Phil finished typing up yet another letter while she dreamed of getting away from it all and not just with Calgon. She reminded herself that, *Oh well, it pays the bills.* But she would have rather been outside or onstage. Imagine that…a singer who made a living as a secretary or...administrative assistant. Big deal!

*It wasn't what I had envisioned when I first went to college. College...hell, I only auditioned for North Carolina School of the Arts on a dare! I was a country singer and wanted to learn how to sing longer without phlegm balls and somehow I ended up becoming an opera singer.*

Phil realized she had spaced out once again. *Damn. The boss is gonna raise hell if I don't get it together.* She looked at the time on her computer. 4:47 p.m. it won't be long now.

Dr. Ramon Cabrón was a nice enough boss, but oh what a temper when things went wrong. "Phillipa, are my reports ready yet?"

"Yes, Ramon, I put them on your desk this morning." Phil responded patiently.

"I can't find them!" Phil calmly walked into Ramon's office and handed him the reports, which were conveniently on his chair. "Thanks, Phillipa, what would I do without you?"

"Just fine I'm sure, Ramon." She looked up at the clock. 5:00 p.m. *Time to blow this joint.* With relief, Phil left for the day. ----------

Phil hopped into her trusty, if tiny, Geo Metro and drove home. Phil opened her apartment door and was greeted by her "babies" 2 beautiful cats, named appropriately, Cherubino and The Countess. "Hey babies! Are you ready for supper?!" The kitties responded with rapturous meows and sighs. She fed and petted them and headed for the bedroom leaving a trail of nylons, heels, skirt, blouse and bra behind her. *Damn, I hate nylons. They are torture devices.* She pulled out her favorite comfortable clothes: a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt with her favorite WNBA team, GO SPARKS!, on it and some nice flannel boxers, pulled on some cotton socks and padded to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, she grimaced. "38 years old and I think I've started a second adolescence! What's with the zits? Whatever!"

Phil immediately went to her computer and turned it on. *I wonder if there are any updates for me tonight?* She quickly logged on to the net and started checking her usual hangout sites: “Hmmm, let's see...Oh Lunacy, guide me baby. Got anything good for me to check out? Nope. Ok, Missy, don't let me down, Phillie needs a few thrills to get her through the night! Damn, I should have known better. She doesn't update until after 10:30 p.m. at least. Oh well, I will check later. Time to eat."

Phil went to the kitchen and started mixing up some tuna salad for dinner. Brrrrring! "Hello? Oh, hi Linda, how are ya, darlin'?" Her Southern accent giving a soft lilt to the words. "Oh, no you don't! I've had it with blind dates."

"Come on, Phil." Linda exclaimed. "Allie is very nice and she's not in music. I thought you would appreciate a change of pace."

Phil was known to get crushes and often crashed and burned in her relationships with other musicians. But, who did she ever meet? Musicians. "I don't know, Linda. I'm kind of tired tonight."

"Just meet her for coffee, what would it hurt?" Linda said in a hopeful tone. "You are a beautiful woman, you don't have to be alone." And Philippa Beck was a beautiful woman, even though she couldn't see it. 5'4" with honey blonde hair, glistening green eyes, big broad shoulders and her fair share of strong muscles from her regular weight training. She was a little overweight, not as much as Phil seemed to think, Linda thought. Often times, Phillipa would make jokes about how ‘It’s not over til the fat lady sings’ and then go on to belt out a high C, to everyone’s delight.

Linda saw Phil as a vibrant, energetic woman with a Southern belle charm that could knock your socks off. And yet, she had been alone now for over a year. Phil was devastated by her break-up with Jenny last year. She later told Linda that reading romances was a hell of a lot more fulfilling and safer. Linda had been trying to change her mind for months now.

"Linda are you there?!" Phil grumbled.

Linda jumped out of her reverie "Oh yeah! Sorry, Phil. So, can you make it?"

Phil finally gave in. "What about 8:30 p.m. at the Starbucks on Venice? I need to practice and eat a little dinner."

Linda beamed "Cool. Her name is Alise Devin. She has dark hair and blue eyes. She's very shy, so you may have to start talking to her first, ok? Great! Let me know how it goes later, I will be waiting."

