It was shortly after one in the afternoon, and Ward felt certain he would find Donna Howell up and about. More important, she would be in the cabin alone, and Kevin and Sheri wouldn't be returning from skiing until after five. It meant he would have four hours, and that was enough time to do what he wanted to do.
Everything had worked out well, at least Sheri had appeared to believe his story, when they reached Badger. He was a bad liar, so he had telephoned the lobby of the resort hotel and left a message for himself at Badger to call his business partner. Amazingly, it had worked.
Now, turning back into the parking lot of the resort, Ward was humming to himself, pleased and convinced that it would be a very interesting afternoon. The moment he had met Donna Howell the night before, he knew that he had to fuck her, and she was certainly the equal of her daughter in beauty, if not superior. More important, she was a woman, not a young, budding girl, and if he sized things up correctly, she would provide him with pleasures that would even outweigh those he had had with Sheri the previous night.
The front door of the cabin was unlocked, so he walked in, listening for sounds that would indicate where Donna was. He heard nothing, so he called out her name.
"I'm in here…" came the reply, and following the sound of her voice, he walked through the living room and down the short hallway.
"Am I disturbing you?" he said as he entered the sitting room. She was seated at a desk, her back to him, and he quickly sized up the room. At one side was the desk and on the opposite side was a sofa and chair set with a table lamp set between. He thought the sofa was the convertible type that made into a bed, but the room was fairly dark with the drapes closed, the only light coming from a lamp on the desk, so he wasn't sure.
"No, I was just…" She turned in the chair to see Ward standing at the doorway, alone. "Are the children with you?" She thought it odd that he was alone, and she spoke without thinking. After she had said it, she was sorry she'd referred to Kevin and Sheri as children.
"They're on the slopes… I had an errand to run, so I missed out…" he answered, smiling as if he was making a joke. Then he added, "But I'm glad for the opportunity to visit with you… if you have the time, that is."
He seemed sincere and so polite, she didn't know what to make of his sudden arrival. She had thought she wouldn't be able to look at him after overhearing the wild sex scene the previous night, but now that she was talking to him face to face, it wasn't so difficult after all.
"Certainly… I was just going over some term papers. Can I get you something to eat?" she said, standing up from the desk chair.
"No thank you, but perhaps…" he looked at his watch. "It's a little early, but it's such a cool day, suppose I fix up some hot buttered rums?"
She wasn't sure whether to say yes or no, but reflecting on it, she thought it might calm her nerves. "If you like, that would be fine…"
"Be right back then," he said, and he turned and disappeared down the hall connecting the sitting and bedrooms with the living room. She followed him, going as far as the hallway, and walked into the small bathroom off the hall to wash her hands. Almost unconsciously, she looked at herself in the mirror over the basin, making sure that she looked presentable, then drying her hands with a towel, she returned to the sitting room. She switched off the desk light, and going over to the sofa, turned on the lamp placed between it and the chair. She sat down on the sofa just as Ward entered with the drinks.
"How do these look?" he asked holding out one of the steaming cups.
"Perfect. Thank you," she replied as she took the offered drink.
Ward held his cup up, looking across the rim at her eyes. "To my gracious hostess, and an exceptional parent!" and he sipped down some of the heated liquor.
She felt flattered in spite of herself, and she knew that her face reddened slightly. "You exaggerate, but thank you…" she said, then drank from her cup to hide her embarrassment.
He sat down beside her on the sofa. "Not at all… Kevin and Sheri are exceptional kids, especially considering that you've raised them all by yourself!" He wanted to put himself in proper perspective by reminding her that he was her age too. He knew he wouldn't get anywhere if she thought of him as Sheri's boyfriend.
She was suddenly remembering the scene that she had overheard, and again her protective instinct was aroused. This was her opportunity to possibly save her daughter from him, though at the moment she wasn't sure how. She could only smile pleasantly, as if gracefully accepting his blatant compliment.
He sat quietly, watching her sip down more of her drink, and he was convinced that he was taking the right track. "I suppose kids today are young adults much sooner that when you and I were young, but I can't help feeling that they shouldn't be allowed to grow up too quickly." He hoped that statement would make her think he had no sexual relationship with Sheri, but instead only took her out to give her the things she missed not having a father.
Donna nodded and smiled, but inside she was seething. Yet she wondered what he was getting at, and she remained quiet, waiting for him to get to the point.
"I suppose I do have paternalistic feelings… I hope that doesn't disturb you?" he added, expecting his words to drive the message home.
It disturbed her tremendously, but she nodded her head from side to side, then gulped down more of her drink in hopes the liquor would keep her calm. "I don't see anything wrong in that, Mr. Murdock," she answered. She certainly didn't want him to know that she was aware of his true relationship with her daughter. At least not then, she thought.
"Good… I'm relieved to hear you say that, Donna," he replied, and then he turned toward her, looking directly into her liquid eyes. "Sheri is a beautiful girl, and there is no question about where she got her looks…"
It suddenly dawned on her what Ward Murdock was after, and her initial reaction was anger. Apparently this thirty-three year old Lothario had the nerve to make a play for her too, and that kind of gall infuriated her. But before she reacted openly, something else entered her mind, and it showed her the way she might possibly protect her teenage daughter. Yes, in fact, it might be the only way she could protect her!
"You're too flattering, Ward," she said softly, and she lowered her eyes as if to be coy. But her mind was going rapidly over the situation, and she thought if she did go along with his advances, it would keep him away from Sheri. The only question in her mind was whether she could tolerate a sexual encounter with him. Yet, if it was the only way to save her daughter, she knew it was a sacrifice she would have to make.
"To be direct and honest, Donna, the moment I saw you, I was captivated. You are beautiful!" he said in deep, whispered tones, and taking the cup from her hand, he leaner closer. She didn't back away nor show any sign of resisting him, so setting the drinks aside, he leaned over and kissed her full on the lips. She seemed to open her mouth willingly, and he was somewhat surprised at how easily he had won her over, but he dismissed the thought, completely absorbed by her sensuality. He kissed her long and deeply, pushing his tongue into her warm wet mouth in the ultimate French kiss.
Donna felt it was then or not at all, and when he made his move, her decision was final. She was going to allow him to take her, but for one reason only, and that was to keep him away from her daughter from that moment on. She was unsure of her actions, it having been a long time since she was kissed like that, and her pride was such that she couldn't allow him to think she was easy either. After a moment, she twisted her face away from his, but he stayed close, his lips covering her bare neck with kisses.