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Adele de Clune

By: Egmont Grigor



CHAPTER 1

Ralph de Clune stood waiting with his beautifully groomed wife Yvonne in the airport terminal looking at incoming passengers for Adele de Clune, sole survivor of her family Ralph's brother James and wife and their two other children were killed in a helicopter crash. 

Yvonne and Ralph had spent a day in London with Adele after the funeral but she refused to return to America with them. That was nine years ago when she was eighteen. Boston-born Adele who had dual citizenship joined the British Army as an officer cadet, and emerged as a qualified engineer with specialist training in military intelligence and field communications. She'd served in various hot spots, including Iraq and Afghanistan where she lost her hearing temporarily during a night mortar attack on her unit. 

After being repatriated to England against her will, angry at army superiors assigning her to a desk role at a training facility, Adele had resigned her commission and left the army. She called Yvonne and was invited to live with them for a month or two while she looked for employment.

"There she is," Yvonne called. "She's waving to us. Oh god, she looks almost as old as I do."

Aunt and uncle were shocked at the change in Adele's appearance, from being a soft-faced carefree teenager to a hard-faced, suspicious-eyed woman who was wearing hiking boots, loose-fit denims, a military green t-shirt under her denim jacket and her blonde hair appeared cut by a lawnmower.

"Oh darling, how lovely to see you again after all these years," Yvonne cooed.

"Hello Auntie," Adele said, smiling lightly and holding out her hand to shake Yvonne's.

Both Yvonne and Ralph ignored the outstretched hand and kissed their niece who didn't appear displeased.

"Daring, are you tired?"

"No."

"Oh."

Ralph asked, "Is this all the luggage you have?"

"Most of my possessions are coming in an airfreight container and will be delivered to your home."

"Well done. Well you two women come on slowly and I'll fetch the SUV to the passenger pick-up area. I'll be five minutes."

"Thank you sir."

"Adele, please call me Ralph."

"Very well."

"And I'm Yvonne. You are a grown woman now. Oh it's so lovely having you with us. You are the nearest we have to care for now. Alan a geologist is based in Western Australia and Brigit is a hospital deputy chief administrator in Ireland, but you knew that; you met in London a year ago."

"Thirteen months ago actually. She looked very beautiful."

"We visited her six months ago and tried to find where you were but it was Army hush-hush."

"Six months ago we were taking up our positions in Afghanistan."

"Oh and you won't want to talk about that?"

"No."

"Darling, tell me not to interfere if you don't like this but may I assist in converting you back into being feminine?"

"I'd love that Yvonne. Frankly I feel too apprehensive to start. It's something I haven't been trained to do. I anticipate it will take me out of my comfort zone and so we must proceed without haste. Here we are and here comes Ralph. Oh, you have a Range Rover Sport. I thought you'd be driving American?"

"Ralph has developed a thing about them."

As they were driving away Yvonne said, "Adele was surprised we have a Range Rover."

"Yes, our hire vehicle in Ireland was a Land Rover. There were things about it that appealed to me as I like going off-road and then I found there was this luxury version. Have you owned a Land Rover?"

"No, but my personal transport in Iraq and Afghanistan were military versions."

"Yes, of course. We don't have a machine-gun on this baby," he laughed and that went unanswered.

"That wasn't funny," Yvonne admonished and Ralph apologized but Adele didn't acknowledge that.

After a while Ralph asked, "Will you come out hunting with me?"

"Shooting what?"

"Deer."

"Yes, I'd like that."

"God I couldn't do that," Yvonne said. "It's too bloodthirsty for me." She was then shocked by the comment from the back seat. 

"Toughen up Yvonne and you'll be surprised what you can do."

Next day Yvonne took Adele to her hairdresser. The usually charming Annette threw her hands up and almost cried, saying, "I'm not touching this."

"Bitch, I wouldn't want you touching my hair," Adele said, standing up and scowling.

Annette ran off crying.

The owner Michelle Black came down from the mezzanine floor to find out what was going on and smiled when Yvonne explained. Come up to my office dear and let me have a look at you. There's nothing to fuss about."

Michelle sat Adele on her office chair and made the assessment. "Right, here's what you do. All you need to do for the next month is to wash and condition you hair every second day and let the hair grow. And every morning and every night you brush it lightly 200 times. I suggest you allow Yvonne to do some of the brushing; that will help you to accept that it's worth caring about your hair. It will allow Yvonne to clip hair back and brush it in layers. I'll give you a soft brush Adele and for this next month I want you to only use that brush and no comb. Your hair needs to adapt to this extra and different attention."

"To be retrained?"

"Yes, exactly. Good girl."

"I'm not a girl."

"That is a term used as an endearment by an older woman Adele."

"Oh. Please make allowances for me."

"Certainly. You have an English accent. Care to tell me how your hair has suffered what appears to be years of neglect?"

As Michelle poured coffee for the three of them Adele explained how she'd had a traumatic experience of being thrown clear of the helicopter on impact, seconds before it exploded, killing her family. It had clipped a tree coming into land on the family estate.

"I suffered psychologically for a few weeks but that cleared. I sold the estate because I could never go on to that property again and then I seemed to have nothing left, although my grandparents were very good to me. Yvonne had urged me to come back home and live with them but I did not feel I was ready for that. So I joined the army. I had this urge to put wrongs right, if you can understand that. I'd seen myself leading a unit into an occupied village and sending the rebels on the run or killing them and freeing the villagers. But during pre-training before entering what your guys would call a military academy I was psychologically tested and underwent other tests and it was suggested my ideal vocation was engineering and although the focus would be on assault and defensive engineering my degree would be in civil engineering in civilian life. So I went with the flow. I was involved with 95% men so I found it best to stop being a pretty blonde and become one of the guys. I had a less complicated life than the females in our units who maintained their feminine style."

"Oh god, you poor darling," Michelle said in a matter-of-fact tone and shaking her head at Yvonne who was weeping. "That's all behind you. I trained as a beautician before I specialized in hairdressing. Would you like me to become your beauty adviser?"

"Yes please Michelle. I have plenty of money, heaps of it."

"I don't wish to be paid Adele. I don't have children so will act as your older sister if you'll allow that."

"Yes, I'd like that. I'll write out a check for $500 to cover product."

"That's an excellent idea. If you can do this I suggest you call in around this time every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I aim to work on you, head to toe."

Adele laughed. "Does that include trimming my bush?"

"We'll discuss the options when we get down that far. But first your face and hands need my total attention. Your skin has aged but I'll get you to a specialist for skin therapy possibly involving micro-dermabrasion treatment or even chemical skin peeling. You then choose what you favor. It could cost several thousand dollars for on-going consultation and treatments."

"No problem. If it's not a waste of money I'll buy in."

As Yvonne and Adele drove off in Yvonne's Infinity G37 Yvonne said, "I couldn't help noticing you seemed to relate easier to Michelle than you do to me."

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Yes of course."

"She is a little laidback and talks to me in an easy manner. You heard her giving me options rather than leading me, although she was definite at times. But she wasn't overly sympathetic or judgmental or cloying. How can I put it? Ah, she treated me like one of her pals."

"So you don't want an aunt-niece relationship?"

"I thought you indicated that when you invited me to call you Yvonne?"

"Oh god, it's I don't know how to behave with you, isn't it?"

"Could be. Stop and let me drive."

"Oh Adele... this is an expensive new car and... Damn, I'm doing it again, aren't I?"

Yvonne stopped and they changed seats. Adele drove off and within a minute Yvonne said, "You are a much better driver than I am?"

"Yes but you're fine. I have no problem being driven by you. I just wanted to feel what this baby felt like to drive. It's better than expected though the gearshift is a tad disappointing, not as smooth as I expected. The interior is great and I love the real sports car seating positions. It's probably over-powered for you but then again it gives you a sexy image."

"Sexy -- me?"

"You have the money... you can be anything you want to be Yvonne. Let's go to a bar for a drink and chat."

"A bar? I never... Oh. Yes and think about picking up a couple of guys."

"Not this early in the day Yvonne. They'll only be bums. Anyway I don't want you to up-tempo too radically. Ralph mightn't like it and remember he has to adjust."

* * * On Saturday morning over breakfast Ralph invited Adele to his golf club if she were interested. She'd said she played competitively but her handicap had run out. "Yeah, it sounds fun. It's too windy for shopping."

There was no wind so Ralph laughed, thinking that was a joke and Adele smiled back at him. Yvonne said Adele wanted to be treated like a pal, not as a niece, and that obviously applied to him. Ralph had seen this brushing thing going at evenings and Yvonne had said they also did it in the mornings after he'd left for work, the idea being to allow Adele's hair to grow and be groomed back into good shape and for her to relearn to love her hair.

"Love her hair. What kind of goofy women's talk is that?" The man with his hair receding at the temples let the withering return look pass without comment, knowing his wife would regard that as 'ungentlemanly comment'. God she was so uptight at times.

Looking at Adele he said, "I'll book in from 10:30. It's men only until then."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, and I want you wearing a tight short skirt so I can see your ass move."

Adele grinned and Yvonne said, "Ralph, that is a disgusting comment. Apologize."

"No it's fine Yvonne. I've spent nine years in a male-dominated community. I know how the male mind works. If Ralph was prepared to say that in front of you it's nothing more than bravado. You could think it's your ass he should be interested in watching move but he'd denied that because of your choice of clothes."

"My choice of clothes? Young woman, the clothes I wear are expensive high fashion."

"Yeah, for older women bent on playing the role of grandma. I must take you shopping."

"Adele, how can you say this to me?"

"Was I disgusting?"

"No."

"Was I rude?"

"Um, not really."

"Did I make you feel uncomfortable?"

"Yes, you did, and coming close to being rude."

