Love Thy Neighbor

by Kimberly Smith

  Love They Neighbor

  Kimberly Smith

  Love Thy Neighbor

  Chapter 1

  Daniel

  Daniel Shore was not a peeping Tom by any means, but he could not help himself as he stood looking out his bedroom window from the shadows into the new neighbor's yard. He watched as she swam the length of the oddly shaped pool. She was a cocoa colored black woman with fire red hair. He could see that she had tattoos from shoulder to elbow on her left arm and she had one just above her very round backside. She was skinny dipping in her pool in the middle of the night.

  He'd been standing there for a while watching as she swam. The sound of splashing water had woken him and he was surprised to find that the noise was coming from the house next door. The renovation had begun a few weeks after the property sold and had lasted for a few months. People had come and gone but the neighbors had no idea who had actually bought the house. When the work was finished moving trucks came and went, but so far no one had seen the owner, not even Aunt P.

  Petunia Coleman, his godmother was like Mrs. Kravitz from the old TV show Bewitched. She watched everything. She would often walk her dog, Mr. Wiggles, just to get a closer look at things happening on their street. Although she always seemed to know what was happening around them, Daniel found that his neighbor Holly was the one she got her information from. Daniel kept to himself with the exception of having a poker game at his house on Sunday afternoons for a few of his male neighbors and a few friends.

  His new neighbor got out of the pool and turned looking in his direction. Daniel jumped back praying she had not seen him. He waited a minute before peering through the window again. She was sliding her clothes over her arm and walking to the side door. His face was warm and he was embarrassed. He climbed back into bed trying not to think of the cocoa colored goddess next door.

  *****

  Kayla

  Although she was extremely tired from the drive from San Antonio, she wasn't ready for bed when she arrived at the house. She walked through her new home admiring the work that her contractor friend, Jesse had done. The old carpet had been replaced with a beautiful light marble through out the living and dining area. The wall that divided the entryway from the living room and the dining room on the other side had been removed and replaced with light colored marble columns. Giving the main floor an open concept look. The fireplace in the living room had been updated with a similar colored marble tile and hearth.

  The furniture and decorations had been placed exactly as she wanted thanks to her assistant Lee. She walked into the kitchen and turned the lights on. She sighed at the sight. It was perfect, red quartz counter tops, white cabinetry with silver fixtures and red appliances with silver accessories. A large island lined with bar stools on one side sat in the center of the room. All of this atop black marble flooring. Kayla walked around the room touching the island. Then she looked out the door to the patio and saw the pool.

  She opened the door and walked across the red brick stripping her clothes off as she went and jumped into the pool blissfully naked. The water was cool against her skin. She liked swimming and this was way better than the rivers and lake she and Darren had swam in as children. She swam back and forth for a while before getting out.

  Kayla climbed out of the pool. The fine hairs on the back of her neck rose. She shivered, she had the feeling of being watched and there was only one place that someone could be and see into her yard and patio. She turned to the house across the way looking at the window on the second floor. Her fence was tall and slatted so that you could not see into the yard from the ground at any angle. She didn't see anyone in the window. She shrugged it off. She was just tired from her long drive from San Antonio. She gathered up her clothes and went back into her beautiful new home.

  *****

  Before the sun had risen, Kayla woke. She had only had about three hours of sleep, but she had things she wanted to do. She wanted to check out her garage and show room and to make sure the new restoration vehicle had arrived at the showroom without any damage. She got up and threw on some clothes, got in her nearly new Range Rover and drove a few miles to her garage, show room and office.

  Along with renovating the house, Jesse had renovated the building to suit her needs. She pulled around back, parked and entered through the back door next to one of three steel bay doors. She disarmed the security system and turned on the lights.

  Before she could do anything further her phone began to ring. Her assistant Lee was calling. “Hello.” She answered.

  “Where are you?” He asked accusingly.

  “Where do you think?” She said sarcastically.

  Lee sighed heavily, “I knew you wouldn't be able to take one day off and just rest. What time did you get in last night?”

  “Ten-ish.” Kayla lied knowing he would guess that she had arrived in the middle of the night. She smiled as she took a look around the expansive garage with all its new shiny tools.

  “Liar.” Lee said just as he opened the door she'd just come through and disconnected the call. “I knew you would be here. I brought you a Caramel Frap, just the way you like it.” he said holding it out to her as he crossed to meet her in the center of the garage.

  “Yea, so. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to have all this done and not be here for most of it?” She asked him.

  “You may not have been here watching each peace go in, but you designed it and called me a million times a day while I implemented it and,” He paused turning in a circle looking at everything. “It is perfection.”

  Kayla grabbed him around the waist and hugged him hard. “That's why I love you. You compliment me so well. The house looks great too. Thanks for being there when the movers came.”

