by Candace Shaw
“Traci?” Cannon asked. “Mom’s gardening friend? Oh yeah. I met her once when she landscaped the backyard at the Arrington estate. Yeah, she’s a sweet girl. Not your type, though.”
Sean was taken aback by his brother’s comment. “What are saying, big bro? I can’t date sweet girls.”
“Naw, man. Nothing like that. I just know you’d prefer women who aren’t the settling down or marrying type. Traci is the kinda girl one would date exclusively to eventually marry not just have sex or kick it with like you always say. That’s all.”
Sean opened his car door as Cannon’s words struck something deep in him that he didn’t care to admit. “All right man, gotta jet. Tell Yasmine hello and kiss the baby’s chubby cheeks for me.”
When he arrived home, Sean found Traci still measuring and setting the potted plants where she wanted them to go. Her back was too him while she swayed back and forth to whatever music was playing in her earbuds connected to her iPod that was strapped to her arm. He stood at the edge of the sidewalk watching her in her zone, oblivious to his presence as she hummed and sensually danced to the beat. He could slightly make out the song. It sounded like a 90’s joint by Al B. Sure that he loved.
Snapping her fingers, Traci turned around and almost stumbled over the shovel lying on the ground when she saw him posed in front of her. She pulled out the earbuds, and his eyes immediately went right to them as they plopped against her breasts.
Her expression was one of embarrassment. “I had no idea you were here.” She slid the measuring tape in her pocket and stepped back with her wide eyes on him.
“Sorry to startle you. I just arrived a moment ago.” He glanced around at the progress thus far in order to tear his eyes away from her. She had to be the most adorable woman he’d ever seen, and her cute shorts with the pink T-shirt that stopped right at the top of her belly button was damn near mesmerizing.
“Well, next time say something. Do you like how the flowers are set?” She waved her hand in the air along the sidewalk. “I was just about to start planting them.”
“Yeah, I trust your judgment. Before we begin, how about something to eat? I stopped by the deli down the road and picked up some sandwiches along with a Caesar salad. It’s enough to share.”
She nodded her head. “Sounds great, and thank you for the fruit and Danishes.”
“No problem. Let’s go in. We can eat on the veranda.”
After lunch, Sean changed into shorts and a T-shirt and rejoined Traci outside. She’d already begun digging holes. He’d wanted a chance to chat with her while they ate, but she was on the phone majority of the time with the nursery about the crepe myrtles which were mistakenly not delivered with the flowers.
For the next few hours they worked together, digging the holes and planting the brightly-colored flowers which included bee balms, coral bells, and daylilies in order to attract the hummingbirds. There was also a trellis with a trumpet creeper that would eventually cover the entire object.
Sean enjoyed working in the garden and with her. He couldn’t think of the last time he worked on a project of some sort with a woman. He’d helped build bookshelves or some other piece of furniture. However, the women usually sat back and watched, perhaps reading the directions or cooking for him but that was about it.
He learned a lot about gardening as Traci was quite knowledgeable and easy to learn from. She made it fun and interesting. He could see himself in the future doing some light work to upkeep the gardens. He remembered his mother telling him it was relaxing plus a stress reliever and now he was experiencing it. It was quite peaceful with the birds in his neighbor’s trees chirping. It was a warm, spring day with an occasional light breeze, and he was in the presence of a very beautiful woman.
Traci sighed as the last bee balm was planted. She wiped the sweat from her brow which left soil from her glove on her forehead.
“Finished. For now.” Her eyes glanced to the other back corner of the yard where the Zen garden was going to be located.
“Yep. I think we work really well together. Don’t you?” He took the last swig from his water bottle and tossed it in the garbage bag with the empty plastic pots.
She nodded her head as her eyes gazed around the yard. “Yeah. We did it in half of the time. Let’s take a break, and then we can tackle the Zen garden. At this rate, your backyard will be complete next week as opposed to three weeks like I originally estimated.” She grabbed the garbage bag to tie it up. “I’ll just carry this to the street.”
