0 comments/ 18202 views/ 6 favorites The Delaney Girl By: Egmont0409 CHAPTER 1 Tanner Carlton stood outside a brothel waiting for his friend Ted Lobb who'd decided to take the fifty buck early afternoon special. Tanner hadn't gone in, afraid it would just be his luck for his dick to drop off as a result of some unthinkable misadventure. Unless the need for sex felt desperate he avoided going near women he didn't know. He held the naïve belief that if he knew the woman everything would be fine. Besides he and Ted were homeward-bound so there was no desperate need. Less than five minutes later Ted came out with his mouth bleeding. "The bitch hit me." "Why?" "I said I wanted someone else, that I preferred women with small tits. She kept my money without delivering any sort of service," Ted said, wiping his mouth. "That's theft. I'll get your fifty bucks back." "No don't," cried Ted but too late. His pal was already through the ornate double doors. Ted heard some yells, thumps and crashes and a woman screamed. Tanner emerged and said, "Run!" They ran and Ted saw a bus station so yelled, "Over here." The driver of the bus just about to leave eyed them impassively. "Either go and buy tickets and wait for the next bus or you pay me the ticket price plus 15% penalty." "Will you take a check?" "From trustworthy people yes. Put that checkbook away," the driver sighed. "Here's a fifty bucks. Drive us until that runs out." The driver pocketed the money and the door closed with a hiss. "Take your seats and behave." The guys waited nervously for heavies from the brothel to bang on the closed door of the bus but no such threat to them eventuated. "That was my fifty bucks," Ted moaned. "The problem was when I got behind the counter I didn't know which one was your money so I took a bunch of bills." Ted watched wide-eyed as Tanner counted $450 and divide it fairly. "You stole this money." "Well I wasn't waiting to calmly pick out the correct denomination. So if you feel guilty take yours back but I'm warning you they'll be hoping mad. I decked the two security guys plus the woman struggling to prevent me taking money. I yelled at her I wanted your money back." "Does decked mean you hit them?" "Yeah the two guys were stretched out and the women was on the floor howling her nose was broken. Christ she tried to scratch me." "We ought to run for the border. The cops will be after us." "Oh yeah? What do the brothel people say? Do they tell the sergeant a college kid beat up the three of them and ran with some money?" "No they wouldn't do that. They would appear fools. Oh, I see what you mean. What do you think will happen?" "They'll wipe the security tape and toss petty cash into the till and make up the difference and then hope the next shift or the one after gets the blame for stealing the petty cash." "Christ pal, you should be running crime instead of wanting to run a business." "Same difference pal although one tries to appear legit." Late evening the driver yelled back at them, "Okay you two college guys this is the end of my run. You have to get out because the new driver will find you don't have tickets. I left you sleeping because we don't have many passengers, tonight being Tuesday." "Well this bus is heading to the city where my grandma lives," said Ted. "I'll buy a ticket and continue on." They hugged after Ted had brought his ticket, a bagel and coffee. "This is the end of the line for us," said Tanner. "Almost a year after graduating at bumming round seeing our country for the first time. Let's keep in touch buddy and invite each other to our thirtieth birthday or wedding, whichever comes first." "Here hold this stuff while I wipe my eyes Tanner. Christ we've had almost seven years together, intense and fulfilling years as buddies and now it's ending. Oh why can't the good life continue?" "Well once I get to the top of a company I'll email for you to come aboard. You might have to start as janitor." They laughed, the new driver called all aboard and as the bus rolled away Tanner saw the white face of his buddy gesticulating rudely at a window. Only then did Tanner realize he was holding Ted's coffee and bagel. He grinned thinking that really summed up their relationship. Tanner had almost single-handedly pulled Ted through college academically and apart from Ted getting his master's in computer science to reward Tanner for his effort he'd now gifted Tanner his late supper. * * * Aunt Carole said with a withering look, "Now let's get this straight. You have no money, no job or offer of a job and you want to live with us?" "Yeah." Tanner thought it was unlikely any woman could do the withering look better than his mom's younger sister. "Excuse me young man?" "Um, oh yeah that's the idea. I find a job, get rich and then pay back unpaid lodgings plus a bonus." "You are family. No way will you pay me for a room. Say something Arthur?" "Let the kid stay. He's the most interesting of all our relations, er apart from your sisters." "Is he now? In what way?" "He loves sport on TV, drinks beer... um and is er culturally sensitive." "My word Arthur Baylis, saved by the bell. Bring you backpack through Tanner. Where are your other possessions?" "I left all the kid's stuff back home and started off with the road trip with two pull bags on wheels but that became heavy going so Ted and I sold off our surplus stuff to raise cash which meant we cut out a few dishwashing or cleaning jobs and traveled lighter and faster." "You can wipe that smile from your face Arthur Baylis. Tomorrow you take Tanner out and buy him a whole new wardrobe, including business attire." "That will cost a small fortune." "Well it's one of the penalties at being so over-eager to marry me." "But that was almost thirty years ago." "So? Do you have a problem about marrying me?" Tanner said nervously, "Look guys I best go find a hedge to sleep under." Arthur grinned and said, "Take no notice of her. You know what your mother is like. All those Broderick women possess the desire to rule." Tanner liked hearing that and made his play. He pulled out his billfold and handed it out to his aunt. Here take this, it's all the money I have." Carole pulled away as if she was being offered a condom. "No, definitely not. You use that money to help establish yourself and don't go spending it on drink and women." "Women? Why would I need to spend money on women when your female friends are at my disposal, er their daughters?" That made Carole smile thoughtfully. "Ah yes, there could be some interest. But get a job first. Come along. Now I want you to call your mom. She'd have no idea where you are or whether you are alive." "It's Saturday night, not Sunday night. I always call her Sunday night. If I call now it will scare the crap out of her." "Excuse me?" "Oh, sorry for my emphatic language." "Emphatic, is that what you call it? Call your mom now or I'll twist your ear." "God, wife of Brutus." "What was that?" "I was just muttering saying your home looks in lovely condition." "Oh darling." That was the end of confrontation. From