First to the mall

"Pleeeze, Gary. I will do my best to please you, yes?" Tatiana said. She pulled her little pink bikini top back into place and moved to Gary’s window. He could smell the sweet scent of coconut oil on her body. As she leaned into the van she blew in his ear and flicked her tongue over his cheek. Her curly blonde hair tickled his face.

Gary's phone chirped. He glanced at the face and saw Bernie had texted him.

"Cmg soon luvr?" she'd sent.

Tatiana looked. "Goodness Gary, Miz Rubin she is after you again?" she said.

Gary reddened. "No, it's my girlfriend," he said. "She's with my sister, I've got to pick them up now."

"Oh Gary, pleeze, don't leave me here," she pleaded. "I will melt!"

Waves of heat rose from the blacktop, so perhaps she wasn't stretching the point too much.

"C'mon," Gary said. "I can drop you off after I pick up Lil and Bernie."

Tatiana sighed. "Ah, very well," she said.

She walked round the van. "Ow, so hot!" she cried when she touched the door.

Gary slid over the wide bench seat and opened the door for her. She settled her frosted sunglasses back over her eyes and put her towel down on the seat before sitting down. A small beach bag went by her feet.

Gary buckled his seatbelt and glanced over. She was looking out the window.

"Gonna buckle up?" Gary asked.

"Too hot," Tatiana said without turning.

Gary clicked into his phone "On my way." He looked at the well-tanned Russian woman with her cascade of curly blonde hair and her smoothly oiled skin. Still staring out the window. He sighed. Another hour and the story might have been different. He keyed, "Had 2 pick som1 up locked keys in car."

Gary pulled out and onto the road. He threaded his way through downtown, making his way back toward the mall on the other side. He turned the air conditioning on and rolled up his window. Tatiana left hers open. The breeze ruffled her curly blond mane as she sat, looking straight forward with her glasses masking her eyes.

As they turned onto the bigger streets approaching the mall, Tatiana said, "Did you say Bernie is your girlfriend? Is this Naomi Bernstein?" she asked.

"Uh, yes," he said. "Why?"

Tatiana laughed.

Gary glanced over, then back to the road. Tatiana was wearing a big smile.

"No, what is it?" Gary asked. He turned into the mall entrance.