“Nonsense.” He snatched the bag from her, tied it, and holstered it over his left shoulder. Reaching his free hand out, he rubbed the dirt off of her forehead, and she wrinkled it while sucking in her breath as soon as he touched her. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to kiss you, as tempting as that is.” He winked and walked away before he broke his promise. He couldn’t trust himself for his hands and lips were urging him to forget getting to know her better. Her luscious lips were enticing him to kiss her deep and hard right there in the garden on the bench. They were already dirty and sweaty. Plus, now Traci figured she only had a week left. He knew the pergola company was coming on Monday to build it along with the fire pit in one of the corners of it. She was planting the roses on Wednesday. What was really left? A few more plants here and there along the walking paths to the different areas. She’d mentioned some outdoor furniture under the pergola as well since it was so huge and the fire pit area wasn’t that big.
When he returned to the backyard, he found her on the veranda munching apple slices and sitting crisscrossed on the rug in front of the unlit fireplace.
“You can sit on the couch,” he said, crashing on to it and patting his hand on the cushion next to him.
“Nah, I’m sweaty. Besides, I’ve always been a floor person. I’m good.”
“I see you like apples.” He’d remembered she’d grabbed one earlier from the basket when she’d first arrived.
“Yep. I like to dip them in peanut butter.” She finished the slice and laid back on the floor, propped up on her elbows.
Okay, this is going too far, he thought. How am I supposed to be a gentleman with her lying there like that? Sure it was innocent, but I what want to do isn’t.
“I have some in the pantry. You could’ve gotten it.”
“Didn’t want to go through your things.”
“I told you to make yourself at home, dimples.”
As soon as he said it, she graced him with a beautiful smile that highlighted those sexy dimples. The strain against his shorts was pure torture and if he didn’t leave soon, he’d join her on the floor to make her even sweatier. He abruptly stood as her questioning eyes landed on him. He noted a slight gulp. Perhaps she was feeling the same way.
“I’m going to go back and start digging the hole for the Japanese maple. Relax, and the peanut butter is in the pantry for the rest of your slices.”
*****
Traci splashed cold water on her face and raised her head to glance at herself in the mirror. She’d bolted to the powder room off of the great room after Sean had announced he was going back outside to continue working. The expression he displayed when she smiled was one of hunger and desire. A desire she knew was for her. He’d worn that same face after he’d kissed her at the nursery, and for a second she thought he was about to join her on the floor to ravish her senseless. In the horny state she was in at the moment, she would’ve gladly accepted, but that wasn’t their agreement. He’d said he wanted for them to get to know each other during the course of landscaping his yard. That surprised her considering his reputation, but she had to keep her wits about her and not read too much into it. He was a psychiatrist and a player who was probably messing with her head even though her heart yearned to believe him.
Traci didn’t realize just how horribly dirty she appeared in front of Sean. There was still a smudge of dirt on her forehead that he’d tried to rub off as well as in her hair and on her clothes. How he could possibly be attracted to
her while she looked a horrid mess was unbelievable. He was used to dolled-up, high maintenance model types not a short, quirky klutz of a horticulturist who loved playing in the earth.
Being around that fine specimen was pure torture. When she’d first agreed to the job, she thought she could handle it. She’d figured he wouldn’t be assisting her because gardening wasn’t his cup of tea. Not only was he helping, but that damn kiss had wreaked havoc on her, making it hard to concentrate. Luckily, neither of them had mentioned it even though she’d caught him staring at her lips a few times with a seriously passionate glare as if he was going to yank her to him and make love to her in the middle of the mulch pile.
Traci splashed the cold water on her face one more time to calm her down, scrubbed the dirt off of her forehead, and headed back to the backyard.
