Love Thy Neighbor

by Kimberly Smith

  Before he could turn to leave she looked and saw him. “Danny” she called to him. He turned back to her. She waved to him.

  “Hey there.” He said as he stopped by the table.

  Kayla jumped up and introduced him to her friends. “This is my neighbor, Danny. These are my friends. Join us for a drink.” She said grabbing a chair from a nearby table.

  Daniel sat next to Kayla. The three men at the table introduced themselves to him. Lee, a tall small-framed Asian man sat on the other side of Kayla. Hank, who was slightly older had the look of a biker. He sported a full shaggy beard, ponytail and from what Daniel could see, he had tattoos not only down both his arms, he also had them peaking from the collar of his t-shirt. Jim was very young, probably in his early twenties with floppy blond hair.

  She looked fabulous. Her hair was braided in two braids split down the middle, hanging just at her shoulders. Her skin was smooth and flawless, she wasn't wearing any make up at all and she was the most beautiful woman in the room. She was wearing overall shorts like the first time he saw her in the grocery store, but today she had on a red t-shirt and matching sneakers. She leaned close to him and whispered. “You're staring.”

  “I'm sorry.” he whispered back and she giggled.

  “There you are man.” Robert said from behind him.

  “This is my coworker and friend, Robert,” her said to the table.

  Hank, Jim and Lee all introduced themselves followed by Kayla.

  “Kayla, the bootylicious neighbor?” Robert said smiling and extending his hand to her.

  Kayla shook his hand with a questioning glance to Daniel.

  “That's how Stanley described you at our poker game last week.” Robert added. “Daniel, I just wanted to tell you that we're leaving. It was nice to meet you all.” He said before walking away.

  Hank and Jim announced that they were leaving as well. After they guys left, Lee focused on Daniel. “So tell us how the subject of Kayla's booty came up at your poker game.”

  Kayla elbowed him. “Lee!”

  “I don't mind telling you.” Daniel said sipping his drink. “Stanley mentioned that Vanna and his wife were upset by us going out Saturday night and then he described you as bootylicious or having a trunk full of junk.”

  Kayla laughed, “That doesn't surprise me at all.”

  Lee was looking at Kayla like she had two heads. “Stanley, the...”

  “The neighbor across the street, the one I told you about.” Kayla said cutting him off.

  Lee looked at her strangely for a second or two then said. “Yes, yes I do remember you mentioning him.”

  Daniel looked between the two of them sensing something else was going on. “Can I get you two another drink?” he said standing to go to the bar.

  “No.” Lee said.

  “I'm good.” Kayla said raising her nearly full drink for him to see before he walked away.

  *****

  Kayla

  “Stanley doesn't want anyone to know about the car project. It's a surprise for his wife.” Kayla whispered to Lee.

  “Oh. Okay.” Lee said with owl eyes. He looked at Danny who was at the bar. “So that's who rang your bell the other night?”

  “He did not ring my bell.” Kayla said in a huff. “He was trying to get away from another woman and lied to her that we had a date. So I made him take me out as payment for covering for him.”

  “Sure, You're telling me that you did nothing with all of that hunkiness.” Lee pointed. “So, is he...?” He paused pursing his lips and playing piano on the table with his fingers.

  “No. He is not gay,” she said grinning from ear to ear.

  “What's got you smiling like that?” Danny asked joining them.

  “Um.” Kayla said.

  “Just a private joke for the two of us.” Lee said rising. “I have to scoot. Kayla I will call you later.” He said kissing her cheek. “Danny I was a pleasure meeting you.”

  Kayla met Danny's eyes. He was smiling as he said. “You're blushing.”

  Kayla was thoroughly embarrassed. She sipped her drink. “So, this is where you hang out after work?” She tried to change the subject.

  “This is the first time I've ever come to happy hour.”

  “No? Your first time ever?” Kayla starred at him.

  “Really.” he said realizing that his life must seemed boring to her. “What about you?” Is this your regular hangout spot?”

  “It may become our spot. We'll see. My guys insist on happy hour every Friday.”

  “Your guys?” He questioned.

  “Yeah.” She sipped her drink. “We work as a team.”

  “Oh what kind of team?” He asked watching her closely.

  “I'm sort of a mechanic.” She said toying with her glass.

  “Sort of?”

  “There's other stuff involved, but mostly I work on cars.”

  “Very interesting. How did you get started in all that?” He asked her.

  She knew if she started talking cars she might slip up and mention the work she would be doing for Stanley. “Why don't we talk about something that isn't work related? Something like what else was said about me at this poker party of yours.”

