Eventually, the naughty dog lover decided that she would have to befriend Arabelle and play it by ear. It was always possible that the redheaded divorcee might go out sometime, leaving Melanie alone with the wolfhound – or she might even ask Melanie to dog-sit for her, never realizing that it would be dog-laying, not sitting.

Melanie feared that it might not be that easy to make the acquaintance of the haughty redhead, but she simply had to try.

And as it turned out, it was easy.

Melanie waited until she saw Arabelle take the dog for a walk, then managed to meet her on a path in the park. She struck up a conversation by exclaiming that the dog was beautiful, which seemed to please the dog's mistress. They chatted for a while about dogs and Melanie mentioned that she lived in the same apartment building as Arabelle, but didn't have a dog of her own, although she was fond of them. Arabelle told her that the wolfhound's name was Hercules. Since they lived in the same building, it was natural that they walked home together.

Melanie was delighted when Arabelle asked her in for coffee.

Maybe the woman wasn't so haughty, after all. Maybe her bearing was deceptive and she was actually lonely, welcoming a friend.

They sat in the elegantly appointed living room, drinking coffee from bone china cups. Hercules had been dispatched to his own quarters, but Melanie figured that was all for the best. When the big-cocked brute was near her, Melanie could hardly keep her eyes off his prick – and she certainly didn't want Arabelle to get suspicous.

Melanie, determined to become close friends with Arabelle, began to pay the woman compliments in a lavish way. She admired her silken hair and her smooth complexion. She remarked that Arabelle had such a lovely body.