When she emerged from the enclosed veranda, she was quite elated at the scene before her. Sean had taken off his shirt, exposing the most delicious muscular back she’d ever laid eyes. She gulped slightly and was going to head over to where he was, but her feet were rooted to the ground as she continued to stare with her eyes nearly bulging out of the sockets. His chocolate muscles glistened with sweat and tightened every time he slung the shovel over his shoulder. She was finally able to see the tattoo on his upper arm that went all the way around to his shoulder and chest. It was some type of bird. An eagle or falcon, with its wings flared and the tail part is what she’d caught a glimpse of the other day. Whatever it was had piqued her interest of him even more, and her breathing stifled as she fantasized running her fingers and tongue along his chiseled physique.
Traci needed another round of face splashing with ice cold water now, but she still couldn’t move. She bit the knuckle of her right index finger while she continued to enjoy the view in front of her. Her mind raced with an idea, so she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, and hurriedly typed in her passcode. She groaned as her nervousness made her mistype it three times. Once she was in, she pushed the camera icon, made sure the phone was on silent, and quickly snapped three pictures. Pushing the off button, she slid the phone back into her pocket as her heart pulsated with anxiety.
Sean glanced over his shoulder and released a mischievous smile in her direction.
“See something you like? Or something you want? Perhaps need?” he asked, turning full frontal to reveal his hard chest and rippling abdomen muscles.
She couldn’t help but exhale loud enough for him to hear, and a knowing grin formed across his dangerously handsome face.
Dang it. I put my cell phone away too soon.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” His tone was dark and seductive. She almost gave him the answer he wanted to hear as a heat wave rushed over her. She needed more than to splash cold water on her face. Now she needed a dump truck full of ice poured over her and even that still wouldn’t be enough to put out the blaze that ran crazy through her.
“No, I was going to ask you if you wanted some water.” She stepped back as if she was headed inside. She was glad her feet could move even though they were as heavy as two cinderblocks.
“Uh huh. Sure, some cold water will be fine … for now, dimples.” He winked and turned around to finish digging the hole.
For the rest of the afternoon, they continued to work on the Zen garden. Besides the Japanese maple and a few hostas, there weren’t any plants. Instead, they spent the time arranging different size stones and building a bamboo fence around the area. A company that specialized in Zen gardens had installed a koi pond the other day and would return on Saturday to finish.
Unfortunately, Sean had put his T-shirt back on, but in a way she was relieved so she wouldn’t drool in front of him … or worse, reach out and rub the bird which she realized up close was an eagle. When they finished, she was a little disappointed but yet relieved because the urges she had for him were growing stronger by every passing second.
“So I guess you’re going to sleep like a baby tonight,” he said as they headed inside the veranda. He plopped on the couch and she settled for her same spot on the floor.
“Eventually. I’m going out tonight.” She glanced at the time on her cell phone and noticed she had a few missed text messages from Caitlyn and her mom. She was terrified to read what Mildred had to say.
“Oh, hot date?” His voice went up in an octave.
She noted his tone with a slight smirk. “Nope. Me and my friend, Caitlyn.
“Where are ya’ll headed?”
She shrugged. “Not sure,” she answered, scrolling through her text messages to check if Caitlyn had suggested anyplace, but instead she’d asked Traci where she wanted to go. “Probably somewhere on Beale Street to eat and listen to jazz.”
“You ladies should check out Lillian’s Dinner and Blues Club. My brother-in-law, Justin Richardson, owns the place.”
She nodded, trying to keep her eyes away from his. “I’ve been. Your mother told me about it. I took my brother there when he came home to visit the last time.”
“Didn’t know you had a brother.”
“Yep, it’s just me and him. I’m the oldest by three years. He’s in the Army and stationed in Hawaii.”
Sean’s face brightened. “That’s the perfect place to be stationed. A lot of fine hon— restaurants and beaches.” He cleared his throat. “Are your parents still alive?”
“My mother is. My dad died about eight years ago. She took it very hard. They’d been married for thirty years but together for thirty-five. They were high school sweethearts.”
“Aww … man. Sorry to hear that. I’m sure she did take it very hard. Is she dating or anything?”