  Lee smiled and pulled away from her walking to the other side of the garage adding over his shoulder, “We are friends and you needed to meet with the cable people to finalize the promo's. Besides I'm the only one that can handle all your shit Missy and don't you forget it!”

  Kayla followed him up the stairs at the side of the garage and into the office area, a large space surrounded by glass windows on one side that looked out over the garage. This was where her team would meet to go over ideas for their projects. It consisted of four computer stations around a round table.

  The images on the computer monitors could be displayed on the large video display in the center of the back wall. This was also where her camera crew edited their footage for KKB Internet Show and soon to be cable show. There were comfy chairs placed through out the room. Kayla's personal office was in the room on the other side of the TV wall.

  Kayla and Lee drank their coffee while Lee showed her that all her directions for the design of the garage had been followed to the letter. She was elated that everything had turned out so well. The showroom, which faced the street had some of her private collection of cars displayed in various angles with the last car a 1954 Porsche, she had restored in San Antonio before moving to Dallas in the center. It would be presented to it's new owner on Monday.

  Lee pointed out the reception area with plush red leather seating and a high countered reception desk. “We still need to hire someone for that position. I have some interviews set up for Tuesday morning.” They then went out to look at the front of the shop. Kay was thrilled with everything. Her sign filled her with joy. She finally had her own shop.

  When they were done they had a quick brunch before Kayla headed out to run her errands and then home. She wanted to come into the garage the next day and have the Porsche detailed by her team and to make a few tweaks before the presentation on Monday to the customer and to her YouTube subscribers.

  *****

  Daniel

  On Saturdays Daniel wok
e at 6:30am much as he did during the week, put on his running gear and set out for a neighborhood jog. He ran along Apple Grove Avenue for about eight blocks and then he'd turn right on Hardy Street and ran until he hit Lovers Lane then he would turn around and come back. When he ran, he usually thought of his work or repairs and projects he needed to complete at home, but today he was thinking of his neighbor. The cocoa goddess with the flaming red hair, thick thighs, round butt and heavy breasts.

  He was so distracted with his thoughts that he didn't notice that Vanna, the divorce' who had been flirting with him, had come up beside him until she spoke. “Morning Daniel.” She said sexily.

  Snapping to attention he spoke. “Morning Vanna.”

  “I haven't seen much of you lately.” she said matching his stride.

  “Been busy with work and stuff.” He said hoping that she wasn't going to bring up the date he'd been tricked into going on. Stanley and Petunia had invited him to go to dinner with them. He'd been very surprised to see Vanna sitting in their living room. He knew that Petunia and Vanna were friendly, but that was when he realized that Vanna and Petunia had set him up to go on a double date.

  Vanna was attractive and intelligent with long blonde hair, big blue eyes and a winning smile. She was fit with an athletic shape and she was tall. She was just his type, but he didn't feel any attraction to her at all. Maybe his type was changing he thought.

  Vanna smiled again and said, “Petunia saw a car leaving from the old Meyer house this morning. Guess the new neighbor slipped in last night. Petunia wants to have a meet and greet tonight around six. We're going to meet at Petunia's then go over together. Why don't you and I grab some dinner after?

  Daniel kept his pace not saying anything for a minute, “Six tonight sounds good for the meet and greet, but I have plans after.” He didn't have plans, but Vanna didn't know that.

  Vanna stumbled, but regained her balance and added, “Really? Well, maybe Sunday we can get together.”

  Daniel made it to his turn around point and headed back the way he came. Vanna quickly turned too. “I don't think I'll have time.” he said over his shoulder, then added, “Sunday is poker day with the guys.” Daniel pushed himself to run faster hoping to put some distance between Vanna and himself.

  Vanna only jogged to be seen or so it seemed to Daniel, so it wasn't long before Daniel was at least a block from her. She wore her mini shorts and sports bra with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked more like she was shooting and advertisement for sports wear. In all the time he'd seen her dressed for a workout, he'd never seen her looking like she had actually worked out. She never had any sweat on her, not running down her face or soaked in her top and if he wasn't mistaken she was even wearing make up.

  Daniel finished his run and followed his Saturday routine, showering, eating an egg white omelet with fresh fruit and coffee before attending to the little things around the house that he could repair and doing laundry. He read the paper and in the afternoon he got in his car and drove the short distance to the grocery store and walked the aisles placing his regular list of grocery needs in the basket.

  He was intently examining the farm fresh tomatoes when someone cleared their throat behind him. He turned and lost all thought, as he took in the flame red hair pulled up on top of her head. The cocoa goddess was standing there with a smirk on her face.”

  “You've been molesting the tomatoes for like three minutes. In some places that might get you arrested.” she said with a teasing smile.”

