Adelle broke up their private moment. “Don't worry, Lor. I will keep my eyes open for some hot numbers for you in town today. I get the feeling you don't like shopping anyways, so I will save you the trouble.” Adelle smiled wickedly, dabbed her mouth with her napkin, and rose gracefully from her seat. “I look forward to seeing all the progress you make today. Can't wait to talk about it tonight when I get back.” Ellora knew she was referring to Behr. Little she-devil! She sashayed out the door with an elegance Ellora admired. Her mother would’ve absolutely adored her.
Ellora took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Alrighty, it looks like it’s you and me today, Behr. Why don’t you go grab the supplies, and I'll clear out the rest of these chairs.”
Behr saluted her like a dutiful soldier. “Aye, lass, as you wish.” Smiling ruefully, he marched out back.
This was definitely going to be an interesting day, to say the least. Well, here goes nothing.
Behr and Ellora got started with the mold on the wall first. It needed to be thoroughly removed from the wall before they could start filling the cracks. First, they washed the walls with a mild detergent solution her father showed her, and allowed it to dry.
“Okay, Behr, hand me the other bucket. We need to wipe the walls with a mix of a quarter-cup of bleach for every gallon of water.”
Behr grabbed the bucket with water, the bleach, and some heavy duty yellow plastic gloves. He spanked Ellora with the gloves playfully, looking pleased when she let out a squeal. “Safety first, love. I wouldn't want you to burn those lovely hands of yours.” He reached out, clutching her hand, and rubbed the back of her palm with his thumb. Ellora’s heart skipped a beat at the skin to skin contact. Her body used to feel fearful and anxious at another’s touch, but now, her body seemed to anticipate it, crave it even. He took care in placing her gloves on each hand, his all-consuming sapphire eyes never leaving hers during the task. Ellora still didn’t know how to act around him when he turned up his intensity. She became jittery and nervous, but deep down, she had an aching desire for him to touch her again.
Ellora’s skin was heating up from the hungry look in his eyes, and all she could say was “Th… thank you.” How could his ex, Shannon, ever have left him, when she had this irresistibly sexy man all to herself? Geez, he just had to look at her and Ellora’s temperature rose, heating her to the core. She stared suggestively at his mouth and wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Were his lips strong, passionate, and dominating? Unknowingly, she licked her lips at the pleasant daydream.
Behr zeroed in on her, his eyes narrowing on her wetted lips. His eyes darkened with desire to a deep ocean blue. He blinked once and sucked in a quick breath. Running his hand through his thick hair, he let the breath out slowly then bent over and grabbed his gloves.
Ellora wondered if he was as affected by the sexual tension between them as she was. “Right, well, let’s get scrubbing. This bleach is making me dizzy.” Ellora stretched to grab the sponge. She knelt down and started scrubbing in quick circles. Geez, what was going on with her today? She must be going crazy.
Finally, they were on the last step to removing the mold on the old walls. She used her dad’s secret weapon, a quarter-cup of laundry detergent to a gallon of water. Worked every time!
Ellora was working up a pretty good sweat; cleaning away the mold had become quite a workout. Either that or she was really out of shape. The temperature felt like it had risen, and the smell of the chemicals was starting to make her lightheaded. Her V-neck was damp with sweat, sticking to her skin. If she wasn't so busy, she would’ve been embarrassed. Behr was working just as hard beside her, except he looked as fresh as he had that morning. Unfair!
As they worked their way down the wall, Ellora caught glimpses of Behr watching her from the corner of her eye. He looked like he really wanted to ask her something. Whatever it was, it looked like it bothered him.
Finally, he opened his mouth to ask, “So, love, ’ave you been sleeping better at nights yet?”
Ellora’s hand froze on the spot. Oh my God. She so did not want to talk about this. Especially not with him. Did Adelle tell them this morning, after she had promised not to? Her mouth dropped open. “Did Adelle tell you all I was having nightmares?”
