True to her word they crossed the bridge over the Inland Waterway to Amelia Island at 2:50 a.m. Another ten minutes, and they pulled up to the Amelia Island Plantation gate. Jack gave the guard his name and address and received a residence pass in return. He guided Kathy the short distance to the Brandon residence. Kathy followed the driveway around to the back and stopped in front of the three-car garage. All the outdoor lights were on, including the pool lights and the indoor sensor lights.
Kathy asked, “Are we alone?”
“No one’s here but us. The Vietnamese couple who make this place work don’t live here. I told them we were coming in late tonight, and they left the house ready for us.”
Kathy said, “I should have told you earlier during our true confessions period, one of my nearly uncontrollable passions is skinny dipping. Can you handle that?”
“Not only can I handle it, but I should have confessed the same thing. Hope you don’t mind Shadow joining us. He loves the pool and the swim would be good for him.”
They helped a wobbly Shadow out of the wagon. Shadow knew where he was and went directly to his favorite outdoor spot. Kathy didn’t bother to use the poolside dressing room. She was naked and in the pool before Jack had his shoes off. A few minutes later Jack joined her after dimming the outdoor and pool lights. Shadow was the last one in. Kathy swam toward Jack and Shadow, then did a clean surface dive, emerging right in front of Jack. She looked up at him, smiled, and put her arms around him. She thought, this guy even looks better with his clothes off.
His dark hair always managed to come partially down over his forehead. Kathy felt his green eyes looking deep into hers. She had watched him as he walked to the control box near the pool house to dim the lights. He moved with the power and grace of the big cat family.
Kathy quietly said, “I’m not ready to sleep with you yet, but I think your driver deserves a hug and a good kiss.”
Jack smiled and put his arms around her and pulled her gently against him. He felt her arms and legs go around his body. She ran her right hand over the bullet wound scar on the left side of his butt and said, “Where did you get that?”
As Jack started to answer, Kathy put her hand over his mouth and said, “Later,” and pulled his lips down to hers. The kiss grew. Kathy, feeling her desire growing out of control and noticing Jack’s arousal, gently pushed him away and said, “Whoa, big guy. I’ll come to you some night soon. For now I feel wonderful and very safe. And besides Shadow is watching us.”
Jack laughed and said, “He’s never seen anything like this before, and I hope he gets to many, many times.” Shadow had finished his dip and, despite his healing wound, was trying to shake off droplets of water.
Early the next morning, the United Airlines flight with Anita aboard landed at Jacksonville International Airport. Her rental, a white Cadillac CTS, awaited her. Forty minutes later she was approaching the Long Point gate on Amelia Plantation. Anita pressed the marked button on the remote Jack had given her, and the gate into the posh community swung open. The Brandon house was at the very end of Riverview Road.
Anita drove through the open gate and around the driveway. She was impressed with the privacy and setting provided by a high brick wall and perimeter plantings. The Brandon property was isolated on a spit of land projecting into the Amelia River. The house looked rather ostentatious from the outside. Anita thought, no matter, she could live here. Driving around back, the magnificent gardens, featuring low blooming azaleas around the swimming pool, came into view. She was lost in the magic of the setting until she heard Kathy yell, “Park your wheels and come on in. The water is great.”
***
Facts and Fictions 