Chapter 1
“How’s the new house?” Stacy seemed excited
“Slowly getting unpacked; I can’t wait for you to come visit! You would love it out here!” I smiled into the phone, leaving our family and friends was so hard, and leaving Stacy sucked worse, she was my best friend since I was 10 years old
“I can’t wait to see it! How was the drive? How were the kids?”
“It was long, but the kids were good; Owen worried me for a while… you know how he hates long drives and my driving” I chuckled
“I don’t know how you do it” she chuckled “Tell me about the neighborhood. It looks beautiful in the pictures! Have you met your neighbors yet?”
“GURL! The neighborhood is amazing, everyone we’ve met so far has just been so nice; even the hottie next door that Owen has befriended” I sighed
“Oh! Hottie next door? I need details” she sing sang
“Stac… I haven’t met him yet; I just saw them talking in front of the house yesterday, he’s about O’s height and build, probably close to O’s size but you can tell he does or did hard labor for work… gives the dad bod a whole new meaning. I guess he’s got some big construction company or something, around here. I almost ran over one of the kids gawking at him in his tank top and shorts” I laughed
“Take a picture next time! Find out if he’s single so I can mingle when I come visit” She giggled
“I think he is? O said something about his girls being close in age to ours and then having a playdate when they come” I shook my head “Gage I believe his name is”
“I will be looking at flights so I can see this six-foot hot dad bod” She chuckled
“He’s probably married or has a girlfriend or something. A guy like that usually has a little black book or a waitlist” I scoffed
“You are in the country now so maybe not” she laughed
“We are not in the country” I laughed hard
“MOM” one of the girls yelled
“Hang on Stac” I put the phone against my chest “What?” I yelled
“Can Sarah and Dani come over?” The other yelled back
“I don’t know who they are but sure” I rolled my eyes
“They are the neighbors, mom!” One sighed like I was a fucking idiot
“Have kids they said… it’ll be fun they said” I sighed into the phone
“It’s that age where they know everything” Stacy giggled
“It’s that age where I’m going to start giving them the attitude back” I sighed “At least they are making friends and I don’t have to drive and sit at someone else’s house” I chuckled
“Did Owen head out?”
“Yeah he left this morning; we got all the heavy shit done as soon as the moving truck left. Now it’s just putting shit away and unpacking the rest of the stuff” I looked at all the random boxes scattered around
“One box at a time, don’t rush and overwhelm yourself”
“Thanks, that’s my plan; shit that’s the doorbell. I’ll call you later sis” I sighed walking to the door as Stacy said bye
“I’m guessing you’re Sarah and Dani?” I smiled as I opened the door
“Yeah,” they said in unison
“Willow and Nieve are downstairs” I held the door open
They waved off to the side and I looked, Gage stood there in his driveway. Fuck he was shirtless with sunglasses on; I smiled and waived as the girls ran inside and down to the basement, Gage gave me this nod and a smile as I closed the screen door.
I liked the sound of the girl's laughter filling the house, I was glad they made friends so fast. I went back to unpacking the kitchen and organizing everything, it was apparent that they didn't build this house for short people; I would have to stand on the counters to reach the top shelf of the cabinets. I would save climbing on the counters for tomorrow. The girls came up asking for drinks and snacks as I put groceries away in the pantry and said that they were going to be in the backyard. I put some music on as I went about breaking down boxes and trying to make a list of things I needed to get done before Owen got back. The couple across the street that I met said there was a community group page on mybook that I was waiting for approval to join so I could find a handyman.
I was just about to see if Sarah and Dani wanted to stay for dinner when the doorbell rang again
“Hey!” I smiled at Gage as I walked to the screen door
“I thought you and the girls might be hungry so I brought some hamburgers and hot dogs” he smiled
God, he even sounded hot
“Come in, sorry it's still a mess; I was just about to ask your girls if they wanted to stay for dinner” I forced a smile as I opened the door for him
He followed me into the kitchen as I yelled out the back door for the girls.
