Tim shook his head as Griffin pounced on it, jumped off and pounced again. He finished the last of his coffee thinking about seeing Kassie this morning. Even in repeat clothing she was beautiful and so sexy. His eyes caught movement in Kassie’s yard and he looked through the window alarmed. ‘Come on Griff, not again!’ Tim swore under his breath and was just about to go get the dog when he realized that it was Kassie in her yard this time.
She was exercising and he couldn’t resist watching her. Hell, this woman had turned him into a damn voyeur! If he even thought he heard her outside, he wanted to see her.
Tim pulled the curtains to and watched as she rolled out a yoga mat and proceeded to do some light stretching. Kassie’s body was, in his opinion, freakin’ awesome! She kept her frame trim but made no attempt to slim her curves and Tim found that delightful.
Slowly she lowered her body to the pink mat. Her luscious bottom rose in the air as she slid her breast against the mat and settled on it. Kassie pressed her feet together and pushed up with her hands, arching her back. For a moment Tim thought that her lush breasts would pop right out the top of her tank and his mouth went dry.
Turning onto her back, Kassie planted her feet on the mat and slid her arms beside her body. She slowly raised her hips up and then down repeatedly. He began to imagine himself between those legs with her doing something like that but completely, deliciously naked. A wave of white hot lust coursed through his body, building in strength until it reached his cock.
“Fuck.” He growled dropping his mug in the dishpan, the warm soapy water splashed up in his face and onto his shirt. “Damn it.” He grabbed the dishtowel wiping the dishwater off his face in lusty irritation.
*****
Tim was still in a daze as he went through his day. He got a few pieces of her mail and spent an hour staring at it on his mail table while he polished his violin. He wasn’t sure if he should go and bring it over to her. He wasn’t sure how to act in front of her.
But now here he stood at her door holding the two pieces of mail, trying to figure out what to do about it, about himself really. This new mailman had to be a drunk . . . or illiterate. Either way, he kept putting the neighbors’ mail in Tim’s box and Tim had to go give it out all over the neighborhood. This time it was Kassie's mail. Tim wasn’t too upset; it gave him an excuse to see her again, nerves aside.
She didn’t answer the door right away and Tim’s doubts began to assault him. Slipping the mail into the slot in her door, he turned and walked down the stairs. He couldn’t lie he was very disappointed.
Kassie was coming out of her studio when she saw the two pieces of mail fall in and watched the slot close. She walked to the door and opened it. Tim turned back and she smiled at him with uncertainty. Their relationship had been smoother lately and she was really trying to keep it that way.
His eyes rolled over her in capri length red sweatpants and white tee shirt. A pink bandana covered her hair and everything on her body, from head to toe, was speckled with pale yellow paint.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” Tim said. “I got a few pieces of mail for you.”
“Oh,” Kassie said. “Thanks.” She picked them up. “Did you enjoy your trick-or-treating?” She asked.
“Um yeah.” He said scratching his earlobe. “By the way, my daughter left you a bag of candy and was wondering if you would sign her books.”
“Books?”
“The ones you illustrated.”
“Oh, I’m not sure. I have to check with my boss. Sometimes the author may get angry if the artist signs their creation. It’s sort of like stealing someone’s idea.” Kassie said. “I’ll check it out and I’ll get back to you.”
“Ok.” He said softly. He stared at her a moment and lowered his head. He found his mouth working faster than his brain was and blurted out; “How was your night? . . . Out? . . . How was your night out?”
“Nice.” She smiled at him, offering no more than that.
“Yeah . . . well ok.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat.
Tim stood there a moment and Kassie knew that this was the perfect time to clear the air.
She bit her lip and looked at him remorsefully, “I would never poison your dog.”
“That’s good to know because he likes you.” He said.
She laughed, “I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with him.”
They stood staring at each other a moment. Tim took a step towards her and was standing very close. Kassie almost couldn’t breathe.
“I’m an illustrator.”What! You moron, he knows what you do? She scolded herself.
“I know; you’re pretty good.” He was smiling at her patiently.
“I love to hear you practice.” Kassie’s voice was low and breathless.
“You like classical music?” Tim’s cologne hit her and nearly made her melt.
“Not before you played it. Bye.” She stepped in and closed the door gently.
If he wasn’t being too full of himself, he could say honestly that she most definitely was flirting with him, just a little, right then. He wouldn’t tell Nora she was right though. She was like a dog with a bone when she was proven right about something and he couldn’t stand it when she gloated.
Tim had a huge smile on his face as he walked home and he knew it wouldn’t ever wipe off.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 13
It was an unseasonably warm autumn day and Tim walked Griff to the local park. There was a dog park there were Griffin and his friends often played. Tim would stand to the side and talk with the other owners but no one he knew was out today.
Tim sighed as he let the last beams of sun light hit his face. He started into the grass where Griffin was playing when he saw someone sitting in the oak tree at the other end of the field. Its branches were enormous and thick, and they curved down at such an angle that people often used them as benches for sitting. The oak had been there for three hundred years and was a symbol for the longevity of the town. Everyone took care of it, even teenagers in the town volunteered to rake its leaves in the fall.