"Well then, you've just had an enlightening social experience."

"A what?"

"You feel as if you are being tipped out of your comfort zone. Take care that I don't push you into becoming a fashion leader for your age group Yvonne, pulling you out of the pack."

"I-I don't understand. That sounds alarming. I'd feel isolated."

"I'll to attempt to shoe-horn you out of the pack reasonably gradually."

Ralph yawned and said, "Do you women really know what you're talking about?"

"Back off Ralph. Adele is attempting to make me think."

Five minutes later Ralph returned and said, "We have a tee-off time of 1:47 with Noel Hill and his son. Noel is my age so we must assume the son is your age. You may end up with a date."

"Just being competitive in a good game of golf will suffice thank you."

"Oh dear, just how British can you be?" Ralph sighed. "Well now turn American and put on a tight-ass skirt. Your ass will be our secret weapon."

Adele said sarcastically, "And a tight sweater and bra too small for me?"

"No, a sports bra and a loose shirt. We want to win this baby." 

"Careful Ralph. You'll give me the impression you have developed strategic thinking."

He grinned and said for an Englishwoman she had a cutting humor.

"Let me know if I get too subtle for you Ralph."

He looked at her blankly.

Noel Hill, dressed in white including his cap, looked appreciatively at Adele and made no secret of what he was thinking. "Wow."

"Thank you Mr Hill."

"Call me Noel, please. They signed Adele in and she said he handicap was out of date. "I'll play off scratch."

The starter grinned and said she meant thirty-six didn't she and then looking at her physique said, "Or perhaps you mean twenty?"

"No I have played off six or under from six months after starting golf when I was sixteen. Could I play off the men's tees please?"

"No ma'am, sorry but..."

Noel, recovering from the shock of hearing Adele was a classy golfer said, "Fred, sign a bit of paper giving Adele de Clune authority to play off the men's tee and date and sign it. I'll show it to anyone who complains."

They returned to their carts and a square shouldered guy with long blond hair packing away bottles of beer into the cooler bin turned, looked at Adele and gaped, dropping a bottle. She leaped forward and caught it inches off the pavement. "Hot-doggity. You're quick."

"Thank you. Are you Noel's son?"

"Yeah, I'm Kerry Hill."

"I'm Adele."

"Hi, you look like you can beat the cover off a ball."

"I get by."

"Let us two play the old guys. Dad plays a mean game and has been club intermediate champion about five times over fifteen years and Ralphie is almost as consistent. They both play off fourteen and I'm steady on eight."

"That will be unfair to them. I can play pretty well although it's almost six months since I last played."

"No it's okay," Kerry said. "They'll take the bait."

Kerry sauntered up to the two men. "Do you two geriatrics want to play against us?"

"Geriatrics? Okay asshole. The losers pay twenty bucks each."

"Is that okay for you Adele?"

"Squeeze them for fifty," she whispered.

"Are you sure?"

"Hell yes. No way am I going to throw away fifty."

The match was more or less over from the first hole. The older guys grinned and said ladies first. It was an easy starting hole, very straight. The pin 263 yards away, downhill with a light wind behind them and the fairway was cut short and appeared to be hard. 

Adele took a 3 iron, hitting it high and straight and it soared like a bird. Her wedge stopped five yards short. She sank the putt for a birdie. Noel made par and the other two had bogeys. After that the men, looking at Adele's ass as she swayed it, getting herself settled to made her tee-shot, had trouble with their concentration on their tee-shots and even some of their fairway shots after watching Adele play. But the real killer was she was so accurate she had only 27 putts in her round. Next best was Kerry with 33 putts.

Ralph and Noel took their defeat philosophically, Ralph saying that Kerry had beaten them both off the stick.

Over a light meal Noel said, "Adele, I think I have a way of winning back our loss from other people. Are you willing to help out?"

"Providing it's not prostitution or illegal yes."

Noel roared with laughter and later in the bar when most of the golfers had come it he began talking loudly about the hotshot woman he'd played against.

"She was consistently hitting 230 yards drives."

"A woman?" said someone and the controversy started. When everyone in the discussion was suitably fired up Noel said, "Look, there she is with Ralph de Clune. She's his niece. Anyone interested in putting money up against me that Adele will hit two of six balls over 250 yards down the driving range and keep them on the fairway?"

There wasn't much interest, about $120 was offered. Noel licked his lips, "Oh guys, I'm recasting all bets. I'm rash enough to offer odds of five to one that Adele will hit three or more of the six balls over the 250-yard mark and stay on the fairway."

The money rolled in and the club's senior pro agreed to measure the distances.

The club secretary announced the bets had closed with $685 paid in.

Noel came up to Adele grinning. "Are you confident?"

"Well I suppose so. I have been drinking but it's low alcohol wine. Noel, if I don't do it this will cost you a lot of money."

"Don't put yourself under pressure darling. I can afford it and I have confidence in you. You hit straight playing eighteen holes earlier so why would you not hit straight now?" "So you won't be mad at me if I fail?"

"Of course not. This is just a bit of fun."

Adele went to the pro shop and came back with a women's 50-inch shaft Big Bertha.

The bar virtually emptied as everyone went to the driving range. Noel acted as master of ceremonies and gave the pro his cell phone number. A club member drove the pro beyond the 250-yard mark in the golf range quad bike that had a cage built over it so balls could be collected without placing the driver in danger.

Noel introduced Adele to everyone and pleaded for quiet once she began her preparation.

A big cheer sounded as she drove the first ball straight and true. The pro used his laser rangefinder back from the 250 marker and called Noel each time a shot was played. The yardages were 241, 266, 262, disqualified (in the rough) and 288.

Everyone clapped but Adele said, "Now for the big one."

Everyone hushed. She played the shot very much like the others although she bent her back more and swung through the little faster. Everyone cheered as it went straight and true and beyond the vehicle carrying the pro and his driver.

The pro called back and Noel relayed the message. "Stupendous, 322-yards."

Two guys hoisted Adele on their shoulders and carried her back to the bar. It was very much like a victory parade.

Inside Noel gave the club secretary $3000 of his winnings to donate towards junior golf, placed $200 on the bar for drinks for everyone and gave Adele $200 and said he'd keep the remainder. Adele donated her prize to junior golf so Noel grinned and handed his $25 across to the beaming secretary.

Eventually it was agreed they should go. Walking to the parking lot Adele asked Kerry did he have a girlfriend.

"Until last week when she dumped me because her old boyfriend is back from overseas."

"Would you like to hang around me? I have no one."

"Yeah," Kerry said, concealing his surprise. "Great idea. I'll pick you up at noon tomorrow. Mom often entertains on a Sunday and tomorrow we're having a pool party -- mixed with parents her age and some younger women around my age from where she works. She's trying to pair me off."

"So swimsuit and smart casual lounge gear?"

"Yeah, people will dress up. Mom's an assistant district attorney."

"Oh my, and what does your father do?"

"He owns Irongate Security Services, Inc. I'm operations manager."

"So you guys catch them and your mom sends them to jail?"

"Something like that," Kerry grinned. "Actually it's happened a few times. What do you do?"

"Nothing but I'm looking."

"Want to come to work for us? If you are fast and accurate word processing we do have someone we could shift into accounts to make way for you or is you are a good driver I could put you on small business payroll deliveries. Your partner would actually carry the money inside so you wouldn't feel exposed once he left the cab because you'd be automatically locked in behind bullet resistant glass."


Adele de Clune



"Oh I don't think so Kerry. That's all too pedestrian and would be under-paid for me. Look just kiss me and go. I'll come in and see you on Monday with my CV and references. I'm thinking top-line surveillance would be more in my line."

"Oh yeah," he laughed. "Baby, you have no idea."

"Oh yeah? "I trained as an engineer with the British Army, and am expert with firearms and explosives as part of the engineering training was demolition. For the past four years I was attached to Army intelligence units in several hot spots, including Iraq and Afghanistan."

Kerry's jaw dropped. Adele darted forward, flicked her tongue into his mouth and said goodbye, she'd really enjoyed herself.

"No wait, let's..."

"Sorry I'm delaying Ralph. We promised we wouldn't be too late home. Tomorrow then?"

"Right but let me have a proper kiss."

"Patience you sexy man," she said, blowing him a kiss and stepping between cars to where Ralph was glancing at his watch, talking to Noel. 

* * *

Brushing Adele's hair Yvonne said, "According to Ralph you played brilliant golf and appeared to have made a big impression on Kerry Hill. What he's like? His mother and I are good friends and she complains he won't settle down and he says its because he hasn't met the right woman."

"Kerry is in his early thirties, tall, broad and blond hair to his shoulders, hard blue eyes and a soft smile -- well at least it was when directed at me."

"Oh god. He sounds like my dream lover."

"No good for you. I think he's a really tough guy. He'd make you cry. I'm used to guys like that."

"I bet," Yvonne said. "And I bet you are tough when necessary. Do you think he'll date you?"

"I can't see how I can miss. I have him pumped up already. Oh, his mom is holding a pool party tomorrow so he's invited me. Kerry and his girlfriend have parted so his mom is also inviting some eligible women from her office in the hope that something happens, so I guess she'll take a big fix on me as an interloper who's messing up her plans."

"Or she may see you as super eligible."

Adele snorted. "What, with hair and skin like this?"

"Let me tell you darling his mom is no beauty and is hard as nails, having dealt with criminals from two angles. She'd made sergeant in frontline policing when with her law degree and not too long after that switched to a job in the DA's office when head-hunted. She may see you as a replica of herself and think you'll be an ideal daughter.

"Marry? I want the guy to fuck me."

"Adele darling, you really shouldn't talk like that," her aunt said sweetly. And then Adele felt the tremor of a giggle through her aunt's hand resting on Adele's shoulder.

