Part 15 (1/2)

Please forgive me?

Ca.s.s”

Rox stared at the note. ”Nothing could be further from the truth, Ca.s.s,” she commented out loud. Without turning around, she said, ”Jer, I guess I need to take you up on that offer.”

Jerri rose to her feet and came to stand behind her friend. Looking down at Rox for permission to read the note, she received her silent approval before allowing her eyes to scan the screen. When she was through, Rox clicked on the first note and allowed her friend to read that one as well.

”Go back to the second note, Rox,” Jerri said. Scanning it one more time, she looked at the red head and said, ”Sounds like this guy is pretty taken with you. How do you feel about that?”

”I don't know exactly,” Rox said, fl.u.s.tered. ”I have this tingly little feeling in the pit of my stomach when I read it ... kind of like b.u.t.terflies,” she said.

”Well, what do we know about him?” Jerri asked, trying to take an a.n.a.lytical approach to the issue.

”Well, I know that he's nearly six foot, dark hair, blue eyes, muscular, works out, has a black belt in Taekwondo. He's a pilot for a commercial airline, lives in San Jose, California, apparently very skilled in flying a plane, and cras.h.i.+ng one by the looks of it, so he's probably cool under pressure. Considering he refused medical help until all the pa.s.sengers were safe, he must be pretty gallant. That's about it. Oh ... oh ... I also know that he was in a relations.h.i.+p and that his companion died three years ago,” Rox recounted.

Jerri listened carefully, then recapped what she had heard. ”Okay, single, tall, dark and handsome, good job, even tempered, smart and respectful. Sounds like the perfect guy. He's also a safe distance away, so that will give you time to get to know him before he physically invades your life. I'd say, go for it!” she recommended.

Rox grinned. ”I was hoping you'd say that,” she said.

Jerri looked down at Rox expectantly.

”What???” Rox said, confused.

”I can't type if your b.u.t.t is in the chair!” she said, stating the obvious.

Rox chuckled and gingerly rose from her seat, sitting in the chair Jerri had pulled along side her.

Settling down in front of the computer, Jerri selected 'reply' and sat with her hands poised over the keys. ”Shoot!” she said.

”Ah.... ah ... okay... let me think,” Rox said. ”Okay, type this ...”

”Hi Ca.s.s,

I picked up the paper this morning and read about this heroic pilot named Ca.s.s Conway who skillfully saved a plane full of people from sure death. Know anyone by that name?

I can't tell you how it made me feel to know your life was in danger. I know we haven't gotten to know each other very well yet, but I too feel this connection you mentioned in your last post. I thank the powers above, that I didn't lose you so soon after finding you.

Please don't feel that you have overstepped your bounds. I am not currently in a loving relations.h.i.+p. In fact, I live with this brutal, mother-f.u.c.king, wife beating son of a b.i.t.c.h that my friend Jerri wants to pulverize...”

”Jerri! Erase that! Jesus Christ, woman, this is MY note, remember!” Rox scolded her friend.

”Gee Rox, you're no fun! I opt for telling it like it is.... maybe Ca.s.s will fly out here and kick Chris' a.s.s for all of us!” Jerri whined.

”Jerri.......” Rox warned.

”All right ... all right! I'm erasing it! Don't get your panties in a wad, Gees.h.!.+” Jerri said as she held the delete b.u.t.ton down over the last sentence.

”All right, where were we. Oh yes ...” Rox said.

”Please don't feel that you have overstepped your bounds. I am currently not in a loving relations.h.i.+p. In fact, I am just ending a very dark and disturbing relations.h.i.+p with someone I am sure is being unfaithful to me. I too will guard my heart carefully from this point on, however, somehow, I feel that it would be safe in your hands. I am looking forward to knowing you better, and to see if my a.s.sessment is correct.”

”a.s.sessment?? Come on Rox... why so clinical? It sounds like your telling the guy you want to do his tax return or something?” Jerri inserted.

”Jerri!!” Rox said, aghast.

”Well, it does!” Jerri said, defending her self.

”Okay... Okay. Change it to ... I am looking forward to knowing you better and to see if my feelings are correct,” Rox suggested.

”Better ... much better,” Jerri commented as she typed the correction.

”All right... one more paragraph ...”

”You say that you are enchanted with me, and that I invade your thoughts. I too am enchanted. I long to know the sensitive, caring and compa.s.sionate person described in the news clipping from this morning's paper. I am truly impressed by your gallant nature, Ca.s.s Conway. I am looking forward to becoming your friend and companion.

Please write soon. I await your reply in hopes of starting a new and wonderful relations.h.i.+p ... one that is mutually satisfying and enjoyable.

You are in my thoughts,

Rox”

”Okay, Jer, read it back from the beginning,” Roxanne asked.