The VIP Room(100)

Lauren stopped in her tracks once she saw the backyard. She had a far better view from here than the limited amount she could see from her kitchen window.

"If anything, seeing the back doubles my initial opinion of your work. You've made a remarkable difference out here!"

"I'm glad you're happy. You know, you can easily maintain this yourself, or we can set a schedule for us to keep everything looking good for you."

"Oh, I'll definitely leave that to you. Not only don't I have time, but I don't have much of a green thumb, either."

Derek laughed. "That's why we stay in business. Do you have any other questions, or have you seen anything you'd like to change? I want you to be completely satisfied."

I'll tell you how you can leave me completely satisfied, but it has nothing to do with gardening, Lauren thought, but she said, "You know what came to mind as we walked around?"

"What?"

"Trees. I think I need a few more trees. What do you suggest?"

Derek looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Tell you what. I can think of several that would thrive here and look good, too. But, it's a matter of what you would like. There are a few nurseries near here. How about you take a tour with me and pick out what you like?"

"Today?" Lauren asked, a bit too quickly, she thought, so she continued. "I work during the week, so weekends are the only time I have available, and I'd hate to have to wait another whole week."

Derek looked at his watch. "Sure. They all close early on Saturdays, but we should have enough time if we leave right away."

"Right now?"

"Yeah, if that's OK with you. We can go in my car. I've got the Jeep, not the truck, so it's clean, and you'll be comfy."

"Great," Lauren said, a bit flustered at this new turn of events. "Let me go in and close up the house. I'll meet you out front."

Lauren hurried in and locked the back door. She peeked out the living room window before letting herself out the front door, just in time to catch Derek pulling a fresh shirt from his back seat and changing it out for the one he was wearing. She had caught a glimpse of his upper body the other day when he changed outside the truck, but he had been on the driver's side and she hadn't gotten a clear view. Now, even in the short time it took for him to pull off one shirt and slip on another, she had unobstructed visual access to his broad, tanned chest, well-formed biceps, and six-pack abs.

Mercy, she thought and backed away from the window before he turned around and would be able to see her in the window. She fanned her face and bosom quickly, then composed herself before walking out to meet him.



* * *



Derek congratulated himself on his good fortune. Step one of his plan had worked like a charm. Although this hardly counted as a date, it was an opportunity to be with Lauren. He had hoped to get friendly in a more personal way today, and it couldn't have worked out better. Her desire to plant more trees gave him the perfect opening to suggest they go plant shopping together.

He waited for her on the passenger side and watched as she walked toward the car. She had a great smile and was even prettier than he originally thought. She looked cute the first time with the dirt streaked on her face and her hair all messed up, but today in that dress and heels, Lauren was a real knockout.

Derek tried not to look her up and down noticeably, and he had to drag his eyes away from watching her boobs bounce as she walked or she'd think he was some sort of sleaze. He forced his eyes lower and noticed her high heels. He probably should tell her to bring a more sensible pair of shoes to walk around the nurseries, but she looked so damn sexy, he decided to let it go.

"Thanks so much for doing this with me today," Lauren said as he opened the door and helped her into the car.

"My pleasure, Ma'am."

"May I call you Derek?"

"Sure."

"Then please call me Lauren. Every time you say 'ma'am,' I feel like I should look around for my mother."

Derek chuckled. "No, Ma'am, I mean, Lauren. Just my Southern up bring, I guess. I'm sure I'd never mistake you for your mother."

Lauren threw her head back and laughed. "You have no idea how accurate a statement that is, Derek."

She was adjusting the seat belt as he slipped into the driver's seat. The strap pulled across her chest and lay snuggled up to her cleavage, which appeared to be uncomfortable for her because she kept pulling it away from her body.

Derek longed to slide his finger under the strap and rub the area for her, but instead told her how to adjust the belt for her height by moving the belt's wall mount down a bit.

Lauren seemed relieved. "Thanks, that's much better."

Once she settled back comfortably in the seat, he pulled away from the curb.

She looked around at the Jeep's leather interior. "I've never been in one of these that's so elegant," she noted. "Do you have the truck and this SUV for the business?"

And a Corvette, for personal use, he thought. But he didn't want her to know that yet.

"Yes, I use this vehicle when I go to client meetings, like today. The truck is pretty much for hauling equipment and the gardening supplies. But, don't worry. If we see something today that you like, there's plenty of room to fit a tree in the rear when I put the back seat down." Or, to fit two people lying down together.