“Nae, no one had to tell a soul. We can hear you at night.” His expression turned to pained sympathy, and she didn’t like it. Ellora was utterly mortified. “I’m worried ’bout you. That’s all, love.” Behr stuttered his answer when he saw her reaction.
She vigorously scrubbed the walls as anger took over. She was furious at herself. Upset that everyone could in fact hear her at night.
“Look at me, Ellora.” Behr laid his hand on hers to stop the scrubbing. She turned her head slowly, staring at her feet. “What happened back there? Tell me why you scream in your sleep all night. Tell me why you came here. I want to help. I worry about you.” He reached out, cupping her chin, and lifted her head up to look at him. His face was full of concern. She wanted to be mad. She wanted to tell him that it was none of his business, that he shouldn't bother being worried. But, she just couldn't.
His honest concern touched her. Ellora thought about telling him what she told Adelle. It was a pretty safe story, and if he hadn't said anything to anyone so far, she doubted he ever would. But she bit her lip to keep her mouth shut, and gulped hard. Behr saw her hesitation. His eyes bore into hers, which had her resolve faltering. Her stomach twisted itself into knots as she thought about what had truly happened. She felt faint as visions of the vicious attack flashed through her mind.
Half daydreaming, Ellora’s eyes were unfocused and stared at the nightmare only she could see. She ripped her gloves off and stood on shaky legs. “I need some fresh air.” With that, she hurried out the door.
Cool salty sea air blew instant relief in her face when she yanked open the door. The cool breeze was refreshing, instantly calming her frazzled nerves. She walked to the edge of the pier and leaned on the railing with her elbows. She still felt dizzy, like she just got off a spinning carnival ride. Ellora took slow deep breaths, trying to quell her nausea. Heavy footsteps approached, crunching the gravel behind her, and she knew it was Behr. Her body could feel him when he got close, as if there was a pull between them. He stopped right behind Ellora, paused, and let out a deep rumbling breath. Leaning down, he grabbed the railing right beside her. He clenched it tight, his knuckles turning white with the force.
“Sorry for prying, Ellora. It wasnae m’place to go nosin’ about.” Behr stood up straight, letting go of the railing and turned toward her. He let his eyes roam all over Ellora’s face. The look he gave her was so smoldering it burned through her stomach.
She smirked at him weekly. “No need for apologies, Behr. I'm just not ready to talk about... that. Yet.”
Behr considered that answer for a moment, and nodded. He reached out and brushed the hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Well, I’m ’ere for you, whenever you are ready, love.” His concern grew as he took in her change in appearance. “You look pale, love. Are you feeling sick at all?”
Ellora nodded. “I feel dizzy. I think it's the bleach. Let's get to work out here for a while, okay?”
Behr ran his thumb softly back and forth across her cheek. “Whatever you need me to do, love… I’ll do for you.”
They went to work on the outside cracks in the foundation, sealing them with an extra strength epoxy. Now Behr was sweating. She had him grading the mud that was under the stone walkway, away from the foundation. All the digging, lifting, and grading had his shirt deliciously sticking to his skin. He made sweat look sexy as it glistened under the bright sun. She caught glimpses of his roped muscles, twitching, working, and flexing under the thin material. She was shamelessly drooling, imagining him as a powerful gladiator. He was exactly the reason why sculptors carved out magnificent statues. He was an Adonis. Luckily, he took over most of the work, because she was struggling to pay attention to the job at hand.<
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When the stone pavers were all back in place, Ellora caulked the seams that were flush to the foundation. They both stopped when they heard the sirens blaring in the distance, the noise getting louder as it came nearer. A fire truck came barreling down Bank Street, turning onto Quay. It slowed down as it came their way, and Ellora saw Patrick standing on the platform near the truck door, holding onto the hand rail. He leaned out and smiled at them.
“Is that MY pink tool belt you’re wearing, lass?” The other guys whooped n hollered at Ellora from the truck.
“It looks better on me anyway!” she shouted, turning in a slow circle with her hands on her hips, showing off the famous belt.
They began whistling and cat calling, which was all in good fun. Ellora winked and blew them all a kiss. She curtsied, playing along. Patrick threw his head back and laughed heartily.
