Chapter One: Fantasy
I looked out across Lake Wilson to the Schofield Barracks and sighed. Most days, I liked to watch the Army men march. They looked so good in their uniforms. It really was the highlight of my day. Beyond the beautiful horizons and great weather, Hawaii was also a great place to be because of the men.
I will admit, I did have a few military fantasies. Well, I had fantasies about military men. I think all women did. All women who watched that movie with Richard Gere had a thing for military men. Me, I did not want the man in white to save me. I just wanted one to rock my world. All I ever dated was military men and I was ready for a new one.
“Anya?”
“Huh?”
My assistant looked at me with a smirk, she knew me too well.
“Are we picking out the next soldier?”
I turned around, away from the window. The favorite part of my day was early in the morning when the men did their exercises. The only thing that could make it better would be if they let the men train in less clothing. The men struggled in the heat with their camouflage gear and just once, I would like to see them running around in boxers. I know it will never happen, but a girl can wish, can’t she?”
“Yes, we are. They all look good. Are you coming out with me tonight?”
“Where are you going?”
I looked at her again and laughed, like she really needed to ask.
“Ray’s of course.”
“I should have known.”
“So?”
“Yeah, I think it would be fun.”
“Alright well, let’s get back to work.”
“Right, here is the blueprint for the Reynold’s house. The lady will be here in about an hour. She said she is looking for a bronze crackle finish throughout the house.”
“Thanks Denise. Send her in when she gets here. I will start pulling out some books for her to look at.”
Denise walked out and I couldn’t help but wonder about the girl. I had hired the girl a couple of months before and she was so quiet. She was a local and had great demeanor, but every time we went out together, she wouldn’t talk to any of the men. Denise would just smile and look down at her lap. She was hard to watch, so painfully awkward.
An hour later, Carmen Reynolds stopped by for her appointment. Going off the blueprint, I helped her pick out her new home lighting scheme. She was there about two hours and by the time she left, I was glad to see her leave. As much as I loved my job, I didn’t care for most of my pretentious customers. Though they were the type who cared about their lighting fixtures, while everyone else, went to a big box store.
“Denise, you ready for lunch dear?”
The younger woman jumped with my voice. She looked over and nodded her head. I watched her gather up her purse and keys. Walking out with her, I pulled my jacket off. By the time I got to my car, my silk blouse was already sticking to my skin. I couldn’t wear makeup in Hawaii because it would just melt off in minutes, so I was thankful for a good complexion. Denise still wore hers and I watched it smear by the time we got into the hot car.
I handed her a napkin and put my keys in the ignition. We drove down to our favorite lunch spot. It was a tiny little cantina a few miles down the road that sold the best conch sandwich in all of O’ahu. Denise ordered the same and we sat in silence while we ate.
Finishing off my pineapple juice, I asked the girl if she wanted to get some shopping done. She agreed and we went to a little boutique that was next door. I was looking for something to wear out that night. I wanted something a little more revealing to snag me an Army man.
“What do you think of this?”
Denise walked over and admired the small red dress. I know that most women swore by a little black dress, but I have found that men could not turn down a woman in red.
“Oh yes.”
“What are you going to wear? You should pick something out too, my treat.”
The last time we went out together, she wore jeans and a T-shirt. If I had a slim
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