Page 131 of Seasons of Love
“I think we have a deal,” he says.
“Well, in that case, how may I help you further, Mr. Bradford?” I stand and stretch my back, which feels good after bending down for so long.
He gives me a regretful look. “I’m afraid we’ve been summoned.”
“We’ve…what?”
“My sister just called. Apparently,” he says, using quote marks, “my brother-in-law got the grocery order wrong, and they have far too much food at home, so they’re having a barbeque and invited us over.”
I laugh. “Your sister has heard of freezers, right?”
He rolls his eyes. “I also asked that question, and apparently,” he says, using quote marks again, “both her freezers are full.”
“Then why did she need more food?”
He sighs. “She doesn’t. It’s totally an excuse to be nosy and ask you questions about what you’ve been up to in my backyard.”
“Hasn’t she seen the progress?”
“No. I’ve red-taped Alice and Darius from coming over until the backyard is ready. I’d like to get everyone together when it’s finished so they can see your amazing work, but I don’t want them in your way.”
“Oh.” I feel my cheeks heat. “It’s not that great.”
“You can’t be serious. This already looks a hundred times better.” He turns to look around the backyard, where there’s no more trash or broken things. Everything here now will be used for the deck or raised beds.
When he turns back to me, my heart skips a beat. God, his smile is disarming. Maybe the sun is going to my head, but us standing in his backyard with him holding a happy Sara in his arms feels too good.
“So what do you say?” he asks.
“Huh?”
“Shall we go eat all of my sister’s food?”
“I don’t want to impose, and I still have a lot of work to do here.”
Ellis laughs. “Are you kidding me? The invite was for you and Sara. I’m being invited only by extension.”
I don’t know what to say. Why is Ellis’s sister inviting us to her house?
“Um…okay? I’ll need to take a shower, though, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Do you want me to give Sara her lunch before we go?” he asks.
“I can do it after my shower, unless we’re late for your sister’s thing.”
Ellis smiles again. “Not at all. I’m just trying to help, and I think she’s getting hungry. She had a bottle a little while ago.”
“Okay, then. If you’re sure.”
I try to be quick in the shower but can’t help taking a moment to enjoy how refreshing it feels after working up a sweat in the backyard.
My thoughts rapidly veer toward Ellis. Does he use this shower at all? I assume he has one in his bedroom upstairs, or there’s at least a separate bathroom with a shower.
My dick hardens as I’m cleaning myself. It’s not unusual since I can’t remember the last time I had sex with anything that wasn’t my hand. But the scent of Ellis’s soap and knowing he’s on the other side of the door at the end of the short hallway is enough to drive me crazy with lust for the man.
One of these days, I’m going to lose it, throw myself at him, get fired, and get a bad reputation all in one go. All because I can’t stop thinking about Ellis.
Maybe I should take Jimmy up on his offer. I’ve still not forgiven him for telling Gerald about my work for Ellis and leaving me to cover his shift, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
