‘Sorry, Pippa. I’m on it.’ Cassie wearily rose from her seat, plastered a smile on, and went back out front to deal with her tables. ‘Really, ...uke? Roast chicken? Where’s mine?’ Pippa’s hands rested on her hips, her foot tapping angrily. Luke realized Pippa was mostly upset that Cassie was getting his attention. ‘Want some?’ Luke offered Pippa his plate stocked with the same meal as Cassie’s. ‘No, I want a burger. Make me one?’ Although she phrased her request like a question, he knew better.. After exchanging the preliminary ‘How-the-devil-are-you’s and ‘You-look-well’s we ordered coffee and relaxed into the usual conversation between friends-stroke-lovers who have not seen each other for a longer period of time. She made me tell her all about my career and what was going on at the present moment in my life. I listened intently as she told me all about the new job she had taken and informed me of her sister’s engagement. Then of course we graduated to more casual, unstructured chat. Wow. "How old is she" I asked myself. It was difficult to tell. From the body you would have thought late 20s, but she was obviously much older than that. She clearly kept herself youthful and that alone made me instantly attracted to her. I'd later discover that she was 48, 18 years my senior but my god I was smitten!As I settled into my new job I became more and more impressed with how gorgeous this lady was. Slim, a body to die for; her arse pert and peachy and each day accentuated by. .. if by some remote chance they are able to obtain active assistance from the Union... ?" Another Pride Leader exclaimed. "It could be disastrous."Keleru nodded. "That is why we are arranging for a political delegation to enter Union space and begin talks with them to insure they remain out of our conflict. It is also the reason we have pushed to complete our trade agreements with the other active governments within the last three weeks. We have already been recognized by half of the ruling.