Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Cliff
Tears pricked at my eyes as I hammered the cross into place. The carved name stared at me, reminding me every second why I was building it in the first place.
Wally.
My dog of fifteen years.
Cancer took him in the end.
About a month ago, I took him to the vet, as he had trouble breathing and didn’t want to eat much.
They found lumps in his throat and the blood work came back, detecting the cruel disease.
We tried medication to shrink the lumps but unfortunately, he was too old for chemotherapy.
He declined quickly and next thing I knew, I was at the vet saying my goodbyes.
It was harder than I ever imagined.
My parents gifted me Wally when I was a junior in high school, as their health declined. They were in their forties when they had me, a last-ditch effort to have children, and didn’t lead very healthy lives. By their sixties, the alcoholism they both suffered from took them down.
Wally got me through all of it. Their decline, their eventual passing away to me taking over their cabin here in Appleridge where they raised me.
How will I survive without him?
Tears spilled down my cheeks, unable to hold them back any longer, as I finished with the hammer.
A small cross stood proudly along the back fence. I dug a hole beside it and buried his favorite ball. Inside, I kept his urn on my mantle, along with his picture and a tuff of hair. But he loved being outside the most, fetching his ball.
“Excuse me? Do you realize what time it is?”
A voice came from behind me and I whirled around, surprised to see someone in my yard.
A woman at that.
Where the hell did she come from?
She stood there, hands on her hips, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head.
Beautiful.
I blinked. Wait. She was the woman from yesterday.
The one in the store.
Shit.
I quickly regained my footing, swiped at my tears, and shifted my feet. “Excuse me? Who said you could come into my yard?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Did she have to be so damn sexy? I couldn’t concentrate. “I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t making such a racket. It’s only eight thirty! Some people like to sleep, you know.”
“That’s early enough. Can’t you see what I’m doing here?” I stepped back and gestured towards the cross.
Her eyes flicked over, then back to me and again. Her features softened and her hands fell to her sides as her shoulders collapsed.
“I’ll take your silence as an apology.” I retorted as I cleaned up the wood and tools I used. “I’m done now. You can go back to sleep.”
I brushed past her, trying to ignore the crazy attraction towards her, my body reacting to everything, while my mind screamed. She pissed me off, yet it embarrassed me at how I treated her in the store yesterday, and not only that, but she was also gorgeous. Sexy. Delicious looking.
Her curves, her eyes, her long hair…
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were building something special. I’m just annoyed you woke me up. And since you have a history of being rude, it annoyed me even more.”
“A history of being rude?”
“Do you not remember me from the market yesterday?”
I released a sigh. “Look, I just had to put down my dog of fifteen years. Sorry if I can’t be happy-go-lucky right now, but life sucks. Shall I say, have the day you deserve?”
As I turned to go, she reached out and placed her hand on my arm.
I froze.
Not my heart, though. It jumped into overtime.
It pumped so loud in my chest, she had to have heard it.
“Your dog died? I’m so sorry.” She squeezed my arm and when I met her eyes, they melted into mine, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
“Thank you,” I grunted, my voice rough. “He was my best friend since I was a teen. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I know. Losing a pet is awful. I can understand why you’d be grumpy. If you need anything, let me know, okay? My name is Nellie and I’m renting the cabin next door for a few months.”
“Thanks. I’m Cliff.”
Nellie dropped her hand, and the warmth left instantly. I wanted it back. “Nice to meet you, Cliff.”
She turned to go, and I watched her walk away, her ass on full display in her tight pajama pants.
An urge to kiss her hit me sideways. Maybe it was the grief, the loneliness from Wally’s absence, or just her, but whatever it came on so strong. Palpable. Earth shattering.
And simply irresistible.
I dropped my toolbox and jogged over to her, nearing the fence door.
“Wait, Nellie, there is something I need…”
She whirled around, her eyes wide and doe like, her mouth plump and full, parted slightly open. “Yes?” She breathed and my dick stirred to life in my pants.
It had been so long, so so long, since I’d felt anything for anyone.
Yet here she stood, making me feel everything.
I took her hand and wrapped mine around it, swallowing hers whole as I stepped closer, closing the distance between us.
Nellie gasped as I dipped my head lower.
Our mouths were mere inches apart.
“Can I kiss you?” I whispered against her lips.
She responded with a simple nod, and I dove in, pressing my lips to hers.
Gentle at first, I kissed her softly, with only our mouths moving, finding an easy rhythm. As if we’ve kissed a thousand times before.
I rested my hands on her hips and dug my fingers into her soft fleshy sides as I slowly moved my tongue inside, connecting with hers. Our tongues danced together, their own little ditty, as we tasted and explored.
Nellie tasted like sweet honey, addictive and mind-blowing, easy to become all-consuming.
I groaned as I deepened the kiss, wanting to take her inside, put her in my bed, and never let go.
Instead, I savored her for as long as I could.