I'd be more than happy to help her unwind.
It took less than 24 hours after meeting her for me to give in and stop fighting the insane attraction I felt for my prissy little neighbor.
Prissy, uptight and priggish.
Damn though, the girl was fine.
And come hell or high water, she was going to be mine.
I waited under the bike long enough for her to swish back this way. I wanted to have a second look. She was wearing a different t-shirt today. This one was really old and worn in, making it nearly see through. Probably hadn't done laundry in a while, what with the big test she was studying for.
She was a hard ass worker, there was no doubt about that.
I felt my mouth go dry, thinking about how soft that shirt must be. I'd love to get my hands on it. To feel her luscious tits through the shirt, maybe tease her a little before I slowly lifted it over her head.
"Hunter!"
I sat up sharply, banging my head on the underside of the bike.
My sweet neighbor Ellie was on her stoop waving something at me. Breakfast it looked like. I grinned and waved her over. I couldn't stand up at the moment without showing off the giant tent in front of my pants.
I saw Callie run inside from the corner of my eye.
Damn.
It was a good thing those muffins were so good. It was almost worth missing those legs go by.
Almost.
Chapter Five
Callie
I rubbed my shoulder with one hand and turned pages with the other. Thankfully I'd taken copious notes throughout the years at Nursing School, knowing that this day would come. Two weeks from tomorrow in fact.
My NCLEX test. Once I passed I would be a licensed RN. The real deal. I could work in a hospital, saving people. Helping. Being useful.
I stared at the page, letting my mind wander. People would take me seriously as a nurse. And better yet, I'd be able to financially look after myself and Nan.
I blinked and the world went dark. Really dark. I held up my hand inches from my face and couldn't see even a trace of it.
"What the?"
I took a deep breath.
Don't panic Callie, it's just a blackout.
Just then a loud sound came from the kitchen. It sounded like someone falling. The whimper that followed set my heart racing.
"Gran!"
I was on my feet and running unerringly through the dark house. A soft blue light flashed from the living room. The ancient VCR must have some sort of battery in it. It was literally the only thing I could see in the whole place. Even the streetlights out side were out.
How utterly useless.
"Gran?"
"I'm here. In the kitchen."
Shit. Gran's voice sounded weak. I forced myself to stay calm, going into nurse mode. I crouched low, feeling around the room until I found Gran on the floor.
"Are you alright?"
"I think so. I just-well I can't seem to stand up."
"Hold on, let me get a flash light."
"There's one in the drawer next to the stove."
I rustled around for a few minutes before I felt my hand close around the plastic cylinder. I pressed the button and thank the good lord, it worked.
"Gran? Oh God Gran."
My Grandmother was sprawled on the floor. Her face was twisted in pain, even though she was trying to hide it. I ran over to her and quickly did an examination, pressing along her bones and checking her pulse.
"Does this hurt? What about this?"
"No-no- ow-yes there."
"Is it a burning pain or a sharp pain?"
"Sharp-ow!"
"Okay, that's good. I think it's a sprain. Nothing is broken, thank God. You okay to get up? I'd like to have another look with you in the chair. Let me do the heavy lifting…"
I eased Gran into the seat and examined her again.
"We can't go anywhere in this blackout."
"We've been getting a lot of them lately."
I stared at her in the dim light of the flashlight. I was trying to think. I hated the thought that she'd been living like this and not telling me. I knew she hated to make me worry.
"How long do they usually last?"
"Anywhere from an hour to three days a couple of years ago."
I chewed my lip. I couldn't drive around the city with Gran in the dark. It was dangerous. If it was just a sprain she'd probably be alright after a few days anyway.
"Okay. Let's ice it for fifteen minutes. That's the magic number, anything longer can make it worse. Then I'll wrap it and see if I can find some pain killers."
"I have tylenol."
"Hmmm… I'm not sure that's going to cut it. What about candles?"
"There should be some on the top shelf."
"Everything okay?"
I turned to see Hunter standing in the doorway.
I couldn't help it. My heart leapt at the sight of him.
Chapter Six
Hunter
Damn, she was a sight for sore eyes. Callie looked beautiful, as usual. But she almost looked happy to see me.
That was a first.
I had ridden home as fast as I could when the blackout started. There were already riots starting all over the county. I hadn't liked the thought of Callie here unattended with her Gran.
I'd already started thinking about her as belonging to me, even if she didn't know it yet. She would though. Soon.
Very fucking soon.
I grinned. I was right. Damned if the girl didn't look glad to see me for half a second. Before the disapproving look settled over her face again.
"Didn't mean to scare you but the door was unlocked. I was worried."
"It's okay Hunter. I told you that you're always welcome to stop by."
I smiled at Ellie, choosing to ignore her cranky Granddaughter. Women hated to be ignored. Of course I wasn't really ignoring her, I was just pretending to ignore her.
I couldn't ignore Callie if I was in a damn coma.
"So, can I get you ladies anything?"
"I'm getting some ice for Gran. Maybe you could help us get the candles down? They're on the top shelf."
I reached up into the cabinet and pulled down the candles. I used my Club zippo to light them, setting them on the kitchen table.
"You alright, Ellie?"
"She'll be okay, it's just a sprain. She needs something for the pain though."
"That I can help you with. Hold on, I'll be right back."
"Wait-do you want the flashlight?"
I grinned at Callie. She'd followed me out the door to the street. How sweet.
"It's okay. I have excellent night vision."
I could tell by the look on her face that the implications of that were clear. Yes girl, I am talking about that. I ran inside my house and got the stuff, smiling the whole time. Callie sure did shock easily. She was a prissy little thing, but in a weird way, I liked it.
I'd love to really make her blush one of these days.
Maybe tonight.
A full body blush would be quite the sight to see.
I was back at Eleanor's house in less than five minutes.
"Here we go ladies. Pain killer."
The two women stared blankly at the bottle of tequila I'd put on the kitchen table.
"What? It works, believe me."
"Gran can't drink excessively."
"Oh hush child, I'm fine. Hand me a shot glass will you Hunter? In the cabinet over the fridge."