Let Me In

Chapter 4

I set my alarm, though it was unnecessary - I was awake a good hour before it went off. I was used to getting up at the crack of dawn for work. The sun blazed through my bedroom window. I made my way to the bathroom, happy that I'd got the day off.

After showering and spending an hour deciding what to wear, I headed to the kitchen to make my first cuppa of the day. As the kettle boiled I saw Joe's van pull up. From behind my net curtains I watched him unload his tools. I noticed a gaggle of teenage girls at the nearby bus stop - they kept looking over at Joe, whispering to each other and giggling. Clearly, I wasn't the only one who thought he looked extra gorgeous this morning. He wore camouflage trousers that were tucked into his muddy rigger boots; and a tight, black t-shirt, with a few tears here and there that gave teasing glimpses of his skin as he moved. His muscles flexed as he loaded a wheelbarrow and pushed it along my path.

I made my way to the back door, checking my reflection as I went. I'd put on a bikini, as I intended to make full use of the sun's rays; I'd thrown a sheer, leopard-print kaftan over the top. I brushed my fingers through my high ponytail and went to greet Joe.

"Morning." I smiled, slipping my sunglasses on as I stepped into the heat. "Can I get you a cup of tea or something cool?"

"Good morning. Glass of water with ice, please," he replied, his eyes taking in the entire length of my body before blatantly resting on my boobs.

"Ahem. My eyes are up here, on my face. That's generally where one should look when chatting."

"You've got beautiful...eyes." His gaze travelled up to my face. "I could stare into them all day. They look so...comfy." His grin made my toes tingle.

"It's a good job I'm not easily embarrassed. You might have had me blushing."

"Oh, I bet I could, if you'd let me."

"I'll fetch you that drink, before you say something you might regret." We both laughed. I headed back to the kitchen, despite my urge to continue flirting.

I made the drinks and set Joe's on a window-ledge as he was busy setting up. I took my book, drink, iPod, towel and sunglasses - a girl's essentials - to where I thought I'd catch the sun most, and where I was able to sneakily watch Joe at work. 'May as well take in the sight,' I thought, 'I am paying for it, after all'. I set my things down and headed to the shed to fetch my sun-lounger. I hadn't used it for a while so there was all sorts of junk piled on top of it. Instead of moving everything, I did things the hard way: I pushed and pulled until the lounger was free then attempted to lift it out through the doorway. I had it halfway out when it suddenly became as light as a feather. Muscular arms rippled slightly with the movement and weight of the sunbed. The front of Joe's body touched the back of mine; my head rested on his chest briefly as he lifted the sunbed from my hands. He smelt divine: freshly showered with a subtle hint of that sweet cologne of his. It made me want to bury my face in his chest to take it in more deeply.

"Where do you want it?"

"Just over here, please, Superman. That's the second time you've come to my rescue. A girl could get used to that, you know."

Joe set the lounger down and I adjusted its position, pointing it in the direction Joe would be working.

"Glad to be of service," he said before going back to his tools.

I brushed the lounger off and set my towel on it, then, when I thought Joe was in the best position to get an eyeful, I pulled my kaftan over my head. I stretched my arms up high, elongating my already-slim body. I peeped over my shoulder to see if Joe had noticed. He had. I wouldn't say that his jaw was on the floor but it was definitely gaping. I made a point of reaching for my drink and other belongings, so that he got a good look, then I primly lay on my lounger. I put on my sunglasses, peered over the top, and gave him a sexy smile.