then on Carole would concentrate on restoring her old relationship with Tanner, whom to Arthur she'd always denied was her favorite of her nieces and nephews. She remembered him fondly as a defiant little guy, with an independent streak showing before he was even out of diapers and then became the young guy she would have loved to have reared but instead had two daughters, now away working and hoping to find good guys or just any guy to marry. When the men returned home from the mall next day, Sunday, Carole went through every item while the men drank a beer watching her as if watching a ferret and awaited her conclusion. "Well for guys you have done very well and the two suits look sensational. Tanner you are not to be embarrassed by this. Arthur can't possible spend all the money he's amassed." "Um it's the principle." "Shut up Tanner and drink your beer. Fetch him another one Arthur." Just before dinner Carole cooed, "Tanner, phone." His aunt's smirk told Tanner what he needed to know. It would be a young woman she deemed suitable to reform him. "Hi I'm Jennifer Watkins, daughter of one of Mrs Baylis's friends." "Oh hi Jennifer. Are you calling for a date?" "No I mean well almost." "Do you do it on the first date?" Tanner told his aunt smugly, "For some reason Jennifer cut the call." Carole looked at him darkly. The phone went and she took the call in the kitchen and when she returned she glared murderously at Tanner but said nothing. After dinner Carole made another call and with her hand over the phone, "Tanner you ought to find this choice more acceptable." "Hi Tanner this is Marlene Brewer. Your aunt says you are just arrived after being ten months including Christmas on the road and would like some company." "Well a guy kinda gets used to dating Marlene." "I'm going steady but am prepared to give you some time, even go parking if you wish." Tanner swallowed. "Really there is no need..." "Nonsense. You don't believe in having to get to know the girl first do you?" "Er that's never occurred to me." "Good. Frank who's here for dinner should be going home by 10:00 because he has an early start in the morning. I'll call round for you soon after he leaves." Tanner swallowed. "Er thanks. I really appreciate this." "God you sound shy. Till later then." Tanner joined the other two in the TV room. Tanner was absolutely sure his aunt glanced at his crotch. "Well?" "Yes Aunt Carole, we will date. Thank you for making this possible." "Oh it was nothing," she smiled. "I take it you won't be in for dinner tomorrow night?" Tanner squirmed. "Tanner?" "Marlene is coming around in about a couple of hours to take me out." "Ohmigod, what have I done," Carole shrieked. Arthur had a cushion thrown at him when he said, "If you're about to make Tanner stay home can I go in his place?" "Don't you dare get that girl pregnant Tanner." Rising to the moment Tanner said, "I'm not sure I know how to do that." "Oh god." Tanner had to drive Marlene home from the riverbank. She was legless. She managed to walk up to the house, kiss him and smile saying, "Same time tomorrow night." He said yes, kissed her again and walked the short distance home whistling. From then on sex was on a plate for Tanner from Marlene or one of her cute girlfriends, a couple of them married and claiming they'd chosen unwisely. Because of the world economic recession, the job market was tight but Tanner spent time establishing relationships with job placement agencies and replying to newspaper and website job vacancies. Arthur who was a senior partner in a law firm also solicited his business contacts and the few promising starts eventually turned into invitations for Tanner to return when the economy picked up. The breakthrough came one evening when Marlene took him to dinner and one of her girlfriends Tanner had not met previously brought her drink over and sat with them. Delaney was the usual big bust blonde, tall with long legs and small ass and very good looking but it was her baby blue eyes that rarely left his face when she was talking to him that gradually captivated Tanner. Marlene noticed that and as Delaney was leaving said casually, "Tanner is a nephew of a friend of my mother's and I've filled in by dating him occasionally. Would you like to date him?" Smiling Delaney said, "Why yes. Here's my card Tanner. Come for dinner Wednesday evening at 7:00 if that's convenient. Tanner stood, accepted the card and said he'd be delighted to be served dinner but such a lovely companion. The young women exchanged glances and giggled. As Marlene hooked her ankles over Tanner's shoulders that evening and he pushed in she said, "Lucky boy because in all probability Delaney is the best date you'd find in this city. She's just a little conservative so don't fuck her on the first couple of dates unless you are invited." Tanner almost blew his wad but held on until recovering. When Marlene was dropping Tanner off home she said, "This is the end of sex between you and me Tanner. I really must push for marriage and anyway I really want you to concentrate on nailing Delaney as a regular date and you'll have a good chance. She feels terribly let down by her second hot guy in a row, both proving to be not interested in her beyond sex." "I'll have to tell her I'm jobless." "Do that but that probably won't matter and she may even offer you money because she works but also gets a heft allowance from her parents. She will be interested in you, not your job or lack or a job. My feeling is Delaney is desperate for reliable, friendly male company and sex will be incidental." "Oh. How old is she?" "Same age as me, twenty-seven. We went through high school together. "She won't be interested in a steady date; I'm two years younger." Marlene giggled and said, "Stop looking like that. Your age didn't stop me. She'll have the normal sexual appetite of a healthy young woman. Great now that's the look I like seeing. We must stay friends." "Yes and I mean that Marlene. You have been wonderful to me." "Oh darling, another huge kiss please. God I'm soaking through my pants and dress." Delaney went to answer the doorbell, checking her hair in the hall mirror and telling herself this guy appeared to have nothing going for him but still she ought not to appear desperate. Marlene Brewer wouldn't have been with him unless he excelled in bed. Marlene had thought it worthwhile taking a huge risk double-dating when hanging out for a proposal from Frank Wainscot. Perhaps she might really like this guy? He had a solid look about him, an athlete's body, dark wavy hair and beautiful green eyes. The truth was she'd been hooked the moment she saw him look at her appreciatively, knowing that was the look of a guy carnally assessing a woman. The bell rang again. She jumped, startled, and groaned, "Oh god, please don't fluster yourself." She opened the door and her confidence returned when they immediately locked eyes. He pulled something from behind his back. Flowers. How lovely, she thought and giggled when Mr Charmer said, "I chose flowers instead of