Phil hung up and grimaced. *What did I just get myself into? She's probably a health nut and will take one look at me and run away! That's what I get for being a hopeless romantic. I still have this fantasy that one day I will look across a crowded room and see the other half of my soul, the love of my life.* "Oh well, if I don't try, it won't happen." ----------

Phil sighed and grabbed some bottled water and went to her music/office/library /computer...room. She printed out Redhawk’s latest story update of "Warlord Metal", while she vocalized and plinked out some notes of several new songs and arias. *Just a little longer and I can reward myself with a nice tuna salad sandwich and a sexy story.*

After a dinner of tuna salad, fruit and a chapter of "Warlord," Phil looked at her closet and groaned. “What can I wear? Why am I doing this again? Oh yeah, time to look for princess charming.” She finally settled for a pair of black jeans and her favorite green and black plaid flannel shirt. Cotton always had a soothing effect on her. *I might as well be comfortable!* She grabbed her wallet and keys and left for Starbuck’s.

Phil quickly found a parking place and sat in her car. *What time did I say I would meet this person? Oh God! What was her name? Allie…Ellie? Oh well, how many dark haired, blue eyed women could there be at Starbuck’s at this time of the night? Linda didn’t even tell me how tall she was. Well, chances are she will be taller than me.* “OK, Phil, play it cool! Buy your coffee, look around and, when in doubt, just leave!” She checked her watch. *Hmmm. 8:05 p.m. I don’t feel like waiting, I might be able to get in some more reading before bed…let’s see…finish my "Warlord Metal" update, then go on to Missy Good's "Hurricane Watch", Vivian Darkbloom’s "The Secret Histories"…so much to read, so little time!* Phil checked her watch again. “8:10 p.m. I’m going in!”

She got out of her car and slowly walked to the entrance of Starbuck’s, took a deep breath and walked in. At first she was afraid to look around. So she nonchalantly ordered her 1 shot grande latte, paid for her drink, and stood at counter waiting for her order. She finally got the nerve to look around. *Hmmm. The place was kind of crowded for a Thursday night.* She looked to her left at a guy who was talking to himself, glanced to her right and saw two lovers snuggling, she looked towards the back of the room and saw the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. For the first time in her life, Phillipa Beck was speechless! Long, flowing black hair, red luscious lips, black leather pants and jacket with a white cotton shirt and black boots. The woman was looking at a book with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Ma’am….Ma’am?" Phil was startled by the barrista trying to communicate with her.

"I’m sorry?" Phil tearing her eyes away from the gorgeous woman.

The server smiled and said "1 shot grande latte?"

"Oh, yes!" Phil said with a smile and a blush. She grabbed her coffee and casually walked towards the gorgeous woman to get a closer look.

*What book is she reading? Rubyfruit Jungle…a classic.*

Just then the woman looked up and Phillipa found herself staring into the most astoundingly beautiful blue eyes. Phil continued to stare with her mouth open, when the woman looked kind of embarrassed and said "Is something wrong?"

Phil blushed again and stuttered "Oh, I’m sorry! I just noticed the book you were reading…it’s a classic!"

The woman didn’t say anything, but continued to look at Phillipa. Finally, Phil couldn’t wait any longer and blurted out "Would you happen to be A—Ellie?"

The woman smiled and confirmed "Yes, I’m Ellie. And you are?"

"I’m Phil."

There was a spark of recognition in Ellie’s eyes "Would you happen to be Phillipa Beck, the singer? I saw you in a concert back in December? You did an excellent job singing The Messiah. I really enjoyed it. Would you like to join me?"

"Thanks!" Phil accepted the offer. Then…dead silence.

----------

Ellie looked uncomfortable. *Linda was right, she is shy!* Phil took a swig of her coffee and, like usual, she started her own dialogue. "I don’t live far from here, in Culver City. I’m an opera singer, but really I can sing just about any style. I started out as a country singer…"

Phil looked up at Ellie and stopped mid-sentence. She couldn’t seem to talk and look into those beautiful baby blue eyes.

*Hm….I wonder what those lips would taste like? Did I just think that?! Oh my God, I’m losing it. It has been too long.*

Finally, Ellie rescued Phil by finally adding to the conversation. " I just got off work. I was trying to read, but I’m really too tired."

Phil was afraid if this woman left, she would never see her again. So she tried to keep the conversation going. “Do you live nearby?”

Ellie responded “No, in Ventura.”

“What do you do for a living?”

Ellie hesitated “I work in marketing, freelance.”

“Do you work a 9-5 kind of work day?”

“No, my work varies, it depends on the project and client.”

Phil wanted to learn more about this fascinating woman. She made a decision and allowed her Southern hospitality to kick in. "You know, I don’t live very far from here, why don’t you finish your coffee at my place while we get to know each other."

*I must be insane!* Phil scolded herself.

Ellie looked hesitant, but looking over at the hopeful look in those gorgeous green eyes, and she thought. *What the hell…can’t be any worse than going home to an empty house.* "Sure, shall I follow you?"