  Danny face flooded with color and he had a hard time meeting her eyes. “You know it was just guy talk.”

  “Sure it was. If that's the case, why are beet red right now?” She asked toying with a menu on the table.

  He smiled looking her in the eyes. “Do you really want to know what was said?” He caught her hand in his. Kayla's pulse went wild.

  “I'm curious, but you don't have to betray some male covenant that you all have.”

  Danny chuckled. “Alright, then why don't you tell me about your tattoos.” he said as he ran a finger up her arm noting the goose bumps that followed.

  “Okay.” She said taking a deep breath. Danny pointed, touching the top of the tattoo at her shoulder. It was a cluster of hearts, one large one with six others forming a ring around it. “That represents where I come from.” She said with a slight tremble in her voice. “The big one is for my mother Shirley, she died when I was about six. The others represent the rest of my family, my dad, my brothers and me.”

  That statement was filled with emotion for her. “I'm sorry about your mom.” Danny said. “So you're the only girl?”

  “Yeah.” She said with a smirk. “This,” she said placing his finger on the next tattoo of a set of socket wrenches crossing each other, “represents what I do.”

  Danny smiled at her, “Sort of mechanic and these?” he asked running his fingers down the lines that he quickly realized were names.

  “Those are the names of people who have influenced me to become who I am and to do what I do.” She said sitting back in her chair.

  “They're mostly men's names. I thought for a minute that they might be old boyfriends.”

  Kayla laughed loudly. “That would be a lot of old boyfriends. No, they are friends, mentors, and teachers.”

  “What about this one?” He asked pulling her arm across the table. He ran his finger in a circle around the tattoo near the inside of her elbow.

  His touch was wreaking havoc on her senses. She pulled her arm from him rubbing the double X he'd been touching. “This tattoo is representative of what is unknown.” She told him.

  *****

  Daniel

  “Are these the only tattoos you have?” He already knew she had one just above her backside, but he couldn't just come right out and ask what it was.

  “I have a two other tattoos.” She said smiling devilishly at him.

  “I gather that they are in naughty places.” He said grinning at her.

  She matched his grin. “That's for me to know and you to find out.”

  Daniel realized that he intended to find out. He silently accepted her challenge. “It's getting late and I'm hungry. Do you want to order some food?” He asked then added. “If you don't have a date or something.” Please don't have a date
, he thought.

  “I don't have plans tonight and I am hungry.” She said smiling at him. They looked over the menu then Daniel got a waiter's attention and placed their order.

  Through out their meal, Daniel asked questions about her family. She told him about her three older brothers, Mark, Leo, and Micah. They lived in different parts of the country and all were in the automotive business in one way or another. Her younger brother Darren still lived in San Antonio near their father and was still working in the garage their father owned. She talked about her friends, some of whom he had met at the bar tonight. She did not mention her mother very much and Daniel did not push her with questions, but he had many of them.

  Kayla asked him questions about his family. He told her that he was an only child and that his parents had been older when they had him. He talked about how his mother had taught him to cook and bake and that he once wanted to have his own restaurant. She had a hard time believing that he could cook and he promised to prove it to her. She asked why he hadn't pursued his dream. He explained to her that his father convinced him that it wasn't practical and that he should have a degree and steady line of work.

  She told him of things she did as a child and teenager. Some adventurous, some slightly dangerous, but all brought a light to her eyes that made him wish he'd done some of those things. He realized sitting at this table with her that he had never really done anything adventurous or wild, that he really had lived a very sedate life.

  *****

  Kayla

  Danny walked beside her as they left the bar. “I parked near the back of the lot.” She said to him when they reached the parking area.

  “I'll walk you to your car.” Indicating she should lead the way.

  Kayla stopped at her truck and put her hand on the handle, but paused to say, “I had fun tonight.”

  Danny stepped closer to her dipping his head he kissed her lips softly. He only intended it to be a quick kiss, but she was so responsive that he found himself pushing his tongue into her mouth, exploring it and savoring the taste of Kayla's kiss. When she finally moved away from her he said, “Me too. I'd like to take you out on a real date sometime soon.”

  Kayla smiled up to him and held out her hand. “Phone please.”

  Danny slipped his phone into her hand and watched as she entered her phone number and pushed send. Her phone rang and she disconnected the call. “You have my number. Call me.”

  She said then handed him his phone back and slid behind the wheel of her truck. “Night sexy.” She said after she started the car and backed out of her space.

  Chapter 5

  Daniel

  Daniel slowed his pace as he turned on his street. His run this morning was almost complete and he was still trying to think of a great date to take Kayla on. A few houses from being home he stopped running and walked the rest of the way. There was a note taped to his door.

