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He didn’t appear to believe me as he went through his texts, but after confirming that he was expecting a caretaker named Chad, he relaxed his demeanor.
“Marla, Mr. Hicks’ designer, just left and a car hauler is dropping off three vehicles in the driveway,” he updated. “But I imagine you know that already.”
“Two BMWs and one Benz, correct?” I asked. “Black, Gray, and a bright red one, I believe.”
“I guess you are the caretaker,” he said. I grinned and stepped past him. “You look quite young,” he added as I walked past.
After his remark, I stopped and turned around. “I get that a lot,” I said, looking down at my board shorts and naked upper body. “I guess I don’t exactly dress for the job,” I joked.
“Have you met Mr. Hicks?” he asked, moving his eyes over my body.
“Not yet,” I replied. “But I’m looking forward to it later today.”
“He’s a formal man,” he advised, not hiding his disdain for my lack of clothes. However, he kept his eyes locked on my skin a bit too long for a person trying to act all uppity with me. I had the feeling he liked what he saw.
“Sounds great,” I said. “Then Mr. Hicks will fit in fine with the new house. Nice talking with you, and have an awesome day, my friend.”
He looked at me like I’d insulted him, but that wasn’t my thing. I didn’t have time for pettiness and being rude. I truly wanted him to have an awesome day. “Later,” I added, turning and making my way up the path.
The three cars sat in the driveway and their keys had been slipped through the mail slot in the front door, so I grabbed them and set about washing the cars before garaging them. I figured Mr. Hicks would appreciate having his fleet shining and ready to drive when he arrived at his new home.
I was almost finished washing the third car, headphones in my ear, when my eyes caught a vehicle in my peripheral vision parking near the garage about fifty yards away. I removed my ear pods and waited to see who it was. The white SUV had dark tinted windows, so I couldn’t make out the driver or passengers. Maybe this was Mr. Hicks and family.
I grabbed a towel and wiped the perspiration from my chest and brow. I really hoped this wasn’t Mr. Hicks because I looked awful. Board shorts barely hanging on my hips, my long blond hair shaggy and disheveled, and sweating from washing three vehicles in the hot sun. I imagined I made quite an impression on whoever was still inside the SUV. They remained inside the vehicle for what seemed like forever. I nervously stood there, feeling self-conscious, and waited.
Finally, the door opened. My breath hitched, and I immediately felt underdressed and unprepared for what now stood in the driveway. He was tall. At least a couple of inches over six feet. Black hair, styled to perfection, cut above his ears and combed back from his face. His face was square-jawed with a cleft in his chin and a five-o’clock shadow was at about three-fifteen.
He was dressed impeccably. I recognized money when I saw it. My father dressed like this man, looked like this man. I’d seen this look many times, and I liked it. A tight black T-shirt hid an obviously sculpted chest. Large biceps were indecently trying to break out of the short-sleeved cotton tee. A trim waist divided the upper body from the manly lower half. He wore tight-fitting golf shorts in a complementing dark gray color. Muscular and tan legs supported the entire heavenly project. I’d only once seen a man this gorgeous. That man was my friend Perry Jackson.
However, I knew the moment I laid eyes on Perry back then that he wasn’t meant for me. I just couldn’t say the same thing about this man. I wasn’t ready for love, couldn’t think of love, and didn’t need to start anything resembling love, but this specimen of masculinity would test my strength of giving myself more time to heal. He was really something. Thank God he was probably married. I couldn’t imagine what the wife looked like as I waited for the rest of the family to pile out of the expensive family-sized SUV.
“Chad, I assume?” a deep and rich voice pondered. He sounded like he looked. Manly.
“Yes, sir. Are you Mr. Hicks?” I asked, stepping toward the SUV, anticipating meeting others. I stepped by him, acutely aware I looked far too casual for a first meeting with the boss, and tried to open a back door, but it was locked. Then the rear hatch popped open after he pressed a button on his keys. I hurried to the open hatch to retrieve the luggage, looking inside for the other passengers. Other than luggage, the vehicle was empty inside.
“Are you alone, sir?”
“Yes. Were you expecting others?” he asked, removing his sunglasses and studying me.
My knees went weak as soon as we locked eyes. His were deep blue. They stood out against his tan face. The color was unnerving. Almost like staring over the edge of a boat and into a deep blue abyss, unable to perceive depth or distance. They, like him, were stunning to behold. I needed to get a grip. Was I slobbering?
“I wasn’t sure, sir. Is your family coming later?” I asked. “I haven’t gone inside yet, so I’m not sure if you even have a family,” I blabbered, really unlike myself. I didn’t blather in front of pleasing-to-look-at people. I’d seen a million beautiful people. He was no exception. But this had to be because I was unprepared for this surprise. The new neighbor. The well-paying job, and him. And what a him he was. All of it was wonderful.
“I’ll be living here alone,” he said. “No family. No spouse. Just me.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied, wondering why his news warranted an apology. I’d figured a man like him would naturally have it all. A family included.
“No need to feel sorry for me, Chad. I’ve gotten used to it.”
He seemed sad. I sensed a loss surrounding him and I immediately wanted to know everything about him and his perceived sadness. Stop it, Chad. Remember what Dad said. Chill the heck out.
I regained my composure and pulled his luggage from the SUV. “Shall I take these inside?” I asked. He nodded. “And is the master bedroom above the deck that I saw from the beach?”
“I think it is. All the furnishings should be set up,” he advised. “Some new and some old I had in New York.”
“I’ll take it up now, sir.”
He moved to my side and reached up to close the rear hatch. He smelled amazing. I wondered how I smelled. “I’ll get the front door,” he said, stepping around me and heading up the walkway.