CHAPTER 2

Yvonne opened the door when the bell rang and knew Kerry well enough to greet him, "Hi Kerry, a great day for being out in the sun."

"Yes indeed Mrs de Clune."

"Just Yvonne will be sufficient. Adele is coming. She is so pleased at being asked out. This is her first social outing since her arrival from England."

"So she's English?"

"Actually she's Anglo-American. Her late father and my husband Ralph were brothers. Their grandfather was from France, hence the name de Clune."

"Very interesting. Here she comes. Wow..."

Adele couldn't be missed, dressed in yellow and wearing a straw colored sunhat.

"Hi."

"Hi. Should we go?"

Adele kissed Yvonne and Kerry said "Goodbye Yvonne" and they walked off to the car, not touching. Yvonne found that such an anti-climax but at least he did hold the door of the red Mustang open for Adele. They had treated each other like strangers. She then clicked. Of course, that's what they were; they'd only met yesterday. Only when Kerry was lowering himself into the vehicle did Yvonne realize it was the passenger's seat. What was that about?

As they walked to the car Kerry said lightly, "You are acting aloof today?"

"Well I'm sorry I was not all over you rubbing myself up against your outstretched leg like an American girl would do."

He laughed and said he wished. "A compromise would have been acceptable like just the touch of a breast against me as we kissed."

"I tend not to be too eager about kissing me before I'm warmed up. I'm half English."

"So your aunt said."

"Yvonne talks to much."

"She's a romantic."

Adele laughed and said, "God, how did you manage to work that out by yourself?"

He ignored her but smiled. "Want to sit your driving test now."

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to say not in this muscle car?"

"Why would I say that?"

"Because... well I don't know," Kerry finished lamely, holding the driver's door open for her.

Adele drove off slowly to get the feel of the GT.

"Do you know what you're driving?"

"I believe it's the 4.6 V8 obviously with manual transmission."

"You're right. Show me what you've got."

"No way am I'm going to park and do that in this neighborhood."

Kerry flushed. "The car you fool -- drive it hard and as legally as you can."

"Let the feel transfer to me first. I'm trained to reduce risk."

"Oh yes, Army trained. I suppose you even drove Hummers."

"Actually yes. A bit of a dog but it was armor plated and we were on sand."

They reached a warehouse district and Adele turned into it and accelerated smoothly along the near-empty road to 60, hit the brakes and gearshift, turning around to face the way they'd come from, took a right turn hard and roared down the short blind street and braked heavily to stop a foot away from a brick wall. She hit reverse, spun the vehicle around and proceeded at legally speed. "Directions to you home please," she said sweetly.

"You drive well," Kerry said, a little hoarsely, releasing his grip on his seat.

There were women everywhere, outnumbering the males. Someone called to Kerry, diverting him to give Adele opportunity to look around. She'd picked out the most unattractive woman old enough to be Kerry's mother when a husky voice beside her said, "Hi, are you a friend of Kerry's. I'm his mother."

The ruggedly handsome woman with three-color hair and was Kerry's height, almost six foot.

"Yes, I'm Adele de Clune. How nice to meet you."

"Ah the English golfer Kerry and Noel were in raptures about over dinner last night?"

"Yes, my golf impressed them it seems. You have a lovely setting here. The pool looks wonderful."

"Welcome to our home Adele. Please call me Kathryn. Here comes Noel galloping over to greet you," said his wife, dressed in a black one-piece swimsuit and an orange and white sarong.

Noel kissed both women, which Adele thought was rather couth, and he said. "If you either play golf with Adele darling pick her as your partner. If anything she's even more ruthless than your are."

"That sounds interesting," Kathryn laughed. "Come with us Adele and meet some of our friends."

Driving Adele home Kerry asked, "Well, what do you think?"

"You have a lovely family. Your mom was so pleasant to me and your two sisters seemed very excited to meet me. What have you been saying to them about me?"

The car lurched. "Nothing."

"Liar."

"Well, I'd said to Melissa you were cute."

"Huh."

"What does that mean? Have you ever told Melissa or Marie that any of your other girlfriends was cute?"

The car lurched. "Um no."

"So they were surprised to find I was nothing like being cute."

"Yes. Um Melissa said you were too good for me and Marie was far kinder to me and said at last I'd brought home an amazing woman."

"Oh your poor darling. Sisters can be so cruel to a younger brother."

"No, what they said was great, confirming my own observations and feelings."

Adele giggled and asked, "Has the seduction commenced."

The car accelerated briefly and slowed. "Do you want to be seduced?"

"Yes."

"Oh god. This is a first for me."

"What is?"

"A woman, not drunk, talking openly about desiring to be seduced."

"Can you handle it?"

Kerry joked he often handled it. His passenger roared in laughter. Encouraged, he placed a hand on Adele's shoulder. She pulled it down and held it on her left breast.

"Are you serious?"

She answered yes and he said let's go down to his father's boat.

"Oooh."

He took a left and headed for the river marina.

* * *

Kerry would long remember that late afternoon encounter with the woman he planned to marry within the year.

They'd kissed outside the car, outside the saloon as he struggled to get the key in the lock and inside the saloon as he shut the door and they kissed with some passion. But inside the master's stateroom when he kissed deep into the side of Adele's neck he was aware of her hand sliding down over his belly and it went on until it grasped his erection. He kissed and then tongued her as he heard his zip open and then felt her hand digging for his very ready cock. He began ripping off his clothes and she calmly adjusted her position to give him room while she continued to jack him off.

Wasn't she going to fall down to her knees and suck?

"Undress me," she murmured.

Kerry almost went dizzy as he released her swelling tits and saw the almost animalistic desire on her reddening face. God, she looked ready to fuck him to death. He dropped her skirt to her ankles and pulled the side ties of her bikini. The vulva was hairy with bulging lips showing a streak of healthy looking pink. He didn't mind hair.

Just as Kerry was about to slip to his knees to lick her cunt he flew through the air and landed on his back, aware that while still in midair Adele had jerked one of his arms to pull his head clear of the bed end. She then leapt on to him as he was struggling to sit up, flattening him again. Her cunt was now above him so he licked and felt his cock being licked before it slid into her mouth.

Faces, tits, cunts and asses of some of the best women Kerry had fucked began floating through Kerry's mind as his tongue sank into Adele. Her odor was strong but inoffensive and the taste of pussy juice switched his mind to drawing her to sexual release and he worked with fervor, adding two lively fingers. But before he achieved that goal his body tensed and he began jerking and he felt helpless as he began filling her mouth with warm semen, being too choked to warn her because of the shock at ejaculating so quickly.

He lay panting as she rolled off and said sweetly, "You taste good. A tradable commodity on world premium markets I should think."

Kerry looked at her horrified, not use to being addressed in that manner by a woman. 

Adele giggled and said, "Do me doggy and take as long as you like. It's been a long time for me since I've had this opportunity."

Kerry plugged away, feeling his strength returning. Their bodies heated and they both began to sweat. The erotic sound of the slap, slap as he slammed against her thighs and butt reloaded his desire. As he began tiring Kerry grabbed his hand and placed it at the top of the groove just above her asshole and then withdrew her hand. He reached under her and wet his middle finger on escaping pussy juice and gently circled the pucker and worked the finger in to the first joint and waggled it.

Adele began bucking and panting and throwing a hand around his butt pulled him in hard on the thrust stokes. He began banging her harder and faster and she screamed into a huge climax that brought him into ball-aching release over the top of that, mixing cum with cum. He roared his approval and then flopped off her, exhausted. Half a minute later she kissed him and grabbing his shirt off the end of the bed to wipe escaping juices said brightly, "Coffee?"

As Kerry slipped into sleep he couldn't remember if he'd answered her. He had this great fear she would return expected to be fucked before and after coffee. He really needed to work on his fitness and with fitness would come stamina. God, what a woman!

Kerry could hear through a hazy curtain a soporific voice telling him to wake up. Then he felt himself being shaken. He awoke and blinked, looking at a face, not the most beautiful face he'd encountered, but an attractive face of someone who'd obviously had a hard life but the mouth was soft and the lips appeared very kissable. He blinked again, the lips came closer and they kissed. Kerry felt a surge of energy flow through him and recognized the familiar post-coitus feeling.

They fucked themselves legless.

Kerry awoke, looked at his watch and yawned, "It's late. Let's clean up here and I'll drive you home."

He pushed Adele aside as she reached to grab him and lurched forward saying he wanted to shower. In the shower it all came back to him. He turned off the water and walked back into the stateroom, feeling rejuvenated, his memory flicking into full power.

"You almost fucked me into exhaustion Adele."

She giggled and said she was glad she'd been of some use.

Kerry without pausing to think than was one of the most profound and unusual comment's he'd even heard from a woman post-coitus. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"For being so loving."

"I don't love you."

"Oh you do but don't know it yet."

"I was just desperately in need of a good fuck. You were available and I used you. End of story."

"Don't argue with me Adele. "I want you to be my regular date. Just say yes."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"Come on, I've tidied up here. Let's get you home."

Kerry pleased, "Stay with me tonight."

"Come on, you are in no more need of another round than I need a cream cake."

"What?"

"It doesn't matter. Follow me. I'll lock and you set the alarm. I know the spot where the key is hidden."

When they arrived at the Hill's sprawling home Kerry repeated his demand that she stay the night.

"Okay but only if your mom approves."

"She'll be asleep."

"I'll wake her."

As they entered the house they heard Kathryn call, "Is that you Kerry?"

He called yes mom and they climbed the stairs. Kerry headed left into the east wing with Adele turned right as she saw a light do on in that direction. At the half open door she called, "It's Adele Kathryn. "

"Oh hi, have you had a lovely evening?"

