Melanie sat on the couch that was the scene of the first crime holding one of my hands and sipping some more wine.
“I have a confession, Jubal?”
“What’s that, Melanie?”
“Since almost the time I first met you I’ve been grooming you for today. I wanted you to see that I intensely loved my husband and family before I came onto you, and hoped that would allow you to accept a very practical relationship with me without guilt or unrealistic expectations.”
“Hmmm; what practical relationship is that?”
“I know that you have high standards for the women you date and don’t get laid as much as a red-blooded male like yourself would like. Now you know that I love and am devoted to my family but I need sex as much as, or even more than, you do. What I propose is a thrice weekly secret sexual encounter that is highly beneficial to both of us.”
“A practical solution?” I smiled.
“Eminently practical,” she smiled back.
“How would it work?” I asked.
“Something that very few people know is that I own the fitness facility on the first floor of our office building.”
I knew that she was a frequent visitor there — because I was too — but I had no clue that she owned it. It made sense, however, since she had to do something with her money and working out was something that she understood and enjoyed.
I smiled and asked…”And…?”
“And,” she grinned, “there is a massage room right next to the office reserved for me with a connecting door, and accessible so that no one can see who goes in and out. Also, it’s soundproof — which after our experience today I know will be important. I suggest that we meet there three times a week during the work week at mutually convenient times.”
“What about weekends?”
“I still hope that you will come over most of the time and go to events with our family, and engage with us just like you have for the last two years.”
You know how sometimes you have been thinking about an issue a long time without success, and then suddenly something happens to make everything clear. That’s what happened to me that instant. I suddenly realized that my lack of a consistent romantic relationship was because I was comparing all of my dates to Melanie and they came up short. Immediately after that I realized that I had already been just short of falling in love with Melanie and after the sexual experience of my life today I was in love. Since she was in love with Jack I wouldn’t tell her — but would sure enjoy the feeling.
After a pregnant pause where she looked at me expectantly I said “Sounds like a plan — and a very practical solution to both of our problems.”
We passionately kissed goodbye — there was no computer problem, the problem was with her “equipment” — inside, and as I walked out the door she said “The girls have soccer games at 9 and 10:30 tomorrow morning and then we’re going to brunch. Please come along.
“Sure will,” I grinned, not only because it would give me a chance to surreptitiously ogle Melanie, but also because I really liked her girls, and they seemed to like me.