by Claire Adams
“Well, there was something leaking out of the bottom. It caught my eye when Jenna was running around outside. I hope you don’t mind, I dipped down to see what was going on, and I think it’s just a bad hose. If you’d like, I can pick up the hoses on the way home and get it fixed for ya.”
“Oh, you don't have to do that. I can bring it by the shop you work at or something, so you can at least get paid for it,” she said.
“It’s really nothing. It’s a quick fix. I won’t even need a lift for your car,” I said.
“But I still don’t feel right not paying you.”
“We can come up with something, then,” I said. Her eyes hooked onto mine, studying me. Her emerald gaze made its way down my chest before she whipped her eyes back up to my view, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the thoughts that had sprung to her head when I mentioned some form of payment.
And it honestly wasn’t a half-bad idea.
“This soup is really good!” Jenna exclaimed.
“Thank you, baby,” someone said.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“That would be Fred, our chef. He keeps this place afloat with how good his cooking is,” Lucy said.
“Then, I guess I better try this burger.”
“Yes, you should, honey,” Fred called out.
I chuckled at the chef before I took a bite of my burger, and sweet mother of heaven, it was delicious. Juices poured down my chin and dripped all over my fries. I could tell the ketchup had been made from scratch and the cheese had been cooked into the burger as well as slathered on top of it. The bacon was candied and had this massive crunch to it, and I couldn’t help but moan at its taste.
“So?” Lucy asked. “How is it?”
“Fred, it’s delicious! The best burger I’ve had in years!” I called out.
“Yes, baby. Thank you.” I heard a grunt come from the corner, and it brought my head around. A balding man with a stern look was writing something in a notebook, and when he looked up at me, he simply nodded before getting back to work.
“Who’s that?” I asked.
“That’s Kevin. He’s the Kevin in the Kevin’s Place.”
“Ah. The owner. The bossman. The big cheese.”
“You gonna do that all day?” she asked.
“Do I have the time?”
“Nope.”
She turned and walked away, and I got one more nice look at the ass she was carrying behind her body. She was quick-witted and humorous, someone I could have a conversation with whenever I wasn’t face-deep between her legs. That’s important, the after-sex pillow talk, and I had a feeling hers would be electric.
Jenna and I continued to eat, but every once in a while, the waitress who sat us down glanced over. She was talking to Lucy, who eventually called her Angie, and every time they’d giggle, Angie would turn her gaze toward me. I’m not an idiot. They were talking about me, so the next time Angie looked over, I waved.
“Hey there, raven hair,” I said.
Lucy grabbed her hand, and the two of them giggled, and I couldn’t help but be entertained. They continued to chat, and Lucy tried her hardest to keep her eyes trained on her colleague, but the moment her eyes darted my way, I stuck my tongue out at her and crossed my eyes. She shook her head and crinkled her nose, and something inside of me wanted to get up and kiss her on it. I didn’t know what this woman was doing to me, but it was becoming increasingly dangerous that she was my neighbor.
Their conversation continued after Lucy brought our desserts. I tried talking with her a bit more before another customer flagged her over, and before I could get her attention again, she was back and talking with Angie. After the conversation I’d had with crazy-redhead Megan, it wouldn’t shock me one bit if Angie was telling Lucy about that Maximum rumor. If Mike was already opening that mouth of his to more than married-mom pussy, then there was a good chance the rumor had already gotten to this little diner.
Did Lucy know? Did she think it was disgusting? Some women could call me a womanizer over it, but some women enjoyed a man who was confident in his sexual prowess. Was she one of those women? Or, should I discourage the rumor? Did it impress her somehow? Was she talking with Angie about all the ways she could get me into bed because the rumor turned her on that much?
Why the fuck did I even care?
“Daddy, I’m really full,” Jenna said.
“Alright, sweetheart. You wanna get your pie to go, then we can go watch a movie at home?”
“Yes, please.”
I watched Kevin go over to the two of them and reprimand them for something, and all at once, their jovial conversation stopped. Angie turned around and started taking food to some tables while Lucy gave us a look over to see if we needed anything. Jenna was crawling into my lap and laying her head on my shoulder, and Lucy caught the signal just like I did. She came over with a to-go cup for my milkshake and a small container for Jenna’s pie, and then she did something I’d never seen another woman do to Jenna.
She slowly brushed my daughter’s hair away from her face before giving her a light smile.
“Full tummy?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you go home and get a nap?”
“Daddy and I are gonna watch a movie,” she said.
“That sounds like a good idea. Let’s get you guys outta here. Do you wanna take your pretty picture with you?”
“You can have it. I colored it for you.”
Her eyes connected with mine, and I was startled by the entire transaction. The kind smile on Lucy’s face warmed something I hadn’t felt in my chest in a very long time, and Jenna didn’t just give her drawings to anyone. Once, she’d given one to a stranger we found crying on a bench, but that was it. She was possessive of her drawings, and her giving one to Lucy meant a hell of a lot in our household.
“Thank you so much. It’s beautiful. It’s gonna go right on my fridge, so I can see it every morning.”
