* * * *
Stacy was relieved that the deputy finally left and she could power wash the house.
As she worked to lift the chipped paint and old worn-out color from the cottage walls, she thought about the farm and how life in Texas would be. This was great for now and offered her time to recover emotionally from losing her job, but she couldn’t live in this cottage forever. Stacy wasn’t positive, but it seemed that Marie and Ron were more than just neighbors. He gave Marie his every bit of attention when she spoke. He touched her on the shoulder or against her waist whenever he thought no one was looking, and when Marie got upset, it seemed he got upset. She witnessed it again during lunch when that guy Gutry’s name came up. That had been another thing that unsettled Stacy. Why did she seem to attract men like Gutry? Then again, it seemed she was attracted to men like Max and Eric. Perhaps it was Max’s position of authority. Many women lost their sanity and good judgment in the presence of a hot-looking man in uniform. She could see herself throwing inhibition to the wind. Boy, did Max have a great body and hands. His hands felt so good on her. How the hell did he affect her so much? Just by holding her hand while he spoke about Gutry, he made her feel cared for and as if she weren’t alone in this. She thought about that as she worked on the last section of the house, the loud sound of the engine roaring on the diesel power-washer motor and the hard spray of the water shooting back, getting her shirt wet. She wondered instantly if anything would happen between her and Max. As soon as she thought it, she also thought about Eric. Son of a bitch! She was attracted to both of them. She wasn’t a slut. She was far from it. There had to be a logical explanation for this. She finished up the last part as she let the sprayer hit the corner of the house.
Distracted with her own thoughts, she lost focus with what she was doing and wondered if subconsciously the idea of having both of them was placed in her head from the phone conversation with Millie. Never mind meeting Melissa and her husbands. Stacy swallowed hard. She couldn’t even imagine one woman having to satisfy and handle multiple husbands. There had to be problems with a relationship like that. There had to be times of jealousy, inadequacy, and plain exhaustion. But what did she know? She’d never even had a relationship with a man. In her eyes and in her life thus far, men could not be trusted. But still, the fact that the town of Pearl had so many of these types of relationships intrigued her. Then she remembered the paperwork for the campers. Some had multiple parent representatives on them. Stacy had wondered what that was all about but didn’t put it together until now. There were more people out there in Pearl living this kind of lifestyle. She shook her head. It just wasn’t something she was used to. Again she thought about Max and Eric. One of them would be too much to handle, but two? Yikes.
Instantly Barry Weiner popped into her head. She remembered the threatening calls where he insisted that she see no other men than him. A worrisome feeling upset her stomach instantly. Then she tried to ignore it and minimize the fear she felt. He wasn’t in Texas, and she wasn’t going back to New York. Barry wasn’t specific enough in his threats, but she got the message even if the cops didn’t want to. Sure, he muffled his voice with some sort of device that the police couldn’t identify through. And there were no fingerprints left on the packages he sent her. Not on the lingerie, the sex toys, or pictures he sent her. He had followed her everywhere or had someone following her. There were pictures of her in the supermarket, at the gym working out, then ones of her at a party where she was talking to a nice guy she met and thought about going on a date with. Immediately the next morning, those pictures were delivered to her apartment with a warning. The thought caused that feeling of anxiety to creep into her belly again. But the worst were the pictures of her with Millie and Anna and of course the items that were left inside of her apartment. Barry was letting her know that he could get to her wherever she went. There was no place to hide.
“You hit that spot any more, and you’ll be replacing siding.”
Stacy whipped around at the sound of the male voice and struck Eric with a spray of water. It hit him hard in the chest for a few seconds, sending him ducking for cover before she realized what she was doing. “Oh my God!” she yelled as she switched off the sprayer and dropped the hose. When she looked at Eric, he was soaked from head to waist.
She ran to him and froze directly in front of him. His facial expression looked serious and as if he were about to reprimand her as her mind spun out of control. She thought about what she was thinking of and how badly her heart hammered in her chest. She was breathing rapidly as she tried to console him. “I’m so sorry. I totally spaced out and I was lost in thought when I heard a strange voice. It was instinctive and I didn’t think.” She carried on as she looked at his face and the water dripped from his head, over his nose then mouth, and off his chin. She had soaked him thoroughly She locked gazes with his big brown eyes and waited for him to say something. When his face broke into a smile and two adorable dimples winked at her, she began to laugh. So did Eric as he shook his head, causing shots of water to hit her. She covered herself and crouched down just as he wrung his wet shirt over her neck and shoulders.
“Eric!” she yelled as she stood up and attempted to step away from him. He caught her hand, and they locked gazes for a moment before they both laughed.
* * * *
Eric couldn’t believe it when he walked up to Stacy’s cottage and saw that she had power washed the entire thing. Then he watched her as she sprayed one side of the house, not moving but obviously lost in thought. Her facial expression changed from pleasant to that of fear. Whatever she was thinking about had upset her, and he couldn’t help but feel concerned. He also felt protective, and that was an instinct he wouldn’t ignore. If she was in some kind of trouble, then he would protect her and so would Max.
“I am really sorry,” she stated one more time then began to walk toward the machine as if there were nothing more she could do or say about it.
He wasn’t going to let her off that easily.
“How about a towel or something?” he asked, and he pulled his shirt off and began wringing out the material. When he looked up he locked gazes with a very stunned and adorable-looking Stacy and she obviously liked what she saw. He was shocked at how relieved he felt. It was a first for him. He knew he had a good body. It was the kind of body that men who did hard labor work like him wound up with. Women drooled over it, but for some strange reason, that confidence and cockiness he had with other women wasn’t present with Stacy. He actually was concerned that she may not like him or find him attractive.