"Yes thank you. Kerry wants me to sleep with him but it's your house and I'll only do that if I have your approval."

"Yes dear, of course. Ohmigod, none of his women have ever made that request. Oh sorry, that was an insensitive comment."

"No it's fine Kathryn. I wouldn't have expected your robust son to have kept himself unused and hanging like a bridle on a wall."

Kathryn giggled and called, "Good night dear. Join us for breakfast at 7:30."

Kerry was already asleep when Adele found the right bedroom and he was up shaving when she awoke.

She went into the bathroom behind him. He looked at her in the mirror and winked. She placed her arms around him and loosely held the bundle in the front of his boxers. "And how's this little man?"

"He'll grow fast if you don't leave him and that will make me late for work."

Adele giggled and stepped into the shower.

Ten minutes later, devoid of makeup and wearing the dress, bra and shoes she'd worn yesterday, Adele a little nervously entered the big kitchen behind Kerry.

Kathryn flew at her and hugged and kissed her saying, "You are so welcome in my house. God you are all sinew and muscle."

"There's quite a volume of tit there mom."

"Kerry, go to your room!"

He grinned, kissed his mom and swatted her butt.

As Kathryn was pouring coffee she asked, "Adele would you care to come shopping with me today?"

"I'm taking her home to change and get make-up on and then she'd coming to the office for an assessment. Dad I'll be a bit late."

"Mrs Banks hires office staff."

"I'll be assessing Adele for field surveillance."

"But she needs experience for that."

Kerry said patiently, "How about six years in British Army field intelligence dad, including time in Iraq and Afghanistan?"

Adele kept her eyes down, slicing an apple into her yogurt, aware the parents were staring at her.

Noel said quietly, "Fully trained in surveillance, counter-intelligence, small arms, unarmed combat and survival behind enemy lines?"

Still not looking up Adele said, "Breaking and entering, driving foreign vehicles, demolition, interrogation, making stubborn people talk, resisting torture, field initiative, avoiding capture and pulling the plug when it's the preferable alternative."

"Oh god," Kathryn cried.

"That was only training," Adele said, looking up at Kathryn and smiling.

"But what about on foreign soil in action?"

Adele's smile vanished and she said softly, "I tend not to talk about that. That's also part of training. I'd like to go shopping with you sometime Kathryn. I'm become a little out of touch. The sight of determined-looking women charging about rather unnerves me."

The men grinned but Kathryn appeared unable to tell whether Adele was kidding.

* * *

Adele drove to the office, allowing Kerry to read her CV and check out her references, Arm record and other credentials.

"You could go into civil engineering and earn big money as a consultant. Why enter security?"

"Because I want to be with you."

"Christ Adele, that's being naive."

"It's my choice though, isn't it?"

Kerry rubbed his ear and grinned. "Yes." 

Near the end of the assessment Kerry said he wouldn't bother about small arms knowledge because her reports were clear about her expertise and using a baton. It's coffee break -- could you go into café and try to antagonize a guy about your size. But don't hurt him and try not to get hurt yourself."

"Is this necessary?"

Kerry grinned and said no. He was interested to observe is she could antagonize a guy to hit her.

"This is stupid."

He grinned.

She walked to the café mumbling to herself. She stood in the line for coffee and seeing a burly guy approach hauled her skirt right up and scratched her butt under her panty line.

"Like me to do that for you babe?"

"Fuck off bozo."

"You cheeky cow. Are you Welsh?"

"If I'm Welsh you're a faggot or what are they called over here -- gays?"

"You cheeky bitch, take that back or I'll swat you."

"Back off Adele," yelled Kerry from across the room. "Leave her Karl."

"Oh Karl with the pink jocks. Sorry I don't have a penis for you to suck Karl?"

People around them scattered. Karl tried to swat Karl's head but suddenly it wasn't there.

"Behind you Karl," she taunted. He turned and charged, arms out to catch her in a bear hug.

She stepped aside and landed a kick in the side of his ribcage. Karl bellowed in pain and turned ready to murder the bitch but she slammed into him low, knocking him to the ground and before he could move she had his big head in her hands and had twisted it sideways. "Move Karl and I'll twist you head back and it's the last thing you'll ever know."

"Boss!" he yelled.

"Release him Adele."

"Not before Karl apologizes for attempting to hit a lady."

"I apologize Adele. I failed to recognize you as a lady."

"Oh good boy Karl," Adele said, releasing him and springing up helped him to his feet. 

"Leave her Karl. She's just become our newest recruit. I had asked her to pick on someone her own size but see decided to impress me."

"She impressed me too boss," he said, holding out his hand and saying, "Hi Adele, I'm Karl Hunger. I'll remember you tonight when my wife asks where did I get those new bruises."

"Wife? My impression was you were gay?"

People who'd come in closer scattered again but Karl just grunted and said, "You're quite a chick Adele." He held out his arms and she went into them and kissed his cheek. 

"Ah Karl, you are my first friend in this establishment apart from the boy."

Karl sat her down at a table, told the boss to sit, and went off to fetch three coffees and also on the tray were three open face fried ham and egg sandwiches. 

Back in the office Kerry agreed to place Adele on the day shift, 9:00 to 6:00 with the proviso she'd occasionally work on special ops at night. She then was introduced to the first of three supervisors who ran different operations.




Adele de Clune



* * *

Arriving home Adele found she was home alone with Yvonne for dinner. She had a bath and dressed in just a top and sandals went down and Yvonne, preparing the dinner, asked her to take a bottle of wine and two glasses into the TV room. They sat on the sofa and after switching to several channels Yvonne said, "TV is crap at this time of day."

She topped up her glass and placed a foot on the glass-top of the coffee table and her dress fell away.

"Damn."

She leaned forward to pull her hem back over he knees by Adele said, "No, please. I want to see what you're wearing." 

She sat back and Adele butt-shuffled closer and pulled the hem back over Yvonne's hips.

"Adele, really."

"It's just that I've never seen anyone in a bustier -- at least that's what you're wearing with those fancy garter straps isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Take your dress off and give me a good look."

"Adele, are you coming on to me?"

"Just a little bit. You have sexy legs."

"For an older woman," Yvonne snorted. "I'm almost fifty-three."

"Yes but so what? My comment still stands."

Yvonne gulped her wine and standing up, hands on hips, glared at Adele and said, "Do you really want to look at my aged flesh?"

"Yes."

Yvonne unzipped her dress and dropped it.

"That garment is gorgeous and you look really great in it."

Snorting, Yvonne said, "If only Ralph would share this intensity of interest in me that you are doing."

"When were you last fucked?"

Yvonne went to chide Adele for talking to her like that but then flopped down beside her and said, "About three weeks. That's serious neglect you know."

"I know. Here, let me lick your pussy."

"Adele, for goodness sake. We can't. Someone might see us."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Ralph might come home early from his Rotary Club meeting."

"Has he done that before?"

"No but there's always a first time."

"We would hear the garage door."

Looking relieved Yvonne said, "Do you really want to attend to me?"

"Yes. You deserve a treat. You have been very good to me."

Flustered, Yvonne excused herself and ran upstairs, leaving Adele wondering what was up, but Yvonne was back, carrying Adele's hairbrush. "I may as well keep myself usefully engaged while you are working on me."

Adele laughed and pushed Yvonne against the back of the sofa and moved in. As she pulled Yvonne's underpants (not panties aside) Yvonne moaned, "Oh god, I haven't had a female do this to me in decades."

Before too long Yvonne found herself motivated enough to throw away the brush and to strip off and she then removed Adele's shirt and bra and Adele worked off her skirt and panties. That left her nude. Yvonne wore only her bustier and stockings and she pulled down the top of the bustier and began heavily massaging her breasts until she exploded into Adele's mouth.

Adele then lay Yvonne on the sofa and snuggled in beside her. They then launched into a bout of licking, kissing, sucking and finger fucking and were still at it when Ralph came home from his meeting.

"Oh god," Yvonne shrieked. "That's the garage door opening."

"Go off and shower!" Adele said. "By the time he gets here he'll find me watching TV. Remember if he wants a fuck, fuck him to avoid him becoming suspicious."

Yvonne ran off laughing and called, "You are so exciting."

Next morning Adele was uneasy as she went to breakfast expecting Yvonne, racked by guilt, to close down on her. Instead she found Ralph bending over the ham, cheese and tomato on sliced bread under the grill and Yvonne advancing to her, arms out-stretched and looking radiant.

"Good morning darling," she cooed, hairbrush in one hand, and hugged her niece. She whispered, "What we did last night was so amazing, so uplifting. But I must not do it again. I'd lose Ralph over it; he'd find such behavior unaccepted,"

That elated Adele. There were no incriminations and her aunt looked a little more lively than usual. Hello the world?

"Sure, I understand completely."

Ralph, scooping the hot 'toasties' as they were called in this household compared with the more colorful English term 'mousetraps' on to three plates. "What do you understand completely?"

Guild flooded Yvonne's face by Adele had been trained to combat interrogation and said with ease, "I was asked to call if not coming home to dinner because Yvonne goes to extra effort for me."

"Oh yep. Come and get it girls and no combing hair at the fucking table."

"Ralph please, that uncouth language, we have a guest."

"Guest? Adele's family."

As Ralph turned to put the oven tray on the bench Yvonne whispered, "Christ, in that case I've fucked my daughter."

They convulsed.

Ralph sat and said could he share the joke and Adele said glibly, "Of course. I was telling Yvonne something I once saw scrawled on the women's restroom wall: 'From what I can see all men have small dicks -- when they're in'."

"God it doesn't take make to amuse women. You should be back working with me darling to keep that mind better active. You did say you'd return when our kids left home."