“This be the lass I was tellin' you all ’bout. She's gonna fix up Grady's place like a shiny new penny, she is!” Grady bellowed, proud of her teasing attitude.
One of the firefighters shouted out, “Aye, if that be the girl, then you’ll find us coming ’round more often.”
“Where you off to, Patty?” Behr hollered at him over the sirens.
“Steven McGuiness almost lit his ass on fire, trying to fry a turkey on his balcony over at the Quayside Apartments. Giant ass that he is!” And with that, they sped off.
They were both thankful for that encounter because it lightened the mood immensely. Behr and Ellora looked at each other for a long moment. He smiled as she continued to laugh at Patrick’s eccentric behavior.
“I was told Patty almost set the whole town on fire once.” Ellora’s eyebrows shot up at the confession. “He was setting off homemade bottle rockets, and they landed in some bushy tree tops, catching them on fire.” Behr’s chest vibrated as he tried hard to hold in his laughter at the story.
Ellora let out a loud cackling laugh. “Are you kidding me? And he became a fire fighter? That is too funny!” They laughed together.
Then their eyes met again, and the whole world stood still. They held on to each other’s gaze for what felt like an unending moment. The moment turned sultry as their eyes penetrated one another. Her breathing hitched and her blood heated. Behr's eyes roamed suggestively from her eyes, her lips, and slowly down her body, until they came to rest on her hips where the belt hung. His erotic gaze stimulated something deep down inside of her. She blushed scarlet.
“I will render a guess that your tool belt does look better on you, than it would on Patty.” Behr looked back up into her eyes and winked. He took a step closer, running his finger along the compartments on the belt. Ellora shivered as his fingers grazed the sensitive skin along the small section of exposed skin on her stomach. “What next, boss lady?”
Across the street, Shannon stood on the sidewalk with her group of friends, engrossed in the scene between Behr and Ellora. “Who is that plain looking heifer flirting with my Behr?” Shannon hissed with her fists clenched, her voice dripping with jealousy.
The much too bony brunette to her left responded, “Aye, that must be the American staying at Grady's. The whole town is talking about her. Aye, people ’ave seen the two of them holding hands ’round town. Isaac told my sister that she was at Jan's hardware getting supplies to fix up Grady's Pub... for FREE!”
Shannon's eyes narrowed into slits, glaring at them. “Who does she think she is? Holy Mary, mother of God? Behr n’ I share a history. Try as he might... he just cannae resist me. I will win back what's mine.”
Shannon’s other friend standing behind her decided to weigh in. “Shannon, you're bad. ’Aven't you played his heart enough? Behr is a really good guy.”
“I was just teaching him a lesson is all. If he doesnae go along with my plans, then he doesnae get me.” Her anger elevated the pitch in her voice, rising higher after every word. Shannon’s obvious jealousy had her acting like a vengeful vindictive child. But no one had ever gone up against her like this. No one but Shannon had ever dared to make a pass at Behr. All the women in this town knew better. Shannon fought dirty.
“Well, I think ye pushed him into the arms o’ that American. I dinnae think he got your lesson, Shan. They look like they are just moments away from a very public and sexually erotic encounter.” The boney brunette giggled, provoking her.
Jealousy burned like hot coals in the pit of Shannon’s stomach. She couldn’t bear the thought of another woman wrapped up in his big, powerful arms. Even though she had been caught cheating, she still loved him in her own way. She wouldn’t have done it had he ran away with her. Is that selfish? Yes. Did she give a shit? Nope. Now, she had no golden ticket to the States, and no man by her side. That just wouldn’t do. Aye, the moment her new boy-toy, Chris, took one look at a very angry Behr, he dumped her immediately and high-tailed it back to the States as fast as was humanly possible. Behr always had that effect on people. Shannon remembered the night she met Chris at a pub in town. She was out partying it up with her girlfriends and having a good time. She flirted with the tourists and gained a few numbers, and a few free drinks as well. She didn’t worry about Behr seeing her, because he only ever frequented that shitty hole in the wall he called a pub. It was pathetic, really, how he cared for all of them. Lot of good it’d do. They were just dragging him down further. Well, she did think Chris was kind of cute, so she thought she’d play the part of an innocent small-town local and see where it’d take her. Shannon went back to his hotel room and successfully charmed the pants off of him… literally! After one week, he promised to take her back to the U.S. with him. She’d scored big-time with that one. That was exactly what she tried to get Behr to do. Shannon always thought that she was meant for bigger and better things than this ancient town, and she would stop at nothing to get it.