  Daniel put the tomato down and moved out of the way. “Sorry.” was all he could get out while staring at her. He bumped his basket, feeling clumsy; he could feel the blood pumping in his veins. He knew his face was flushed. His heart was beating fast, his mouth suddenly dry. She moved towards the tomatoes, picked a few, smiled, winked at him and walked away.

  Daniel watched the swing of her hips as she grabbed a few other vegetables and rounded the corner. Then he followed her. He tried not to be obvious in his movements. He watched her as she grabbed milk, cookies and a variety of other things. He was looking at her from the corner of his eye when she turned and almost caught him watching her.

  When she rounded the corner of the chip aisle, he moved faster not wanting to loose sight of her. He knew what he was doing, following his new neighbor around the grocery store was strange but he couldn't help himself. He felt compelled to watch her. He had even noticed that the selections in her basket were different from the things in his. He had two percent milk, she had whole milk, he had low fat cheese, she had regular cheese, he had lots of vegetables, she had hardly any, she had cookies, gummy worms and now was about to get chips, where he would get pretzels. He swung his basket around the corner and stopped cold.

  She was standing there waiting for him, brown arms folded under those bountiful breasts. “You don't look like a crazy person, you're actually hot, in a green eyed superman kind of way. Why are you following me?”

  Daniel sputtered for a second or two, “I wasn't following you.”

  “Really?” She asked in disbelief.

  “Well, I thought I saw you on my street this morning.” He hoped he didn't sound and stupid as he felt. She looked directly into his eyes placing her hands on her curvy hips. “Apple Grove Ave.” he said. She gave nothing away, just stared into his eyes. He added, “Didn't you buy the Meyer house?” She narrowed her eyes as him. “I'm Daniel Shore, I'm in the house next to you.” He said extending his hand to her.

  She slowly extended her hand to him. His hand swallowed hers. He felt a tingle run down his spine and tried not to show it. “Kayla Barns, yes I bought the house.”

  He let her hand go. “I really wasn't stalking you. I only caught a glimpse of you in your car this morning.” he said hoping his face wasn't turning red since he had seen a lot more of her while she swam naked in her pool.

  “No harm done.” She said as she turned to push her basket, grabbing Doritos and Flaming Hot Cheetos as she went. He needed to say something to keep her talking to him. He rushed to walk beside her.

  “I should probably warn you.” He said and she stopped.

  “Warn me, about what? She looked at him.

  “Tonight around six, a welcoming party is coming to your house.” She grabbed a container of dip and started moving again. He turned the corner as she did and followed her to the freezer section.

  At the freezer section, she turned her back to him. “So a bunch of nosy fuckers are coming to check me out.” She said casually.

  Daniel heard her and responded. “You are a bit of a mystery. No one has seen you and well, they're curious and it's kind of the neighborly thing to do.”

  Kayla found the ice cream she wanted and took out a gallon of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla and a gallon of Cookies and Cream. Noting the shocked expression on his face she said, “I apologize, I have potty mouth. I cuss and I say exactly what's on my mind. If we are going to be neighbors, you'd better get used to it.”

  “It's okay.” He said. “I'm just not used to someone who is so...”

  “Blunt, rude, crass.” Kayla laughed finished for him.

  “I was going to say honest.” He said following her as she moved towards the check out area.

  “Some of the neighbors are nice,” he added hoping to keep the conversations going.

  Kayla snorted. “We'll see.” Then turned her attention to the cashier as he rang up her items.

  Daniel stood in line behind Kayla as she put her items on the moving belt and watched her as she chatted with the cashier like they had known each other for years.

  He tried not to stare, but she was exquisite, no make up at all. Her skin was flawless. She had high cheekbones, full lips and beautiful golden brown eyes. She was wearing a pink tank top and overall shorts that showed her smooth brown skin and shapely legs, her butt sat high and round.

  He looked down and saw that she was wearing sneakers in pink, a slightly darker color than her shirt. She didn't carry a purse. When
she paid, she popped the back of her phone and slid her credit card out, swiping her payment. By the time he had made his purchases and got outside she was gone.

  *****

  Kayla

  Kayla checked her appearance in the mirror of her bathroom one last time after she heard the sound of the doorbell. She had chosen to wear a black under-bust corset with a white button down shirt underneath it, skin tight black pants and black four inch heals. She put on a dark red lip stain and coated her long lashes several times with mascara. She had picked out her hair to frame her face in a curly Afro. She looked casually good and she blew herself a kiss in the mirror as she left the room.

  Even before Danny, had told her about the others coming over she had been planning to get out of the house for a bit. This was supposed to be her time off before her life became hectic or more so. She'd always worked hard, but she had been working so hard lately that a night out in her new city was just what she needed. No talking about cars, finances, moving, business or TV shows. She just wanted to have some fun and as soon as she got rid of the welcoming committee she was going to do just that. She had hoped Lee would accompany her, but he had a date.