Mary had just finished braiding her long dark hair back and turned to check her reflection in the mirror. Not bad. Her full breasts filled the navy blue bikini cups perfectly and the dark fabric created a V between her newly svelte hips. The navy blue really brought out her dark blue eyes as well. She slipped the navy blue and white polka dot sundress on over the bikini and tied the halter-top around her neck. It too showed off her cleavage to its best advantage and the hem ended just above her knees.
She sighed happily. This was the beginning of a new life for her. She had shed the extra weight and had laser surgery on her eyes before moving to New Zealand. She had also taken a vow... no more regrets. She would take chances. She would say yes to life. She might just say yes to Chris, even though she had only met him the night before.
*****
Mary's hosts, Jan and David, had taken her out to the local diner for her first night with them. It was a family type of place and they were having a nice quiet visit to ease her into the way of life there.
"Hey, Chris! How are you doing?" David had raised his hand as the man passed by.
Mary turned to look and enjoyed the sight thoroughly. Chris was a handsome guy in his early thirties, medium build and height but tanned. One could see he was lean but muscular beneath the t-shirt and shorts he wore.
"Hello, David... Jan. I'm well. Yourselves?" Chris's smile took in Mary as well and lingered there.
"Good," David replied. "Why don't you join us?"
Chris took the empty seat at their small square table, his knee brushing against Mary's. He smiled at her. "Excuse me."
David introduced them. "I'd like you to meet Mary. Mary, this is Chris, our nearest neighbor."
Mary nodded and took Chris's proffered hand. A little jolt of electricity ran up her arm when they touched. From the slight widening of Chris's eyes and the way he held her hand a few seconds longer than necessary, she had the feeling he had felt it too. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Chris said.
"Mary just moved to New Zealand," Jan put in. "She and I were friends when I went to college in the States. She's staying with us until she can find a place. She'll be the new librarian in town. I was thinking of having some friends over for a small welcoming party tomorrow night. Will you be available?"
"I will," Chris said as he smiled at Mary. "I definitely will."
*****
The thought of Chris induced Mary to hurry and finish getting ready. She had enjoyed chatting with him but it was the heat in his eyes as he leaned in to talk the night before that made her flush as she thought of him. Finally, she took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds than blew it out, opened the door and went out to meet the guests.
The main living area was crowded with people and Mary could hear more in the kitchen. She scanned the rooms, but there was no sign of him. Jan grabbed her arm and started introducing her to people.
The evening was a whirlwind of new faces and names, something Mary had never been very good at. She always had to have regular contact with someone in order to remember a name for very long, unless there was something special about them.
Someone
special walked in at nine-oh-five. Mary felt his presence as soon as he entered the room, as crowded with people chatting and laughing as it was. She knew she couldn't have heard his voice over the music, throbbing loudly, but she turned to look and met his eyes. He smiled and she couldn't hide the pleasure she felt just knowing he was there, as he made his way across the room.
Chris was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, as he had been the other day. Mary was a little surprised when he casually leaned down and kissed her cheek in greeting. "A little present for you." He held up an orchid, purple and white.
"Oh, how lovely," she said, taking it from him. "You shouldn't have."
"Well, I had to do something to stand out amongst all the guys here vying for your attention." He cleared his throat and looked around.
Mary laughed but as she looked around, she suddenly realized that there were quite a few eyes on her. The laughter died in her throat and she looked down quickly, starting to feel overly warm and anxious. She felt the blood drain from her face.
Chris frowned. "Are you okay?"
She nodded once sharply. "I just need to get some air." Her throat felt tight as she forced the words out. She turned and made her way quickly out to the kitchen and through to the back door, stepping out into the night air.
She didn't realize Chris had followed her until he spoke and she jumped.
"Are you sure you're okay? Should I get Jan?"
"No... no." Mary sat down on the steps and leaned forward, pressing her forehead to her knees. "I just get a bit claustrophobic in crowds sometimes."
"Ahhh, gotcha." Chris sat down next to her and began to slowly stroke his hand up her spine and back down.
"So, you have a farm?" Mary asked, trying to distract herself.
"Yep. I hope to be totally self-sufficient one of these days. I've even got olive trees. I'm planning to press my own olive oil. You should come over sometime. I'd love to show you around. It can get a little lonely over there."
"I'd like that." Mary's breathing slowed as her attention became concentrated on Chris's hand, stroking her back. As she sat up again, Chris's hand stilled, but stayed flat on the small of her back.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
She flashed him an embarrassed smile. "Yes, thanks. I feel silly, having to rush out like that. I had promised myself that I would be brave and take chances now that I'm living here, and look how I'm cowering out on the porch and keeping you from the party."
Chris looked directly into her eyes. "I'm quite happy where I am right now."
Mary couldn't think of anything to say to that. She looked out into the shadows that were gathering beyond the pool of light from the porch. It was still very hot out.
"But perhaps you need to get back to your guests?" Chris asked. He started to stand.
Mary put her hand on his arm. "Oh, no, not yet. I'm not ready to go back in."
"In that case..." Chris stepped down off the porch onto the lawn. He turned back and offered his hand to Mary. "Let's take a walk down to the stream."
Mary took Chris's hand and got to her feet. He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her down a stone walkway, down the sloping lawn, to a stream embankment. As they got further away from the porch light, it became easier to see in the light from the moon and stars. They stepped down on some large boulders that edged the stream.
Mary sank to her knees and dipped her hand in the water. "Oh, how lovely. It's so nice and cool."
