It was the evening of Valentine's Day and all his friends were out on dates while Jimmy babysat for his neighbor. It wasn't as if he had nothing else to do. In fact, he had even turned away a few offers for this evening. Although not the college star quarterback, Jimmy was tall, well built, good-looking and smart. He was popular with the opposite sex but he had a soft spot for Sophie, the single-mother who lived a few apartments away.
Ever since he was old enough to have an erection, Jimmy had had a crush on Sophie. While most of his friends fantasized about big-busted blondes, Jimmy fell in love with the slim and leggy brunette. Sophie wasn't drop dead gorgeous but she had natural down-to-earth beauty that made his knees go weak every time he saw her.
And ever since he discovered masturbation, Jimmy had been dreaming of Sophie's lithe figure and beautiful tan skin. Her face was slightly gaunt, highlighted by her high cheekbones and expressive eyebrows above warm brown eyes. She had soft, brown, shoulder-length hair, dimpled cheeks and pink lips set upon a feminine jaw. Her broad and bony shoulders simply invited caresses and he often fantasized about massaging and kissing them. Admittedly, her breasts were small but he was never much a breast-man. Where she lacked in mammary glands, she made up for it in legs. Sophie had long, athletic legs; the kind Jimmy wanted to run his tongue from toe to thigh or wherever, if ever, she would permit it. Given the choice, though, Jimmy would choose to work his tongue on Sophie's delicious lips. Her mouth would seem a little too large at first glance but she gave the sexiest smiles and the naughtiest winks.
Too bad Sophie seldom smiled nowadays, at least not the real ones anyways. She gave mostly tired, polite ones when she met her neighbors. At 33 and a divorced mom, she spent most of her time working or doting on her daughter. She hardly had time to herself. Sophie had not dated much since her husband left three years ago. There weren't many men who were interested in a divorced woman with extra luggage but she did receive her fair share of attention. Jimmy watched as Sophie passed up on each one and each time he silently cheered.
So when Sophie asked if he'd mind baby-sitting while she went out, he almost died inside. He had agreed, hiding his disappointment well. He was one of the few people Sophie trusted to look after her kid in her absence. Of course he had agreed, even though he had to cancel his date a whole week in advance. Sophie did not even realize that she had asked him to baby-sit on Valentine's Day.
***
Jimmy looked up at the wall clock above the TV that he zapped mindlessly. It was almost nine-thirty, his ward was fast asleep and there was nothing good on. He was dozing off himself when he heard the click of the lock and the door opening. A dejected Sophie tiptoed softly into the living room.
She wore a simple, single-piece, magenta evening dress that showed off her bare shoulders with matching open-toed shoes that emphasized her long legs. On her neck, she wore a simple choker that matched the color of her dress. She gave him a tired smile when he got up to greet her.
"Hey there, hot mama," Jimmy whispered as he switched off the TV.
Sophie gave him a little wave in greeting as she slipped off her shoes. She tiptoed barefoot over to Jimmy, keeping her voice low.
"Thanks for babysitting, Jimmy. I didn't realize it was Valentine's Day. I'm sure you had better things to do." She squeezed his hand in thanks.
"Don't mention it. I read her a fairy tale and she fell asleep almost immediately."
Sophie looked over at the direction of her daughter's bedroom. The door remained closed. "Guess I shouldn't disturb her then."
How did your date go? I didn't expect you back until waaaay after midnight," Jimmy quickly changed the subject.
She let out a sigh. "Nah, he wasn't Prince Charming so I gave him the boot instead of a glass slipper."
Jimmy gave a little laugh as Sophie collapsed onto the sofa. She patted the seat beside her, indicating to Jimmy that he could join her. He was ever ready to spend time with her even though he had not even the smallest hope getting anywhere with her.
"What were you watching?" she asked as if making polite conversation.
"There's nothing on. They're putting out all sorts of mushy, lovey-dovey films this evening; it just gets the non-involved people like me depressed." He regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth, mentally berating himself, as he realized Sophie was even less involved than he was.
They sat together in silence, each lost within their thoughts. Jimmy found himself studying Sophie, etching every detail of her being into his brain. At first, he sat watching the curve of her lips. Eventually his eyes wandered the length of her legs to the breadth of her chest. He took in the way her hair felt to one side, exposing a most enticing neck. His eyes played across her bare shoulders, noting the vein in her arm, accentuating both femininity and strength. It was the first time he was so close to the object of his desires and he was registering every nanosecond for replay later.
***
Sophie noticed Jimmy's gaze roaming her body. Ordinarily, she should have been angry but she found herself actually quite flattered. Her date that evening turned out to be yet another pig out to get between her legs. Yet here was Jimmy looking at her with something more than just plain lust in his eyes. There was something else there, a dreamy kind of look. A strapping young man paying this kind of attention to her was outrageously flattering! She started to see Jimmy in new light – not the nice kid next-door but a handsome stud with broad shoulders and an inviting smile.
Her mind struggled to deal with the situation. This horny eighteen-year old was stirring up all kinds of weird emotions inside her. Jimmy was the boy-next-door who was always ready to lend a helping hand. She was contemplating something quite beyond neighborly love.
