“Because I saw it all!”
“Oh. So they were doing this in their front yards, right out in front of everybody?”
I just snarl back, “What difference does it make?”
“Well, it makes a great deal of difference. You see,” she says all smug and snarky, “for instance, my fence is connected to my house on both sides. That makes it part of my living area. And as part of my living area, if someone were to do something to look in, say, peek between the boards or," she says, glaring at me, “climbing something to see over the fence, well, that would constitute a violation of privacy and it would be punishable by law.”
“It’s a yard,” I correct her.
“Inside my living space,” she fires back.
Now I’m getting really ticked off. “So are you going to deny that these things are going on in this neighborhood?”
“I wouldn’t know. I only know what goes on in my living space. Quite frankly, I don’t have time to worry about what everybody else is doing. I’ve got enough of my own business to take care of.” Then she says, “Did you say someone was doing something dirty in their window?”
“Yes. I saw it quite accidentally,” I inform her, although I can tell she’s just as bad as the rest of them and doesn’t care one bit.
“You accidentally saw into someone’s window? How exactly does one do that? It sounds more like a peeping Tom incident to me,” she sing-songs at me.
“Now you listen here, you―”
“Hey! Just wanted to come over and say hi! We haven’t met. I’m Karen Reynolds from across the street. Three twenty-six.”
Oh, great. The big mouth from across the street just happens to wander up. What are the chances? “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t interrupt our conversation,” I spit at her.
“And I’d appreciate it if you weren’t so rude to the other neighbors,” that Fields woman says. “Hi. I’m Tasha,” she says super-cheerfully toward that Reynolds broad and sticks out her hand to shake. And they do. And I think I’m going to throw up in my mouth.
“Gloria, what kind of wickedness are you up to now?” Karen says, laughing, and I want to punch her.
“I’m not up to wickedness. I’m up to exposing it all over this neighborhood.” I just glare at her. “So you’re still having those parties, I see.”
“Yes. We are. We have a lot of friends. And I realize there are those in the neighborhood who are jealous because they don’t have any. Not my problem.” She more or less dismisses me and says to Tasha, “So have you met any of the other neighbors?”
“Matter of fact, I have.” When I turn back to look at her, she says, “I’ve met the minister lady, Cheryl. She’s very nice.”
“Yes, she is,” Karen agrees. I want to tell them her husband isn’t, but I don’t say anything.
Tasha laughs a little and then says, “She came over to point out houses and tell me people’s names. Oh, and to also warn me about the gossips and sneaks in the neighborhood.”
“Is that so?” Karen laughs back.
Okay, now I’m so mad I can barely see straight, so I just decide it’s time to call it quits for now. “Well, I see you’d rather discuss things between the two of you, so I think I’ll just go. But I’ll be back.”
“Oh, Gloria, we have no doubt that’s true,” Karen says and chuckles. I just make a face at her and head down the steps.
I can hear them giggling as I walk away. You just wait. They’ll get theirs.
I slam the door as I enter the house, and Russell calls out, “What’s going on?”
My face is on fire when I make it into the living room. “You will not believe what just happened!”
“What?”
“I went over there to confront that Fields woman about what I saw them doing in their backyard and―”
“You did WHAT? Gloria, I swear, you’re going to keep on until you get yourself arrested!”
“For what?”
“For snooping! For making accusations! And if that happens, I promise you, I’m not coming down to bail you out. You’ll be on your own.”
“Won’t be the first time! No one else around here cares what people are doing!”
“And they shouldn’t! It’s nobody’s business but the people doing it. Otherwise, you’re just spying on people.”
“I don’t have to listen to this! I’m going to get something cold to drink and have a sit-down and relax.” I stalk off to the kitchen and find a bottle of Irish crème liqueur in the cabinet. There are about a dozen things I’ve got in this house to mix with it, but instead, I just sit down and drink it straight out of the bottle. Why not? I’m not going anywhere.
After all, this neighborhood is one huge cesspool of sin. It’s just best if I stay to myself or it might rub off on me.
Tasha
“Oh my god, thank you so much!” I’m so grateful to Karen Reynolds for saving me, and I instantly like her. If she hadn’t shown up when she did, I might’ve beaten Gloria Livingston to a bloody pulp.
“Don’t mention it. She’s been all over most of us at one time or another. By the way, the parties she was talking about? We have a large group of friends we spend time with every other Friday night. Sexy time.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re―”
“Let’s just say there are no secrets of any kind between any of us.”
“I see.” Then something crosses my mind. “Large group? How many is a―”
“As in six other couples.”
“Ah.” There’s really nothing else to say.
“We’re not the only ones having fun in the neighborhood either, although those aren’t my stories to tell.”
She seems safe enough. “Well, what she saw over our fence―”
Karen holds her hands up to stop me. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I know, but I don’t mind. We’re, um, we’re into, well, my partner is a furry.”
“Pony? Puppy? Kitty?” This is a shock. Someone knows about that?
“Pony.”
“I’ve always wondered about that. I mean, looks fascinating and like it would be a lot of fun.” She’s not being sarcastic; she’s being genuine in her interest.
“It is, for me anyway. But for him, well, it’s been very therapeutic.”
“I can see how that could be.” She smiles as she speaks, and it’s very comforting to me. “Oh, wait! I heard you tell her that you were getting ready to eat. I’m so sorry! I should go.”
“No, it’s okay! Really!” Something makes me want to talk to her, to get to know her better, but I’m sure there’ll be time for that later on.
“No, I should go. Go eat. But if you need me, I’m right over there,” she says, pointing to the nice home sitting almost directly across the street. “My husband’s name is Brett. Just let us know if we can do anything for you.”
“Same here,” I tell her. “My partner’s name is Davis. Maybe you could come over sometime for dessert or drinks?”