chocolates because I wish no harm to your perfect body." "How do you know I have a good body?" "I have eyes and you roomed with Marlene at a summer camp." "Yes Marlene talks too much." Delaney closed the door behind her guest and Tanner turned and said, "Delaney there's something you ought to know about me. I'm without a job and virtually broke." "So Marlene told me. You know she talks. But your situation will change won't it?" "Yes it's just the economic climate is working against me. I have great credentials." Delaney eyed him and said coolly she bet he had. "It's customary to kiss the hostess." He gave her a small peck. She said great kiss and then wished she'd not said that because he looked away. She decided it was time to stop this nonsense. "You can't be shy if you've been going out with Marlene for almost a month. She wouldn't tolerate it." "I-I have no wish to deceive you." "You've told me you are jobless and near penniless. What else is there to know?" "Nothing," he shrugged helplessly. "I think of myself as a regular guy and my highly critical aunt I've living with really likes me and that's saying something." "I bet she loves you. Here, allow me to give you a proper kiss." Tanner felt himself come near to wetting himself when Delaney's tongue forced his lips open and entered his mouth briefly. "There Tanner, stop being someone you're not and making me out to be a stuck-up lady that I'm not." "All right." "All right what?" "I'm looking forward to having sex with you Delaney when you're ready." "I'm usually ready you ungallant asshole," Delaney said, giggling and taking his arm. Let's have a quick tour and then a drink. There's champagne if you wish." "I wish." "Good boy. Why did you say you'd have champagne?" "Because I know women like it and I thought you might like me drinking champagne with you." "You can have something else?" "No champagne is fine." After dinner was cleared away Delaney said, "Let's sit and talk on the sofa. I want to hear you talk about yourself and I'll tell you something about me." "Fair enough. That was a lovely meal. It's a wonder some guy hasn't grabbed you purely for your culinary skill." "Guys don't have cooking in mind when they grab me." "I'll sit over here." "Sit beside me Tanner. I want you sitting beside me." "Okay. Well one night nine months before I was born..." Delaney giggled. "Just the headlines will do." They shared lifetime highlights for the next couple of hours until Delaney said, "Another coffee before you go?" "Huh? Oh no thanks. I should go." Just before Tanner stepped out into the hallway from the luxury apartment they kissed, unhurriedly and sweetly. He finished by kissing the tip of her nose and saying, "A great evening Delaney. You're a fine hostess." "Why thank you. Give me your mobile number." "I leave it switched off to economize." She smiled and said yes of course and went off to fetch a pad and pen. Tanner made sure she saw him looking at her tits as she returned. "I'm surprise you seek further contact. I-I though I didn't go down all that well." "God I bet modesty is rare for you. For your information I found you warm, friendly and sweet and you kiss like an angel. At the very least I wish us to be good friends. You might be surprised to know potentially how far I could go with a great male friend." "I er wait in wonder." "Oh very good. Please write down your aunt's name and phone number. I'll call." Delaney called on Wednesday evening and they arranged to go out to dinner Saturday. She said she'd pay and he was not to fuss. "Daddy wants to know the name of your university. He might be able to find some job leads for you." "What does your father do?" "As little as possible but he is a professional company director." "Wow, thanks. He'll know people in high places." "Very high places. I dream of you kissing me every night." Tanner laughed and said that was funny, he'd dreamt of Delaney kissing him and attempting to undress him over his protests. She laughed and accused him of making that up." "Guilty but I have been thinking about you." "Oooh. Oh we are going to have sex aren't we?" "Yes and providing you're not too small for me." "Tanner, don't be foul. I'll call you when I learn why daddy wants to investigate you." "To check my behavior record to see whether I'm of suitable repute to be associating with his daughter." Delaney called again two hours when Tanner was out running. He returned the call after showering and she asked, "Daddy says you have a pretty impressive academic record and your sports record is huge tribute to you. Now that's pretty extravagant language for daddy. However he's worried about one thing. You received eleven job offers towards the end of your final year and you rejected them all. He wants to know why." "Um for socially responsible reasons." "Daddy won't wear that." "Well I'll tell you why and you tell your daddy whatever you like. On my first day as a college freshman this freckled faced weed comes into my room nervously and said, 'I have been allocated this room to share with you. I'll go if you don't want me in your room'. I was dumbfounded by his humility." Tanner said he invited the kid in and said allocation was allocation and would he like coffee. "We got talking and I found he'd been unspectacular at school but he outshone everyone on computers. He'd won a scholarship to college. His parents were poor as were his grandparents. His name was Edward Lobb and I said I'd call him Ted and he said his mom wouldn't like that. I said Ted I can even call your Asshole because we are out of reach of your mom. Get it. He laughed and said yeah. Ted comes from Iowa and it was the first time he'd been more than 100 miles from home so I said, "Buddy when we complete our master's degrees you and I are going on a road trip throughout America. His eyes lit up and he said, 'No shit?' and I said no shit and he said in that case he'd have to go on beyond a BSc." The Delaney Girl "Ted worked in fast food stores every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights for most of the time we were at college and went home during breaks and worked for even better money to finance himself through college. That kid appeared next to dumb but in terms of understanding and working with computers he was a class leader. I got him into sport and fitness and today that weed is only just short of my physique. His worried parents thought he was on body enhancement drugs. Needless to say we became great buddies and just when I began to get job offers Ted brought up our road trip and said it ought to take a year or the best part of it. So that was the end of me considering job offers and possibly the snuffing of my business career." "You shouldn't have done it," Delaney said, chest heaving indignantly. "It was so unfair on you." "Delaney, please understand. I'd made the offer; Ted demanded nothing. So after graduation we headed into Texas and I'll never forget the look on his face when the driver of the road freighter we'd hitched with said, "Thar she is kids. The little 'ole Dallas skyline." "Ted