“Heather right?” he smiled as he set the small tray down
“Yep. Do you want something to drink? I've got soda and lemonade. Sorry I don't have any beer” I pointed toward the fridge
“I'm good. Owen got out of doing all the fun stuff” he smirked
“It's probably better he's not here while I unpack and organize. I'll have it all done by the time he gets home” I smiled as the girls filed in
I set the girls up at the table to eat and stood at the counter with Gage eating. While the girls were talking, Gage told me about the neighborhood and the area. He was indeed single and shared custody of his girls with his ex-wife; had his own construction business as well. I told him his girls were welcome here anytime and I was always home if they needed anything. The girls wanted to stay and play a bit longer, I was fine with that as long as he was and I would make sure they made it next door okay in an hour or so. I made sure to thank Gage again for dinner, promising that once my kitchen was in order I would make him something.
It wasn't long after I made sure his girls got home okay that I got a friend request from him on mybook. Once I got my girls out of the bath and ready for bed Owen video called so they could talk to him before bed time. I loved that even when he had to be away from work he always made the time to do bedtime with me even if it was over the phone.
“Your boyfriend brought us dinner tonight” I snickered
“Yeah, my boyfriend” he chuckled shaking his head at me “He seems like a decent guy”
“He’s nice” I agreed
“Don’t forget the security system picks up all activity” he laughed
“Good. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight without you” I pouted
“You have a whole king sized bed to yourself for a week. I’m sure you’ll survive” he rolled his eyes
“But I don’t have you to cuddle up to” I batted my eyes
“Ha. Don’t forget to get in that group and find a handyman to get the curtains up and the shower heads changed please” he smiled
“I already found the group and requested to be a member and sent it to you. As soon as they approve me I can make a post and ask. It’s Sunday so I’m not sure how long it’ll take them” I sighed
We talked a bit more before he had to get to sleep and I was ready to pass out.
Since the kids across the street went to the same school as Willow and Nieve they all walked together the past couple of days. It was finally Wednesday when I got approved into the neighborhood group and was able to post asking if anyone had a handyman they could recommend. It had only been up for a hour or so when I got a notification that Gage commented on my post ‘I’ll be over after work’. Well then. I text Owen to tell him and sent him a screenshot asking why I felt like I was in trouble. He laughed and said that was awesome and that he was going to text Gage.
I just put dinner in the oven when the door bell rang
“Why didn’t you tell me Sunday when I was here that you needed stuff done” he crossed his arms
This was the first time I’ve seen him without his sunglasses on and in a t-shirt and jeans
“I didn’t think about it” I stared at those beautiful hazel eyes as I motioned for him to come in
“What do you need done?” He looked back at me
“Uhm… I need some curtain rods hung and the shower heads changed in the bathrooms. I have all the stuff I just need it done” I sighed
“Like I told Owen, just let me know what you need help with. That’s what neighbors are for” he smiled at me
I showed him the curtain rods I had and the shower heads, he said he would get the curtains done today and then tomorrow or Friday he would do the shower heads; glad I had the curtains washed and ready to be hung. I made him stop to eat dinner with us and take some home for lunch tomorrow since he wouldn’t take any cash. Owen was happy to have the curtains hung when he video called, the girls liked having their rooms nice and dark to sleep. Once I got off the phone with O, I took a shower so it was one less thing to do tomorrow. I don’t know if it was a week without fucking Owen or Gage’s eyes that kept watching me but I was way sexually overcharged. I grabbed my dildo from my nightstand drawer to use in the shower, kill two birds with one stone. I tried everything in my power to keep my mind on my usual thoughts, Owen in a mask fucking me from behind, Owen as a monster of some sort fucking me into oblivion, hell I even tried thinking of my celebrity crush but Gage kept circling in my mind. His heavy gaze, the little smirk he had on his face as we talked. That made me orgasm hard, even made my legs shake.
