Chapter 15 #2
Nodding, I reply, “And I get to pick mine.”
She thinks for a few seconds. “Well, part of me would love for another coffee to show up Monday morning at work, but I know you have work yourself. So, how about this… If I win, you have to mow my backyard like you offered. But you have to do it without your shirt on.”
I bark out a laugh.
Oaklee shrugs, her cheeks turning darker than I’ve ever witnessed. “I mean, if I’m going to sit on my back porch, sipping lemonade while you do manual labor, I might as well get a show.”
“Deal,” I agree readily. “Now, if I win,” I start, leveling her with a serious look of contemplation. “If I win, I get to mow your yard, shirtless, and at the end, you have to give me a kiss.”
She looks completely unamused. “If you win, you want to mow my yard?”
“Yep. I actually enjoy it, and if you think walking around your backyard without a shirt on so a gorgeous woman can gawk at me is a hardship, you would be completely wrong.”
“That’s dumb,” she retorts.
“It’s brilliant, because after I win, I’ll mow your yard and get a kiss as a thanks.”
Her eyes narrow a bit and she fights her smile. “You don’t think you would have gotten a kiss regardless?”
“Well, I didn’t want to assume. This way, when I win, it’s guaranteed.”
Shaking her head, she sighs. “Fine. If you win, you mow my yard shirtless, and I’ll give you a kiss. You have a deal.” Oaklee steps forward and extends her hand for me to shake.
“Deal.”
We play the game, shot for shot, and providing a little extra back-and-forth banter.
She distracts me by shaking her ass and dancing around.
I’ll admit, she easily achieves her goal, because I can’t keep my eyes off her.
But in the end, with one ball left on the table for each of us, I sink my last one and the eight ball.
I win.
“You cheated,” she declares, setting her pool stick down on the table.
I bark out a laugh. “How so? Because I wasn’t the one trying to completely distract the other one with boob shots when I bent over.”
She gasps and blushes. “I did no such thing!”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I raise an eyebrow. “You literally squeezed your boobs together when you were bent over the pool table and looked up at me.”
She giggles. “I was dancing to that song.”
Now it’s my turn to giggle. “Whatever, temptress. The fact remains; I won. Therefore, I shall be collecting my winnings shortly.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not really sure this can be considered a loss for me though.”
I give her a wink and move to where she stands. My hand wraps around her hip as I gently move her closer to me. “I told you; it’s a win-win.”
“Come on, let’s go up and say goodbye to Lizzie and Collin. I want to make sure I’m mowing in the heat of the day, so I get nice and sweaty while you’re ogling me shirtless.”
I love the chuckle that comes from her lips as we make our way back up to the bar.
The crowd cheers as the Bengals score six on a touchdown run, and even though I’d usually be front and center in front of the TV, watching the game, all I want to do is be near Oaklee. Even if that means mowing her yard.
“We’re taking off,” I say to my brother, who is now sitting at the end of the bar, off by himself where he can watch the TV and Lizzie at the same time.
“All right,” he replies, allowing me to pull him into a hug. I’m a hell of a lot more touchy-feely than he is, which is something he’s had to just deal with over the years.
“You go on shift tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yep.”
“Well, be careful. I’ll see ya when you get home Wednesday,” I say.
My twin is a full-time firefighter and works forty-eight-hour shifts.
It can be long, grueling work, sleeping when you can in a bunk with a bunch of other firefighters, but he loves it.
It’s been his calling ever since he enlisted in the Air Force.
I throw Lizzie a wave as Oaklee runs behind the bar and gives her a hug, and then we head out together. Since we ate a late lunch at the diner down the block, my truck is parked right out front. I help her climb inside the cab and a minute later, we’re headed back to her house.
So I can mow her yard.
Shirtless.
And collect my winning kiss.
* * *
I’m the first person to use her new electric mower, and I admit, it’s a nice little machine. It covered the ground in her backyard easily, the battery still having life left in it by the time I’m done.
When I stop the machine, I can’t help but glance up to her small back porch. She’s sitting in one of her kitchen chairs, since she doesn’t have anything back here yet, and smiling, sipping her lemonade. She’s definitely enjoying the show.
I put the mower back in the garage, removing the battery so it can charge, and head back out to where she’s seated. As I approach, she hands me a second glass of lemonade. “Nicely done, Mr. Miller.”
I chug half the contents of the glass, not because I’m thirsty, but simply for the fact she’s eyeing me like a piece of steak, and she’s starving. “I’m glad you like it.”
She grins over the rim of her glass. “The view is definitely…appreciated.”
I chuckle a gravelly sound and shake my head. “I’m happy to be of ogling service. Anytime you need some eye candy, just give me a call.”
“Will do.”
Glancing at my watch, I realize it’s pushing six and I need to head out.
The last thing I want to do is overstay my welcome, even if I was invited.
I’m trying to take this whole thing at her pace, and that means not rushing or pushing the boundaries.
She may have consented to some kisses, but we haven’t talked about anything more.
Right now, I need to just leave her with a little tease and the thought of more.
“I should head back home. I have a few things I need to do to prep for work tomorrow. You know, another long day of women objectifying me.”
She shakes her head. “So, you operate your big machine without a shirt on too?”
I step forward, hold her gaze, and lower my voice. “Honey, I do my best work with my big machine without my shirt on.” By the time I wink, she’s already starting to blush.
Taking a single step back, I prepare to head out to my truck.
“Wait, where are you going?” she hollers before I can retreat down the steps.
“Home.”
“But…what about the rest of your winnings?”
I smile, my hands shoved in the pockets of my jeans. “Only if it’s still on the table. I don’t want to push.”
She sets down her glass of lemonade and approaches, holding my gaze with every step she takes. “It’s still on the table.”
Then, she goes up on her tiptoes, places her hands on my chest, and presses her lips to mine.
It’s a chaste kiss, but one of the best I’ve ever had.
I’m fully prepared to let it be just that when her left hand moves up to my jaw and slides along the roughness on my cheek.
Her mouth opens and her tongue slips out, dancing against my lips.
I open immediately, letting her taste wash over me.
She slows her movements and pulls back. Her eyes twinkle as she gazes up at me, a faint smile on her freshly kissed lips. “Thank you, Cade.”
“I’d come mow every single day if I needed to. I’d even do it with scissors.”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Have a good day at work tomorrow,” I tell her.
“You too. Be safe.”
“Always.” And with that, I turn and walk down her steps and follow the sidewalk to the driveway. There’s a smug smile on my face the entire way.
Best. Bet. Ever.