I walked in the front door, a little earlier than usual. The shower was on upstairs, and turned off as I hooked my keys on the holder by the door. The shower was unusual this time of day, but hearing it, I knew what to expect. Another half hour or so of hair prep, then down to the Tiki Bar and the beach. I wondered what she'd be wearing today as I walked to the guest room to freshen up.
After a shower and a change of clothes from the laundry room, I strolled to the beach. I heard the hair dryer running in our room, so I knew she was still primping for the afternoon's excitement.
The Tiki Bar was relatively quiet this time of day, which is probably why she prefers it. The breeze off the water brought a hint of salt and seaweed, and the waves ebbed and flowed quietly against the sand. I stopped at the bar and waved to Alissa, our bartender. She caught my eye and raised her eyebrows in silent question.
Alissa has been with us three seasons now. She hails from Vancouver, and has become a staff regular, and certainly a favorite of ours. Her mixing skills are fast and refined, and during busy spells, she manages to keep everything moving smoothly without mistakes. In the early afternoon, Alissa was the only one on the clock. She split her time between waiting tables and tending bar, which wasn't overly demanding this time of day. On top of her bar-tending skills, her smoldering good looks maintain the attention of the visiting men, often to the dismay of their companions.
I smiled in response to her subtle query, and she broke into a playful smile. She knew the drill by now, and I swear, enjoyed it almost as much as I. After a few words to the young man she was attending, she grabbed a Negro Modelo from the fridge and brought it over.
"What's she wearing today?" she asked, mischief playing across her features.
"I'm not sure. She was out shopping last night and was a little mysterious about it when she came home."
Her eyes lifted from mine as she glanced over my shoulder, and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She favored me with a huge smile and slipped away, returning her attention to the potential suitor at the other end of the bar.
I turned and saw Catherine gliding down the path toward the bar. She had really out done herself this time.
The sun played across the highlights in her blonde hair as the breeze washed it across her shoulders. The glow on her face was perfectly complimented by just a hint of makeup. Around her top, she wore a length of white silk, reminding me of a scarf. Lying behind her smooth neck, it crossed in front above her breasts, then snaked over them and presumably tied in the back. The bottom of her breasts were exposed in a kind of reverse-cleavage. The material strained slightly to contain the bounce as she walked, the outline of her nipples barely shadowed behind the white cloth. On her waist was tied a square of cloth doubled into a triangular shape. It looked like a light cotton material, mirroring the azure color of the water just off the beach. The cloth was knotted on one hip, and angled down across the front to hang in a point on the other side. It hung low on her waist, and barely hid what she'd be wearing underneath. Her natural beauty always struck at my heart, tugging at primal urges I didn't know existed. Even after years of marriage, my mouth went dry at her appearance, and my stomach fluttered in anticipation.
She saw me, and lit off one of her dazzling smiles. I don't know how, but I swear she knew I'd be there, even though I came home early. Maybe its a women's sixth sense about their man? Weaving between the tables, she passed me by and headed for Alissa at the other end of the bar.
Most people were out on the beach, leaving the tables in the bar area sparsely populated. The few couples huddling quietly around drinks couldn't help but notice as Cat walked by, interrupted conversations marking her passing with a wave of silence.
She reached the bar and leaned over toward Alissa, who had once again abandoned her customer. They exchanged high-fives as Alissa drank-in the outfit at close range. As Cat stretched to reach Alissa's ear, her makeshift skirt rode up a little, revealing the smooth curve of one magnificent cheek. She and Alissa whispered back and forth a few times, then Alissa slid over a tray and order-taking pad from under the counter.
Cat really liked to tend bar, but other obligations kept her away. When her schedule permits, she dresses appropriately, and joins the staff to serve customers. At first, I thought the staff might be upset at being upstaged. However, as owners, we don't accept any tips, so all of Cats' tips today would go to Alissa. Besides, I'm pretty sure Alissa enjoyed the show as much as everyone else.
As Cat walked toward the beach with her tray, Alissa caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up sign along with her own dazzling smile. Yeah, she enjoys it too... definitely. I rose off the stool, un-tucked my shirt to cover my growing interest, and settled with my beer at an empty table closer to the beach.
We've owned the property for a number of years. We fell in love with this part of Mexico during frequent vacations, and decided to make it more permanent. Running a place like this was not all fun and games, but it certainly had its moments. Today was one of those. Business has been good, and the clientele had settled into a mix of new people and returning guests from up north. We treated our guests well, and they responded by visiting often, and recommending us to their friends. We catered to young and middle-age couples, but hosted an occasional beach party to bring out the young'uns for Alissa and her friends. Today it was all couples at the beach and bar, each lost in their own conversations.