looked like a kid sighting a big jar of colorful cookies. It did my heart real good. And that kind of experience happened all through our tour." "Oh god darling, you wonderful, wonderful man," Delaney dry-sobbed. The endearment appeared to pass unnoticed. "When we went through Iowa we stayed with his parents for two weeks. They scratched out a living on a dirt farm and we worked our butts off repairing the roofs of the house and two barns, cleaned drains and with me being mechanical got some overdue maintenance done on their machinery. Those folk wondered what had hit them. Local girls and guys who heard Ted was home came around and there was music, and singing and dancing and drinking cheap liquor. Ted and I had to rest up a couple of days after we left his parents. They both ended up calling me son, that's with a capital 'S' and even his two younger sisters were crying when we left and his older brother who worked off the farm and came to farewell us was studying his boots. It was ever so emotional. Ted didn't say much for the next few hours." "Just tell your dad I rather rashly made a promise to do something for that first year after college, a promise I just had to keep." * * * Delaney went home for dinner that evening and during drinks told her parents Rolf and Charlotte about Tanner and then said, "Daddy, you asked why Tanner didn't take up those job offers to start work straight out of college. I asked him and here's what he told me, so sit back and listen." When she finished Rolf said, "I'd have to say that was stupid but impressive of Tanner." "My feeling is you'll really like him daddy." Charlotte said severely, "I don't want you aligning with any other man darling. I ask that you make up with Sebastian Roche and marry him, a man of your class." "I'm a classless person mother and must I keep reminding you of that." "Well this Tanner is not welcome here." Delaney's response to that was, "Daddy?" "Yes darling. Bring him for lunch Sunday. I'll invite the Lees because Charles might have an interest in this young man or know someone who does. Charlotte you may wish to lunch with your parents?" "No I'll arrange lunch for us all and the Lees. But that doesn't mean to say I'll like that guy coming into my home." "Mother, you don't give your daughter due credit. My thinking is this man will charm the pants off you." "I did not hear that Catherine Mohler." "Whoops. Sorry mother." * * * Delaney had been speeding in her small town car through the countryside, thirteen miles beyond the city limits when she slowed and turned into an impressive-looking property with beautiful looking horses lifting their heads to eye the new arrivals. "Daddy breeds horses." "An expensive hobby." "Perhaps so but he makes good money from their sales, even in these difficult financial times." The climb was gentle to the brow where Delaney stopped the car and they looked down to the huge stone and wood beam homestead. Tanner's jaw dropped. "I guess that's similar to the look on Ted's face when he first saw the Dallas skyline?" He grinned and then looked at her closely. "Oh yes, that reminds me. When I was relating that story you called me darling." "Oh did I? I see father's other guests have arrived. He's a businessman who could be interested in hiring you or if not he may know someone who could be." "Thanks for the warning." "Oh another warning. Mother resents you coming because she and a friend had conspired to have that women's son and me marry but he turned out to be an asshole. I learned he'd had sex with two of my friends at the same time and after he began going out with me." "He's scum." "My thoughts exactly." "So gently, gently with your mother trying to impress but not being obvious?" "Yes but she knows me and will expect you will have been warned to make a pitch. You're on your own buddy. Please don't become upset if you see she appears to dislike you." They continued on down. Tanner said, "Last night I dreamed something pretty erotic involving you." "You can tell me." "I was standing over your bare body and I was also nude. Cum was dripping off my dick down between your open legs." The car served. Tanner reacted in a blur, turning the wheel to avoid them going into a shallow ditch. "Oh god. Thanks." "Best I keep my mouth shut." She giggled, "Good idea. Christ I hope no one in the house was watching." A tall lean man with graying hair came out to greet them as Delaney stopped under the entrance canopy. "Hi daddy darling," Delaney said as they kissed. "Hi pet. So this is the guy you view as a rising star. Welcome to West of Eden Tanner. Call me Rolf but I suggest you address the other three formerly unless invited to do otherwise." "Thank you Rolf. You have a nice line of horsies." "Um Tanner..." "Sorry, I meant to say horses likely to be registered. I recognized thoroughbreds, Hanoverians and four Friesians." Rolf glanced at his daughter who shook her head. "We didn't discuss breeds. I just said your hobby was breeding horses." "Excellent observations Tanner. I'm surprised you recognized a Friesian." "Well they are very distinctive with long manes and tails. I have a sister five years older than me. She was horse mad as a teenage, owning a horse and having pictures of top show jumping, eventing and dressage breeds festooned on her bedroom walls." "You have a good memory. Come in and meet Delaney's mom and our guests the Lees." The introductions were formal until Mr Lee, last to be introduced, invited Tanner to call him Charles. "Welcome to our home Mr Carlton," said Charlotte Mohler, appearing to exhibit no malice. "And what is your occupation?" "I'm jobless Mrs Mohler." "Oh?" It was the invitation to bleat about the tightness of the job market. "Actually I've never had a permanent job." Alison Lee said, "Oh really, rich parents?" "I wish Mrs Lee. No I've been a college student for four years and then at university for two years and this past year I spent roaming around the country with my best buddy who went all through college and university with me." "Oh how wasteful to spend all that time roaming the country." "Perhaps Mrs Mohler, perhaps not. What I had after those study years was grand adventure that has taught me a lot about people and my country. I guess I have seen things you haven't seen." "Try me," she said stiffly. "Well a big shock for me was watching my tough-ass buddy help a woman deliver her baby in New Mexico miles from anywhere. Her husband sat petrified and I was only marginally better but I did run for warm water and towels and then sterilized a pair of scissors and find some cotton. And then I felt immensely proud at the look on my buddy's perspiring face as he held up the wee girl and the hugely perspiring mother reach out for it wearing the biggest smile of love I've ever seen in my life. That was success for Ted but he watched when I swam into a flooded backcountry river in Missouri to try to rescue an elderly woman being washed and rolled over. I'd almost reached her when she went under again but this time didn't reappeared. I went downstream for