Chapter 1: Introduction
The sun sat low in the sky, casting long shadows between the houses as Justin and Lisa moved down the sidewalk to his mother-in-law’s front door.
“God, I love the smell of fresh-cut grass,” Lisa sighed, inhaling deep as they walked along the path. “Reminds me of home.”
Justin laughed, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “That’s because you grew up here, Lis.”
She smacked his abs playfully as they stopped at the door.
“You know what I mean.”
The door swung open, Karen beaming out at them, looking as radiant as ever in a flowing blouse and snug jeans. “There they are! Justin, Lisa, so good to see you both!”
Lisa handed her a bottle of wine. “Some vintage pinot noir for you, Mom. I know you love it.”
Karen gave them each a hug, her loose curls brushing Justin’s cheek, sending a shiver down his spine.
*Damn*, he thought as he released her, *she’s in great shape for her age.*
As they entered the kitchen, Karen had made a fresh pot of coffee, handing a cup each to Lisa and Justin. “I’m so glad you guys have come for the weekend. I just need to make up your bed later”
Lisa took her coffee over to the table and sat down. Justin couldn’t help keeping his eyes on Karen. When she leaned into the fridge to get the milk he saw her shapely arse and felt his heart race.
He took a deep sip of his coffee, hoping the heat would shake off his arousal.
They made some small talk, talking about their trip so far. Karen listened, attentive and warm. Lisa shared the latest about her work and Justin about an upcoming business trip. It was comfortable and routine until Justin cracked a joke which caused Karen and Lisa to laugh in unison. Karen wiped a tear from her eye and Justin couldn’t help but stare at her voluptuous chest as she did.
His breath caught in his throat as she slowly looked up, catching his gaze. She held it for a brief moment, a hint of a smile playing at the edges of her mouth, before glancing away. Justin swallowed hard, focusing on his cooling coffee to hide his flushed cheeks.
The conversation smoothly transitioned into lighter topics. They discussed Karen’s recent divorce with compassion and understanding. Justin’s thoughts ran wild with the possibilities this could bring.
He had always been attracted to older women, and Karen fit the bill just right. But she was his wife’s mother, and even though she was divorced, Justin knew he had to tread lightly.
As they talked, Lisa leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “Mom, Justin mentioned that you recently went on a Bikram Yoga retreat. So what was it like?”
Karen’s face lit up with excitement.
*"I’ve never had such an exhilarating experience!"* she exclaimed. *"Those scorching hot rooms for hours, I was drenched in sweat the entire time. But it felt amazing!"* she added, taking a sip of her coffee.
Her eyes shimmered as she reminisced about the retreat. Being a fit woman herself, Karen explained that the challenging yoga poses had invigorated her, adding, *"They made me feel young, vibrant and so full of energy!"*
The room buzzed with conviction and liberation emanating from her.
Karen’s words coaxed a mischievous smile out of Justin. He let his curiosity get the better of him, asking,* "Hey, Karen, since we’re on the topic, have you ever considered dating again?"
The question surprised Karen. A wave of unrest surged within her, momentarily dislodging her sense of composure. A fleeting, puzzled expression crossed her face before she collected herself. *Has he noticed my recent change?* she wondered.
Karen turned to Justin, “Why would you ask me that, dear?” she replied with a raised eyebrow, fighting the urge to seem flustered.
Justin merely shrugged and smiled. “Well, you’ve been through a lot, and I just wondered if you’ve met anyone interesting.”
A tense silence filled the air as Karen hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
“I appreciate your concern, Justin, but I’m just not ready for dating yet. It’s too soon.”
Justin’s face dropped, but he quickly masked it with a playful smile. “Well, I can’t blame a guy for trying, right?” He winked at Karen, and Lisa, oblivious to the undercurrents, laughed.
“Mom, you’ll find someone when you’re ready,” she said confidently.
Karen nodded, but couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. She knew that Justin’s flirtatious smile meant more than just a casual compliment, and she was torn between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her daughter.
As the day wore on, the tension between Justin and Karen simmered just below the surface. They went for a walk together, leaving Lisa behind to catch up on some work.