Part 1 Summer (Skinner)
by Atonia
Summer came early it had been very warm in May and Toni had started going down to the beach at least two or three times a week taking a sandwich and thermos. It was nice getting out of the house, so much construction going on. A pool and tennis court had appeared and the bedroom down from John’s had been busy all week. The air in the house had changed it was happy with a slight scent of lavender and beeswax. Casual summer clothes had appeared in her wardrobe for which she was grateful. Steps had appeared off the hallway and investigation revealed a wine cellar. The dining room had transformed itself into casual French. It was ready for an early season.
Toni wasn’t sure she was ready Max was an unknown. She didn’t know whether he would turn up as the banker or vintner he had been Jack’s choice for her and she trusted him. Judging by the activity the house was ready but it was only the first of June.
She lay back in her lounge chair and took a bite out of her sandwich. It was very quiet only the sound of the waves and sea gulls. Sea gulls…loud and squawking to her left brought her back up in her chair; someone was on the beach. She watched him running in and out with the water as he jogged up the beach in a zigzag pattern sending the gulls out to sea. Quiet peace also went out to sea; Max was here.
He came running up to where she sat and plopped down in the sand pushing his sunglasses up on his head, “Hi Toni, I’m Max em a little early but still Max.” He smiled
Her first impression was of a boyish charm with a naughty smile, “Max, welcome I’m very glad you’re early.” He had on a worse for wear pair of khaki shorts, sleeveless red shirt and well worn sneakers, he was very sandy and began brushing off his arms and legs sending sand into her sandwich.
“Oh sorry.” He said noticing her expression as she wrapped her sandwich and put it back in the bag. “Would that happen to be tea in your thermos?” he asked
She didn’t answer but handed him the thermos watching his face. He turned it up and sputtered, “what…it’s wine…white wine.” He grimaced and handed it back wine dripping from his bearded chin. “I thought it was tea. You didn’t warn me.”
“You sanded my sandwich, that was my lunch now I’ll go hungry don’t you feel bad about that?”
He turned to her and grinned, “No, not now.”
“Well I guess we’re even Max,” she smiled tilting her head, “would you like tea we can go up to the house?”
“Yes, thank you I would.” He held his hand and helped her out of the chair, picked it up and turned to follow her. He had a nice view of her bottom as they climbed the slope to the house and wiggled his eyebrows at the possibilities there. He stopped when they reached the terrace and looked around, “this is very nice I like the pool.”
Toni frowned and turned to him, “Max haven’t you been here before?”
Quick smile, “no actually I haven’t, I know all about it of course but this is my first time.”
“You’re a virgin then?”
“Hardly!” he smiled broadly
“I mean the house silly, well so was I when I came in November. Come in.” She pulled a tee shirt from her beach bag and put it on over her bikini. Plugging the kettle in she took out the tea things. “It was a surprise to see you jogging up the beach I didn’t expect you’d arrive that way.”
“Oh, in a little yellow car perhaps? I fell asleep and woke up on the beach and decided to run east.”
“Is that how it works?”
“I have no idea.” He was wandering about the kitchen poking into this and that.
“Is there something you’re looking for?”
“Actually, I’m famished.” He said with an odd little smile
“Sit down Max at the island and I’ll make us both a sandwich can you manage the tea?”
“That I can handle an Englishman can make tea.”
“What else can you do?”
“What do you mean?” he looked up
“Can you cook?”
“I have to cook?” an astonished look
“Not unless you want to, I can take care of that. It’s just that I don’t know you very well.”
“I don’t know you at all.”
“You don’t I thought you would have had something about me other than my name.”
“I may have…didn’t read it…perhaps I should have.” He gave her a thoughtful look
“Well it’s going to be a long summer we each have much to learn.” She smiled brightly Jack what were you thinking?
After their lunch she took him through the house and upstairs down the hall to his room. It was the first time she’d been in there it was furnished with antiques, English and French, modern oil paintings, a very masculine room she thought. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent, grass something else complicated a mixture what was it?
“What are you doing?”
Her eyes flew open he was standing very close peering into her face, “oh, um the scent I was trying to figure it out it’s complicated.”
“What scent?”
“Oh dear, you don’t smell it? It’s nice…different…expensive.” He looked puzzled, “each room has a scent it has to do with its occupant…it says something about the person. It’s a house thing Max.”
“Oh,” he walked around his room and smiled, ”I like this it’s rather like my house in France. Bath ensuite, yes this will do nicely, thank you Toni.”