almost a mile before giving up, not sighting her again. For the first time ever I experienced abject failure. Ted eventually came across me on the bank sad and shaking. He then gave me the pep talk I so desperately was in need of. But hey two weeks later we were at a community festival at 4:00 in the morning still whooping it up. Have you had that experience Mrs Mohler?" The room was silence and finally she whispered "No." "Some really nice things must have happened to you in the course of a year." "It was ten months Mrs Lee." "Please call me Alison." "Why yes Alison. We were invited to spend Christmas Day dinner at and Old Folk's home in Michigan. We'd come across two women who lived there resting up in walking the half-mile back home from church in snow. They were frail so we offered to carry them in our arms. At first they were apprehensive and then Ted said we had moms and grandmas and we talked about them. Before long the oldies were ready to be lifted up and carried. A week later while still in Michigan we received a ride by a woman and she was most concerned we should be wandering around so far from home on New Year's Eve. She insisted we come home and share a meal with her family. Well she lived on a farm and her 'family' included her extended family and several of her neighbors and their extended families. Seventy-two of us packed into the big old farmhouse. We had a huge night and everyone was so kind to us." "Mrs Mohler a relationship is developing between Delaney and me. I have transcribed all of my diaries into book form in MS Word. It's pretty rough but I can email it to you if you'd like. It gets pretty tedious and I doubt if I ever will get round to editing it thoroughly." Alison said, "Would you like me to do that for you Tanner? I studied writing and then went on to become a librarian before my marriage." "But I have no money. I..." "It will allow me to share in your big adventure and to learn about you if you recorded thoughts and perhaps to learn more about what bonded you and your friend Ted so strongly. I'm also Delaney's godmother so she would love me to do that for you. I only work two days a week so have time to spare." Delaney urged Tanner to accept. "Thank you, I accept Alison. You ladies will see I explain my founding friendship with Ted in the first diary. You learn he arrived at college with nothing and made me appear to possess everything. I just couldn't allow that to go unaddressed." "I can understand that," Charlotte said. "Rolf come with Alison, Delaney and me to set up dinner in the dinning room." That left the other two men alone. "Well that was subtle," Charles laughed. Smiling, Tanner said, "I would appreciate you assessing my position without feeling an obligation to place me into a position or to recommend me to anyone. One of my assistant professors once said, "The more you talk to people the more likely something will happen." "Salespeople know that off by heart," Charles said. "Rolf gave me a printout of our academic and you outreach work records while at college and university. So you have a Master's in Business Administration and a Master's in Computer Science. I read you were interested in internal auditing as first priority or as assistant manager of a department with thirty or more people. Can you explain those preferences?" Fifteen minutes later they were called to dinner. During a pause after soup with their host pouring wine Charles announced, "I'll be talking to my CEO tomorrow about Tanner and his desire to launch his career on an internal auditing team. We are a bit thin over the ground with auditing so Kevin may find a place where we could offer Tanner a proposal. I must say Tanner has the qualifications to go all the way. Now he requires in-depth experience but as he's not yet quite twenty-six so has youth on his side." The women congratulated Tanner. He wasn't sure what for. Where they just being polite? No way could he describe Charlotte as being supportive. Unmasked hostility might be the tag for her. * * * Delaney asked Tanner to drive, saying she didn't hold her drink very well. Her smiling parents waved them off. "Well Charles offers you hope?" "Perhaps." Delaney asked him thoughtfully, "Why that negative comment?" "Just a feeling." "Well he's principal stockholder in a group of companies and will be your best bet of job placement that I know of. What about Alison's offer?" "I instinctively trust her and like her. Her offer really pleases me. In fact I'm ecstatic. I'll never be a good writer and I had thought if my notes were written into a lively text and reinforced by some research it might become a paper-back aimed at people below say forty who'd always wished they'd taken off that year after completing college/university." "The Year After." "What about it?" Delaney smirked, "That's the title of the book written in conjunction with my godmother." "In your dreams." Delaney said he shouldn't be so hasty. "I'll wait till Charles is away and have her round for dinner and we can talk to her about that concept. Did you take photos?" "Yeah, hundreds of them and we emailed them back to our home computers." Delaney said, "Getting back to where we were in this conversation, why did you say you instinctively trust and like Alison? Do you think the opposite about Charles?" "I was speaking about handing over my illiterate work as distinct to literary work to Alison who had expressed an editing role interest." "Is that all?" There was no reply. Delaney requested a response. "You mightn't like the answer. In fact I know you won't. You'll accuse me of making up things." "Tell me Tanner," Delaney said, slamming a hand on to his chest. "Refuse and I'll twist a nipple off." He didn't grin but instead said soberly, "No I don't trust Charles Lee. My initial impression is I don't particularly like him. Further, your mom doesn't like me and several times I noticed 'the look' pass between those two." "Ohmigod, then it's true." "What's true?" "There have been whispers for years those two were having an affair. I looked for evidence and found nothing. You walk straight in and detect it." "Delaney, that's absurd." "It isn't. Can't you see? I was too close, too familiar with the people and our environment to see it. As a stranger you walk into that new environment with new people and because you were under pressure to perform well to both my mother and Charles you were looking for anything to assist you and lo, this is something unexpected that you detected." "Great theory, gossamer-light on fact. Actually where are the facts?" Delaney snorted, "The rumors." "Where are the sources of those rumors?" "How should I know?" "How many rumors have you heard and how often?" "Christ Tanner back off. I admitted being vague." "Sorry." They went a couple of miles in silence before Delaney said, "I'm sorry. I was being the hothead and you were remaining pragmatic. I was in the panic to know the truth and ought to have sufficient intelligence to know you'd gone as far as you could considering all you were doing was basing your initial