Now left with no man and no ticket to a better future, she was back to square one… again. Shannon switched her focus back on Behr. Her territorial and prideful personality wouldn’t allow her to just let this new skirt move in here, become a popular legend overnight, and steal Behr away with her do-good attitude. He’d play right into her hands with that act, too. Behr was a sucker for girls like her.
A terrible thought burst into her head, like a bull on a rage. If Behr bought into her act, then she decided to move back to the U.S… where she belonged… would Behr want to follow her there? Anger heated her flesh, the thought causing her to break out into a sweat. There was no way in Hell she would let that happen. He was a homebody, after all. That was the reason he had always given her for why he wouldn’t leave. He didn’t even like America.
But there was no denying the smoldering passion that lay hidden under the surface between the two of them. Anyone on the street could see the irresistibly hungry desire in their eyes. Even a blind man would feel it, just as Shannon could from where she stood. This revelation had Shannon’s previous certainty of gaining him back faltering. If Behr wouldn’t go with her… then she sure as Hell wouldn’t let him go with this bitch either! She decided right then and there that she would break them up. She didn’t care how she had to do it. It was already over between them. They just didn’t know it yet.
“We'll just see about that now, won't we?” Shannon growled, gritting her teeth. “C’mon, girls, let’s pick out something hot for me to wear tonight. Shannon’s going hunting!” she announced with conviction. She forced herself to drag her eyes away from them. She would put the girl in her place soon enough.
“Oooooh, NO! I don't think so! Will that even fit?” Ellora stared in horror at the colorful array of dresses, skirts, blouses, and accessories lain out on her bed.
“They will fit, as they should, and you’re welcome!” Adelle gracefully waved her hand at the items like a Scottish Vanna White.
“Go ahead, Lor, try this one on. It's my favorite. Aye, n' it will make your green eyes pop.” She held up an emerald green jersey wrap dress. Ellora didn't want to admit to her that she was in love with the style and color; she thoug
ht it was best not to encourage her. “Now, get your round ass in that wash room and try it on, or off to my room I go to grab m’bat. I shopped all day with you in mind, so go and pretend that you love it for my benefit.” Adelle shoved the dress in her arms and pushed her toward the washroom.
Ellora stuck her tongue out playfully as she marched into the bathroom. She flinched when easing the dress on, careful not to drag it down her sensitive back.
It was gorgeous and fit her shape perfectly, like it had been sewn specifically for her body. The soft cotton fabric made it move and flow delicately. It had a plunging v-neckline, which made Ellora a tad nervous because it was extremely low and extremely sexy. Although it was beautiful, they were two things on an outfit she’d never before thought she’d ever be caught wearing… ever. The covetous dress wrapped around, barely covering all the appropriate areas, and tied at the side of her waste. A small knot kept it all together as it cascaded down to her thigh. The dress came to rest a few inches above her knees. Ellora walked out with her arms out and strutted her stuff toward Adelle. “You likes?”
“I'm pretty good at this. I should get paid,” Adelle gloated. “You should wear it downstairs and show everyone. Maybe somebody will enjoy the view.” She wiggled her eyebrows scandalously. “Ellora, you look so sexy, the path you walk will surely melt behind you.”
She plopped down on the bed. “So how was your lunch with Gavin?” she probed, changing the subject.
“Well, I umm… I told him I was too busy, n' aye, that I was. I shopped all day for you, and nearly forgot about my own needs. So when he called, I told him I was swamped with errands and that I would see him later.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, unsure.
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