Phil didn’t realize it until Ellie answered that she was holding her breath. She breathed quickly and said with an enticing smile "Follow me!"

Ellie stood up and once again Phil froze mid-stride. *My God she must be 6 feet tall.* She smiled again at the statuesque woman and headed out the door with her prize.

----------

Phil watched the woman walk to a forest green Audi A6 convertible. Ellie looked up and smiled and Phil pointed to her car and said "Follow me."

Phil jumped into her red Geo Metro and turned the key. *My God what am I doing? Is it just lust? I have never acted this way before in my entire life. What if she is a murderer? A mafioso? An Assassin?* Thinking of "Lucifer Rising" by SL Bowers, Phil started laughing at herself.

*My God, I sound like one of my fan fic stories.* She pulled out of the parking lot making sure that Ellie followed.

*Well, Linda, I bow to your wisdom. I think I grabbed the brass ring! The next test will be to see if Cherubino will like her or not.* ‘Bino had the uncanny ability to find the toads and Phil had kissed a lot of toads in the past few years. She thought of Ellie again and sighed. "There is something about her that takes my breath away."
----------

She drove quickly to her apartment complex and pointed out a parking space to Ellie. She grabbed her coffee and waved at Ellie and they entered the apartment building together.

Phil opened her apartment door, looked at her living room floor and rushed in and started picking up nylons and the rest of her clothes with an embarrassed laugh.

Ellie just stood at the doorway smiling at Phil’s antics.

"Please come on in and have a seat!" Ellie walked over to the couch and sat down. Cherubino, Phil's gray and white tabbie, rubbed up against Ellie and started purring. She wondered to herself as she petted the cat. *Why did I come? I should be home resting, I’ve got a presentation tomorrow.*

Then she looked over at the flustered, blushing face of Phillipa Beck. *Oh yeah! She is so adorable. What a charmer, how could I say no?*

Phil sat down on the couch next to Ellie and noticed 'Bino rubbing up against the stranger. She petted her cat *Thanks 'Bino, I thought she was a keeper.* Then their hands touched as they petted the happy cat. Phil looked up at Ellie. "Doesn’t this feel more comfortable?" Ellie smiled her consent.

Then they looked into each other’s eyes and time stood still. Blue eyes connected with green eyes and they started leaning towards each other as if to kiss. Phil got flustered and jumped up suddenly.

"Oh! Would you like something to eat with that coffee?"

Realizing she was no longer tired or hungry…at least for food. Ellie replied "No thanks, I just needed some coffee."

Ellie saw Phil’s fear and said “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Funny, it feels like I have known you somewhere before.”

Phil smiled and said “I feel the same way too. I don’t usually ask strangers to come home with me, but you seem familiar too.”

Phil moved to sit down next to Ellie. “Are you from California?”

“No. Actually, I was born in Athens, Greece and my family immigrated to the U.S. when I was a child. I grew up in Chicago. I went to USC and got my degree in Marketing and I decided to stay here.”

Phil shared her story. "I was born and raised in the South, Norcross, Georgia, actually. Just South of North Carolina. Both sides of my family have been here since the American Revolution. My parents were killed in a car crash back in 1985. I have a few cousins, but were not close. They can't figure out why I moved to California. I told them it was for my career, which is partially true. They laughingly referred to it as the 'land of fruits and nuts', not realizing that I happened to be one of the fruits!"

Ellie laughed. "Well, I'm glad you are here. I take it you are not in a relationship right now?"

Phil looked pensive. "My last relationship ended abruptly when I found her in our bed with another woman. It kind of killed my feelings for her and our relationship. That was a little over a year ago."

Phil asked the question that was up most in her mind. “I can’t imagine why you haven’t been taken…I mean, why you aren’t in a committed relationship. Why is that? Or are you seeing someone?” Ellie laughed

“You don’t beat around the bush, do you?” Phil smiled and blushed.

Ellie continued her story. “Well, I was in a long term relationship. It lasted about 4 years, but Kelly left me because my work seemed more important. And, I guess it is. I work odd, long hours. But, I really think, she didn’t love me. I realized later that I guess I didn’t love her as much as I thought. Why am I telling you this?”

Phil gave her a warm look. “I don’t know, it is a gift of mine. I guess I inspire a feeling of safety. When my friends need to have a heart-to-heart talk, they always come to me. Do you know what my nickname is?” Ellie shook her head. “They call me the ‘Hopeless Romantic’ because I keep looking and hoping for the other half of my soul.”

Ellie was fascinated by this beautiful, warm, gentle woman. “There’s nothing wrong with looking for the love who is right for you.”

