realized that he too, felt happy again. Okay, maybe it was the absence of pain that felt so good but either way, it was a lot better than the way he'd felt the last 18 hours or so. Still, he knew that as good as he felt, he was feeling the way he wanted to feel. Another deep sigh.

Lauren settled on her first-ever "little black dress" after trying on everything Clint had recently bought her. He assured her she looked just fine after asking if he was really sure for the third time. 

His duty done, it was time he left for his own date. He threw on his jacket over the grey, button-down shirt he'd chosen and let Lauren know he was heading out. "Have a wonderful time, Clint," Lauren said to him on his way out. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Clint stopped, turned his head, and said, "Don't you do anything...period...on your first date, young lady."

"Okay—dad. I'll be good. I promise." Lauren smiled that smile at him again and he felt a wince of pain that was made up of equal parts of envy and jealousy.

"Sorry. I can't help it. I was a father for a lot of years. But you know I care and you know what I mean, right? In case you don't, let me share some fatherly advice. It's possible to be good AND have fun. Okay?"

"Okay—dad," she teased again. "Now go pick up that beautiful woman and enjoy yourself. And Clint? Thank you again for everything. This all means more to me than I can put into words."

"It's all been my pleasure, Lauren. Now you have a nice time tonight. But not too nice, okay? See you later."

"Don't wait up for me!" Clint swallowed the hurt he felt forcing its way up from the pit of his stomach at the thought of her being with him all night.

He looked down and then back at Lauren. Somehow, he managed a wry smile. "No. Don't you wait up for me," he said as he winked and closed the door.

When Lorraine opened her door, Clint was stopped dead in his tracks. "You like?" she asked as she turned around to show off her perfect curves and still-tight ass.

"Wow. Yeah, me like!" Clint told her honestly. "Me like a LOT. You look amazing, Lorraine."

She was wearing a very dressy black cashmere sweater with a jeweled neckline that showed off just the right amount of her ample cleavage. Below it she had on a short (but not too short) tan skirt and what looked like three-inch heels which showed off her great-looking legs and calves. Her hair was long, soft, and full while the matching gold earrings and necklace she wore finished off what was a look of sheer elegance. 

"Thank you. I'm glad you like it. So where's dinner tonight, Clint?"

"The New Rustic. Have you heard of it?"

"Have I heard of it? It's only my favorite place in the entire city! How did you get reservations so quickly? Oh. Let me guess. Another friend of a friend. Am I right?"

"You are. A guy who bought one of my shops knows the owner who..."

"Okay. I got it. You've got more connections than the Mafia, Clint Pierce. Are you a dangerous man?" Lorraine said with faux concern. "Should I be worried about going out with a real-life mob boss?"

"I think you're safe. I told Vinnie not to carry out the hit unless you turned me down."

"Turned you down? For what? For dinner or for...sex?" Lorraine's eyes were positively wicked in that good kind of way.

"Dinner. For now at least," Clint teased back.

"Well, I definitely don't want to meet Vinnie the hard way so I'd say you've pretty much got a sure thing on your hands, 'Don' Clint." Lorraine moved closer to him without breaking their stare. "Kiss me. Okay, Clint? Please?"

Clint obliged her by leaning down and placing his lips on hers. There was a slow, soft, first kiss, a brief pause and then a longer, deeper second kiss that involved just the right amount of each other's tongues probing the tip of the other's. "See? I told you I'm a sure thing. But I probably should eat something first because I think I'm going to need my strength later on."

Clint kissed her one more time before helping her on with her coat and handing her her purse. "I always like betting on a sure thing, Lorraine." Clint held the door open as Lorraine walked past him.

"Then let me assure you you can go all in right now." Lorraine paused, stopped directly in front of Clint's athletic body and said, "And you can go all the way in again back her tonight." She smiled that wicked smile and Clint suddenly realized he'd have to make some "adjustments down there" before walking to the car. 

He was opening the door for Lorraine when he found himself thinking, "I hope Lauren isn't making the same offer tonight to..." He couldn't even say his name to himself. 

Lorraine thanked him as he closed her door. As Clint walked around to his side he wondered how he could be with someone this beautiful and this available and still be thinking about a girl young enough to be his daughter. As he started the car, Lorraine slid over next to him and put her head on his shoulder. For now, he was able to stuff those feelings for the girl he wanted but couldn't have as he put his arm around the woman he had but wasn't sure he wanted.