For some reason Tim’s eyes were drawn to the figure in the tree. When the person leaned back against the trunk, he realized why; it was Kassie.
Geez, it’s like I’ve got radar for her or something. He thought.
He could see the big sketchpad on her lap; she took something out of a small pouch around her waist and let her leg drop, swinging it in a carefree, nearly childlike way that for some reason made her seem vulnerable.
*****
Kassie stared at the leaf that was serving as the model for her sketch. It was beautiful, a deep reddish brown. Kassie was planning to pick it when she was finished. She often picked up leaves from the ground when she found a pretty one.
“This must be a great spot for drawing.” Tim said. Kassie looked over at him as he walked towards her. In his hand he held Griffin’s leash. He was dressed in navy blue slacks and a black sweater. His hair was a little disheveled as if he had taken a nap and only ran his fingers through it upon waking. But what she noticed the most was how soft his mouth looked. The urge to kiss him rolled through her higher and wilder than ever before.
“Did he finally make a break for it?”
“It wouldn’t surprise you would it?” He laughed. “No he’s playing.” Tim pointed over at the grassy area where the dogs were all running around. Their owners were standing in groups talking.
“Oh.” Kassie said. She turned, moving her legs so he could sit beside her but he just leaned his bottom against the tree branch. “It is very nice. Very peaceful.”
“Yeah it is nice.” He said and Kassie got a whiff of his cologne. It was light and warm with some exotic spice. Kassie liked it. The scent was somehow . . . comforting and she lowered her head in case he caught her smelling him.
“Whatcha drawing?” He looked at the pad seeing the beautifully drawn leaf.
“This.” She plucked the leaf off, placing it on the page next
to the one she’d just sketched. The two leaves looked almost completely identical and Tim was impressed.
“You’re really good.” He said softly.
Kassie smiled, looking up at him. “That’s what I get paid for.” She said.
They were quiet for a bit.
“Do you come here a lot?” ‘Nice pick up line Lawton.’ She thought to herself.
“Every day.” Tim smiled as if reading her mind. “But it’s my first time seeing you here.”
“I come here a few days a week, early in the morning to power walk or jog; whatever I’m in the mood for.” Kassie said.
Tim’s mind went back to her sexy poses in the backyard and that same electricity zipped through him. ‘God, don’t let me grab this woman and kiss her!’
“You don’t need to lose weight.” He said. “You’re perfect.” ‘Easy there tiger.’
Kassie smiled shyly. “I’m not trying that hard to. But I try to keep everything in the right place, which is really hard when you’re not blessed with a good metabolism . . . and you could eat an entire bag of Cheetos in one sitting.”
Tim chuckled.
“Well on behalf of all the men in this neighborhood, thank you for keeping everything in the right place.” He teased.
“Um,” She giggled. “You’re welcome?”
Tim laughed with her.
“Can we walk home with you?” He asked.
Kassie bit her lip nervously. She didn’t want herself getting ideas about them . . . but she really did want that.
“Sure.” She said and hopped down.
Tim whistled for Griffin who came running. He jumped on Kassie and she scratched his head affectionately.
“He really likes you.” Tim hooked the leash on.
“He’s a great dog.” Kassie smiled. “I always wanted one.”
“Didn’t you have one when you were a kid? Why don’t you get one?”
“Well my mom hated dogs and my ex was allergic.” Kassie said. “But now that I’m on my own, I may drop in to a pound or something when I’m less busy.”
Tim gave her Griffin’s leash and took her sketchpad. Kassie looked at him wide eyed and shook her head. She hadn’t ever walked a dog before.
“Oh no, I can’t.”
“Yes you can.” He assured her. “He won’t drag you.”
Kassie stared at him as Griff gave a quick tug starting off and she let the crazy dog lead her out of the park.
*****
They walked the blocks in companionable silence.
“How long have you been divorced?” Kassie asked him as they crossed the street and reached the sidewalk.
“Seven years.” He said.
“When it first happened, were you sad about it?”
“Absolutely. Nora and I had been friends and lovers. Ending our marriage had felt like we failed each other and our Natalie. We just couldn’t figure out what went wrong.” He looked over at her. “Why?”
“My ex told me he missed me, that I was his best friend.” Kassie shook her head. “I think he just didn’t think I’d actually go.” She said quietly. “I don’t think he cared about me as much as he thought he did.”
“That’s a sad way to think of it.”
“Would you cheat on someone you love?”
“If they threatened to poison my dog I would.”
“Oh stop.” Kassie laughed and he couldn’t help laughing too.
“I guess I just don’t get it.” They turned the corner walking down Max’s street. “I mean to promise the world to someone when you two exchange vows.” Kassie shook her head. Her pretty face covered with sadness. “I didn’t cheat on him. I loved him so much.” She sighed, letting her words trail off.
They turned on their block and Griffin made the same cross that Tim always did when they were walking back. Tim smiled realizing that he knew his way home. So all of those times he got loose and Tim had to go find him he now knew that Griffin was just being difficult and didn’t need to be found. It was a little funny to Tim to know what a crazy personality his dog had, they really did fit each other.
