Page 7 of Seeds of Malice

He rolls his eyes. "Oh, I've got tons of things to do. Starting with this box." He grabs one off the floor and sets it on the table. He yanks it open and pulls one of my bras out. "Like this. This looks pretty important for me to unpack."

Horror fills me. I put my hands over my face and groan. "Can you not unpack that box?"

He chuckles. "Why? Do you think it's my first time seeing a bra?"

I move my hands off my face and stare at him. My heart, once again, beats hard.

He chuckles. "Don't answer that. Here, I'll put this in your room."

He picks up the box and saunters past me. I stare at his firm ass and flexed shoulder blades as he disappears down the hall.

Then I come to my senses and follow him, calling, "I haven't told you which room is mine."

He turns his head. "There are only two. I think I can figure it out."

"Oh, duh."

I'm a moron,I reprimand myself.

He picks the right room, sets the box down, then comes back out. He suggests, "Maybe we should work on the kitchen stuff so you're not embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed," I claim.

More amusement fills his expression. He gives me a knowing look. "Sure you're not."

I put my hand on my hip. "Are you trying to be nice or make fun of me right now?"

He grins again. "Maybe both."

I don't say anything. He gives me another stare down, then picks up another box labeled "Kitchen." He puts it on top of the table and pulls it open. We quietly work together, taking out pots and pans. I put them into the cabinet.

We get to the next box, and he says, "So, what did you do for fun in West Virginia?"

I shrug. "I like to be outside. Probably the same things you do."

"Yeah? What do you think I like to do?"

I blurt, "Okay. I don't know what you like to do. That was silly of me to insinuate that. I was on the track team."

"Track team? So you're going to run away from me quickly?"

I laugh and shake my head. "Are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"A comedian."

"Glad you think I'm funny."

"Are you sure you have nothing better to do? I find it odd that you want to unpack my house."

He grunts. "This is the most fun I've had all summer."

"I don't believe that."

"Believe it. It's pretty boring around here," he declares.

I glance out the window again at the beautiful estate. Sparkling lake water peeks through the trees, adding to the brilliance. Part of a sail from one of the boats grabs my attention. I ask, "How could you possibly be bored here? This place is beautiful. You have a lake, boats, and pools."

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