“That would be great! Just let me know. Talk to you soon!” she says as she skips down the steps and takes off toward her house.
I have an ally, and maybe even a new friend. Can’t have too many of those in this neighborhood.
I finally tell Davis about Gloria. I feel like I have to. It’s not fair to him. He’s involved in this too, and not telling him leaves him vulnerable to being caught out by her and not knowing what the hell’s going on, and that wouldn’t be fair to him. And I have to say, if she goes after him, I’ll kill her with my bare hands.
But it stresses him out, and I hate that, so I spend the evening brushing his hair. That always relaxes him, and I love doing it. It’s relaxing to me to just run my fingers through it. He’s a beautiful man, and I’m glad he’s finally happy.
At bedtime, I assume he’ll want to go downstairs to his stall. Instead, he asks, “Can I sleep in your room tonight?”
“Sure. Want to sleep on the floor or an air mattress?”
I love
the blush that spreads across his cheeks when he asks me, “Could I sleep in the bed? With you?”
I’m stunned―and thrilled. “Well, of course! I’d love that.” The idea of sleeping all night in his arms? That’s something I could never get enough of.
Dressed and ready, I climb in with him and, sure enough, he pulls me into his arms. The kisses he gives me turn hotter and longer, and I want more. Finally, he says, “I want you, Tash.” But when I try to get up on my elbows and knees, he just says, “No. I want to make love to you like everyone else does.”
“Not like a pony?” I’m surprised.
“No. I’m not afraid anymore. I want this to be just us. In love. Two people.” My heart sings. Davis is healing, and I’m part of it. This is all I’ve wanted for him, and I see it happening. I’m just hoping when it’s all over and done with and he’s whole and healthy, he’ll still want to be with me. As the thought passes through my mind, he stares into my eyes and he simply asks, “Forever?”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.” Stroking up and down his length with my hand, I finally position it where it needs to be and smile up at him. “Forever.” As his hardness and heat sink into me, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be and he’s the person I’m supposed to be with. “Ohhhh, Davis,” I moan into his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Tash. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
The car seems to point itself home on its own, but I turn it around and go back to the drug store on the corner. It only takes a few minutes, and I’m glad I remembered. Throwing my keys down in the bowl by the door and my bag down in the chair, I stroll into the kitchen. Davis has unloaded the dishwasher and is putting plates out, and the smell of something yummy fills the air. “What is that?”
“Chicken pot pie. Sounded good to me, so I thought I’d make some.”
“I didn’t know you’re a gourmet cook!” I laugh and kiss him.
“I’m not!” he laughs back and returns the kiss.
“Oh, look what I’ve got!” Envelope still in my hand, I hold it out and he takes it, then pulls the flap and opens it up.
The look on his face is indescribable, the joy there unimaginable. He pulls one out and holds it up to look at it, then hands it to me. “Look at us,” he whispers. “We look amazing.”
And there we are, me in my jodhpurs and white blouse, and Davis in his neoprene shorts and full leather regalia. We look lovely and relaxed and . happy.
A mistress and her pony. Forever.
Gloria
You just wait until I talk to that Cheryl Danvers. “Somebody’s been warning me about the gossips and snoops.” Is that what she said about me? Some minister she is.
“What are you fuming about over there, Gloria?” Russell asks me.
“Nothing. You don’t want to know,” I bark back at him.
He just smirks at me and says, “You’re right. I don’t.”
And once again, I’m the only one who really cares. So what’s new?
Thank you for reading Tasha and Davis , I hope you enjoyed their story. Follow along as Gloria does her best to find out what all of the neighbors are up to.
Lily and Brock at 343 Harper’s Cove (Harper’s Cove Series, Book Seven)
Stay in touch. For all the latest news, contests, exclusive content and more sign up for my newsletter: www.subscribepage.com/deanndrahall
About the Author
Deanndra Hall lives in far western Kentucky with her three silly little dogs and her long-suffering husband. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, eating and cooking healthy, and looking for chocolate she’s hidden away and forgotten about. More than anything else, she loves creating multi-dimensional characters who take over her brain and argue amongst themselves at traffic lights; thank goodness for Bluetooth headsets or she probably wouldn’t be walking the streets a free woman.
On the Web: www.deanndrahall.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/deanndra.hall
Twitter: twitter.com/DeanndraHall
Goodreads: goodreads.com/DeanndraHall
Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/deanndra-hall
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 3722,
Paducah, KY 42002-3722
Also by Deanndra Hall
The Love Under Construction Series
Laying a Foundation with prequel, The Groundbreaking
Tearing Down Walls
Renovating a Heart
Planning an Addition
The Citadel Series
One Simple Mistake
One Broken Promise
One Poor Choice
One Wrong Glance
The Legacy Series
Atonement
Legacy of Freedom
Legacy of Faithfulness
The Witch of Endor Series
Laid Bare
Ripped Open
Torn Apart
The Harper’s Cove Series
Karen and Brett at 326 Harper’s Cove
Becca and Greg at 314 Harper’s Cove
Donna and Connor at 228 Harper’s Cove
Savannah and Martin at 219 Harper’s Cove
Cheryl and Samuel at 323 Harper’s Cove
Tasha and Davis at 333 Harper’s Cove
Lily and Brock at 343 Harper’s Cove
Siobhán and Gabhain at 241 Harper's Cove
The Me, You, and Us Series
Adventurous Me
Unforgettable You
Incredible Us
The Celtic Fan (independent novel)
Rough Stock (part of the Bad Girls of Romance Series)
The Silent Cove Series
Awakening
Retribution, by Anne L. Parks
Banishing, by Jax Jillian
Tasha and Davis at 333 Harper's Cove Page 8
