16
Jacob Murray waited in the soon to be foyer of The Belle Hotel. He had chosen the name after reading an article in the local paper about the Lauren Belle, a paddle boat on the Mississippi. It sounded so international and meant beautiful. The hotel was going to be beautiful, maybe the most beautiful thing ever, except for Netty Bingham.
She was like a perfectly chiseled ice sculpture, blonde tresses, the sky in her eyes, cream colored skin. He had been thinking more and more about what cool delights were hidden under those elaborate skirts and how he might melt them. Janine still refused to see him, just as well, he needed to move on to someone of his own social standing.
Netty appeared in the door frame as if his very thinking of her made her materialize. She looked lovely in a low