“Well, lately, my friends, Linda in particular, have been trying to set me up with dates because they think I am running out of time. Like there is an age limit to finding love.” Ellie laughed. Phil smiled back.

“I’m 38 years old and I get more excitement, passion and romance from my alt. fan fiction. But I love it. It keeps me smiling and hoping for the possibilities of this crazy life of mine. I have always been a dreamer. But the reality is, I owe a fortune in student loans, I am a singer that makes a living as a secretary, and the most snuggling I get is from my two cats! Why am I telling you this?!”

Ellie laughed and put her arm around Phil. “I never knew I was the confiding type. Most people run the other way when it comes to ‘sensitive chats’.”

Ellie looked at her watch, it was after 11:00 p.m. and she had a meeting at 8:00 a.m. She looked at Phil. “I’m having a wonderful time with you. But I have to get home. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning in downtown LA.

Phil sighed, she didn’t want her to leave. “You said you came from a meeting tonight. Do you always wear, uh, leather to business meetings?” She asked with a smile.

Ellie chuckled “No, I changed clothes right after the meeting. I usually wear workout clothes, but I was planning to go out tonight, so I brought my partying outfit. It turned out I was too tired to do anything but drink coffee, read a little and meet you.” Ellie smiled at Phil.

Phil persisted. “So, where is your business suit?”

Ellie answered. “In my car. Why?”

“Since your early meeting is in Downtown LA tomorrow, why don’t you just stay here tonight? I’ve got sweats and t-shirts that you can wear. Honestly, I am not coming on to you. I just don’t want tonight to end. I have to be at work by 8:00 a.m. myself….What do you say?”

Ellie was astounded. *A platonic sleepover?* She looked over at Phil’s lovely face, her eyes seemed to glow with the intensity of her look. *I can do this. Yes, I’m attracted to her physically, but there is something special about this woman. Hmm. All of my paperwork and laptop are in my car. What the hell, how hard could it be?*

Before Ellie could respond, Phil rushed on. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

Ellie smiled. “Actually, I think I will. It would save me a lot of time with the traffic. So, how about those sweats and where am I sleeping?”

Phil blushed and rushed into her bedroom and grabbed her largest sweats and another WNBA t-shirt with the slogan ‘Your time Girlfriend!’. It was Phil’s favorite.

She looked at the bed, glad she had changed the sheets this morning. *This woman makes my toes tingle. I didn’t know that was possible. I feel like I am writing my own scenario. Aw, who cares? This woman is special and, if I am lucky, I will get to see more of her.*

Phil came back to the living room and tossed the clothes to Ellie. “Do you need anything from your car? Go get it and I will set things up for you.”

Ellie nodded and went outside to her car, picked up her hanging clothes, laptop computer and overnight bag walked back to Phil’s door. *Always helps to be prepared.*

She knocked on the door and Phil opened it with a big smile.

While Ellie was gone, Phil had changed into a t-shirt and the sexiest flannel boxers. Ellie could bearly keep her eyes off of them. *I wonder what treasures lay below those shorts? She has beautiful legs too.* Ellie looked up and saw Phil’s welcoming grin.

“Come on in. You can put your hanging clothes in the front closet. Do you have a toothbrush? I just bought a new one, you are welcome to it."

Ellie grinned back. “No, I always keep an overnight bag in my car just in case a meeting goes on too late.”

“Wonderful. You can put your bag in the bedroom. My bed is a king size, so I thought you could sleep there with me tonight.” Phil blushed and looked up to Ellie who smiled back. “Ok.”

“Go ahead and use the bathroom. While you were gone I already prepared for bed, so the bathroom is yours.”

Ellie put her bags down, grabbed a smaller toiletries bag and went to the bathroom. Ellie changed into the sweats and t-shirt, brushed her teeth, washed her face, then looked in the mirror and grinned. *Maybe it is your time, girlfriend!* She went to the bathroom and headed for the bedroom.

Phil was already in bed. “Is the left side ok for you? What time do you need to wake up?”

“Sure, that’s fine. I have my own alarm. It is a function of my pager, works like a charm.”

Ellie set her alarm and got under the covers and looked at Phil. She noticed Phil’s bedside table was overflowing with papers, a cassette recorder, earphones…a major clutter.

Phil caught her staring and she lifted up the stack of papers she was reading. “Fan fiction….I am addicted to it.” She said with a smile. Ellie laughed.

Phil put down the papers and went to turn off the light. “I was waiting for you to come to bed. I’ll turn out the light now or later if you want to read.”

Right at that time Ellie yawned. “I think turning off the light now would be fine, I’m tired.”

Phil leaned over and turned off the light.

