Picking her target

Chloe decided to keep it a secret that she had identified a target. She may yet chicken out and she didn’t want to disappoint Sean. There was also a part of her that wanted to surprise him after something had happened. In the meantime, she just needed to be friendly.

The following morning, as they were both leaving for work Colin came out. He tried to hurry past without saying anything but Chloe wasn’t having it. “Colin, good morning,” she said with enough **** to make him stop.

“Er, good morning,” he said.

There was a pause. “This is my husband Sean. This is Collin, he lives down the corridor. I bumped into him on my way back yesterday.

Sean could be pretty oblivious and if he suspected she had targeted Colin he didn’t show it. He stuck his hand out and greeted him. “Nice to meet you, Colin. We are your new neighbours. You must join us for drinks some time.”

“I, er, sure, I guess I could.”

Sean had been pretty awkward in his youth and many of his friends had been a bit like Colin. “Great, tonight maybe? We are usually both back by six-thirty.”

“Okay, sure. I’ll see you later.” Colin made a dash for it.

Chloe looked at Sean. “That was nice of you.”

Sean chuckled. “He reminds me of an old friend. He wanted to socialize but he was too shy to. I had to bully him into doing things but he always enjoyed them when he did.”

“Sounds like a boy I met at university,” said Chloe, pulling Sean’s face in for a kiss.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s fair. Come on, we can make out in the lift.”

“No way, I just did my makeup.”

After they got home Chloe was getting changed. She wondered about putting something sexy on but then thought better of it. Firstly, it would give Sean an idea that something was up and, more importantly, she thought that it might scare poor Colin away. She took the opposite route and put on her baggiest T-shirt and some parachute pants.

“Is that what you are wearing? We have a guest coming over,” said Sean.

“I think Colin will be more relaxed if we are less formal so I went for relaxed.” She gestured at her outfit that hid all of her best bits.

“That’s probably a good idea. I’ll dress down too,” said Sean and he headed into the bedroom to get out of his work clothes.

A little later the door went and Sean let Colin in. Chloe was pleased to see that he had made no special effort which meant they had made a good choice.

“Can I get you a drink?” asked Sean.

“I brought you a housewarming present.”

It wasn’t the answer to the question but Chloe took over Sean’s politeness. “That’s so kind, thank you, Colin.” He handed her a plain plastic bag, the sum total of the wrapping. She opened it and pulled out a bottle of scotch. “Ah, did you mean we should open this?”

“Yes, sorry, I wasn’t very clear,” he apologized and looked embarrassed.

“No problem,” said Sean. “Hey, this is a single malt, thank’s Colin, that’s very generous. I’ll grab some glasses.” Recognition of the quality of his gift seemed to please Colin and he relaxed a little.

After a couple of glasses, the conversation started to flow more easily. Chloe talked about her work at the games company and Sean had enough geek cred to talk about joint interests. After what turned out to be a pleasant couple of hours Colin went home. Chloe was now certain that she wanted to pursue Colin as an option.

She was having trouble finding an opening. Colin came around occasionally and they would chat with him when they crossed paths. She didn’t want to put the moves on him with Sean there, she wanted it to be a surprise.

Serendipity would eventually come to her aid. “I’ve got a promotion,” Sean announced. It was in fact just cover for some maternity leave in a different department but it would give Sean management experience that would be valuable to him. The issue was that he now worked a late shift that didn’t end until midnight meaning he wouldn’t be back until one in the morning. It was only for a few months but it meant that they would only really see each other on weekends and holidays.

The new job began and until that first weekend, all they saw was the other person sleeping and the little notes they left to each other in the kitchen. Chloe spent that first week adjusting and the weekend was all for Sean. She realized that the only time they had to make love was Saturday and Sunday. For a woman of her appetite that did not feel enough. However, she had a plan to deal with that that both of them would hopefully enjoy.

The following week she bumped into Colin on her way back in from work. She noticed he couldn’t help but check her out when she was in her office clothes. She knew she looked good in them and never minded that kind of attention.

“Hi, Chloe. How’s Sean getting on?” He was much more relaxed around them both now but he did sometimes get a little flustered when it was just the two of them.

“Hi, Colin. Oh, you know. A new job is always a bit stressful and we don’t see each other much. It’s a bit lonely honestly.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Colin earnestly as they got in the lift. “Anything I can do to help?”

Bingo. “Actually Colin, would you mind if we hung out from time to time. I’m not really used to being on my own.”

Colin got flustered again. “Er, sure, I mean, yeah, okay, why not?”

“Thank you,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “I’d feel so much better with someone to spend some time with. We should plan to have dinner together. Shall I cook?”

“I, er, I could cook,” he offered quietly.

“Do you cook Colin?” she asked. She realized she was stereotyping him but she assumed he was a takeaway kind of guy.

“Yes, I love cooking though I usually cook batches of things at a time to reheat for a few days, if I had a guest I’d make something fresh.”

Not totally out of the stereotype, she mused to herself. “Great, shall I come to yours then?”

“Oh, er, yes, I suppose so.”

“Why so embarrassed, Colin. Is it messy?” she teased.

“No, not really. I’ve just never… You’re a woman.”

Chloe laughed. "Thanks for noticing."

“Sorry,” he said, looking embarrassed. “I’ve never had a woman over before. I don’t get many guests at all. I hope my place is alright.”

“Aww, Colin,” she said, rubbing his arm. “Try not to worry about it. I’m not judgmental and I’m dying to know what you are going to cook. Shall we say tomorrow after I get back from work?”

“Yeah, okay.” He looked genuinely happy. “Is there anything you don’t eat?”

Chloe shook her head. “Whatever the chef cooks will be great.” They had been talking outside her door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said with a smile and disappeared inside.

She shut the door behind her and leaned on it. She put her hand on her chest “Oh, poor awkward Colin,” she said to herself. “You aren’t going to know what’s hit you.”