" Geoff, for the hundreth time, Tim or Tammy has never even vaguelyhinted interest in another man." How many hints have you dropped to her about me?"J...ll's shoulders slumped. Every day of every week since Geoff hadproposed it was the same. Tammy noticed the stress she was under, butaccepted the excuses handed her way. Tammy was from the same familythat produced her Aunt Olivia, who was happily married to a pretty niceguy. Jill had taken Tim's virginity, and those first few times shedidn't. We walked to the front of our house to see the new neighbors were a middle aged black woman and his young son.We both walked across the street to meet them. The woman's name was Jasmine and she was a widow.Her son was Jordan. He was a handsome young black man, very muscled and athletic, showing a nice smile. He was eighteen, but looked even younger…We told Jasmine to feel free to ask if she needed anything. The next day while Victor was at his office, I walked over to Jasmine's house and helped. “It’s more logical that a decommissioned officer was involved—or more likely a judge—than we’re somehow supposed to be a ship’s crew. I can understand Eli’s fascination. He’s a big history geek, so the idea of imaginary voyages appeals to him, but it’s not terribly practical.”“I agree,” Gary agreed. “While it makes sense some Navy vet was involved establishing the appropriate ranks and structures, it doesn’t follow there’s an actual ship. If they need a crew, they can get personnel a lot. When Elise brought the check she stood too close to me, her hip against my shoulder, and I felt a burst of longing at the first real sign that I could be on to a winner there. This did not escape the attention of Lorraine, whose eyes flicked disapprovingly at the contact. My longing immediately switched to her and the unglamorous, completely ordinary yet wonderful promise of her womanly body. The next morning I found it hard to relax. I awoke as usual at 6:30, raced into the shower and was soon.