It’s been a while.

I’ve been busy with…cases that didn’t involve her. You know, cases of milk from Costco, cartons of cereal, and bags of vegetables — that kind of thing.

There was also the reams of paperwork, piles of junk mail — the usual suspects.

But yesterday, I came back to the office, just to check on things.

And there she was, my Muse.

She was lounging on the client chair — a wooden number that purposely not too comfortable, especially with that pose.

But I don’t think she minded.

The shimmery outfit she had on was light and airy, draping over her curvaceous form in just that way that makes men’s hearts flub-a-dub just a wee bit faster. The slits show off her legs, which were stretched out in long diagonals, crossed at the ankles, as she demurely rested her elbows on the back of the chair. She looked at me with sky-blue eyes as her lips curved into a small smile.

No, that pose certainly wasn’t too comfortable. But, I didn’t mind either.

“How’ve you been, darling?” she purred.

“Oh, busy.” I replied.

“Oh, I know–I know about that thing called life. But I meant up there,” she said, pointing to my head.

“Still sharp as ever, I guess.” How sharp it was before I didn’t know.

“I’ve been keeping your place tidy,” she said as she rose, and started walking around.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Thanks, but you didn’t have to.”

“Yes, but I wanted to,” she replied. She turned suddenly to look at me in earnest.

“Are you coming back to work, finally?”

“Well, I figured maybe ease in back to it, if you know what I mean.” I said, even though I wasn’t really sure.

“I see.”

There was one of those awkward pauses.

“Um…well, you look as lovely as ever…” I managed.

“Of course,” she said, “I always look great to anyone who finds me. You know that.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“Well, I hate to chat and run, but–”

She came over to me without another word, and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

“For luck,” she said, as she disappeared out the door.