The girls took their sweet time getting ready this morning and were almost late, I had to walk them out in my bath robe. I had just gotten back inside and refreshed my coffee before I tossed my robe on the bed. I was in a old band tshirt from high school that barely fit across my chest and barely covered my mom belly and tiny shorts that I didn’t wear outside of the house because half my ass hung out. My brown hair was in a messy bun and I was sure I still had sleep in my eyes. The fucking doorbell rang. I thought it was my package being delivered of the new plant stand I ordered but no; it had to be fucking Gage. We stared at each other for a moment, I’m sure I had a mortifying look on my face as his eyes were glued to my tits.
“I… I… think I left my drill” his eyes finally met mine
I unlocked the door as he opened it and crossed my arms in a sad attempt to hide my boobs. He made a b-line to the patio doors and grabbed his drill and walked back.
“I’ll come by after work to change the shower heads” he smiled
“Ok” was all I could muster
I closed the door and listened to his truck rumble down the street as I groaned in embarrassment locking back up.
‘I don’t think your boyfriend will be back to fix the shower heads’ I text Owen teasing
‘What did you do?’ He sent a laughing emoji
‘Apparently he left his drill here yesterday and this is how I answered the door because I thought it was a package’
I sent him a picture of how I looked
He just replied with laughing emoji’s
‘Not funny’ I rolled my eyes
‘I’m sure he didn’t notice’
‘Ha. But thanks for trying. Just hurry up and get home’
‘I will be home tomorrow early afternoon’
I sighed before screaming into my pillow.
The rest of the afternoon I managed to force myself to forget about this morning and finished getting boxes broken down and the house cleaned for Owen getting home tomorrow. My plant stand came and I got that put together and my plants watered and set out. The girls got home from school and were going across the street to play for a little while. I left the front door open for them and Gage when he got here. I had dinner prepped and I just got myself up on the counters to straighten out my pathos plant across the top of the kitchen cabinets when the bell rang.
“Gage?” I yelled
“Yeah”
“It’s open” I sighed to myself
The door opened and closed
“What the hell are you doing woman!” He dropped his tool bag and raced over to me, his hands going to my thighs
“I was just fixing my plant, I’m fine” I assured him as I felt the blush creeping in
“Please get down. I can do that” he sounded nervous almost
I sighed “I’m done”
He held on to the outside of my thighs as I turned around and put my hands on his shoulders. I went to kneel so I could jump down, Gage slid his hands to my waist and fucking lifted me off the counter
“Oh my god. Don’t do that” I freaked as he set my feet on the floor “You could have hurt yourself” I scolded
He stared at me with this amused look on his face, as he had me caged between his arms against the counter.
“You could have gotten hurt falling off the counter” his eyes locked on mine
“Short girl problems” I forced a smile
I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest, his head leaned in a little closer to mine before he pushed off the counter
“I’ll start in the girls bathroom” he grabbed a shower head and his tool bag “Oh and Metallica is one of my favorite bands” he smiled before he walked away
Oh. My. God.
I forced myself to be busy to not think of how incredibly turned on and embarrassed I was at the moment. Metallica was the band on the t-shirt I was wearing this morning. Mortified. He handed me the old shower head from the girls bathroom and I showed him into our bathroom before I went back to the kitchen. I just couldn’t be near him right now.
“Hey Heather?” He called
“Yeah?” I walked into the bedroom
“I know it’s not my business but how long have you and Owen been together?” He had this weird look on his face
“15 years total” I gave him a why look
“Everything okay between you two?” He was trying not to smirk
“Yeah? Why?” I was confused
“Does he not…” he stared at me “Get you off?” He grinned
“What!” I looked at him astonished at what he just asked
“Your… shower friend” he nodded towards the bathroom
Oh. My. God. I was internally face palming myself
“A girl has needs and Bob makes it easier when he travels” this is punishment for every bad thing I did in my life wasn’t it?
“Bob?” He chuckled
“Battery Operated Boyfriend” I smirked