Her eyes never wavered from mine, and at that moment, I knew I was done for. I would pick up those hoses, I would fix her car, I’d completely forget to grocery shop, and then we’d come back to this restaurant just to see her.
“Thanks for the to-go containers,” I said.
“Like I said, if you need anything, just ask.”
“Well, I need to fix your car, if that’s alright.”
“Then, I suppose you can fix my car, but only if you let me know how I can pay you.”
“Oh, trust me,” I said. “I will.”
Chapter Nine
Lucy
“So, who’s the hunk next door?” Bri asked.
“That would be my new neighbor, Jason. He’s got the cutest little daughter, too.”
“How old is she?”
“Three. And she’s got bouncing curls and the cutest little smile. They came into the diner a few days back. She gorged herself on soup and couldn’t eat her pie,” I said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a kid who gorged themselves on soup,” Bri said.
“Isn’t it the cutest?”
Bri was staring out the window at Jason working on his car. He’d been kind enough to fix mine while I was doing some things inside the house, and I’d brought him some lemonade just to get a peek at him. He was in this grungy white shirt and these grease-stained jeans that hugged his thighs in ways I wished my legs could. He’d had my car fixed before I had the sense to offer him a glass of my apple cider.
And now, he was working on his car while my sister was gawking at his shirtless figure. He was hunched over the hood of it with Jenna playing on the porch, and the sweat dripping from his brow caused the grease to cling to his face while he tried to find something to tweak.
“I’d call him Daddy any day,” Bri said.
“Bri! Seriously?” I asked.
“Well, look at him. All those muscles and all that skin, and God, look at all that ass.”
“You’re insane. Plus, I think he’s already hooked up with
Megan,” I said.
“That crazy redhead down the way? I wouldn't be surprised. She’s a bit desperate, and she’d be an easy target if he was looking for some. Why do you think he’s already gone for her?” she asked.
“She’s been over there talking a lot, trying to interact with Jenna. That sort of thing.”
“She bring him one of those pies?” she asked.
“No clue, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Probably invited him over for dinner, too,” I said. “Did you know he apparently had a reputation back home? Girls called him ‘Max’ because he’d been with a maximum number of women or something like that.”
“Then, speculation corrected. If he’s got that kind of reputation, then he’s definitely slept with Megan. That woman’s desperate if I ever saw anyone be it,” Bri said.
“I just hope he’s careful with Megan around his daughter. She’s always been a bit unhinged.”
“What do you mean?” Bri asked.
“Well, I heard the last guy she did the whole pie-and-dinner shtick with, she ended up stalking or some shit. Guy almost called the cops on her before she backed off.”
“When the hell was this?” she asked.
“A couple years ago? Could’ve just been a one-off thing, but that kind of stuff follows you around in a town like this,” I said.
I honestly didn’t know how I felt about a guy who would take advantage of a desperate girl like that. Women like Megan are always easy to spot. They push out their boobs, their smiles are always a bit too big, and their eyes practically gobble you whole. Every time I saw Megan over there, she had her hand on his arm, or she was laughing a little too much at his jokes. She’d sometimes try to scoot closer to him whenever Jenna would go inside, and it was obvious what she was doing.
“You really give a shit about this Megan thing, don’t you?” Bri asked.
“I mean, if she’s desperate, I just don’t know how I’d like a guy taking advantage of me in that state,” I said.
“Who said he was taking advantage of anyone? If they’re both consenting, and they both wanna have some unattached fun, why not? Besides, it’s not like you’re dating him or anything.”
“True,” I said.
“Though, I’d let him take advantage of me any day,” Bri murmured.
“Again. You’re insane.”
“Have you seen him, though?” she asked.
“Multiple times. And yes, he’s handsome. Very.”
“Well, at least you’re not broken in that department.”
“Thanks, sis. I’m not broken. Just not ready,” I said. “And anyway, when are we gonna plan our next sister getaway? We haven’t done one since before—”
I was about to say before I met David, but my emotions caught in my throat. My sister and I, when David had passed, vowed to plan more getaways to just be closer to one another. It hurt my heart we hadn’t gone on any lately. Bri’s hand on my arm ripped me from my trance.
“Maybe we could rent a cabin,” I said as I shook my head. “Maybe go fishing.”
“Fishing’s your thing. Hair’s my thing,” she said. “What about somewhere cool and hip? Like a weekend in Portland or something?”
“And be surrounded by tall buildings and people with all the funky haircuts you’re going to eventually give them?” I asked.
“I don’t know. It could be good inspiration.”
“If we’re going somewhere, we aren’t working,” I said.
“Well, what about a beach trip? To the coast or to California?”
“Remember that time you got sand in your vagina?” I asked.
“Worst way to lose your virginity ever,” Bri said.
“Do you really wanna repeat that trip?”
“I’m not gonna sleep with anyone in the sand. Just bask in it and get tan.”
“You don’t tan. Neither of us tan. We’d be crispies,” I said.
“That’s what sunscreen’s for. If you don’t like my suggestions, then throw one out there.”
“I did. I still think the cabin’s a good idea, even if we don’t go fishing.”
“But bugs and worms and mosquitoes,” Bri said.