Just a gambling addiction, she thought. “Not really. She’s had a few blind dates and has gone to some senior citizen functions but no.”
“Mmm ...” He nodded but didn’t say anything else.
Traci wondered what was going on in his psychiatrist train of thought brain. She wanted to tell him about her mother’s addiction to gambling, but she didn’t know him that well. Besides, she never discussed family business. It was something her parents taught her from an early age, and she always had a hard time confiding in people as she grew older. Instead, she kept her thoughts bottled up inside and dealt with situations herself, such as her mom.
She stretched and raised herself off of the floor. He stood as well. “I’m going to go, but I’ll be back tomorrow at two to oversee the guys finish the koi pond. Will you be home?” Please say no. wait say yes. Ugh!
“I should be back by then. Going to the veteran’s center in the morning, but you have a key, dimples. Use it anytime.” His last sentence was so tempting, and she actually believed he meant anytime.
Turning on her heel, she headed toward the kitchen. She grabbed her tote bag that sat next to the fruit basket and trekked to the great room.
“So if you’re interested in going to Lillian’s, I can call Justin and get you a VIP table. It’s quite busy on Friday nights.”
“Thank you. We were thinking of going out around eight.”
“All right. I’ll call him in a moment.” He hesitated as they reached the foyer. “I think we got a lot accomplished today,” he said, following her to the front door. “We work well together.”
“Yes, I’m glad you were available. If not, this could’ve taken much longer.”
“Mmm then I’ll have to find more projects for you to do. My front yard could use some more color instead of just the shrubs. What do you horticulturists call it? Curb appeal?”
“Something like that,” Traci said, speeding up her steps before she gave into her desires. “We’ll see. Maybe we can work on another project.” She opened the front door, but Sean’s hand reached over her and slammed it shut.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he pulled her toward him and lowered his lips to the back of her neck. A soft sigh released from her throat while his mouth lightly laid tender kisses on her skin that burned with each passing erotic moment.
“What kind of project
do you have in mind?” he whispered in her ear.
“Um … you can add different ... colors of tulips … um … goodness … to liven the space up amongst the shrubs,” she managed to stammer out as his tongue continued to caress her. “Or … um … some other colorful …” She stopped as his hands roamed down her sides and clamped her hips.
“Not what I meant, dimples. I think perhaps we could work well together in other areas of my home. Don’t you?”
She leaned her head back against his chest but then pulled away, reaching for the door knob once more. This time he didn’t stop her, but she looked at him over her shoulder.
“Perhaps.”
Chapter Five
Perhaps, and the meaningful way Traci had said it, trampled over in Sean’s mind like a broken record as he drove to Lillian’s. He was able to arrange a table up front for Traci and her friend so they would have a better view of the band. Apparently Caitlyn had a thing for musicians and wanted to be as close as possible to the stage. Sean hadn’t planned on going, but he couldn’t shake Traci out of his thoughts, so by nine o’clock, he was headed downtown. He had to see her again. He needed to know that she was serious because the truth was he wanted her more than he deemed possible … and not in just a sexual way, which is the part that scared him the most. That fact alone was why he had to lay eyes on her again before he drove himself insane. What had transpired earlier as she was leaving wasn’t normal. Any other woman he would not have let walk out the door, but with Traci he wanted to take it slow. He wanted to get to know her and find more ways to make her laugh just to see those damn delicious dimples.
Once he had made it inside the restaurant, his eyes scanned the place. A few women smiled at him or seductively roamed their eyes over his physique. While they were indeed fine, they didn’t stimulate anything in him at all. That’s when Sean knew something was definitely wrong, and he blamed Traci with her perhaps nonsense.
No, it’d started before that. He sighed as he rehashed in his head what moment had him feigning for the quirky horticulturist. Maybe it was when she was dancing in the garden—not knowing he was there watching—and he’d yearned to join her. Maybe it was when he’d tasted her luscious lips among the potted crepe myrtles. Or maybe it was when he had heard her infectious laughter for the first time at the orchid repotting workshop.