"Yes I always did say that."

"You have nest fear," Adele said. "Not empty next syndrome but rather the fear of leaving the nest."

"Oh god, do I?"

Ralph pushed. "I can give you a senior position in accounts now and you can take over from Herbert a year out from now when I'll offer him retirement and a seat on the board."

"So then I would have my old roles back?"

"Yes and you belong there."

"Say yes Yvonne. You'll be out in the real world again."

"I'll think about it. Why don't you offer Adele a job? I'm worried about her going to work in security. I want her becoming feminine and to rejoin women's world."

"Well, I could place her in security I believe."

"I mean in the office Ralph."

"You mean sorting invoices."

"Ralph please. It's our job to help make Adele fly -- we owe it to her parents to do that. I want her in design."

"Design!" croaked Ralph and Adele's gurgle "Design" almost sounded like a croak. They looked at Yvonne in disbelief.

Defiantly, Yvonne said, "Yes -- she's an outdoors person and her engineering studies must have been substantially about design and she has an imagination that soars."

"I studied how to design bridges and other structures... and then how to blow them up to effect maximum disruption and chaos," Adele said weakly. "Exactly what do your factories produce Ralph."

"Industrial and outdoors clothing with emphasis on hunting attire."

Ralph and Yvonne broke up when Adele murmured, "Well at least that's better than churning out wedding dresses." 

"Did skinflint Noel Hill pay you for yesterday?"

"No Ralph, I was signed on and start this morning. This is my first pay day."

"Well call him and tell him you quit, that you're coming to work for me. You can fax your decision with signature to him from my office."

As soon as she finished breakfast Adele made the call. It wasn't the job offer by what Yvonne has said about rejoining the women's world that had moved her profoundly. At present she felt she was in limbo between the world of the male and the world of the female. Anyone who believed they were the same world was wrong, very wrong, at least technically and emotionally. It took exceptional talent for a woman to manage to think like a man. She's acquired that ability through training.

Noel Hill was coldly polite and then disclosed why. "So Ralph has won this round despite all the effort we put in with you yesterday."

"I'm sorry."

"Being sorry is not good enough. What about Kerry?"

"What about Kerry?"

"Don't bother sending written notice. Your application to be hire won't have been completed yet. I'll have it pulled."

Noel cut the call abruptly.

"I bet Noel was sore," Ralph chuckled as they drove off to his offices. "He's such a competitive cuss and will see this as me poaching you."

"Have you?"

"Nah, it was Yvonne's idea. You heard her. We'd never spoken about it. By the way, don't call our plants factories. My people won't know what you're talking about. If you don't mind I want you inducted as anyone who comes here applying for a job. You will be employed whatever the outcome."

"I wouldn't want it any other way Ralph."

Carla Cross head of HR entered Ralph's office and said yes she'd have coffee. Ralph called his PR to fetch it.

"Where is she?"

"Thelma has take her to coffee. It's mid morning."

"You took a long time."

"Well I wasn't dealing with the normal recruit, was I?"

"What?"

"Ralph you did warm me your niece was an unusual young woman."

"Yes, yes. Get on with it."

"Well she is unusual."

Ralph frowned and took his coffee from his PA with a polite thank you.

"I took so long because I put her through every test I have relevant to this company's operation. Ralph, your niece is a near genius. The findings were so staggering I called the military academy where she graduated with her master's degree. Ralph, they were forced to 'downscale' her marks, something they rarely do. In her practical work she was high average and in academic work her marks went through the roof. Before long she was refusing to answer oral questions in class because of the rough time she was receiving from fellow students. I was told she was one of a handful of top students to have graduated in engineering in the long history of the institution. The woman manager in their equivalent of HR looked up Adele's record in other areas of training and the dominating comment was 'outstanding'. She was officer material but her medical report blocked that avenue."

"But why?" 

"There had been some trauma in his life before she signed up for army training. In layman's terms the condition was cited as being psychologically vulnerable' with a rider that she could be expected to fully emerge from that in time."

"I see," Ralph said. He then told Carla about how Adele when eighteen was thrown from a crashing helicopter seconds before it exploded before killing the rest of her family.

"Ohmigod, how dreadful. Should we get her medically examined?"

"No, she's fine. She may already be out of it. We need to normalize her life."

"Well here, according to the tests, she can do anything, even take over from you and possible do an even better job, but she lacks experience of course. Her only experience relates to warfare but she may come in useful to blow up a competitor's plant."

"That's probably truer than you think Carla."

Carla looked appalled. Ralph laughed and said not to worry, that comment of hers would not be repeated.

"So where do we put her?"

"Yvonne actually made a hugely intelligent suggestion: design."

"Okay let's consider that. First and hugely foremost is that jealous and bullying bitch Fran you call your head designer. She'd make Adele's life a misery especially once she finds out Adelle is your niece."

"Well I won't worry about that. Next?"

"But..."

"Don't worry Carla. Adele will knock out Fran's teeth if warranted to find peace but think of Fran finding for the first time being faced with someone who'll stand up to her."

"Oh god, blood on the design floor."

"Perhaps, or we can picture Fran coming under intense pressure from someone trained in psychological warfare. You have read Adele's CV I would think?"

"Yes. Ah, well next we have her lack of design experience in clothing."

Ralph laughed and said they could be talking about it all day. "She's hired Carla and the only vacancy is assistant chief designer. Please tell Fran it is my expectation that my niece will be more than adequately trained."

"Niece? Couldn't we just say Adele is a friend of a friend's daughter?"

"Who has the same unusual name that Adele and I do? Please personally take Adele to her new job and introduce her to Fran as my niece and that Adele as assistant chief designer has no experience in clothing apart from wearing it."

"Ralph please!"

"Then stay and watch. You are unlikely to be disappointed."

"Andy is Fran's boss. May I brief him and take him with me?"

"Bad tactic Carla. Leave Andy in reserve as a big gun."

"Jesus, this is becoming worse than a bad hair day."

CHAPTER 3

Adele looked at Carla in disbelief. "Hired as assistant chief designer? You have to be joking."

"I've discussed my appraisal with your uncle and he says he wants you in this position."

"But what will fellow workers feel about this?"

"Oh don't worry about them Adele. The chief designer chews people like them and spits them out. She is one of three employees in this outfit I can't handle. One is a belligerent truck driver who was hired by Ralph's father as the then sole truck driver almost forty years ago and the other person is our director of finance Silas Plummer."

"We can forget about a truck driver but what is Silas's problem, too much testosterone?"

Carla nodded and then gaped when the new recruit said, "Well a well directed kick wearing an army boot would fix that aggressive trait and the fear of the next one coming means problem solved."

At that, fighting back laughter, Carla decided to take the risk. "Adele, this is confidential."

"Okay."

"The chief designer Fran Steele is a bully, a proper bitch. She'll find it unbelievable you don't have design experience in clothing and could become incensed with jealously when she finds you are Mr de Clune's niece."

"Thanks for the warning. So you think I'll be resigning by or before the end of the day?"

"I sincerely hope not. If you do I could be accused of not doing my job."

"Oh Mrs Cross, you have been so good with me. I knew from the testing you were attempting to get me into a well-paid position... but assistant chief designer? Well, so be it."

"That's the spirit Adele. By the way, you are part of the management team. You may call me Carla."

After being told Fran was a bully Adele expected her to be big. She was, in fact she looked almost masculine but with a huge bosom.

"Hi Fran," Carla said. "This is your new assistant chief designer Adele de Clune. The boss is her uncle and he shares my belief this appointed will be a good fit after you have trained Adele."

"What, she's straight off the floor of a clothing workroom."

"Er no. Adele is new to clothing."

Fran's face turned dark.

Carla stepped back and Adele stepped forward, as if the joint maneuver had been rehearsed.

"Want to try tossing me from your office Fran?"

"You have balls."

"Ah, been in the military as well. What kind of unit?"

"Light armor specializing in quick strikes."

"Oooh, nice. What got your into clothing?"

"It's what I did before I signed up. And you?"

"I signed when I was eighteen. My folk died and I'm not with my uncle and he's into clothing."

Fran said, "Just as well we don't make lingerie -- it would be either khaki or white for waving in surrender, wouldn't it?"

Carla left the office unnoticed and back in her computer pulled up Fran's scanned-in records; her predecessor had hired Fran. And there it was -- five years in the army. How the hell had Adele known that? Then she twigged... it was the manly comment of one woman saying to another women she had balls. It must be transatlantic army vernacular. 

"What can you tell me about this drawing honey? After our big talk you told me technical drawing was part of your degree course. I've folded the text under and would prefer you didn't peep at it."

"Well it's a shirt sized for a large woman... no it isn't, it's a loose fitting shirt, possibly a hunting shirt. It's for a woman because the length from under the armpits to the bottom is shorter than for a male and there are darts about the bust area. Or do we call them tits?"

Fran grinned and said, "Go on."

"The double-stitching told me it was a work shirt but then I noticed the big double chest pockets for stuff hunters carry including their license and the wristbands are adjustable with is something woman with very delicate wrists would want. I imagine the fabric, not indicated, would be some type of camouflaging. It would appear the bulkiness is designed to accommodate some sort of lining, probably thermal."

"And you know nothing about clothing design?"

"Correct but that doesn't mean I don't have a brain. You have to design the trousers narrower at the waist than for men and wider at the hips and women would be fussy about how they pull down for toilet purposes out in the wilds and they might like more pockets than men and an inner pocket for a mirror and perhaps a compartment for insect repellant and a tube of weather protection bloc."

"You are amazing. Now on to the drawing board sketch me what you've just seen."

"May I use the drawing program on your computer? And then I could render a color pattern from your stock of options based on materials you have on hand or have ordered."