  I need a big favor today.

  Please take Petunia out to lunch.

  I'm working on a big surprise for

  our anniversary and need her to

  be away from the house for a few

  hours this afternoon. Call me when

  you get this note.

  Stanley

  Daniel went inside and called Stanley's cell. After a few rings Stanley answered whispering.

  “Hello.”

  “I got your note, I'm free today.”

  “That's great, I need her out of the house from one to three this afternoon.” Stanley whispered.

  “Okay. I'll will call the house phone in a little while to talk to her.”

  “That's great.” Stanley said disconnecting the call.

  Daniel checked the time. He still had plenty of time to straighten up the house, shower and do some laundry before taking Petunia out. He dialed the Coleman house phone number and waited for her to answer.

  “Hello.” she said in a cheerful voice.

  “Aunt P., it's Daniel.”

  “Hi sweetheart.”

  “I know it's last minute, but I wanted to take you out to lunch today.” He said thinking that it had been a while since they had spent time together. The last time had been when she invited him to dinner with her and Stanley, but surprised him with Vanna. “Just the two of us.” he added quickly.

  “Today? Well, that sounds lovely. I'd love to. What time shall I be ready?” She asked.

  “I was thinking, We would leave around twelve-thirty. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, that will work fine.”

  “Great, see you then.” He said disconnecting the call.

  *****

  Stanley

  Stanley slid into the kitchen, going to the refrigerator grabbing a bottle of water. “Was that the phone?”

  “Yes.” Petunia answered putting away dishes from the dishwasher. “Daniel asked me to lunch.”

  “Oh, how nice.” Stanley said opening his water and taking a sip.

  “Yes it is. I'm hoping to talk to him about what ever is going on with him and the new neighbor. You know Vanna was really hurt by his rejection.” She started to prattle on.

  Stanley interrupted her. “Sweetie, maybe you shouldn't bring this up. He is a grown man after all.”

  “I know that, but he and Vanna make a beautiful couple. He is my godson and I want what's best for him,” she said closing the now empty dishwasher.

  Stanley smiled at her realizing it didn't matter what he said to her, Petunia was going to do exactly what she wanted. He knew that she was doing what she thought his mother would have wanted her to do. They had often discussed his future when he was a child. The plan as he recalled it was that he would establish himself in a great career in an accounting firm and buy a house, meet and marry a great woman and have lots of children that the two of them could spoil rotten.

  So far Daniel had followed the plan. He worked for a great accounting firm and he sold his condo and moved into his childhood home after his parents died a few years ago. Their deaths had been hard on him and Petunia had convinced him to stay in the house. It was paid for and would make a great place for him and his future wife to raise a family. Daniel was not falling into that part of the plan.

  Petunia had decided that Vanna, who was now divorced and raising her children alone needed a husband and Daniel was the one. It didn't help that Vanna had a thing for Daniel, who didn't seem to have any plans of dating; falling in love with or marrying Vanna and Petunia did not want to see it.

  Stanley Smiled at her and left the room. “Yes dear.”

  *****

  Daniel

  Daniel sat across from his Aunt P. looking over his menu. He chose to take her to Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village. After lunch they could do a little window shopping that would give Stanley plenty of time to do what ever it was he needed her out of the house for. The waiter came and took their order and brought out salsa and chips. Petunia sipped a glass of tea before clearing her throat to get his attention. “I haven't seen much of you lately. In fact I've felt like you've been avoiding me since we went to dinner a few weeks ago.”

  Daniel sat up straight. “Aunt P. I haven't been avoiding you. I have been busy.”

  “Busy doing what?” She asked, but continued before he could answer. “You keep the same routine. You haven't been that busy and you know it,” she shook her head at him. “What's going on with you and this woman across the street. Carla is it?”

  Daniel placed his hand on the table. “Her name is Kayla.” He corrected her and she gave him the “whatever” look. “What's that look for?”

  “It's nothing.” Aunt P. said before continuing. “She's seems a bit odd.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well I've noticed that she keeps strange ours and I've only seen her wear overalls and she's always dirty.”

  Daniel laughed. “Really Aunt P. You're basing your dislike of her off of what you've seen while peaking out your window. Shame on you. You don't know anything about her.”

  “I do
n't know her.” Petunia said sipping her tea. “Neither do you.”

  “Yes but I'm working to change that.” He said. “Look Aunt P. I think she's intelligent, beautiful, interesting and fun.”

  Petunia looked closely at him. “Interesting and fun? Don't tell me you are really attracted to her?”