“It’s not my doing the house took care of it.”
“But you called me, thank you for that.” Slight smile
“Well, I’ll leave you to clean up there should be clothes in the wardrobe, I’m across the hall there” He nodded and smiled. Toni shut the door and went to her own room Jack you better come back here and fix this what am I going to do with him for three months, a tight assed Englishman!
Max was unsettled, he knew of course about the place, he evidently was summer for some odd reason, and what was he supposed to do? He hadn’t bothered to read all the information that came up on his computer screen just scanned through it now he was here with a beautiful woman who had her own room. He wondered what scent she was talking about what did it say about him. He wandered into his bathroom; shower and tub he opted for the shower.
He was trying to dress, finding a pair of white cotton loose fitting pants in the wardrobe he threw those on the bed, a shirt…no underwear? He couldn’t find it, hell with it… sandals this would have to do. He ran his hand through his hair…no he wouldn’t shave this was like a holiday right? He shut his door behind him and came down the hall, Toni’s door was partially open and he stuck his head in.
“Mind if I come in?”
Toni was at her dressing table brushing her hair trying to decide whether to put it up or not. She had on Capri pants and a moss green knit top. “Not at all come on in,” she said turning
He came in smiled and walked around her room, “I like your room a mix of English antiques and new, very nice. Now I can smell it roses and lavender a timeless scent.”
“It’s not what your room smells of you wouldn’t want to smell of roses would you?”
“I think not. You have a balcony…I like this you should have chairs out here.”
“Would you join me there maybe with a bottle of wine?” she was testing him
Was that an invitation? “Yes I would love to but not that stuff you had in the thermos.”
“There’s a wine cellar you choose what we should drink and find the glasses in the kitchen, I’ll see to the chairs.”
“Now?”
“The sun is over the yardarm Max do you have anything else to do?” Was he dense?
He turned and went down to find the cellar and the glasses. Am I that stupid? I just need to find my footing here with her.
Toni turned back to her mirror okay house chairs please! Two chairs and a small table appeared on her balcony along with a few potted plants Two tall hurricane lamps appeared next to the balustrade. She walked out and had a look Oh very nice I’m going to need all the help you can give me
The light had dimmed when he came back through her room with the wine. He stopped at the balcony door amazed at what he saw. “You did all this?”
“Oh no the house did I just asked for chairs, you do know it’s all magic don’t you?”
“Um yes I do know it’s a magical place,” he uncorked the wine and poured two glasses. “Toni I know I must appear an idiot and I am sorry I’m a little out of my depth here. I’m afraid I did not do the research I should have and I don’t know what’s expected of me.”
“Please sit down Max and I’ll tell you what has happened here since I arrived.” After she told him her story he sat back in his chair a minute thinking.
“You’ve had a rather rough go…this is not usually what happens here is it?”
“No from what I understand it’s a fantasy, come spend some time with the flavor of the season.”
“I’m a summer flavor?” he got up and moved to the balustrade, “you expect me to compete with Aubrey?”
“I don’t expect you to compete with anybody, this is not a fuck competition Max.” she set her glass down hard and stood up, “we can be friends, we can be lovers, we will not argue.” Toni whirled around and went back into her bedroom. Pompous ass!
Max took a good drink of his wine and set his glass down and went after her. “Toni…can we start again?”
“From the beginning…Hi I’m Toni Stanley and you are?”
“Max Skinner and I am very happy to be here with you.” He gave a little bow and a big smile
“I believe you have brought a nice bottle of wine.”
“Would you like to share it?”
“I would Max.” He offered his arm led her back to the balcony and with a flourish pulled out her chair and poured her another glass of wine. “What vintage is this it’s good.”
“I have no idea if it tastes good I like it, regardless of what you’ve seen, I am not a connoisseur.”
She smiled, “neither am I same here if it tastes good drink it.”
The house shuddered and settled back down, all was not lost give them time. Perhaps a little music?
“Where is the music coming from?” he asked
“The house, modern jazz for you…interesting,” she took a drink of her wine, complicated yes he was.
“I like most music I always have something playing.” He was drumming his fingers bouncing his leg.
“Max…relax this doesn’t have to be hard.”
“That obvious? That’s something I have a hard time doing.”
“I’ll teach you,” she smiled and poured him another glass of wine.
He’d stopped his twittering about and looked across the little table at her, very sexy, very pretty and he had three months with her. He smiled and touched his glass to hers, “to summer and you.”