Playing With Fire

Chapter 8 - Overheard

"I could have sworn I closed that," Preity saved her by replying.

Shahru turned and tried to close the door behind him. It slipped free. He tried again, harder this time. "It's a little loose. Looks as if you need to push it hard to make sure it closes. It will be fine while we're gone since it will be locked. I'll fix it when we get back."

Finally, Kajol found her tongue. "Thanks."

He winked at her. "No problem. Just doing my job." He turned to Pri. "Are you going with us? I'm sorry I can't remember your name."

Preity looked back and forth between Shahru and Kajol before hopping down from the counter. "I'm Priety. Thanks for the offer, but I'll leave the work to you two."

"Are you sure, Pri? I'm sure Shahru wouldn't mind if you tagged along." Kajol rushed to get the words out hoping her friend would catch her clue. How embarrassing! She so didn't want to be left alone with him right now not knowing if he heard them or not.

"Not my idea of a good time, sweets. You have the muscles over there to help you. I don't think you need me."

Shahru laughed, which he seemed to do a whole lot. "Use me for my arms. I see how it is." He turned to Kajol . "I just wanted to let you know I'm home. Give me fifteen minutes to jump in the shower and I'm good to go."

For the first time since he walked in she really looked at him. He wore work jeans and a flannel shirt, both coated with what looked like sawdust. In his veined hands he carried a toolbox. His silky, black hair was ruffled with more sawdust in it. "Thanks, Shahru. Take your time."
He pulled the door closed behind him, slamming it to make sure it closed properly.

"Oh my god! Do you think he heard us?" Kajol grumbled the words in a whisper, not taking any chances this time.

A smile stretched across Preity's face.

"Don't you dare laugh! I have to spend the next however long alone with him after he just heard me talking about trying to keep from drooling in his presence." Kajol's back slid down the fridge, so she sat on the floor. "I feel like such an idiot."

Preity joined her. "Don't freak out. He might not have heard us, and if he did, big deal. The man has to know what he looks like."

"Yeah, but he didn't know I know what he looks like." Her sentence didn't make as much sense out loud as it did in her head.

"Don't hurt me, but I think he already knew, Kaj. Your eyes give you away. You eat him up every time he enters a room."

"You aren't helping, you know?"

"Chill out before he gets back in here. Act normal, go donate and come home. It's not the end of the world."

Kajol took a few breaths trying to calm herself. Her head tilted to the side to rest on Preity's shoulder. "Thanks. Sorry I've been such a head case the past couple weeks." She really didn't know what she'd do without her friend.

"You've been through a lot. Don't worry about it. I'm sure I'll give you a reason to pay me back someday."

She doubted it. Preity always held everyone and everything together with either her sharp tongue when you needed it, or a shoulder when the situation called for it.

Kajol wondered who she let do that for her. Another knock sounded at the door. No way was that fifteen minutes.

"Showtime, sweets." Preity stood, then pulled Kajol up with her. They walked together to the door. Preity pulled it open. "Bye, Kaj. Thanks for helping her out, Shahru."

He nodded at her. "Have a good one."

Preity walked away, leaving them alone together. Kajol's nerves kicked in, tickling her belly. "Thanks again for helping me out today."

"Not a problem." He stepped inside, pointing to the boxes by the door. "Is this the stuff that's going?"

"Yeah."

"You're giving away more stuff than I own."

"I doubt that. I just didn't want it all to go to waste."

"You know, if you want to keep it, there is some storage room downstairs." He winked at her. "I'm not supposed to offer it to the tenants, but I'll make an exception for you."

Perfect, here comes another blush. "Thanks, but I'd rather donate it. It will actually do some good there rather than taking up space here."

Shahru bent down and picked up a box. "Whatever you say. Let me get this stuff downstairs, then we'll head out."

Kajol gasped. "I can't let you do this by yourself. It isn't fair. I'll help."

"No offense, but you don't really look like the carry-big-boxes-down-a-flight-ofstairs kind of woman. Sorry."

"Hey," she smacked his arm. "I resent that."

"Um, and I'm carrying a box here. Might not want to hit me."

"Sorry."

He leaned the box against the counter. "I can tell this is going to take a while. Listen, resent all you want. I'm not trying to be an ass. My mama would turn over in her grave if she knew I made a woman carry boxes down the stairs like that. She tried to raise a gentleman, and I screw up from time to time, but I try to follow what she taught me."

"I'm so sorry about your maa, Shahru. I didn't know. But being a gentleman is one thing—telling me I can't do it is another."

"Have a feisty streak, do you?"

"Lately? Yes."

"Another explanation I'll have to get out of you later." He lifted the box in his arms.
"We better get going before we waste the whole afternoon arguing. I'll carry them to the truck, you can carry them in when we get there."

"Umm..."

"I'm kidding, Kajol . Back up and let the muscles, as your friend called me, get the truck loaded."

Kajol walked to the window and watched Shahru load a dark blue truck with her boxes. The fact he ignored her apology about his mum didn't escape her. She let it go, figuring it must be a painful memory for him, something he didn't like to talk about.

The man was incorrigible! She'd have to find a way to get back at him for all his jabs. She wasn't used to all the teasing unless it came from Pri. With her she expected it. She had to start getting used to it with Shahru too.
When he grabbed the last box Kajol followed him out, and locked the door behind her. They climbed down the stairs to his truck at the curb. She stood outside waiting for him.