Chapter Three

"I'm not certain. I need to find a work, so how long will it be until I can do that and start making some money?"

"I'll let you know. It's a little bit in disarray. We'll deem it a fair trade if you're willing to help with some cleanup while you're there."

"Are you sure?" she inquired, relieved at her good luck.

"No, but we'll stick with that unless you provide me a compelling argument to do otherwise."

She followed him to the patrol car that was parked outside and said, "I won't."

"You'll have to take a perp seat at the back. I apologize, but rules, you know?"

She chuckled as she waited for him to open the back door. As Jocelyn turned around and climbed into the driver's seat, he sighed and slid into the back seat. They arrived at a sizable shopping mall ten minutes later, and he waited outside for her to finish her shopping. He assisted her in loading the bags into the trunk and unlocked the back door for her when she returned with a couple bags holding basic necessities.

He said, "My wife told me to bring you to the house for dinner."

"I couldn't intrude because you were already giving me such a great favor."

He moved his head back and forth while laughing deeply.

"You don't understand; neither you nor I made the request. I'm bringing you up for dinner," she reportedly said. "She's a good woman, but she won't let a stranger remain there without first getting to know them. She says it without any real intention. Simple values from a tiny town, you know?"

"bFair enough," said Jocelyn.

Patty Timmons and her husband made a terrific match. She was all of six one herself if he was six four, which he easily was. They were enormous in comparison to Jocelyn's diminutive five-two frame. They were older—she estimated their age to be in their mid-sixties—but they were still lovely. As they entered the house, she noticed one of their wedding pictures on the wall and was captivated by their youthful, beaming faces.

As they entered the house, she had seen one of their wedding pictures on the wall and had been captivated by their young, happy smiles.

Hank had brought her to the pier where the boat was docked after dinner by taking her around the back of the house and down a lane. It was considerably larger than she had anticipated, but it was quite dilapidated, as he had warned her. The structure appeared to be sturdy enough, but it was in desperate need of painting. Although the interior was dusty and uninviting, it was dry and provided a place for her to rest without having to worry as much about her finances or safety as she would in some shabby hotel.

"All right, you're ready." After showing her where everything was and how to use it, he said, "I'll let you settle in."

He turned around as he was about to leave and pulled something from his pocket. She received a tiny white card from him. Jo noticed that it was a business card for the sheriff's department when she turned it over in her fingers. On it were his business and mobile numbers.

He informed her, "If you have any problems down here, give me a call."

She said, "Thank you for everything."

"No issue. In some way or another, we've all been there."

Before returning to her new temporary residence, Jocelyn nodded as she turned to see him leave. She made the decision that cleaning should come first, and she spent the majority of the evening doing it. After cleaning, she finally put her belongings away and sat down in the tiny sitting area with her phone and a glass of the wine she had brought from the store.

She opened the paper and glanced at the local job listings. Smaller communities like this still frequently advertise some of the lower-paying jobs in the local newspaper. Many companies were hiring waiters or housekeepers, but the one that attracted her attention was in a promotional box to the side of the standard advertisements.

No prior experience is required, just the ability to portray the role. Information will be given to the qualified applicant, benefits and salary above average.

She wasn't an actress, and it seemed a little mysterious, but she circled it and set it aside. When it was a reasonable hour in the morning, she would call. She poured herself another glass of wine and climbed to the upper deck of the boat to take in the view. Hank had gotten the view correct. The moon, which was shining across the sea from a cloudless sky, made the water glisten. The stars danced above her, sending her a message in their own unique code that she would be OK. She sipped the wine while observing them from above. Oregon's Eugene. So far, not so bad.

When she finally laid out on the bed, she was half asleep and partly wondering about the things she had missed out on while living with Carter. He used to be the electricity coursing through her veins, but now he was more like a poison eating away at her from the inside out. How difficult it must be to find a partner she can be truly happy with.

As she dozed off, she began to daydream about starting over as an independent woman with only herself to answer to. She was strong and able to do whatever she wanted in her new world. Did anybody she wanted.

She could picture herself with an exotic, muscular stranger with dark hair. She could live on a boat, and he wouldn't mind. She would simply want him to strip her off since that is all he would care about. She closed her eyes as she pictured him lying across her bed, allowing her to straddle him and grab anything she desired, required, or sought.

Her fingers slid down her bulging folds as they descended between her legs.

It had been a while since she'd entertained such thoughts or given herself the luxury of self-pleasure. Carter had disapproved of it and felt that it diminished his skill in some way. She sighed at the thought of him entering her thoughts and forced him to leave by focusing on her mystery man.

The bed had vanished into oblivion, and now the tanned sea deity, who oozed sensuality and moisture, was emerging from the water. He strolled over to her and set her down on the sand. As he started kissing her and massaging her breasts, he tangled his fingers in her hair. She slipped two fingers inside of her, stroking her folds as she groaned beneath him because she could feel the heat between her legs.