"Oh please, help yourself."

Fifteen minutes later Fran looked at the result. "This simply will not do. It looks too amateurish to be published."

"But I am an amateur of the lowest form until you up-skill me."

"Ah, it's good that you know your place in this department Adele," Fran launched and slapped her raw recruit on the back. "God, you are in great shape. There is a gym across the street. You must got there during your lunch break and keep your fitness up -- once you lose it you good as lose it."

"Thank you mother."

"Cheeky bitch. Now let's get to real work."

* * *

At the lunch break Adele went diagonally across the street and signed up. The receptionist asked Adele to nominate a day and time for her assessment."

"I don't require one thank you," she said to the 20-year-old. The youngster called, "Bert!"

A fifty-something came out and enquired how could he assist.

"Miss de Clune has signed on but refuses to undergo assessment."

Bert said, "Hi, welcome to the gym Miss de Clune. I play squash with Ralph on Wednesday evenings. Is he your well whatever, you have the same name."

"Uncle."

"Oh right. Give me a power handshake."

Bert winced. "Tick Miss de Clune as having passed the assessment with an 'A'.

"But..."

"Just do it Rona. Thanks for choosing my gym Miss de Clune."

"Bert, please call me Adele."

"Right Adele, I'll show you around."

"No, get back to watching adult on the internet. I'll be fine."

"You're quite a trick Adele. We'll catch up soon."

"The state-of-the-art equipment made Adele boggle although she knew just a skipping rope, some resistance springs and a car axel with a couple of wheel rims could do wonders.

She heard a guy exclaim, "Oh shit" and spun around and went to his aid as he struggled to hold the bar off his throat as he lay on the bench press.

"Here sir, allow me to assist."

"Get a trainer," he wheezed.

Ignoring that Adele stood behind him and assisted him to lift the bar back on to the stand. She smiled but said with concern, "There are easier way of killing yourself."

He smiled, toweling off sweat. "Thanks. You are very strong for a woman."

"Bozo, couldn't you just say I'm very strong without the tag?"

He remained silent so Adele scowled and began walking away.

"Wait!"

"What for?"

"To receive an apology and for me to buy you a protein drink."

Adele walked back to him and said okay.

"I was out-of-line."

She smiled sweetly and said men often were. "I'm Adele and have just joined. I was looking around the place."

"It's a good gym and the pool is one of the best around in a gym. Oh, I'm Andrew Baker. Do you work around here?"

"Yes, across the street at de Clune Industrial & Outdoor clothing."

Andrew looked at her sharply. "Oh yes, and in what department?"

"Design."

"That's bullshit."

"And that's no way to talk to me. Take it back or I'll swat you."

"Oh yeah," said Andrew pointing to his chin and grinning.

In a blur Adele moved in, took the pointing hand by the wrist and threw Andrew over her hip but broke his fall.




Adele de Clune



"Jesus," he said as Adele helped him to his feet. "What was that? I'd be mad taking your on."

"Do you work at the de Clune's?"

"Yes."

"I signed on four hours ago. My boss is Fran."

"I'm Fran's boss."

Adele grinned. "Oh unlucky you."

He grinned and said Fran's bark was worst than her bite.

"In that case I believe your claim of working at de Clune's," Adele teased.

"Look let's have lunch, my shout. They serve only health food here but it's delicious. I'm still shaken after my near mishap with the weights. I took on too much too early in the routine, ignoring the rule to warm up."

"Yes I'll lunch with you as my reward for saving your neck."

"What's your role in Fran's department? There was only one vacancy."

"I filled that position."

"Oh good. Do you have wide experience in the garment industry?"

"Until this morning, the closest I've come to it is wearing the products."

The direction of operations looked at Adele quizzically and decided to let that one go.

Ralph was in the foyer waving off a VIP when Andrew and Adele walked in together.

"Oh hello you two. I see you've met my niece Andy?"

"Yes." She just gave me her name as Adele."

"Well its Adele de Clune and she's working in design."

Andrew said carefully, "With absolutely no experience unless somehow one can relate being in the military with clothing design."

"It's where Yvonne thought she should be."

"Oh right," Andy gritted.

"She has a master's in engineering so knows all about the principles of fabrication, which is what we do in this business, and knows all about design and demolition."

"Demolition?"

"It is becoming a family joke Andy. Give her three months max and you'll wonder why we didn't find her earlier."

"Anything you say Ralph."

Adele eyed her senior boss. "Are you married or courting Andy?"

"No and not that it's any business of yours Adele," Andy gritted. "I'm still emerging from divorce."

"Oh splendid. There's boxing on at the Arena on Saturday with some tickets still unsold. Want to take me?"

"Splendid?"

"Well I had told you I was living in England. Do we have a date?"

"You've asked me for a date. That just isn't... "

"Oh come on Andy. Modernize."

Andy caught Ralph's grin so committed.

"Thank you Andy. You are such a gentleman," Adele said walking off.

The two men watched her slightly swaying ass.

"Exactly what is that Ralph?"

"My niece Andy and from what I'm learning not far from being a wonder woman."

"I must admit she comes with surprises," Andy said.

"Oh?"

"Over at the gym we had a spat. She looked angry. I goaded her to hit me and she threw me. Ralph, I'm nodding kidding. I've read about that throw. She could have broken my back with that throw had she chosen to so."

"That suggest she likes you," Ralph laughed.

* * *

Adele met Andy over at the gym most days and on Friday, sitting with him for lunch, she said, "Tell me about the marriage break up?"

"No."

"Oh come on Andy, it's eating at you. Either go after her or admit it has ended."

"That's a great dress you are wearing. Cut well for your tits."

"You diverting, still running Andy. What happened?

He looked at Adele who wore the softest expression he'd seen on her. He hesitated.

"Be brave Andy."

That goaded him. "We learnt to fight, we forgot when the time was right to give in. She stopped the sex. I stopped loving her and then she left me saying our marriage was dead."

"It often happens like that."

"I really don't think so."

"Try talking to some women previously married to guys in the military. I've helped with counseling."

"Her mother says it was Leone's fault."

"And you've thought about that, wanting it to be someone's fault?"

"At first I didn't, knowing we were both at fault."

Adele then looked at him so intently Andy felt obliged to look at her. 

"What where her mother's words that impressed you most?"

Andy stalled. Adele waited patiently. Finally he said, "That Leone also had been a cold bitch to her."

"Bingo."

"What?"

"Use that as the reason why your marriage failed -- the main reason although you contributed. And then acceptance will show you to daylight again."

"You mean to regain my sense of freedom and self worth?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps it's worth a try."

Adele smiled. "Perhaps?"

"It's worth a try."

"Do you fuck on first dates Andy?"

He noticeably jumped. "There hasn't been another woman since Leone although I've paid for it a few times."

Adele said softly. "Try me on Saturday night Andy. It might show what you've been missing."

"I'd like to think about that."

"Why, to hunt for a reason why you shouldn't do it?"

Andy scratched behind his right ear. "Okay, if you are in the right mood we do it."

"I'll be in the right mood Andy. There's nothing like watching men battering each other in the ring to get me aroused."

"Christ. You have a killer's instinct."

"Well that's something I could do without Andy. Perhaps you can help me lose it?"

The 35-year old business management executive looked at the woman he knew was almost eight years his junior, and ran fingers through his curly short-cropped blonde hair not bothering to try to hide his receding temples. This woman would not care about grace and beauty -- just look at her appearance. And yet she seemed intent on him. What was this... an invitation to enter a domestic relationship? He took the plunge.

"Are you sweetening up to me?"

"Something like that."

Drawing deeper breath he asked her to be more specific.

She smiled. "I need someone, you need someone... oh hello?"

Andy swallowed. "You know nothing about me."

"And ditto."

He couldn't argue against that so diverted. "Why me?"

"God you are hard going. Why not?" She looked at him solemnly and said, "It's a good time to kiss me."

There were a couple of guys in the gym café from de Clune's but Andy sighed and thought so what. Their lips touched, she trickled her right hand fingers down the side of his face and he felt her lips open and so he tongued her. She went "Hmmmm." And that's what started his heart really pumping. The babe could really kiss.

He pulled away. "Wow, that was a lover's kiss."

"Come to dinner tonight."

"You mean at Ralph and Yvonne's home? I looked up your file and saw that's your home address. They haven't asked me over since just after my marriage break-up though we have eaten out together a few times."

"People are like that. It's not judgmental. They will be delighted to find I've got you."

"You've what?"

"Come on Andy. I have you hooked and you know it. Don't fight it. Enjoy. How big do you think my tits are and do you think I shave, clip or have a natural bush?"

"Adele, for god sake. We're in a public place and two guys from the footwear department are over there grinning at us."

"But they can't hear what I'm saying?"

"No."

"Then might I suggest you stop being jumpy and relax and enjoy our current conversation? It's rare for me to talk to a man like this."

"What were we talking about?"

"Oh Andy," Adele sighed.

Early afternoon Kathryn Hill called Adele.

"Hi, I heard from Yvonne you have taken a job with Ralph?"

"Yes, sorry I haven't been in touch. It all happened so suddenly. I was to start with Noel on Tuesday but Yvonne said something that made my see my future and that was that. Noel was very kind when I called him."

"What about Kerry?"

"What about him Kathryn?"

"I was hoping... you know."

"In my mind I gave him 24 hours to contact me. He didn't so we two are history."

"I'm sad but suspected it might be like that. I'm calling about going shopping with you. Would tomorrow suit? I would like to give you advice about clothing. You're not in the army any longer and neither are you an off-duty soldier. I know where to take you to stores and people with style."

"Even though we have no connection any longer?"

"Dear, Yvonne and I are good friends and will remain so and I'll continue seeing you, the more feminine you I hope."

