The car door opened, and I held my breath.

She emerged from the car like a mermaid from the depths of the sea. I’d been stunned by her beauty the first time I’d seen her at the skating facility handing out rental skates in the office. Despite the fact that I’d owned an expensive pair of hockey skates, I approached her under the guise that I wanted to rent skates. The second I looked into her deep blue eyes, I was drawn to her like a magnet to metal. I wanted her, and when I wanted something, I went after it.

She glanced quickly away from me and rummaged through the skates, looking for my size.

“I don’t see your size here.” She was all businesslike as she returned to the counter. “You have large feet, and we don’t get much call for your size in rental skates.”

I grinned and pounced. “You do know what big feet are an indication of?”

She blushed but had the guts to look me directly in the eyes. “I do, but I haven’t seen that theory proven yet.” She purposely looked me up and down, pausing briefly at the ever-growing bulge in my crotch.

“I’d be glad to prove it. What time do you get off work?”

“Nine, but you’re going to have to work a lot harder than unproven claims regarding big feet to get a date with me.”

“Who said I was asking you on a date?” I moved in close to her, leaning across the counter until our lips were inches apart. She didn’t shy away but held her ground and licked those luscious red lips. The girl was toying with me, which drove my teenage hormones into overdrive.

“I do, Mr. Bigfeet.” She batted her eyelashes in mock innocence, and I laughed heartily.

“Caro, get back to work!” shouted a woman who’d just walked into the office.

Caro jumped backward as did I, both looking guilty as charged. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

I shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, not wanting to leave, but under the intense scrutiny of Caro’s tight-ass boss. “I, uh, okay.” I backed away from the counter.

“See you at nine.” Caro winked at me.

I broke into a grin and backed into a rack of skate repair and maintenance items. I grabbed for the wire rack, managing to hold it upright. Turning, I ran for the safety of the door with Caro’s soft giggle following me.

After that evening, we were together every chance we got. I didn’t score that night, and she did make me work for it, but the wait had been more than worth it.

And now this object of my teenage fantasies come reality stood before me. No longer a girl but a woman and a mother and most likely a wife. Despite the situation, my body knew what it wanted, but my body wasn’t always a good judge of what was best for me.

I was on guard, as my emotions warred with each other. Anticipation. Resentment. Betrayal. Anger. Hope. Revenge. All of it. Caro had some explaining to do.