Checkmate

Just because I have a slight twist to the macabre, I have my definite genre ... not to emulate the Stephen King style. I will include some "family" stories (my son and I have a whole slew of them), but this type/style will be my mainstay. Enjoy!


CHECKMATE
By
B.D. Adams
© 2005

How does one describe … indescribable? A body to die for?!

Jesse could tell what her figure was like … even though she wore one of those long, shapeless dresses. She was warmed against the evening breeze with a lace shawl looped over her smooth arms. Her soft waves of long, dark brown hair played with the cool breeze, without hiding her gorgeous face. He figured she wore damned little make-up … if any. The twilight accentuated her skin … so beautifully. Her facial structure was near perfect … European with a hint of Mediterranean. He could see all of this from across the street.

Jesse shook his head absent mindedly. It was like he was drunk, but his mind was clearer than it had ever been. He was just not used to seeing a woman with such casual beauty like hers.

Let’s face it, he was the unkempt type of guy … mussed hair, needed a shave … you know, the sexy look. He wasn’t a paparazzi photographer, but the photos he got were enough to keep him going. He knew he had to photograph this gorgeous woman!!

All of this transpired in a matter of milli-seconds, even though it seemed to be in dreamy, slow-motion.

Jesse sat outside at one of the million coffee shops in New York’s Greenwich Village … or, near the Village. He was getting his usual evening caffeine kick before going to the office to get his assignments for this night. It was like early autumn and the air was touched with an invigorating coolness. A perfect evening to meet someone new!

Dazed, but alert, he watched as she crossed the street at the corner to-wards him. His heart seemed to do laps around his chest. Jesse could tell that she was a comfortable height to him, once she was on his side of the street.

Very relaxed, she walked near to him. As she neared, she calmly glanced at him with a warm smile that would melt any block of ice! Then, she continued her journey away from him.

Jesse knew, that she knew, that he stared at her. Man … his mind was playing a chess game of what to do next

He watched her enter a bookstore a few doors from where he sat. He mentally jumped for joy and gulped the last of his coffee, as if for courage.

“Checkmate time,” Jesse mumbled. He spoke quietly to himself and no one else.

The lights were glowing outside all of the stores now. Jesse managed to remember to eat a breath-mint, as he ran his fingers through his hair … like that would help. He strolled to the bookstore.

He climbed the two steps and entered the store. It was obviously a vin-tage bookstore, clean and neat, but vintage, all the same. There was another woman sitting behind the counter near the door. Jesse ignored this woman.

His quest stood towards the back of the store without her shawl. It ap-peared that she was stacking books. Jesse decided that she must work there. He approached his beauty. Her skin seemed to have the texture of satin … soft and glowing.

She raised her dark green eyes to meet his … almost like she expected him. She smiled that fantastic smile. Jesse smiled, but he knew that his would never equal her sweet smiles.

“What’s your name?” Jesse asked with a dry throat.

Her eyes seemed to glitter with fireworks, as she gently replied, “Antoinette.”

He couldn’t help himself … he gently touched her cheek. He melted again!

Antoinette placed her small, soft hand on his, and then guided him toward a curtain that said “Private” above it. Jesse smiled knowingly and went without any more guiding. He disappeared through the curtain.

Once he was out of sight, Antoinette lost her sweet smile. She looked at the other woman, who merely nodded her understanding. Antoinette smiled again, but this time … she showed her very long, sharp canine teeth.

“Checkmate,” Antoinette hissed. She was ready for her breakfast!