Page 20 of Creepy
Full of surprises, he held out a basket full of apples for me.The grounds around Jules’ Estate was one place I hadn’t searched.I supposed I’d been saving it for when I decided to move there.
Free of the basket, Arlo put his hands on his hips and looked around my yard.“Just like the Garden of Eden.”
“Thanks,” I said and meant it.“Most people think it’s silly to keep up the yard now, all the flowers on the porch,” I explained, talking about Dillon before I caught myself.“You know, everyone in Creepy still kept up their yards during the pandemic.It’s a southern thing, I guess.”
“It’s nice.It’s your positive energy showing.”
I shrugged, not sure there was anything positive about it.But he smiled, staring into my eyes.I beamed.His face held the same sexy hunger it did yesterday.Things were already perfect.I took him on a tour around the yard before we went inside.Arlo marveled at the fact I kept some electricity going during the day.He relaxed in the cool living room while I excused myself to clean up.I sponged myself off and got dressed.Since I’d had my clothes laid out, it didn’t take long.
Our conversation flowed while we made dinner.Arlo seemed at home cutting up the vegetables and whipping up the dressing.I added some apples to our salad.He added a lot of Parmesan.The chicken pleased him too.We sat on the back porch at his request.
“It’s beautiful out here.”
Him against the passion flowers, I couldn’t agree more.
“I wonder if I can get some electricity on across the way.”
“It’s a big place.”
“It has solar panels on the roof.”
“I know.”Honestly, that was one reason I hadn’t gone over there, yet.I had a generator here.I knew how to operate it.We’d gotten our power from the co-op.I had no clue about solar panels.Arlo seemed determined to get the power on over there somehow.Explaining he was an electrical engineer, he surprised me again.
“I thought you taught karate.”
“That too.I also play some guitar.And I surf.”
Having guessed as much, I laughed.
“What about you, Sissy?What did you do before you were the Barefoot Contessa of the apocalypse?”
I took his words as a complement of my uncooked cooking, my gardening, and my housekeeping.Him invoking the famous cook who seemed to always have her shit together, her shit fancy even, made me feel accomplished.“I certainly didn’t plan to be running a homestead.I’m not creative.I’ve always been practical.In college, I went early, majoring in finance.I crunched numbers.I like facts and figures, routines.I have no other talent.My Papa had been a successful businessman, dealing with investments and real estate.I planned to take over.Then the pandemic hit.”I left out the parts about my ex-fiancé.
“Obviously, you have other talents.”
“I like to learn.I paid attention is all.”
“I also like to cook, pastries mostly, well not anymore.”
“Then you are going to either love or hate this.”I had him wait on the back porch while I put together our makeshift pie.I was just pouring a can of cherries into a pie crust, but these days, that was a delicacy.The pie needed whipped cream, but that was a pipe dream.Garnishing the dessert with fresh mint, just to make it more appealing, I stopped to check myself out in the mirror.
I looked happy, happier than I had been in a long time.
The pie was a hit.We didn’t bother cutting it.He fed me a bite, and I fed him one.After pie, he insisted on giving me a lesson in self-defense.
“Take off your shoes.”
“I’m not waxing the car.”
He laughed at my Karate Kid reference, before grabbing my hips.Yanking me to him, he said, “You’re supposed to fight me off.”
Biting my lip, I realized he was serious.Breaking free, I stepped back into my best fighting stance.Circling me, he corrected my form, his hands not very professional as they touched me.My abs and thigh muscles tightened, I spread my bare feet to grip the deck although I tingled inside.At his direction, I lunged forward to swing my bent leg up.My foot lashed out to strike Arlo’s side just perfectly.Too bad, I fell back on my ass.
Helping me to my feet, Arlo tugged me into his chest.My heart about jumped out of mine.We twirled around a moment, floating into the house.Like in my dream, we found ourselves on the couch.His arm around me, he leaned in to kiss me.I melted into his embrace.I disintegrated when his lips parted, and his tongue met mine.The thrill of a new kiss zinged through me.The kiss was enough, had me floating on air, but I waited for more.
More didn’t come.He drew back and said, “Can I see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” I said as if it was obvious.