judgment on instinct and a few glances." "Thanks for the apology. I understanding women prefer never to apologize outright. I can understand your concern." "I am concerned but perhaps not in the way you think. I happen to like my father heaps better than my mother and always have." "Ah I see. You don't want your father hurt. Well if am illicit liaison exists those two at least it has continued over the years without apparent discovery. Would you think your father knows?" "I wouldn't think so. He and Charles are best friends." "Now don't hit me darling but I'm just using male logic. Couldn't both Charles and your father knowingly be seducing your mother and remain best friends even if the act was never performed as a threesome?" "Oh I suppose so. Ohmigod, you just called me darling." "Did I?" Tanner said. That was followed by Delaney's exasperated snort. A few more miles went by in thoughtful silence. Outside the Baylis home Tanner and Delaney locked in a clinch. Tanner massaged one of her breasts for the first time and as Delaney heated up he carefully placed a hand on her thigh. Slowly her thighs opened. He grinned. Finally he pulled his resting hand away and said Aunt Carole would be waiting evening meal. Delaney was softly panting. "You can't leave me now." "Just you watch you sweet darling. Bye and thanks for a most interesting day." "Fuck men," Delaney stormed and then wailed, "Oh god, did I just say that?" "You have become emotional," Tanner said helpfully. "It will pass." He went to the passenger side and opened the door to allow Delaney to change sides. They stood and kissed deeply and eventually she reached down and gently cupped his cock and balls. Tanner knew what that was about. She was signaling she was ready for sex. Well not tonight. Carole who had been watching them from the lounge window said to Tanner after he kissed her, "That was Marlene's friend the Delaney girl wasn't it?" "Yeah, nothing wrong with your eyesight." "Well fancy you picking on one of the most unobtainable young women in the city of noteworthiness. You are wasting your time my boy. Get what you want and then return and make a real effort to win Marlene." "No Delaney has it all whereas Marlene is only two-dimensional which is Marlene likes Marlene and Marlene likes sex." "God since when have young men become discriminating?" "Good one Carole," Tanner said, slapping her butt. "Ouch. So it's Carole now?" "Yeah with you poking your nose into my sex life I thought it was time to be a little more intimate, but only a little. You are not stuffy enough to be called aunty." "God The Delaney Girl (pronounced as if in capitals) has no chance if you decide your want her, has she?" "Charm and wit is how a guy catches women like Marlene. To appeal to a woman like Delaney a guy must have style, intellectual substance and... oh yes, know how to use his dick." "God you are disgusting... and knowledgeable. I now give you a 50-50 chance with The Delaney Girl once you land a job and a car." CHAPTER 2 Charles Lee's PA called Tanner with an appointment time. He now had his cell phone switched on permanently. Arthur was bringing home some analytical accounting work for Tanner to do and was paying him top rates. Tanner entered the head office of the company downtown and Charles kept him waiting for more than an hour. Charles came into the small waiting room with his PA and said, "Sorry to have kept you waiting for a little while. We are busy round here. Um I've had a talk with my CEO and I'm afraid we have nothing to offer you. Maxine I'd like a private word with Mr Charlton." The guys watched her leave smoothing her dress down over one hip. "Listen Charlton I'm warning you. Stay away from my goddaughter. Charlotte wants Delaney to marry one of my nephews and I feel obligated to make this happen." Tanner smiled and said, "Get fucked Lee. I hope you have more bad days," and brushed past the astounded businessman. Walking away from the building Tanner took a call. It was Charles. "Tanner it's Charles. Look I got myself fired up over the warning because Mrs Mohler urged me to warn you off. I behaved poorly. I apologize and invite you back to talk because we will be able to place you somewhere." The Delaney Girl "I accept your apology and yes you behaved appalling but no I'll not be working for you." "Well you won't be telling Delaney about this will you?" "Bye Charles," Tanner said, cutting the call. A few minutes later Tanner when thinking of someone he now thought as The Delaney Girl he recognized a familiar face. "Hi Elizabeth?" The blonde in her forties stopped and asked. "Are you a client, you look vaguely familiar?" "Yes, well we only met the once. Do you have time for coffee?" "Yes I'm on a break getting out of that sweat box for coffee. Please accompany me. I'll buy for not remembering you. I'm surprised you remembered me." "Elizabeth Perkins, senior placement executive, Warwick and Rose, photo of daughter Lucy and her dog Patch on wall closest to her desk. You are left handed and although married don't wear rings at work." "God, what color stockings were I wearing." "May I be personal?" "I did invite you." "Green hold-ups. I caught sight of a top and then a flash of white flesh." Elizabeth laughed and colored. She said that probably was correct. "Very impressive Mr...?" "Tanner Carlton." "Ah yes, Tanner. I'd not struck that name before. Well here we are. Food?" "A brownie thanks." Elizabeth returned and said, "It's just coffee for me. You go ahead when it arrives. I'm plugging into the office to review your file. They have Wi-Fi here." She put on her headphone and connected her PDA. "Ah, nothing happening because you lack experienced." "It seems that way. But don't you think if we all felt that way we'd only ever read textbooks, travel books and memoirs. Fiction would be a definite no-no because it was inventive and therefore wasteful. Where would the intelligence of the human race go then?" Elizabeth laughed and said, "You are really raring to go, aren't you?" "Correct." "And willing to give anything a go?" "No. I outlined my parameters to you." "Hmnm. You appeal to be as being very bright, very presentable and very personable and anyone who remembers my green stockings and my daughter's name three weeks..." "Almost four weeks." "... and is accurate almost four weeks after the only time we met and spoke er for how many minutes?" "Exactly twenty-one minutes." She grinned and said that was bullshit and Tanner grinned and said twenty minutes or so. "Well that person deserves to have me go that extra mile. We have newly received an urgent position to fill. You fit in every way but the requirement is a minimum of four years' administrative experience. But with your personality and impressive talking you might be able to swing it. You must instill confidence in them. Although the minimum requirement is a bachelor's business degree you come with master's in bus admin plus master's in computer technology. We'll go back to the office and I'll download everything for you." At 5:00 that day Tanner entered