"Oh in that case I'm happy you want to see more of me; you are indeed a friend. Now I'll ask you something. I've met a new man, an older man and am taking him home for dinner this evening. He's our director of operations."

"You mean Andrew Baker?"

"Yes. Um...?"

"Andy lived with his parents who lived next door to us when Andy joined de Clune's as a young graduate. It was my social tennis partner Ralph who introduced me to Noel. Before long Noel, Ralph, Yvonne and I began double dating. It's such a small world isn't it?"

"Indeed. Look in that case will you and Noel also come to dinner this evening as we are all somewhat bonded. Please say you'll come. It's my turn to cook and I'll call Yvonne to say you guys and Andy are coming.

"Yes, I like the sound of this. We'll accept your kind invitation. Noel and I had nothing arranged for this evening" 

* * *

On the way home Adele called in to have her hair combed and told Michelle she was hosting dinner that evening.

"Well, I'm delighted with the results of your skin conditioning and you hair is growing well and is recovering it's natural sheen and is displaying more body. I'll do some cutting and shaping before combing it up."

"Up?"

"It's traditional for a hostess to have her hair up. You won't be wearing an army cap darling."

Although not interring in the kitchen, Yvonne hovered and kept topping up their wine glasses until finally Adele had to say enough, that no way did she wish to serve her meal drunk.

Noel and Kathryn arrived first and Kathryn held back talking to Yvonne and watched Adele and Noel meet for the first time since Adele had quit the job with Noel's company only hours after signing on. But it was fine -- they kissed and Noel made a reasonable comment about the cleavage Adele was showing and asking was there a reason for that had her laughing. Yvonne and Kathryn relaxed. 

Andy arrived fifteen minutes later, dressed in a black blazer, wine tie-less business shirt and cream pants and black loafers. Adele had met him at the door and thought he looked lovely and had taken her hint to dress smart casual very seriously. She attempted to hold his green-eyed gaze but his gaze slipped to her cleavage that under his examination had the exposed white flesh turn slightly pink.

"Lovely," he murmured and looking up kissed her delicately and said the flowers he carried were for Yvonne. Adele felt it was such a perfect welcome. She took him by the arm into the others and she blushed again knowing the older folk were assessing them as a young couple at the cusp of something big... possibly. Ralph slapped Andy on the back in welcome, handing him a drink and when the flowers were handed across Yvonne whispered something that made Andy turn to look at Adele who hurried off in confusion to the kitchen.

Adele returned to the door later and called, "Ralph, could you kindly assist to serve."

As soon as they disappeared into the kitchen Adele stopped and turned chin up and was kissed thoroughly. He then delivered the line coached by Yvonne, "Your hair looks lovely this evening." She smiled, kissed him again and they carried in the plates.

"This is English fare this evening," Adele announced. "Beef Wellington with mashed potatoes and green vegetables to be followed by spiced apple and pecan crumble with mascarpone vanilla cream."

Later everyone declared Adele had cooked magnificently. Yvonne had whispered it was okay for Andy to stay but Adele preferred to send him home after some sweet kisses, as she would be staying in his apartment the next night after the boxing and she didn't want to take the shine off that.

She went shopping with Kathryn and Yvonne next morning. Adele bought extravagantly on the advice of the two older women and store advisers, accessories as well as summer clothes as they were into the final month of spring. At one store Adele gazed thoughtfully at a black and silver cat suit but didn't purchase it. That afternoon she borrowed Yvonne's car and went to her office where she designed a new product line, the drawings ready for pattern making.

When finished Adele called Fran.

"You want me to come to the office late Saturday afternoon? We've at a party and I have high hopes of getting lucky."

"Oh sorry. It will wait till Monday."

But Fran had heard the high excitement in Adele's voice die and so said she was on her way.

Looking at the reason for being called in Fran gasped, "Jesus Christ!"

Adele flushed in pleasure. They were looking at cat suits, a male and a female version. They had slanted zip pockets and the belt around the waist incorporated clips for gloves and other light accessories including a case for sunglasses and to hang a whistle and compass. There were numerous pockets and a matching cap. The arresting feature was the coloring -- the material was a mix of randomly shaped single-color oblongs in black, two shades of blue and gray.

"Oh so sexy," Fran grinned, "and so versatile. I bet out in the open in mist and in shade under trees the wearer will be difficult to spot. Brilliant, brilliant. You have done these drawings very well. There's not too much to tidy up. You are very creative."

"No, the word is adaptive," Adele said. "Why re-invent the wheel when researchers for the military have done the work for us? Airmen wear cat suits but this line is based on what I saw during a two-week exchange scheme between of us had with ten Russians. We chose to go with a unit up near the Arctic Circle and this was their uniform." 

Flipping over the page she showed drawings of waterproof and thermal linings, a hood and detachable facemask.

Fran kissed Adele and congratulated her again. "I'll come in early Monday and correct these drawings and take them to the 9:30 executive meeting. Even if we don't produce this line we'll grain credit for initiative and I thank you for that. Well, I'm back to the party -- there's a guy sniffing around me and as I don't get much sex these days I'm keen about a quick one under a tree or wherever."

"Thanks for coming Fran. I became so excited."

* * *

Adele and Andy burst through the doorway of his apartment, highly charged after a meal of spaghetti meatballs at an Italian family restaurant and watching seven boxing fights. He locked the door and lunged at Adele who pulled him to the floor.

"The bed," he panted.

"Can't wait," she cried, unbuckling him and struggled to free his erection they'd stimulated under dry humping in the elevator. By the time she had his fat, six inches in her hand her panties were already hanging over the light stand where they'd been thrown, her bra was undone and he was attempting to suck a nipple down his throat.

"Oooh," said Adele, one of the minority of women who like it rough. She elbowed him sharply in the ribs to let him know she was there and spun around on to of him to bite down on his erection.

"Jesus," he groaned, ramming two fingers straight into Adele who squealed and said go easy.

"Likewise," he panted, circling her clit that had come out of hiding.

"Oooh, oooh," she said. "That's exactly right. Don't quite touch it."

She licked his dick up and down a couple of times and ran her tongue over his hairy balls before brushing her hair aside and settling down to gobble the head of his dick while stroking it up and down to bring him towards the boil.

Once Andy had gotten her really juicy and she was jerking her crotch at his tongue he pulled away and spun her away and pulled her into sitting position.

"Aw just when I was working to get it all into my mouth. Actually how did I get in this position? You really are quite strong."

"Shut up. Sit on me and earn your keep."

"Yes master." She grinned, bent and kissed him passionately and then sat up and they both watched as she stuffed his dripping cock up her cunt.

"One of the best moments in sex is watching that happen," she murmured, as Andy thrust his hands under her ass and lifted her and they were away, he attempting to snare a nipple on a bobbing tit with his teeth.

They banged away into their respective releases that came only moments apart. After cleaning up they rested, grinning at one another.

"I could be smaller that some of the guys you may have known," Andy said ruefully but was cheered when Adele said it had only popped out twice and she thought that was about average when riding Cowgirl. 

"At least it's plump and gives me a great mouthful and the indications are you really know how to use it."

It's impossible for a guy to swagger when he's sprawled on a bed but Andy had the expression of a swagger. "You say the nicest things to me," he grinned.

* * *

Next morning Andy awoke to find his sexy visitor pulling his penis.

"What are you doing?" he yawned.

She looked concerned. "Don't you wake with a morning erection?"

"Usually but not when it's been hammered for half the night."

She giggled and drew a finger over his anus and Lo! his dick began hardening.

"You are such a charming lady with all the right touches."

"Oh thank you sir."

She lay on him and stuffed it in her and left him to do the work, she taking some of her weight on her arms to make it easier for him. She only had to stuff it back three times so he was rather pleased with his performance.

"Come over my tits."

When Andy was ready he accepted the invitation, pushing her off. They both sat up and he squirted and then she did something he'd found it rare with women. She popped his spent dick in her mouth and sucked the last drips and swallowed. He felt that was 'the finishing touch'. He pushed the hair off her face and kissed her and almost purred when she said, "How lovely. Most men roll away, fart and drop off to sleep."

God, what type of males had she been associating with? Oh yeah, army macho men. Wishing to make a favorable impression, Andy said, "That's because you are such good company. Want to think about moving in with me?"

"Oooh."

There was no other response so he said, "Well?"

"I'd like to think about it."

Confused, Andy said, "What is there to think about?"

"Well, for a start I have not lived with a guy. I'd like to know why have you made this proposal?"

"I, well, um..."

"You can be frank with me."

"Well I'm lonely. Living together we'd fuck more. I'd eat better and go out more and you'd do my laundry and look after my dry-cleaning."

"I see. And what's in it for me?"

"Um, you'd fuck more and we'd build a social life."

"Oh is that all?"

"Christ Adele, go easy. You are a young woman and need to be regularly fucked."

"I see. And who told you that?"

"It just occurred to me. Oh, I'll buy you a vehicle to give you independence."

"That's better but still not good enough."

"Adele, I'm lonely, I want you for company and I was you around so I can love you."

"Oooh, I like that last bit."

"There's eight years difference in age between us Adele."

"Seven I should think but so what?"

Andy dropped his head. "I don't want to stand in the way of your matrimonial prospects."

Adele bit back a scream of laughter. The guy was looking so pathetic. "Oh that's very kind of you Andy but in the army I tended to be in the company of officers for my safety and I became used to older men. And who's saying we won't marry?"

Taken by surprise Andy said would she consider marrying him -- a divorcee?

"If you don't prove to be a disappointment and likewise I live up to my potential with you who knows; we could decide to align permanently? We should keep our options open."

"I really like the sound of that," Andy said.