Ellie shuffled the covers and didn’t know what to do. *I’m in bed with a stranger, what do I do now?*

Phil answered her unasked question. ”Would it be ok if we snuggled together? Because if you are here, I will probably snuggle up to you after a while, I hope that’s ok. I do it in my sleep, what can I say?”

Ellie laughed and said “I think I can handle it.”

With relief Phil said “Good!”

And so they met at the center of the bed and Phil snuggled up next to Ellie and put her head on her shoulder and sighed. “Thank you.”

Ellie asked “For what?”

“For wanting coffee at Starbuck’s tonight.” Phil kissed Ellie on the cheek.

Both women smiled and went to sleep.

----------

Ellie was awakened by the gentle caresses of a hand on her right breast. *Hmmm, that feels good.*

She looked over at Phil and realized she was dead asleep. *She’s asleep and I am being seduced. What do I do now?*

She responded by turning on her side, facing Phil and giving her more body to explore. Then Phil, still asleep, moved her right leg between Ellie’s legs. *Ohhh, now what do I do?! Oh, hell with it, I am going to enjoy this!*

Ellie responded in kind and started caressing Phil’s face tracing her fingers gently down her neck making a enticing detour between her breasts and started kneading each breast with her hand.

Phil groaned and made a yummy sound and started kissing Ellie on the neck. As she placed sensuous, tiny kisses on her neck, Ellie turned her face towards Phil and their lips met. It was like an electric charge went out from their lips down to their toes.

Ellie groaned “Oh God” at Phil’s mouth. The kiss deepened. Two bodies entwined, hands caressing, memorizing each curve up and down the bodies.

Ellie couldn’t stand it anymore. She called to her somnolent dream lover. “Phil? Honey, are you awake?”

“Hmmmm. What?” Phil awakened at the sound of Ellie’s voice and realized that her shirt was half way off and she had her arms and legs were wrapped around Ellie and they were kissing.

Her body was on fire, tingling from top of her head to her very hot center to the tips of her toes. She knew it wouldn’t be long before….oh God! “I’m sorry, El. Do you want to stop?”

Ellie replied quickly “NO! Do you?”

Phil gave in to the feelings and replied. “No, don’t stop!”

With relief the mutual seduction continued.

----------

Ellie put her hands on Phil’s face and started tracing her cheeks down to her jaw, as if she were memorizing each curve. "You are so beautiful."

She bent her head down and kissed Phil gently on the lips. When their lips met, an explosion of erotic feeling swirled through Phil’s stomach *Oh, God!* was all she could think.

Phil responded in kind and they started devouring each other’s lips, tongues making their first exploration.

*This feels like home, don’t think, go with it!* And go with it, she did. She pulled Ellie’s t-shirt off her shoulders and Ellie responded by burying her face in Phil’s breasts. She continued to caress Phil’s breasts and started kissing and sucking them. Her exploration expanded and she started kissing Phil’s belly down to the top of her boxer shorts.

Phil gasped suddenly, when Ellie kissed her way down the opening. “Oh, El, you feel so good!”

Phil started exploring on her own. Grabbing Ellie’s full, soft breasts, she started massaging them and began to kiss and suck on them like a hungry child.

Encouraged by Ellie’s rapturous groans. Phil rasped "I want you!"

Ellie responded by laying on top of Phil as she continued to leave a trail of kisses while her hands followed with caresses down Phil’s neck, to her breasts where Ellie took the time to enticingly taste and suck each breast. She then licked and kissed her way down Phil’s belly and made a feast of her belly button.

Phil had her hands tangled in Ellie’s hair as she watched her progress down her middle. Ellie’s right hand started squeezing Phil’s warm wet center and with both hands she slowly pulled down Phil’s boxers, kissing as the skin was exposed down to her reddish-brown silky curls.

Ellie groaned "Oh God you taste good!" and all Phil could do was sigh "Uhmmmmmm".

Ellie started blowing on the curls as she found her way to Phil’s hot, wet center. Phil was drenched!

Ellie started licking in long, slow strokes from her wet core to her clit. Then she started sucking her clit and brought her fingers down and inserted first one then two fingers into Phil’s beautifully aroused center.

Phil quickly exploded into multiple orgasms. Ellie held on until Phil was spent then pulled her over. Then she held and kissed her tenderly.

They were wrapped in each other’s arms, the night was not over yet! Phil started to reciprocate and Ellie stopped her. “Not now, honey, it’s late. We will have more time tomorrow. Let’s sleep now.”

They went to sleep with their arms and legs entwined.

*This is heaven to me.* Phil thought as she relaxed in Ellie’s arms.