the paneled boardroom of the city's Chamber of Commerce and was interviewed by the chairman and vice-chairman who were assisted by an independent consultant who headed a firm that was one of the chamber's 1240 members. The interview went smoothly but as it began to wind down Tanner's worst fear was realized. It was stated regretfully by the vice-chairman he was not only inexperienced but was very young. Tanner smiled and said, "Is this not America, land of opportunity where enterprise is celebrated and where everyone is regarded as equal unless proven otherwise? You have my work record in front of you. I admit it falls well short of the four-years' experience sought but consider the specific role and note how my academic qualifications far exceed the base requirements. If you desire youth with its energy and enterprise instilled through high quality business education then here I am. I am resourceful and have energy and drive and can commenced duties on Mondays and would expect to be under close supervision for my first three months." "Well guys, that says it all don't you think or is there disagreement?" said the female consultant. "One of our chamber's chief aims is to promote youth into business excellence and leadership. My instinct tells me we have a young man here who's on the cusp of an amazing career." Tanner was asked to leave the room for a few minutes and pour himself coffee. At 6:45 there were handshakes all round and Tanner had a job as president/CEO with an appointment for 10:00 next morning to negotiate and sign his 5-year contract and then he'd be given a voucher to go on to choose his color of a new all-wheel-drive Ford Taurus Limited. The guy he was replacing who'd suddenly resigned because his wife had suffered a stroke, had bought his chamber-supplied vehicle. He'd also undertaken to spend time easing his replacement into the position. Although Tanner would only have eleven fulltime people under him, the recently elected chairman and vice-chairman were keen for him to upgrade their base computer system to achieve in-house demands for greater flexibility that had fired an interest in him. Also as Elizabeth had pointed out if he starred in this role under the scrutiny of business people he would eventually find himself head-hunted. As soon as he was clear Tanner called home. "Scrap the meal you've cooked Carole, I'm taking you and Arthur out to dinner." "What's the occasion, has The Delaney Girl agreed to have sex with you?" Tanner oozed charm. "Does there have to be an occasion?" "Yes if you are paying... Ohmigod, you've got a job." "Stop guessing. Since you mentioned her do you mind if I bring The Delaney Girl?" "I'd love to eye her close up and listen to her." "Carole she will be there as my partner, not for her to check out for possible approval." "God you do have a job. You are already sounding like the big boss." "I'm on my way home. Bye." Tanner called Delaney. "Hi." "Oh hi. This is a surprise. I'm just about to start getting dinner. Will you join me?" "No thank you. Instead I'm taking you and my uncle and aunt out for dinner." "Ohmigod, Charles has given you a job." "No," said Tanner. "I'll now tell you about my day, my productive day." "Oh how interesting. Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" "Well that's a great thought." "Touching you cock on Sunday night was a bad mistake. I now feel addictive." Tanner laughed and said, "God don't get me on to that right now. Sit back and listen." When he'd finished Delaney said all the right things, making Tanner feel seven feet tall. He said he'd try to book in at the city's top restaurant. "You'll be lucky this late in the week. Let my try. The maitre 'd was at high school with me. I'll call back." Tanner had only just given the cabbie his address when Delaney called to confirm they had a booking for 8:00. "I guess we'll have a really big night. I'll slip you money during the evening and you can pay me back." "Swell, I was going to ask my uncle for a loan of some bucks." "No this should be your outright treat for them for standing by you." "Yeah I know. Aunt Carole is all excited about coming face-to-face with The Delaney girl. Bye." "Who... what did you say?" Tanner grinned and cut the call. For some reason he thought name The Delaney Girl sounded extremely romantic and yet the girl didn't appear to know her alternative name. As to be expected when Tanner arrived home Carole was all over him and Arthur was beaming and holding out a beer for him. They arrived at the restaurant first and a few minutes later entered The Delaney Girl, stunning in blue, wearing a light blue dress, dark blue stockings, hugely blue eye shadow, blonde hair piled high and blue glitter in that. Tanner's thoughts turned carnal and he whispered, "Down boy." He knew many people in the restaurant must be looking at her and watching the young maitre 'd greet her ever so charmingly. "Ohmigod she stunning," Tanner heard Carole murmur. He looked across at Arthur and thought his uncle couldn't get his mouth closed to say anything. God The Delaney Girl really was so princess-like. He felt so proud. He stood and now everyone was sizing him up. Ah well. And then Delaney gave his a cute little finger wave. Tanner's heart melted. Tanner kissed her lightly and holding an arm around her waist introduced Delaney to his aunt and uncle. They didn't conceal their delight at meeting her. Their first bottle of champagne arrived. "Isn't he such a good boy," Delaney said to Carole and they both looked at him and Tanner knew his aunt was truly smitten by his girl friend. The evening went perfectly and included a toast to Tanner. When they were leaving the restaurant Arthur and Carole kissed the young couple and that told Delaney aunt and uncle knew Tanner wouldn't be going home that night. She blushed and then hugged Carole when she whispered, "Return him to me in full working order." "Your aunt is very young in spirit," she said to Tanner as they waved them off. "Yeah and I think she'd come out of her shell since I've been around. They'd gotten into a rut and she has reconnected with some of her old girlfriends. Life for the three of us is ticking along nicely. It's possible I feel more at home with them than I do with my own parents. Mom's problem is she became middle-aged before her time. I believe I caught Carole just in time. It's most about environment you know plus lifestyle." "No I really didn't know. You have an extraordinarily agile mind of apparent unlimited capacity for a male." "Oh come on, you have been confined to bad company. I'd say spent more time with your dad." "God you're even on the button about that." * * * When they entered the apartment, Tanner closing the door, Delaney said a little nervously, "What do you want to do? I mean where do you want to do it?" "Let's kiss first and then find where we go from there." "Oh, good idea," she said, licking her lips. "Um do you want me to undress?" "No I'll look after that. Are you sure you've done this before?" She colored and messed with her hair as a diversion, letting it down. "Of course, heaps of times." "Then relax." "It's been sometime. The asshole hit me." "Oh Christ, you poor darling," Tanner said, striding forward and taking her in his arms. He didn't rush. He stroked her face gently and said quietly, "It's always best to put bad experiences behind you." "Yes I know," she said, her sweet blue eyes reflecting her honesty. "You should kiss me. I'm relaxing and know I'm going to enjoy being fucked by you." They kissed, slowly and at first softly. "I want you to touch my pussy while I'm still dry. I'll be embarrassed if I leak and my panties are wet when you touch me." Tanner interpreted that as a cry for reassurance. "You sweet lady. Here I go touching you and yes, quite dry. But remember this, the more you leak the better I like it. Women who don't lubricate much can be hard going. And I'll tell you this. I love the smell of pussy juice at any time." