“Just be quick about it.It’s getting too quiet around here.”
“Am I mistaken, or are you missing me, brother?”Jack was touched.They were all as close as brothers, but it wasn’t like they said they loved each other or anything.For a group of guys, all from different branches, they all got along pretty well.Nick knew what he was doing when he’d teamed them up together.
“I didn’t say that.”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Shut up and get to work.”
“Yes, sir.”Jack chuckled and hung up, feeling lighter than he had a little while ago.Now all he had to do was come up with a plan involving Andrea’s help.
Chapter 6
Andrea was jolted awake by pounding on the door.She groaned, rolling over in bed to her nightstand and searching for her phone.Her hand connected with it but managed to knock it off the stand; it crashed onto the floor.
“Shit,” Andrea grumbled, hoping she hadn’t cracked the screen on the tile floor.She peeked over the bed but didn’t see it.Tossing the covers off, Andrea got out of bed and searched the floor, finally finding her phone under the bed.Thankfully, there was no scratch, but that relief was short lived when she saw the time.It was barely after eight in the morning.Who was knocking on her door at this hour?As if to make a point, there was another pounding on the door.“For crying out loud.”Andrea tossed her phone on the bed and stormed down the hallway to tear open the door without checking who was outside first.She was too upset about her beauty sleep being ruined to have a care at the moment.
It wasn’t a burglar; they wouldn’t take the time to knock on your door before robbing you.Which meant it was a door to door salesman or Mrs.Krantz.
“Hi,” Michael greeted with what she was coming to realize was his signature grin.He didn’t seem to care that she was glaring at him with bedhead and no makeup on.It wasn’t fair how gorgeous he looked even in just a pale blue shirt and board shorts.A gentle breeze teased his short curly blond hair, while she stood in the doorway in her pajamas and had bedhead.
“What are you doing here?”She thought she had gotten rid of him last night, unless this was some sort of revenge for walking away when she did.
“I suppose asking to borrow some sugar would be too much?”
Not what she’d expected him to say.“Yes,” she chuckled, startled by her own reaction.She couldn’t remember the last time she had smiled or laughed.Somehow, that was even sadder.But he’d caught her off guard with that ridiculous question.He was good at doing that.Knocking her off kilter.She didn’t know what to make of it.
“Sorry if I woke you, but I was planning on mowing the lawn and realized there isn’t a mower here.I was wondering if I could borrow yours.”
“Mine?”
Michael took a step closer.This close she could smell his spicy scent.Cologne?She didn’t think a man like that needed artifice to attract women.Michael lowered his head and spoke in a low tone, “All of the other neighbors are a bit past their prime.I’m sure they no longer mow and instead hire someone.I assume as a woman who can do everything herself, you have your own lawn mower.”
He wasn’t wrong about the neighbors.She had been the youngest until Michael moved in.A fact that never bothered her.
True, the neighbors could be intrusive and lived for gossip, but they all left her alone, except Maya.
“Why don’t you just buy one instead of borrowing one?You’ll need to cut your grass more than once.”It’s not like he could keep borrowing hers every week.
“I will, but I have a day full of things to do.”
“IT world keeping you busy?”Andrea was still doubtful that was what he did.
“If you only knew.I was hoping I could just borrow it for this morning, and I’ll buy one later on this week.Do you have a lawn mower I can borrow?You’d be a lifesaver.”He stuck out his bottom lip and looked like a sad dog one might see on the humane society commercials.
“I do have a lawn mower,” she admitted, biting her own lip to keep from laughing at his absurd face.Really, he was pathetic.
Micheal’s lips pulled back into a grin, causing a flip in her stomach like butterflies dancing within it.“I’ll give you some money for the gas I use…unless it’s electric.”He almost looked offended by the thought which made her smile.
She thought about tormenting him but confirmed, “No, it’s gas.And you may borrow it.”
“You’re the best.You’re more than welcome to come over and supervise me unless you prefer to do it yourself.”
Her good humor vanished like a rogue wave crashing over her, threatening to drown her.“Are you seriously trying to sweet talk me into mowingyourlawn?”
Michael’s eyes widened, and he took a step back at her lethal glare.“No, I was just leaving the offer open in case you don’t trust me with it.”
“Oh, how generous of you.”She laid the sarcasm on thick.“It’s a lawn mower not my car.Meet me in front of the garage, and I’ll open the door for you.Just leave it in the driveway when you’re done.”Andrea pulled back into the house and slammed the door shut.“Asshole, thinking I’m going to mow his lawn for him.‘Well, it’s your lawn mower,’” she mocked in a deep baritone voice.