“Um…let me just run inside and get you something to cover up.” She sounded as if she stuttered, and he found that to be appealing as well. He winked at her then followed her toward the cottage’s front door.
He stood on the front porch, not wanting to get water on her rug. He could tell as he peeked through the screen door that she was going to redo the rooms as well. There were series of color-sample strips lining every wall and the hallway, too.
She reappeared a few seconds later holding a thick burgundy towel against her chest as if it were a security blanket.
“Thank you,” he told her as she swallowed hard and tried not to look at his chest, but it was nearly at her eye level. He began to dry off as he watched her lean against the post on the porch and look out toward the pasture.
“What were you thinking about when I showed up?” he asked.
She turned to him, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, then quickly recovered.
“I guess I was just daydreaming, that’s all.”
He wanted to tread carefully. He was going on pure gut instincts here, and he didn’t want to scare her or piss her off. Max had already told him what happened earlier today and about the donut comment.
“I don’t want to intrude or anything, but you looked kind of scared.”
She shot him a look of surprise. He was right.
“Then don’t intrude, Eric. Leave the towel on the chair when you’re done,” she stated and walked off the porch before he could get another word in.
“Whew-wee.” That girl had a temper on her. He watched her and that perfectly round ass of hers until she disappeared around the house.
He walked around the side of the house and saw her sweeping up the debris from the area she power washed.
“So when are you going to start working at the Triple C?” he inquired. She stopped sweeping for a second, looked at him, and then went back to sweeping. He never saw a woman look so damn sexy in a pair of worn-out jeans with holes in them. Something told him that she would look sexy in just about anything, although he would prefer to see her in nothing at all. Boy, would he take his time exploring every inch of her body.
“I already told Max that I wasn’t interested.”
She interrupted his thoughts, and he felt his cheeks warm. If she only knew what he was thinking about her.
“That’s not what I heard. Marie said you would be available and that she only needed your assistance for the first day of camp.”
“We’ll see,” she stated as she finished up then looked around the yard. It was getting dark, and he didn’t want her wandering around outside on her own. She was a city girl and didn’t know about the potential dangers. Never mind what Max and Ron had said about Gutry.
“Let me help you clean up. It’s getting dark out, and you’ll want to be inside,” he stated as he stood next to her.
“So it’s getting dark, what’s the big deal?’ she challenged him, and he couldn’t resist teasing her.
“You don’t want to be wondering around in the dark when there are wild animals hunting for prey,” he whispered next to her ear. She glanced around them, trying to see as far as she could see now that there was little light. In just about another five minutes or so, it would be pitch black.
“There are poisonous snakes and barn rats,” he added, and she turned toward him. Without even realizing it, she was pressed against his body and both their hands held the broom.
He reached down and caressed her cheek, letting his thumb slide along those sexy, soft lips of hers.
“Let’s finish up, darling. I’ll keep you safe,” he whispered, and he nearly came in his pants when she batted her eyelashes and held his gaze.
“Snakes, huh? I don’t like snakes,” she whispered, and he was drawn to her lips and the sound of her seductive tone. How would those lips feel wrapped around his cock? He shifted his stance, and she pulled herself closer to him.
“Let’s finish up, honey,” he told her as he tapped her hip and held his hand against her jean-covered hip bone. Stacy immediately finished up, and they walked together back to the cottage.
“Thank you for your help. It really wasn’t necessary, and I’m sorry for spraying you.”
“Why don’t you make it up to me and invite me in for dinner?”
She placed her hands on her hips and scowled at him.
“I don’t think so, buddy. Maybe those cute dimples and sexy body get into women’s pants in a snap, but it takes more than that to bed me. Good night!” she exclaimed in a huff and tried to turn away from him. He caught her hand, and she stopped but wouldn’t turn toward him.
“I’m sorry it came out that way. I was teasing you and I wasn’t trying to ‘bed’ you,” he told her then chuckled. It was a mental workout just talking with the woman.
“Fine. Whatever,” she replied, looking over her shoulder at him.
“I can’t leave with you upset like this. I really didn’t mean anything dishonorable by my comment.” He couldn’t believe that he was groveling for forgiveness from a flirty comment.
“I forgive you, now will you let go of my hand and leave?”
“On one condition,” he stated, and she let out an annoyed breath.
“You don’t climb that ladder and go up on the roof on your own tomorrow.”
“What? No, I’m not listening to you. I’m a big girl and I can handle it.”
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. She held his forearms, but she didn’t scream for release. Maybe he was making progress.
“You’re going to listen to me, Stacy. I don’t want anything to happen to you. If I find out that you climbed that ladder and didn’t wait for me or Max to get over here, I swear I’m going to tan this pretty little ass of yours.” He lightly tapped her rear, and she stirred against him. He held her gaze and gave her one of his looks that meant business.
Let’s see what the little tough girl thinks about this.
“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that if I climb a ladder to fix my roof and gutter tomorrow and not wait for you and Max, then you’re going to spank me?”
He nodded and squeezed her a little tighter.
“There’s no need for you to take any unnecessary chances. I don’t want to see you get hurt, Stacy. You’re perfect, and we want to keep you this way,” he whispered, and she stared at him as if he were crazy.
“I think you should let me go. You’re making me feel uncomfortable.” Stacy pushed against him as if she were frightened about Eric holding her. Her body tensed in his arms as if she were on guard.
He slowly released her and took a few steps back and she was appeared grateful.
“We’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“I don’t need your help,” she stated abruptly, and Eric could hear the intensity of her tone.
He raised his eyebrows, and she clenched her fists by her side.
“I will not be ordered around. I don’t need your help or your brother’s help.” She turned around, walked into the house, and slammed the door shut.
She was going to be a handful.