“I don’t like to share; I was never good at it. In kindergarten I got demerits for being a bad sharer.” Tim stopped walking, laughing in shock as he stared at her. She stopped too, joining him in his laughter. Griffin sat on the ground, staring up at them curiously. “If I’m down with someone, that’s it. I give my all to making relationships work, romantic, friendships and professional, work out. So why can’t other people do the same? Is that too much to ask?”
“No. It, it’s not too much to ask.” Tim answered without blinking. He wasn’t sure if he was agreeing with her or making her a promise. Kassie straightened up, trying to hide her smile and pretend to not notice the flush of embarrassment spreading across his face.
“Thank you.” She said and started walking again. “I guess Monroe didn’t care to read the memo. Now he’s harassing me; telling me he misses me, how I was his best friend, and how he still loves me.”
“Maybe he does.” Tim said, falling into step beside her.
“When I lost my baby he was in bed with another woman.” Kassie said stopping at her fence. “I was in that hospital bed, crying in pain and begging God not to take my child and he was having sex.”
“Oh, Kassie, I’m sorry.” He said. His voice full of remorse.
“I get so hurt and angry when I think of it.” Kassie said shaking her head. “Now he’s telling me that he’ll break off his engagement if I go back to him. How do I forgive a man like that?”
“You don’t.” Tim said quickly as selfish as his motives were, he wanted to make damn sure she didn’t go back to him! This was his chance.
“I can’t, even if I tried. I know that now.” She took her sketchpad from him, tilted her head to the side and looked into his eyes thoughtfully. “You seem like a nice guy Tim.”
“Thank you, I am.”
She giggled and shook her head. “Would you do me a favor?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“When you meet your forever girl, treat her like she means everything to you. Every time someone gets cheated on they die, just a little, inside.” She said and the sadness in her features was haunting.
He watched Kassie as she walked away, up the path and to her front door. He wanted to promise her that it would turn out fine. That someday some guy would make her happy. That he could make her happy if she let him. But somehow, he didn’t think she was ready for that.
“Bye Kassie.” He called out.
“See ya over the fence Tim.” She winked at him, “Oh and thank you for walking me home.” He just gave her a smile and watched her door close before going on his way.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 14
Kassie started to decorate for Thanksgiving early. Her first year in the house had been a very busy time and holiday decorating had been the last thing on her mind. But it was something that she had loved to do.
When she had been married, Monroe had given her carte blanche to do whatever she wanted, even helping her out sometimes. This year, she went out of her way to make it tastefully festive. She set out scarecrows, pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, colors and sizes and strung bright gold lights in her windows. Her house seemed the catalyst for the entire neighborhood and soon, almost everyone on the block had done a little something to their houses. There was such a festive feeling in the air that Tim couldn’t resist putting an Indian corn wreath decoration on his own front door and sitting a scarecrow in his porch swing.
The same thing happened at Christmas. Kassie hung red velvet bows in all of her windows and wrapped her railings with pine garlands. In her trees and shrubs she wove a combination of green and clear lights. When snow blew in, the house was so beautiful kissed by the powdery stuff, like a postcard or painting. It got the neighbors out decorating their own houses and walking through the neighborhood at night, enjoying each other’s decorations and giving happy holiday wishes to one another.
But as
the holidays came and went, it puzzled Tim as to why she didn’t have much company during these festive times. Through his expert and covert spying, he deduced that she hadn’t gone out much. A few times he had seen her leave with brightly wrapped presents, but that was it. She had decorated her house beautifully for the holidays and while people visited with their children, no family ever blew in from out of town laden with suitcases and presents to stay with her. Everyone had someone to spend the holidays with, right?
Kassie continued to be cordial to him, saying hello whenever she saw him on the street or over the fence(as she liked to say) and to his surprise, she gave Griffin a rawhide bone with a big blue bow on it and left Natalie’s books gift wrapped and autographed on Tim’s porch swing. Beside it she left a small present for her and he knew Nat would be excited to open them. For him, she left a beautiful hand drawn Christmas card of his house with sparkly glitter for snow and a snow covered Griffin on his front porch. He loved it and kept it where it would be safe. He returned the favor, giving her a gift from Nat and Griffin and a pretty Christmas card of two doves snuggled up together. Kassie couldn’t help but decipher the hidden meaning and it made her beam with a smile.
Their conversations were always brief but pleasant and left Tim feeling immensely unsatisfied and craving more time with her. He was suddenly even more determined to get to know her. Who was this mercurial beauty?
*****
For New Years Kassie went out dressed in a short, sparkly gold dress. It had sparkling strands the danced with every step. He saw peeks of it under her white cashmere coat when she was coming out of her house. Tim had just picked up Nat from a birthday sleepover and she was hanging out with him until Nora got back from returning gifts. He couldn’t believe how beautiful Kassie looked when she stopped to talk to them. Nat thanked her for the gifts and gave Kassie a huge hug. For a moment Tim saw shock cover Kassie's face then it covered with love and she held Nat too. That to Tim was solidification in the flesh. Nat adored Kassie and Kassie adored Nat there was no need to hold off anymore. It was time to go about making her his girl.
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