"Hey, Mrs. A! How are you doing today? Enjoying the weather?" Maura heard coming from the house next door. Her head popped out and saw her neighbor, Brad, lounging by his pool.
Brad was... well, he was a straight up hunk. A California Blonde, well tanned and muscled. Tall, and if Maura's imagination was right, well-hung. He had to be in his late twenties at most, but somehow was able to afford a house even larger than her workaholic husband could.
A smile came to Maura's face. It was feigned at first for social niceties, but became genuine once the conversation got going. Brad, and his young sunbathing bod, was a welcome distraction from her gloom.
"Hello, Brad" Maura returned the greeting, and walked closer. "You don't have to call me Mrs. A, though. Maura is just fine! We're neighbors" She smiled warmly.
"Well, sounds good to me, Maura!" He smiled boyishly from behind some stylish sunglasses.
For a moment Maura thought he would insist on, 'Mrs. A' out of respect for her age. But Brad seemed happy with being more casual. He wasn't rigid and judging, as most people in her life were. He was much more the laissez faire type. It was... refreshing.
"We did get lucky with the weather. You seem to be enjoying yourself" Maura motioned to his lounging pose in the sunshine. Up close Brad seemed more like a bronze god than her young neighbor. And she could swear he was even taller than she had remembered. And the muscles...
"I surely am. Beats a day at work, that's for sure" Brad said in his rich baritone voice. "But why are you all covered up on a day like today, Maura? Not big on laying in the sun?" He asked.
Maura blushed just a bit. "Oh, well, yes, that is, I used to be. I used to go to the beach all the time when I was younger. One of my favorite places to be"
"Not these days?" Brad asked, genuinely. And for some reason Maura felt very at ease in that moment.
"Oh, well, Paul is more of the indoors type. And with the family obligations I just can't find the time. You get very busy as you get older like me" Maura replied.
"There's time right now" Brad smiled and patted the lounge chair next to him. "And Maura, you're not some old lady. Be kinder to yourself"
Maura found herself absent mindedly walking over to Brad's yard and laying right by his side. The two of them just lay there in silence for a bit. But it wasn't awkward. If anything, it was very peaceful.
"Thank You" Maura eventually managed.
"You're welcome to my pool and my loungers anytime! Bring the kids if you like. I love kids" Brad's smile was extra bright in the warm summer sun. Maura felt like she was in a trance.
"Even if little Paul doesn't like the outdoors, you don't have to suffer"
'little Paul?' Maura had been caught off guard by this. what an odd thing to say. But... Paul was quite literally little compared to the man that lay next to her. She decided not to address it.
"Thank you, that's very sweet of you" Maura said, "But I actually mean for the compliment. Trying to charm me and say I'm not that old" Maura giggled a bit.
"You're not" Brad stated as though it were an irrefutable fact. "You're a very attractive woman in your prime, Maura. I wish you could see that"
Now Maura was most definitely blushing. Her fair skin flushed red.
"I hope that wasn't crossing the line. I just speak my mind, is all. Say and do as I please" Brad shrugged.
"I...well... Thank you, Brad. That was very... nice of you to say." She paused awkwardly. Mind racing a bit. But she calmed quickly. Something about Brad's Aura just put her at ease. Like the conversation was the most casual in the world. "I wish I was like that" Maura said, after a time. "I wish for alot of things though. I wish I looked younger. I wish I had more control over my life. I wish I felt the way I used to feel" Maura blurted.
Brad's coolness didn't falter a bit.
"You can. I can help if you like" He offered.
"Help?" Maura was confused.
"Yes, I can help you" Brad removed his shades and looked into her eyes. "What is it you think I do, Maura?" He asked
"Oh, ummm, well, I suppose I never thought about it before (this was a lie). Tech industry?" She guessed.
"Not quite. Bio-tech would be closer" Brad looked unsure for the first time. "I'm in supplements. Health supplements. Body building supplements. Experimental division. And I do most of my work at home" Brad admitted, watching Maura closely.
"Oh, well, that's nice. Like protein powders? I can see how you got your muscles, then!" Maura attempted a lightly flirty joke.
"You could say that. And I could get you some. A new batch that I've just started testing on my own. It could make you feel sexy again. That is what you want, isn't it, Maura?" He was gazing at her so intently.
"Yes" Maura squeaked. "I don't like admitting it. But yes. That's what I want. I want to get my husband's attention back. I want to feel how I felt when I was younger. Strong, sexy, desirable, and happy. happy Most of all" She admitted.
Brad smiled. The look on his face showed that Maura's truthful answer was the perfect one.
"Let's talk some more" Brad smirked...
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