“And you don’t think mosquitoes are at the beach?” I asked.
“We aren’t gonna agree on anything right now, are we?”
“Probably not,” I said. “But, let’s keep throwing out ideas. I’m sure there’s something out there that both of us will want to do together without being miserable.”
“I’ll say. I’m looking at one right now.”
Bri looked out the window at Jason, and all I could do was playfully slap her shoulder. She was being absolutely ridiculous about him working on his car out there, but when I leaned over and got a decent look, I could definitely see how Bri could get to staring at him. He was wiping a rag over his brow to sop up the sweat glistening all over his body, and I could only imagine what it would be like to slip into a shower or a hot tub with that man and his body. I bet his legs sparkled just as much as his chest did when it was wet, and suddenly I felt my entire body grow weak at the idea of being beside him, naked and steaming.
“You done yet?” Bri asked.
I jumped at the sound of her voice, and I was met with a smirk when I turned. I shook my head and started back for the kitchen while she followed me, but my mind was now officially elsewhere. I wondered what else he enjoyed doing besides working on cars. Maybe he liked movies, or plays, or maybe playing some cards. Maybe he was one of those guys who played in a weekly poker tournament and drank whiskey from a crystal glass. Nah, he didn’t really strike me as that kind of person, but I was sure he had other hobbies besides his car and desperate women.
Maybe that would be my next topic of conversation with him whenever I got a chance to pull him off to the side.
That is, whenever Megan wasn’t doing her little dance with him in his yard.
“Lucy? Lucy, you home?”
“Hm? Sorry, what was that?” I asked.
“Well, it’s nice to know you can still get lost in the thought of a man,” she said.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“You were thinking about your neighbor. You were probably thinking about him kissing your neck and running his hands down your body and—”
“Ew. Bri. No. Just stop,” I said.
“You really like him. You wanna touch him. You wanna bed him. You want him to push you against the wall and fuck your brains out.”
“Seriously. Cut the shit,” I said.
“Testy, testy. Alright, my bad. I’m done. But listen, make sure you use protection, sis. Don’t need no babies running around these hardwood floors. You’ve busted your ass enough on them.”
“You’re sick; you know that?” I said with a smile.
“In all the best ways,” she said. “I’ll pop back by in a few days, all right?”
“Sounds good. Drive safe.”
I watched my sister pull out of the driveway from my porch before I wrapped my arms tightly around me. The cool autumn wind had kicked up again, blowing the smell of apples in my direction. I closed my eyes and imagined all the red little bulbs knocking together on the trees out back, begging to be picked by little children and adults of all ages so their succulent tastes could be enjoyed and treasured as part of the tradition of the season.
But when a flash of Jason wrapping his lips around my nipple came to mind, I opened my eyes and took in a sharp breath. It had been years since I’d ever envisioned a man in that capacity who wasn’t David, and there was a part of me that was frightened.
“Hey, Lucy.”
I looked over and saw him waving at me with his little girl sitting on his shoulders. She was giggling at the grease that covered her father's face, but I was more in tune with his lips.
They were plump and pillowy, and God, they’d feel good around my nipples.
“Hey, Jason. Hey, Jenna.”
I waved at them while my knees slowly grew weak, and I watched them all the w
ay into their house. His car was all shut up and cleaned down, and I figured he was done for the day. I stepped back into my house as the wind started to pick up again, but this time I shut the door and closed all the blinds in the house.
I didn’t need to be having thoughts about my neighbor like that, especially with him fooling around with Megan.
I could do better than that; I knew that much.
So, why was it so easy for my body to relent to him the way it was?
“Get ahold of yourself, Lucy,” I said to myself. But the image of his body slowly creeping down mine plagued me for the rest of the day, and I had no idea what to do about it.
Chapter Ten
Jason
It was beginning to feel a lot icier around this small town. The air now had a painful crisp to it, forcing me to work in long sleeves, which I hated. In the garage, I could putz around in jeans and my shirt, but if I wanted to work on my car now, I had to do it with clothes on, and all they did was get in the way. I officially had to bust out Jenna’s winter clothes so she could keep playing outside, but her stuffy nose was beginning to worry me. She loved playing outside, and the cold weather was always brutal to her sinuses. I wasn’t about to risk her getting sick just so I could tinker around out here.
That meant I had to relegate working on my car until she was down for a nap. If I was outside, she wanted to be outside, and there was nothing I could do about that free and demanding little spirit of hers.
I heard a pair of feet walk up the sidewalk, but then they ceased their movements. I continued to fiddle around while the cold morning air kicked up around us, but when they didn’t make another move or saying anything, I spoke up.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Nope. Just watching.”
Oh, great. It was Megan. She’d been coming by a bit too much and getting flirty a bit too often while my daughter was around, and even though I didn’t want to see her, I was glad Jenna was napping.
“You sure?” I asked.
“I’m sure.” She smiled lightly at me while I peered around the open hood of my car, wondering what the hell she was doin’. She had on these incredibly tight jeans and a tank top she was practically spilling out of. When the wind kicked up, I had no issues seeing her hardened nipples poke right on through her shirt, and part of me wanted to ask if she understood how desperate she looked.