Indian Lake is secluded in the hills of Tennessee. The lake is dotted with cabins of varying sizes and styles. Most are summer homes for those who wish to get away for a few summer months, but a few, like the one I purchased last month, are well insulated and have the amenities that make them habitable year round. There's a lodge located about a half mile up the hill that serves as a gathering place for the residents. It's sort of a club for lack of a better description. Each cabin is lake shore property and has its own dock.
The reason I purchased here is because I wanted the seclusion and to get away from the busy lifestyle of urban life. I am a rather successful writer of science fiction and the quiet serenity of the area sort of prevents "writers block" which so often had been keeping me from doing my best work. I prefer to write science fiction that is believable and contrary to most beliefs, requires a considerable amount of research to be really good. So much for me, except to say that I'm forty six years old and in great physical condition.
About a week or so after I had moved in and settled down I had the opportunity to go to the lodge for some sort of community social event. Basically it was to meet my neighbors and be introduced around. It was more of an obligation than something that I really looked forward to. There was an open bar and when I arrived a number of people were already well on their way to being totally wiped out. It was there also that I met my neighbors to my left and right of my place.
The woman who lived on the adjoining property to my left was named Veronica Nielson. She was another year round resident and a rather noted artist. I figured her age to be around thirty five or so. My other neighbors, the ones who lived on my right, were a couple named Sam and Tanya Hanly. I at first thought it was a father and grand daughter until someone told me that they were married. Sam was well into his eighties, his wife was an ex model who couldn't have been more than twenty five or so. A very strange partnership, but than some men with money do attract young ladies as their mates.
For some reason Veronica latched onto me and was at my side constantly and seemed to be very interested in taking pictures of the people in attendance. I figured she might be involved in some sort of local news paper or something. Between snapping pictures of the people and activities, she took it upon herself to introduce me to the various people at the gathering. With each introduction she would provide a brief but colorful dissertation on the character of each. The way she hung onto my arm made me feel almost as if she were protecting me, but it did provide me with a bit of comfort as an outsider in the community.
Sam and his wife seemed inordinately interested in me, and Sam even asked me over to see how he had landscaped his property. I suspected the invitation was given at his wife's request, but I wasn't sure, and Veronica became almost possessive as Sam's wife, Tanya hovered nearby. I had had more than enough to drink, but Veronica kept bringing more drinks from the bar, and it seemed that during those few moments when she was occupied elsewhere, Tanya was hovering nearby with another drink for me. I was getting loopy and decided that it was time for me to walk the half mile or so back to my home.
Veronica insisted on driving me back, and so it happened. She took me to her home, where I had my last nightcap and a brief kiss, before walking thru the footpath over to my place. I shed my clothes and flopped on my bed and passed out. At ten the next morning I woke up to the smell of coffee and putting on my cargo shorts went to my kitchen. There she was, Veronica.
"I hope you don't mind. I let myself in and made some coffee. I figured I owed you that for being such a good escort last night," she explained. I sort of mumbled thanks and sat across from her and sipped my drink. It was now in the morning light that I really looked at her and came to the conclusion that she was beautiful, as well as vivacious. And as I gazed at her, was taken with the fact that she took very good care of herself. I mean she was a perfect ten by any mans rating. A narrow waist, breasts that were perky and legs that were long and beautifully sculpted. Her hair was cut in a long shag and framed a face that was at times pensive, yet, at other times, her eyes had that "I want you," look.
I must have looked like hell. I needed a shave and shower and my hair was tussled. I figured that when I excused myself to go take my shower, she would leave. It didn't work out exactly that way though. I went directly to the bathroom, dropped my shorts and climbed into the shower stall. Steam filled the small room and I let the hot water run down my back until I began to feel human again. I even shaved in the shower and somehow avoided bleeding to death. Not one nick and that was a first considering I had no mirror. I turned off the shower and was about to slide the glass door open when a towel was thrust in thru the partly open door. Wrapping it around my waist, I stepped out to come face to face with Veronica.
"Nice. Verrrrry nice," she whispered. "I could see you thru the glass and you are one hell of a handsome man. And before the steam screwed up the view, I noticed something I'd like to check out further." I cut her off at that point and tried move past her and into my bedroom for some clothes. She followed with another towel and actually stood behind me and began drying my back. I mean she was treating me like some pet that needed grooming.
Now I'm not very good at hurting person's feelings, but I was on the verge of asking her to leave and was trying to compose something in my mind that wouldn't offend her, but would be easily understood. I wanted my space. She saved me the choir. She turned and began to leave, then paused, and looking back over her shoulder gave me a seductive smile and said: "I want to paint you." Than pausing she added, "In the nude. Just like you are now, and with a giggle added, without the towel of course." Then she went down the hall and vanished.
I got dressed as I thought about her. Sure she was brazen, and forward, but she carried it off well and I sort of enjoyed the way she was flirting. Sooner or later it might just be possible that we would be intimate, and yet I desperately wanted to avoid any commitments. For the time being I'd just try to stay away from her as much as possible.
Surprise number two happened at three in the afternoon. Sam came wandering down to my dock as I was gassing up the outboard. He sat there watching me and chatted about the fishing and looking over my gear. Than he got more serious and hit me right between the eyes with his next comment.
"Brad, last night at the lodge Tanya and I made a choice. I mean we had discussed it many times before, but I never really could find the right person to ask, but hell I liked you the first time I saw you and so did Tanya. I'm not all the man I need to be. Tanya is a young girl and quite beautiful and to be perfectly candid, she can't go thru life tucked away with an old man like me without having her needs satisfied. Oh sure I try to take care of her but she shouldn't have to be denied having a real man in her life to satisfy her.
