Please Note: Due to limited but explicit sexual content and language, this novella is for adults only.
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Lorraine Manning, “Rain” to her friends, is the bartender at Jake’s Lakeside Tavern. She’s in her early twenties, attractive, friendly, witty, strong. Enrolled in a Physician’s Assistant program, Rain has little time for a social life between her studies and working at Jake’s. Although many are attracted to her, she has not found herself truly interested in anyone in a romantic way.
Charlie Luck is a man who has been drifting half-alive, since the death of his wife of 28 years, followed a year later by that of his 23-year-old son (their only child). Charlie is in his early fifties with rugged good looks and is in extraordinarily good physical condition. He appears quiet and unassuming, but there is much more beneath the surface.
Charlie doesn’t really notice Rain as anything more than an attractive, friendly young woman initially, but something begins to happen to him as he gets to know her better. He has not been attracted to any woman since losing his wife and he is deeply troubled by whatever the feelings are that he is developing for Rain, particularly due to the age difference.
After closing one night, Rain runs into trouble with three drunks who begin to sexually assault her in the parking lot. Charlie, who lives in an upstairs room at the tavern, shows up amid questions about what he could possibly do to help Rain. After trying to talk the three louts down while they berate him as an old man and worse, Charlie is forced to turn physical and quickly ends the situation employing what appear to be special forces skills. From that night on, Rain always feels completely safe around Charlie and begins to realize there is much more to him than just a nice, hardworking guy.
Leaving the bar on a beautiful full-moon night, Rain hears Charlie on his upstairs deck playing guitar and singing. After learning that Rain is watching from the darkness, he offers her a beer if she’ll sing with him. The two drink, sing, and laugh for hours, while the soft moonlight dissolves the age gulf that lies between them, albeit temporarily.
While Rain and Charlie are setting up for an offsite party at a lodge, they become stranded there by a 100-year storm. Through an unusual series of events and revelations that take place at the lodge, the two wind up sharing an unexpected but very special sexual experience.
The relationship grows and Rain and Charlie pursue a host of exciting activities in addition to the sex, although they keep the nature of the relationship to themselves as much as possible. But Charlie’s concerns over Rain’s long-term well being with “a man who can give her only half a life,” eventually cause him to leave abruptly, resulting in great pain for both of them.
When they meet again, unexpectedly, five years later, the situation has inexplicably become even more complicated and potentially painful—and Rain and Charlie are faced with another gut-wrenching decision.
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Lorraine Manning, “Rain” to her friends, is the bartender at Jake’s Lakeside Tavern. She’s in her early twenties, attractive, friendly, witty, strong. Enrolled in a Physician’s Assistant program, Rain has little time for a social life between her studies and working at Jake’s. Although many are attracted to her, she has not found herself truly interested in anyone in a romantic way.
Charlie Luck is a man who has been drifting half-alive, since the death of his wife of 28 years, followed a year later by that of his 23-year-old son (their only child). Charlie is in his early fifties with rugged good looks and is in extraordinarily good physical condition. He appears quiet and unassuming, but there is much more beneath the surface.
Charlie doesn’t really notice Rain as anything more than an attractive, friendly young woman initially, but something begins to happen to him as he gets to know her better. He has not been attracted to any woman since losing his wife and he is deeply troubled by whatever the feelings are that he is developing for Rain, particularly due to the age difference.
After closing one night, Rain runs into trouble with three drunks who begin to sexually assault her in the parking lot. Charlie, who lives in an upstairs room at the tavern, shows up amid questions about what he could possibly do to help Rain. After trying to talk the three louts down while they berate him as an old man and worse, Charlie is forced to turn physical and quickly ends the situation employing what appear to be special forces skills. From that night on, Rain always feels completely safe around Charlie and begins to realize there is much more to him than just a nice, hardworking guy.
Leaving the bar on a beautiful full-moon night, Rain hears Charlie on his upstairs deck playing guitar and singing. After learning that Rain is watching from the darkness, he offers her a beer if she’ll sing with him. The two drink, sing, and laugh for hours, while the soft moonlight dissolves the age gulf that lies between them, albeit temporarily.
While Rain and Charlie are setting up for an offsite party at a lodge, they become stranded there by a 100-year storm. Through an unusual series of events and revelations that take place at the lodge, the two wind up sharing an unexpected but very special sexual experience.
The relationship grows and Rain and Charlie pursue a host of exciting activities in addition to the sex, although they keep the nature of the relationship to themselves as much as possible. But Charlie’s concerns over Rain’s long-term well being with “a man who can give her only half a life,” eventually cause him to leave abruptly, resulting in great pain for both of them.
When they meet again, unexpectedly, five years later, the situation has inexplicably become even more complicated and potentially painful—and Rain and Charlie are faced with another gut-wrenching decision.
