Page 31 of Grown-Up Second Chance

Damn her sharp hearing.

“Yes,” I added. “Sure. Come with us.”

He glanced over at me.

“If you’re okay with it, I’d love to.”

“It will be great to have you along,” I said, forcing a smile.

I hoped.

Chapter Ten

Joe was too close. I could feel the heat from his body, sense his arm mere inches away from my own as we shared the back seat of Liz’s Jeep.

Wait. Wasn’t there an armrest in this thing?

Peering carefully, I saw where it had been hidden to blend in with the upright portion of the seat.

“Looking for something?” Joe asked.

“Got it,” I said, and yanked down the rest. “I needed someplace to put my arm.”

He stared at the barrier between us. “If you say so.”

I plunked my arm on it. “There. That’s better.”

“Good idea.” He put his arm on the other half.

I turned my head to the window and pretended everything was fine. It should be. I shouldn’t feel this way around him. Not around any man. I was in my sixties for god’s sake. Sixty-year-old women shouldn’t be lusting after a friend from high school.

Didn’t normal people give up sex by our age?

“What are you thinking about?” Joe asked.

“Um … nothing.” I smiled brightly at him. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it.”

He shook his head. “Nice try, but you weren’t looking at the scenery.”

I tried to move my arm so the fine hairs on his skin would stop touching me, but there was no room. I fanned myself with my hand and placed it in my lap.

“What’d you do in California with all those people?” he asked.

“Their taxes.”

“Funny. I mean, wasn’t it crowded?”

“Only if you tried to drive anywhere. Sometimes Larry and I would take a trip to Yosemite or Carmel if it was a nice weekend.”

“Along with everyone else?”

I shrugged. “I got used to it.” I looked around. “Now I have to get used to all this space again.”

“Well this is a good place to do it. There are too many people here too. I want to come here in the winter. Do some cross country skiing.”

I shivered. “I bet you enjoy ice fishing too.”

“Sure. Can’t live in Montana without enjoying the winter.”

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