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“Danielle!” I whisper-yelled at her.
“Okay, okay. I’ll stop. Jeez.”
A third time, I rang the bell, but this time, I heard footsteps. Lovely! I smiled brightly, holding the basket of baked goods before me as the front door opened.
“Well, hello there.” The man who greeted us stood in the doorway, forearm perched against the door frame above his head like he’d been modeling his whole life. Hell, with looks like those he likely had been.
“Well, hello to you, too.” Danielle was flirting, outright flirting, with her tinkling laughter.
“What can I do for the two of you today?” The stranger asked us.
“We are neighbors from down the street,” I began. “We just wanted to bring something of a welcoming gift to you and your….” I trailed off, leaving him the opportunity to fill in the blank, however suited him best.
“Just me, and I thank you both.” He reached for the basket in my hands, and our fingers grazed lightly. A spark of electricity zapped between us at the touch, and my eyes jolted to his. I could feel the blush tinge my cheeks.
“Static electricity,” I said with a shrug. “And you are most welcome. We hope you find Apple Grove to your liking, and should you have any questions, I’m right down the street there. The large gray house with the wrap-around porch.”
“Thank you — I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Sadie. Sadie Day.”
“Nice to meet you, Sadie.” I didn’t miss the way his eyes moved over my curves, accentuated by my dress.
“AndI’mDanielle Jacobs, not that Sadie remembered to introduce us.” She stuck her hand out for him to shake, but as his fingers wrapped around her hand, he pulled her up closer, kissing the back of it with a decidedly Southern kind of charm.
“Pleased to meet you both. I’d invite you in, but I’m just getting to sleep after a long night of… work.”
I didn’t miss that pause he made, or the way the corner of his mouth lifted in the barest hint of a smirk.
“Well, we surely don’t want to impose. Should you need anything, you know where to find us. Good day to you, Mr…” And I realized I had not even thought to ask his name.
“I’m Thatcher. Thatcher Wells.”
“Right. Have a nice day, Mr. Wells.”
“You too, Ma’am,” He chuckled, and gave a little nod as he disappeared back into his house.
I turned on my heel to leave, trying to ignore the little flip-flop my stomach did as he used the respectful term, and literally dragged Danielle behind me as she all but drooled over the new member of the Apple Grove community.
Not that I could blame her.
* * *
“I don’t knowhow you make a perfect pie every single time, Sadie-bug,” Jamie said as he finished the last bite of his slice. I could tell by the look on his face he was debating whether or not to literally lick the plate clean. He had already licked his fork clean twice over.
“Anything for you, Jamie. You know that. Do you think you’ll have everything ready in time for the launch?” I asked, taking his plate and carrying it to the dishwasher.
“There is only one more tweak to make logistically, so as long as no one breaks anything important before then, we should be good to go.” He sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms over his head. “You’re heading out tonight, right?”
“I am,” I answered. I searched his face, as I always did, for signs of disappointment. As usual, there was not a trace to be found.
“Would you like my help as you prepare?” he asked, a genuine smile gracing his handsome face. Hewasan incredibly handsome man. Only a few inches taller than me, with dark eyes that matched his dark hair. He was beginning to show some slight hints of silver just at his temples, even though he was only in his early thirties.
“I would love nothing more, sweetheart.” I walked back over to him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as I stood behind his chair and kissed the top of his head. His hands found mine, holding them within his tender grasp. Yes, I was truly a blessed woman to have found a man like Jamie. Never had there been a more understanding and loving soul on this Earth than him.
He helped me, as he normally did, to prepare for my evening. He dried my body as I stepped out of the shower, rubbed lotion into my skin, and even helped to curl my long, vibrant red hair into a style reminiscent of old Hollywood glamor. As I sat at my vanity in our bedroom, him brushing out my curls until they hung gently down my back, I put the final touches on my makeup. I was the picture of a pinup girl: pristine makeup, pristine hair. Now for the perfect clothing.
Jamie had already laid my preferred outfit on the bed, ready for me to don only moments before I left the house. The sheer material of the black thigh highs smoothed over my legs with ease, gliding sensually over my skin like a lover’s touch, before I affixed them to the black garter on my hips. The corseted top matched the garter to perfection. I preferred them in separate pieces, finding it easier to move than corsets that came with garter attachments included. I stepped easily into the ruby red heels as Jamie took his place behind me, expertly tightening the corset laces with practiced ease, cinching my waist to a fraction of its normal size.