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Ohmigod, haven't I found myself a treasure." Tanner pushed the crotch of her panties aside and slowly inserted a finger while kissing Delaney and she opened her mouth. He welcomed finding a woman who opened her mouth for tonguing when her pussy was opened, if not before. To him it signaled complete acquiescence; it was a step beyond saying she wanted to be fucked. She pulled a breast out for him, hooking it straight out and over the neck of her top in a flash. Boy, he wished he had that skill but of course women had the advantage of the sensitivity of touch while guys groped. Big difference. She was heating up, breathing heavily and reached down to his dick, obviously ready for greater action. He pulled up from attempting to swallow her nipple and asked, "Like to suck it?" She nodded, looking at him big-eyed. "On the table, the sofa or what?" Delaney simply dropped to her knees and unzipped him and then fumbled at unbundling him because it did not come thrusting out at her. "Come on boy," she encouraged, patting and squeezing it into full erection. "Oooh this is a beauty." That final exclamation was sufficient in itself to turn Tanner into a man of steel. * * * When riding the elevator with Tanner to the apartment Delaney began to feel her usual pre-sex tension. She was disappointed, having hoped it would have changed to being just the feeling of desire mixed with images of wild flowers this time. She sighed. "Tired?" he asked, kissing her neck. She exposed more neck to him but that made no difference to the way she felt. "No, just a little tense." "We'll soon fuck tensions away until it returns to built the climax," he grinned. God how foul, how unsympathetic. Oh yes, and how accurate. But sometimes things were best left unsaid. Once again Delaney reminded herself he'd be good at fucking. He had the look. Um she didn't know what the look was but it would have something to do with the way he walked and held himself so upright that seemed to ripple hidden power. And the way he looked at her. God at times that was almost as if he was having sex mentally and she'd at times felt her body responding, er just a bit. She sniffed nervously. He could also appear intense when he focused, very intense. Oh, what if she was wrong and he fired too early or couldn't fire? How dreadful. They'd never be with one another again because he would be ashamed to his core. His hand danced lightly over her right boob. That was no move by a scatty amateur... this guy knew what he was doing. He'd flood her vagina and flood the bed. Ohmigod what was she thinking. "It's a lovely evening," she said inanely. She'd said that ten minutes ago when they'd began walking from the restaurant. He took her hand and squeezed lightly and smiled into her eyes, "Don't be nervous. It's only sex. Do I need a condom?" Serenity began to flow. She smiled sweetly, pushing back the thoughts she'd had since lunch at his parents' home when he spoke about his road trip. She'd wondered whether the diary would note treatment for STD's after they'd seduced women in brothels or lick-lipping woman who stopped to give them a ride. But she trusted him, however foolish that might be. "No condom." He smiled reassuringly and she knew it would be all right and felt serenity taking control. It was so lovely. Delaney had felt she practically floated into her apartment thinking this would be the best sex in her life, if not tonight then when they totally got their act together. She wondered about taking him straight to the bedroom but that might make her appear over-eager so she gave him options and he chose to stand where they were and began in a manner that she totally approved. Oh this was going to be so good. Down on her knees, his erection in her hand, with heaps of room for the other hand if she wished and leaving the head well clear, Delaney thought it really was a lovely boy... so thick, displaying itself so proudly, the skin looking so polished. It didn't seem right to lick and gobble it. Nevertheless she did that and could believe how much saliva she generated. She'd show him; she excelled at this. * * * "Oh glory, that was so beautiful," Tanner said, hurrying back from the bathroom with towels to Delaney who was still on her knees and scooping traces of cum off her chin. It was already cleared from her eyebrows but lay plastered in her hair. Tanner dabbed ineffectually at her hair and then gently toweled her face and chin and pulled Delaney to her feet. "Spread and bend over and grip towards your ankles," he commanded, tossing away the towels and going behind her and dropping to his knees. Delaney told Tanner later that night in bed that she'd been terrified when he'd gone behind her like that, afraid he might only be a butt man. But instead he sucked and tongued away at her pussy so gloriously that she ended up flooding his face. He claimed he loved that. She said although she couldn't believe that, perhaps he did. As they were drifting off to sleep she said the best part for her though was near the end of their third fuck on the bed when she was riding reserve cowgirl and flagging. "You gently pulled me back and you were long enough not to pop out. You gently squeezed my boobs..." "Tits." "... tits and seemed to thicken inside me, probably with the increased friction. But you went at it so slowly and I experienced unbelievable sensations. That was just the best for me. What about you?" "You have a beautiful cunt and your tits are awesome." Delaney giggled. "And all through your lovely personality shone through." She now felt embarrassed. "But to be truthful, I found being allowed to have my dick in you was just unbelievable." Almost choking in emotion, Delaney turned out the light. "I'm going to marry you," she said. There was silence as if neither knew what to say. And then Tanner's hand found hers and they both gently squeezed. That pause made words superfluous, which is one of the beauties of language. "Good night darling." "Good night darling Delaney." "Will you wake me up with a surprise in the morning?" "If I can think of one." She giggled herself to sleep. THE END