"What time do you think you'll be done today?"
My father's deep voice spoke to me through the speaker of my cellphone as the summer sun beamed relentlessly down on my forehead. I began to fan my face with the folder in my hand.
"Not too long. Shouldn't be here more than 3 hours today." Turning to head back into the building, I gasped quietly as I heard a harsh crunch beneath my feet. Looking down, I quickly realized I had accidentally stepped on a half full garbage bag.
"Everything okay?' Concern echoed through the phone as I rolled my eyes.
My dad panicked about everything. Maybe the fact that he was a judge made him think the worst all the time, but whatever it was drove me crazy.
"Yeah, I just stepped on some trash. No big deal." I could visualize him sitting in his office, nodding as if I could actually see it.
"Alright, sweetie, I'll come by to get you just as soon as I'm done here."
"Sounds good. See you soon. Love you!"
I continued to walk towards the building as I ended the call. When I reached for the door, I was startled by a voice coming from the bushes to the left.
"Talking to your boyfriend?"
Slamming my hand over my heart, I choked out a sentence.
"W-what..who said that?" The leaves rattled as a person stepped out from behind the shrubbery. He shook some branches out of his hair, removed his gardening gloves and smiled at me.
A smile that made my whole brain shut down and only spit out the word wow.
His tall frame approached me, and I openly took in the sight before me.
His chocolate hair was tousled and wavy as if he had been pushing a hand through it all day. The tops of his shoulders were a violent pink, making it obvious he had been out in the sun for more than enough time. As he got closer, I could see all of the intricate swirls and dips of the ink in the many tattoos that covered his muscular arms. The one that intrigued me the most was the roman numerals scrawled across the left side of his chest.
My jaw went slack as I finally made eye contact with warmth of his dark eyes.
He shrugged and pointed to the tattoo on his chest.
"Got it last year. Thought it was cool." He smiled again, and I mentally slapped myself.
He had caught me staring.
Great.
"It's nice. I've always wanted a tattoo but-" Just as I was beginning to admire myself for constructing a normal sentence, the alarm on my phone chimed and vibrated aggressively.
"Shit, I've gotta get in there. I have to set up before the kids get here. I'll see you later!" I waved quickly and rushed into the daycare center. Hot boy or not, I had a job to do.
*
A few hours later, I hurriedly scurried around the brightly colored room, throwing toys in their designated areas.
First thing next week, I was going to teach these kids how to clean up.
With a sigh, I pushed a few stray hairs out of my face and took a glance around.
This will have to do until later. Shrugging, I grabbed my things and flicked off the lights. As I struggled to lock the door, I heard the same voice from earlier.
"Here, let me help you." He stepped in front of me and took the keys from my hand. With a firm twist, the door gave a satisfying click.
"Thanks..."
"Calum. I'm Calum." I nodded and took him in. He looked scruffier than he had earlier, as if he had put in a good day's work.
Truthfully, I was into it.
"Thanks, Calum. I'm Leisa. And that door can be a real pain in the ass."
Beside him, I noticed two full trash cans and a rake.
I turned my attention back to him. "Are you the new gardener or something?"
He cocked his head to the side and shoved his gloves into his pocket.
"I guess you could say that. Do you work here?"
"Yeah, but mostly only during the summer. These kids are a mess." He chuckled and wiped his tan face with a towel.
Before he could reply, my dad pulled into the parking lot. While my car was in the shop, he had turned into my chauffeur. I held up a hand letting him know I would be there in a second.
"Anyway, I've gotta go. See you later?"
He beamed down at me once again before casting a look I couldn't quite read towards my dad's car.
"Yeah, I'll be around. Good night, Leisa."
"Night, Calum."
My heart fluttered as I walked to the car, painfully aware of the fact that Calum was watching me, and my dad was watching him watch me.
Before I even had the door closed, my dad sprang into action.
"How long have you known that boy?"
I groaned and buckled my seat belt. "Dad, stop it. I just met him today."
He looked me over long and hard before throwing the car in reverse and speeding out of the parking lot.
"Whoa there. You may be the judge around here, but laws still apply to you."
He gripped the wheel and willed himself to slow down.
"I don't want you getting close to him."
I snickered and gazed out the window.
'Didn't you hear me say that I just met him today? I don't even know his last name. We're not planning a wedding."
We came to a red light, and he slammed on brakes.
"Look, Leisa. I've been sentencing that boy every year since he was 12. He's irresponsible, selfish, and remorseless. He has no respect what so ever for me or the law. If he comes through my court again, he won't see the light of day until he's old enough to claim his social security."
I drew back and surveyed him. This wasn't some scheme to make me stay away from a boy.
He was actually a criminal.
"But dad-"
"I know you're getting older and you can take care of yourself...but that boy is bad news. If you know what's best for you, you'll stay away."
xxx
And there's chapter one!
Let me know what you think! I wanted Cal to be the "bad boy" because let's be real here...he's so damn cute.
it's just perfect.
So comment, vote and share and I'll update again soon!