CHAPTER 4

Chief designer Fran Steele arrived at de Clune's an hour earlier than usual on Monday morning to work on Adele's drawings. She intended presenting them to the management meeting at 10:00. Adele had called her the previous afternoon to say she'd located enough of the camouflage cloth to make 5000 hunting suits plus the winter fleece for the inserts. The suppliers of the fabric in India had three airfreight containers of other fabric leaving for America in four days' time so three more containers would spread air cargo costs so they'd offered a great deal.




Adele de Clune



"You negotiated that using an interpreter?" Fran had said and Adele had replied she spoke English and so did the people in India with whom she'd had discussions.

"Do you speak other languages?"

"Yes, French and Italian fluently and Spanish quite well and I can make myself understood when speaking Russian."

Fran's surprise ended with the comment that Adele should be working for an international corporation, only to be told, "Why? I like it here and am making good friends."

When about to unlocked the front doors of the admin building Fran noticed none of the inside lights were on. She knew that the night watchman was supposed to remain on duty until 7:30 when the first of early starters arrived. She put down her attaché case just inside the door and proceeded cautiously, wondering what was up. She called Peter the night watchman on his phone. He sounded shaken and said, "I... I'm in the general office near the s-safe Fran. I-I've had an accident."

She'd noticed the slight stuttering as well as the highly emotional tone of voice and thought oh god, sounds like a head injury. She loped to the office, rushed through the open door that closed behind her. She saw Peter on the floor, sitting with his back to the wall. He was tied up and the guy beside him was holding Peter's phone. Fran turned to flee to call the police but there was a guy standing behind her. She charged him but he lifted a shotgun and pointed it, bringing her to a halt.

"Open the safe."

"No."

"I said open the safe bitch."

"I work in design you idiot. I don't have the combination for the lock."

"Who is this bitch Peter?"

"Fran Steele, chief designer."

"You called me an idiot you bitch," snarled the skinny villain, and slapped Fran across the face with the back of his hand, making her nose bleed. The pain made her cry and she was pushed over to sit by Peter and was tied up.

"Perhaps we will have better luck to the next arrival. Will it be the office manager?"

"No," said Fran.

The guy thrust the barrels of the shotgun against Fran's chest. "Give me the correct answer Peter or this fat bitch gets a load of lead between her tits."

"Yes, Mrs Chambers comes early on Mondays."

"She has the combination?"

"Yes."

"Don't you dare frighten Mrs Chambers," Fran glared. "She's pregnant."

"Then you'll have to make sure she co-operates won't you?" 

Adele arrived ten minutes later and found the front doors unlocked and inside saw Fran's attaché case. Immediately suspicious, she proceeded quietly along the route to the main office because all other offices and passages were in darkness. She stood outside the closed door and caught the conversation from the point of Mrs Chambers coming in early and would have the combination. God, was this a robbery attempt.

There were windows on both sides of the passage, letting in light into the offices. She hunched down low and crept soundlessly to the far end of the office where she stood and slowly moved forward to peer into the room through the last window. She saw a guy with a baseball bat leaning against the wall by Peter and Fran who were tied up. Walking towards the door where she'd just come from was a smaller guy with a shotgun. 

Christ, he was about to check out the passages, Adele speculated, and ducked back a little and into an unlit office. She heard the office door open and the guy call, "All clear. I hope this pregnant bitch won't be delayed by morning sickness. I'll leave the door partly open so she walks straight in."

The guy didn't appear in view so Adele guessed he was probably standing with his back against the plain wall panel behind where the door opened. She decided to attack rather than wait to come in behind Mrs Chambers and risk placing the office manager in the line of fire. She grabbed a desk lamp off the desk in the room she was in and disconnected the cord from the wall socket. Excellent, the lamp had a weighted base.

Adele stood back from the door and hurled the lamp through the second window down towards the direction she'd just come from. She leaped to the door and slammed it open but it banged against the wall instead of the intruder who was swearing in fright and had gone forward to examine the projectile. Adele leaped at him and deflected the gun just in time, holding it pointing at the ceiling. There was a boom, a scream from Fran, and then they were sprayed with ceiling tiling fragments and glass from lighting. 

She struggled for control of the gun and snapped the guy's finger as it reached for the trigger. Then Fran screamed, "Adele, watch out."

Adele saw the accomplice rushing at her, the bat raised. Watching him closely she watched his teeth clench and at the first movement of his leading forearm she rolled clear and the bat descended to release an agonizing cry from the shotgun-wielding intruder as the wood smashed his right shoulder. 

By then Adele was on her feet, her high heels kicked off. The assailant drew the baseball bat over his shoulder, turning to strike her but too late. Adele had launched herself at him and both feet slammed into his beer-belly and he collapsed to the floor gasping. She broke her fall to the floor, jumped up and struck the distressed man with the side of her hand below his ear to knock him unconscious. She kicked the shotgun away, pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency number and asked for the police to attend a foiled safe robbery and to send two ambulances. She told the operator she couldn't hold on, to just action the requests.

"Hello you two," she smiled, at the boggling Fran and Peter the night watchman. "Are you pleased I came along?"

"Adele, my heroine," cooed Fran and Peter thanked Adele profusely and said Fran was not without courage herself.

"You -- call yourself a night watchman?" Fran snarled. "Where was your courage?"

"They jumped me when I went out the back door to investigate a scream that proved to be faked. A couple of blows and I was done. My right wrist is broken and I have a head wound."

"Head wound -- where's..."

"Hold on Fran." Adele gently pulled Peter forward and both she and Fran saw the wall behind him splattered in blood. 

"Keep still Peter, you're taken a really hard knock. Help is on the way."

"Adele," Fran whispered, eyes widening.

Adele turned to where Fran was looking at and saw the other guy, who must have been in agony, crawling on his good side and had almost reached the shotgun. She darted over, brought her heel heavily on his good hand and grabbing the gun by the barrel knock him out with it, silencing his screaming, and returned to Fran and Peter with it. Still linked on the emergency line she answered the request for directions how the police who were almost at the plant would find them. Adele then untied Fran and Peter.

Police with guns drawn came into the room cautiously and at the sight of two guys on the floor unconscious, Peter looking not too good and two women waving at them visibly relaxed and the team leader called, "Situation report."

Fran said, "Well it was like this officer. I came to work..."

"Hush Fran," Adele said, and told the sergeant, "The two men on the floor took two unhelpful workers prisoner and lay in wait for the office manager, still to arrive, to induce her to open the safe. Unfortunately for the intruders I came along. They require hospital treatment. as does our night watchman here with a head wound. Please send him to hospital separately. My colleague here suffered no more than humiliation and a nose breed."

The sergeant gaped. "Are you telling me your disarmed an intruder with a loaded shotgun and his accomplice wielding that baseball bat and knocked them out and recovered the shotgun?"

"Yes sergeant. It was fairly routine."

"Do you work here?"

"Yes, as assistant chief designer. This is my boss Mrs Steele."

"That is correct sergeant. I can tell you Adele was awesome. She is ex British Army and..."

"That is all for the moment ma'am," said the sergeant approaching them, three other police officers had their handguns at the ready."

"Allow me to take possession of the shotgun."

"Yes sergeant. It's all yours. It was only fired the once in this room and into the ceiling when I was disarming the bigger guy."

"You mean you took the shotgun off Lefty Murphy?"

"He didn't give a name," Adele smiled. "I didn't touch the lower end of the gun in case the prints can trace the owner of the gun."

"Adele did disarm Mr Murphy sergeant. You should have seen Adele..."

"That is all for the moment ma'am. We'll take statements shortly."

They watched as Peter was attended to and taken off to the ambulance.

The management meeting was delayed and Fran skipped working on the drawings to produce a draft in consultation with the production manager and his deputy of production on costs of the military-style hunting suits. With pressure on for an instant decision because of the chance to import the fabric from Indian at a good price and greatly reduced freight rates the decision to do with the project was on.

Andy who chaired the meeting looked at the designer and production manager. "Okay, what do you two say? Remember a couple of our competitors import similar-styled military type hunting outfits." The two department heads consulted briefly and it was decided to go ahead. Andy authorized them to proceed and said his gut feeling was the new project was likely to be a winner because female hunters would view the outfits as being stylish as well as very practical and wives would like seeing their recreational hunter husbands in military-style close-fitting apparel.

"It's like putting sex appeal into the dress of serious hunters," Adele said lightly, and everyone agreed.

* * *

Two months later Andy took Adele on a hunting trip that brought them even closer together. Although Adele now lived with Andy, the remoteness of their mission without other people around them had them really focusing on each other. They were dressed in the new-style cat suits that had just become the company's third largest seller because as Adele had suggested, the style, coloring and versatility of the suit appealed to serious hunters.

They'd come to bring home a deer and when they had both lined up on a young buck, Adele said softly, you take him. I only shoot predators. The shot was successful and as Andy divided up the carcass for them to backpack he said, "Well it will be a 16-hour hike back with this lot. I'm surprised you are not asking me to bury the off-cuts and offal."

"Why? It will be food for forest scavengers."

During a rest break, Andy said she was such a complex person. She was stylish, highly intelligent and yet out in the wilds she made it appear it was her home and she was happy to live very basically.

"I find it easy to adapt. I suppose I'm without hang-ups apart from the loss of my family."

They remained in thoughtful silence for almost a minute, broken by Andy asking, "Adaptive enough to marry me?"

Adele yawned and stood, lifting her backpack of meat. Andy had not moved, his eyes riveted on her.

"Is this a proposal?"

"Depends on the answer I get."

"In that case propose we make tracks. You have some convincing to do," she smiled but Andy saw what he wanted to see. He'd noted a sly smile. He climbed to his feel in triumph.

THE END