around six for a beer?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Nothing in particular. We haven’t touched base in several weeks, and I thought we could catch up on things. I’m interested in how things are going, and how Lisa is. You also mentioned you knew the first two guys, and also Bob Sullivan . . . so maybe we could talk about that hockey league in more detail.”
“Okay. I also have to come back for that interview this afternoon with Paddy and another—”
Paddy interrupted our conversation. “Hey, you two stragglers; we’re waiting on you . . . again.”
Shortly, we were all in our places, with Paddy and the AG standing in front of us, shaking hands. I heard Paddy whisper to the AG, “No, I believe we can expect more. Unfortunately, this is not the end.”
* * *
“Good afternoon,” Paddy said as both Colleen and the tall, red-headed woman stood at his office doorway.
“Paddy, this is Mercedes Strong; Mercedes, this is Paddy O’Brien, and he prefers Paddy over Mr. O’Brien.” After Colleen introduced them, Mercedes took a few quick strides to Paddy, offering her hand.
“It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you . . . Paddy.”
Colleen watched as the two of them exchanged pleasantries. She felt uncomfortable for the first time since she had been connected with the task force. She turned without a word, heading back to her reception desk downstairs. She overheard the men talking about the redhead, and some were already using her name—Mercedes.
Colleen had a feeling about Mercedes, but she tried to put it aside, since she didn’t know anything about the girl—except, she wished she could impact a room of men like she had. She looked around, and everyone had returned to their areas. She looked down at her own outfit.
The skirt was a pretty blue, complementing her sweater. She thought the slight scoop of the neckline focused the attention on her ample bosom, but in a professional way. She looked again at the skirt but noticed the length certainly was too long, cutting across the bottom of her knees.
She hiked the skirt up so that more of her knees showed, and then her thighs. She pulled it up to Mercedes’ skirt level. Wow—not bad. It would definitely draw more attention now.
* * *
I felt the cold doorknob and opened the task force door. I stepped into the reception area and surprised Colleen. She was frozen in place with her skirt hiked up to mid-thigh. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.
I was caught off guard by the sight and commented, “If you’re looking for input—in a word . . . YES.” Colleen’s face went immediately red, and she let go of her skirt.
“I’m sorry, Scott, you’ll have to forgive me . . . I was just . . . well . . . you’ll know soon enough. Paddy is waiting for you in his office, and the interviewee is with him; please go up.”
I started to climb the stairs when Colleen called out. “You better brace yourself.” She stood up and hiked her skirt up again. I had never paid that much attention to her, but I found her gesture amusing.
I could only smile at her and chuckle. “Thanks, I guess.”
Approaching the landing, I could hear their muffled voices but couldn’t yet make out the conversation. The door to Paddy’s office was open. Obviously, a woman was sitting facing Paddy, her red hair hanging over the back of the chair. I knocked and waited for Paddy to acknowledge.
“Good afternoon, Scott, please come in. I would like you to meet Mercedes Strong, who also attends Harvard. Mercedes, this is Scott Tucker,” Paddy said, standing.
I went over to Mercedes, who stood up quickly and turned to make eye contact. I felt the impact of her beauty.
“N-nice to meet you, Mercedes,” I said, with a catch I hadn’t expected.
“How are you? It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mercedes said with a voice louder than mine.
She shook my hand, the strength of her handshake catching me off guard.
“I’m fine,” I said,
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Nothing in particular. We haven’t touched base in several weeks, and I thought we could catch up on things. I’m interested in how things are going, and how Lisa is. You also mentioned you knew the first two guys, and also Bob Sullivan . . . so maybe we could talk about that hockey league in more detail.”
“Okay. I also have to come back for that interview this afternoon with Paddy and another—”
Paddy interrupted our conversation. “Hey, you two stragglers; we’re waiting on you . . . again.”
Shortly, we were all in our places, with Paddy and the AG standing in front of us, shaking hands. I heard Paddy whisper to the AG, “No, I believe we can expect more. Unfortunately, this is not the end.”
* * *
“Good afternoon,” Paddy said as both Colleen and the tall, red-headed woman stood at his office doorway.
“Paddy, this is Mercedes Strong; Mercedes, this is Paddy O’Brien, and he prefers Paddy over Mr. O’Brien.” After Colleen introduced them, Mercedes took a few quick strides to Paddy, offering her hand.
“It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you . . . Paddy.”
Colleen watched as the two of them exchanged pleasantries. She felt uncomfortable for the first time since she had been connected with the task force. She turned without a word, heading back to her reception desk downstairs. She overheard the men talking about the redhead, and some were already using her name—Mercedes.
Colleen had a feeling about Mercedes, but she tried to put it aside, since she didn’t know anything about the girl—except, she wished she could impact a room of men like she had. She looked around, and everyone had returned to their areas. She looked down at her own outfit.
The skirt was a pretty blue, complementing her sweater. She thought the slight scoop of the neckline focused the attention on her ample bosom, but in a professional way. She looked again at the skirt but noticed the length certainly was too long, cutting across the bottom of her knees.
She hiked the skirt up so that more of her knees showed, and then her thighs. She pulled it up to Mercedes’ skirt level. Wow—not bad. It would definitely draw more attention now.
* * *
I felt the cold doorknob and opened the task force door. I stepped into the reception area and surprised Colleen. She was frozen in place with her skirt hiked up to mid-thigh. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.
I was caught off guard by the sight and commented, “If you’re looking for input—in a word . . . YES.” Colleen’s face went immediately red, and she let go of her skirt.
“I’m sorry, Scott, you’ll have to forgive me . . . I was just . . . well . . . you’ll know soon enough. Paddy is waiting for you in his office, and the interviewee is with him; please go up.”
I started to climb the stairs when Colleen called out. “You better brace yourself.” She stood up and hiked her skirt up again. I had never paid that much attention to her, but I found her gesture amusing.
I could only smile at her and chuckle. “Thanks, I guess.”
Approaching the landing, I could hear their muffled voices but couldn’t yet make out the conversation. The door to Paddy’s office was open. Obviously, a woman was sitting facing Paddy, her red hair hanging over the back of the chair. I knocked and waited for Paddy to acknowledge.
“Good afternoon, Scott, please come in. I would like you to meet Mercedes Strong, who also attends Harvard. Mercedes, this is Scott Tucker,” Paddy said, standing.
I went over to Mercedes, who stood up quickly and turned to make eye contact. I felt the impact of her beauty.
“N-nice to meet you, Mercedes,” I said, with a catch I hadn’t expected.
“How are you? It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mercedes said with a voice louder than mine.
She shook my hand, the strength of her handshake catching me off guard.
“I’m fine,” I said,
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