(All persons involved in sexual activity in this story are over 18. If you think this story is about real life, guess again, it's not. Any similarities to real life are purely coincidental. If you enjoy it, give me 5 stars! Thanks!)
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"John, the clerk just called. The jury has a verdict," my assistant yelled from her desk just outside my office door.
"This is not going to go well," I thought to myself.
I called my partner on his cell phone and let him know to meet me at the courthouse. Just as we feared, the jury couldn't understand the complex evidence in our case and our client lost it's patent infringement case against a multi-billion dollar mega company.
As quickly as humanly possible, following the judges gavel that signaled the end of the case, I was taking my seat on the last flight of the day from San Francisco to Palm Springs. I was fortunate to have all my necessities, clothes and golf clubs, already at my condo, so I didn't even go home between the courthouse and the airport.
Despite our hard work, our case had not gone well. We couldn't prove what ExaCom had done to steal trade secrets from our client and, within a few hours of being handed the case, the jurors sent us home empty handed. Not to mention, I was still feeling the personal effects of the trial. The months of preparation and trial had cost me a relationship with a new girlfriend I'd been enjoying and, maybe worse than that, I hadn't played golf much at all.
All that behind me for a week, I was headed to my condo in Indian Wells and couldn't wait to play golf, hang out at Emil's Restaurant & Bar, and forget the rest of the world existed. No sooner had the plane taken flight than I ordered a premium cocktail from the flight attendant, put on my headphones, and sank back into my first-class seat.
Before I knew it, I was putting my seat back up for the final approach into PSP. As the pilot touched the wheels down gently, I brought my iPhone back to life and texted Mario, a ride share driver who was always available to me for some cash, and let him know I'd be at the curb in 15 minutes. He texted back that he was already chilling out, awaiting my arrival.
"God I love that guy," I thought to myself.
Sure enough, Mario had his white Cadillac SUV at the curb, perfectly air conditioned and, maybe bending the rules a bit, a cocktail poured into a small, red plastic cup in the cup holder in the back seat.
"Damn, Mr. Davids, you haven't been down in forever," Mario said.
"No shit. I was trying a big case and I couldn't get away."
"April's not with you this time?" He asked, remembering my ex-girlfriend's name.
Laughing, I said, "No, that didn't survive the trial. She was too damn needy and I couldn't fulfill her emotional needs or some fucking bullshit like that. Oh well, it's fine."
"Plenty of other babes out there."
Mario dropped me off at my condo and I took care of him handsomely and let him know I'd be leaving in a week.
Once inside, I lowered the temp on the AC, grabbed the keys to the car I kept at my condo, and headed for a snack at Emil's while the house cooled down to an enjoyable temp. For an evening in mid-May in the desert, it was a mild 82 degrees, but promised to be pushing 100 degrees during the day all week.
Most of the snowbirds had left for the season, so the parking lot at Emil's was mostly empty. I was happy I'd be able to get a seat at the bar where I could enjoy a few glasses of wine, some amazing Italian food, and gaze at Annie, the ridiculously sexy bar manager.
I walked through the front door and, before I could even take a seat at the bar, the waitstaff had greeted me with warm hugs and Annie had an ice cold glass of white wine waiting for me when I sat down.
"Well hello stranger," Annie said.
"I know, I know. I was trying a big case."
"You know damn well too much work isn't good for you," Annie chided me.
"The reason it isn't good for me is because I go too long without seeing your beautiful face."
"Smooth. Really smooth, but flattery will get you nowhere. What can I get you?"
"The meatball appetizer and a Caesar salad."
"You never change."
"When you're this good, why change?"
Annie rolled her eyes, "So, where's the blonde? Was it April or May?"
Laughing, I said, "April. She gave up on me."
"Sorry about that."
"It's fine. Now I'm available for you."
"Right. I'll let Tony know you want me to leave him." Tony was her live-in boyfriend and was the size of the country of Italy. He was an amazing golfer and we had a great friendship that allowed me to flirt with Annie.
"He'll understand," I laughed. "He always knew he'd lose you to me."
I enjoyed my snack and sipped my wine while Annie and I chatted in between serving her other customers. Emil's was the perfect home away from home for me. The food was great, my wine glass was always being topped off, and the people genuinely cared.
"Can Tony play golf in the next few days?" I asked Annie.
"Text him. He might be available later in the week, but I know they are screaming busy the next few days."
Tony was a chef at the conference center in Indian Wells. "Why, what's going on the next few days?" I inquired.
"Some damn dentist's convention is in town."
"Oh shit. Well, I'll just play at the country club. I guess that means you guys will be jammed the next few days."
"We will be. Text me when you know you're coming in and I'll make sure and get you a seat at the bar."
"You're the best, Annie."
"I know," she said, winking at me.
I finished up, paid my bill, and headed back to the condo to get online and make some golf reservations for the rest of the week.
I made up for lost sleep during my trial by sleeping in until about 9 in the morning. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept that late. I grabbed something to eat and some coffee at the nearby Starbucks and headed to the grocery store to shop for a few things for the week. I turned into the liquor section to pick up a few cocktail ingredients and was greeted by the welcome site of a very hot, young babe.
She was wearing painted-on yoga pants that highlighted her perfect, bubbly ass and a top that left a sexy view of her bare abs. She had short, sassy, blonde hair and small, perky tits. I guessed she was in her early to mid 20's, too young for my 40 years, but definitely worth looking at. She held a bottle of champagne in each hand while trying to decide. We exchanged smiles, and I commented on the bottle in her right hand, "That stuff is amazing."
"Really? You've had it?"
"I have a few bottles in my bar right now."
"You own a bar?" She asked, perking up a bit.
Laughing, I said, "No, no. I mean the bar at my condo."
"Nice. Thank you for helping me decide,". She held my gaze and smiled at me for longer than normal, so I thought I'd introduce myself.
"I'm John."
"Elizabeth," she answered, shaking my hand. I held her hand for a minute, it was soft and warm and she didn't try to pull away. We stood there, hand in hand for a few seconds.
"Well, nice to meet you," I said, letting go of her hand.
"Nice to meet you, too," Elizabeth replied.