“But why can’t I go outside, it’s so sunny?” Kadee pleaded, her little feet stomping the wooden flooring. Her face started to turn a funny shade of pink as she didn’t get what she wanted.

I’d had such a fun morning with her, being woken up by her gleeful face. She’d jumped on the bed and I’d tickled her until she could barely breathe. Hand in hand we’d ventured downstairs and we’d made breakfast together. I was all set to make her favorite; scrambled eggs with toasted soldiers, but it seemed a lot had changed since the last time she’d visited. Now her favorite was pancakes and crispy bacon with lashings of syrup. Yet after our morning fun things were escalating. Note to self: don’t get your kid hopped up on sugar first thing in the day. I needed to put the brakes on this little tantrum so I could get some things done around the house and figure out my next project.

“Sorry sweetie, I have some important work stuff to do first,” I tried to explain. But you try and convince a sugar-glazed five-year-old that sometimes you couldn’t always have fun all-day nonstop.

“Boring! You’re not fun! You’re just like mommy! Why can’t I go out?” The “I” was drawn out in loud desperation. “I don’t have any boring work to do.”

“You’re not going out on your own, not without me. Not even in the garden. I seem to remember you walking off yesterday to the neighbor’s, crossing the road without waiting, despite me telling you not to. That’s not happening again, do you hear me?”

Kadee deflated and looked at her feet. Her lips pushed out into a pout and her brows furrowed. She was either going to cry or scream. I braced myself.

“Look sweetie, we’ll definitely go outside soon. I won’t be long. I promise. I actually have a surprise for you that’s coming tomorrow,” I said trying to reassure her. But I guess to a kid her age, tomorrow was like waiting for Christmas day that seemed reluctant to arrive.

Thankfully, I breathed a sigh of relief when the seesaw of Kadee's expressions tilted once more. The smile on her face at the mention of a surprise was simply a picture.

“What is it?”

“You’ll find that out tomorrow, in the meantime…” I presented her with a copy of Minions 2 from behind my back. “How about a movie instead, you’ve only seen the first one right?”

Kadee's eyes lit up further.

“Yes, Mommy said it was stupid so I wasn't to watch anymore,“ she said with heartbreaking disappointment.

“Well Mommy isn’t here now is she?” I said grinning mischievously. “You get comfy on the sofa and I’ll set up your movie and get you some snacks. I’ll just be in the kitchen on my laptop, okay?”

Kadee nodded, grabbed the Blu-ray case and sprinted to the TV. With Kadee settled it was time for me to put my paper work in order and finish up some wood working in the garage. After that I had a couple of invoices to finalize, and a few of phone calls I’d been putting off. Above all I needed to find a new house to buy and renovate for my grand plan to work.

That woman, bloody Georgie, had pretty much ruined everything; sneaking in at the last minute and upping her bid on the house that was supposed to mine. It was supposed to be my ticket out of here, it was going to afford me the chance to be with my daughter, now the mortgage offer I had from the bank was on a countdown to expire. The time it had taken going back and forth with the realtor and the bank was coming back to bite me in the proverbial ass. I had even refinanced my own place in order to put this plan into action. I shouldn’t have put all my eggs in one basket. I could have been looking further afield and edging my bets but it had been so perfect; literally right on my doorstep. I would’ve been able to work on it before and after my daytime handy-man and carpentry jobs that I did around town. Over the street would’ve been a breeze and I would’ve been able to get it done twice as fast.

It had all seemed too good to be true… and it was. I should have known something was going to go wrong.

Of all the people that had to win the purchase, she had to be the most infuriating and she did not seem to have a clue. Moreover, now I had to watch whatever mess she was going to be making every day as a reminder. It was a travesty really. I had to find a new place and soon, everything was ready. I had saved up supplies and resources, but now not only did I have to find a new house in super quick time, but figure out a schedule where I could work on the house and keep up with my regulars, because the way my luck was going I’d find a house hours away.

With the majority of my paperwork done I set about making another cup of coffee. As I listened to the drip and hiss of the percolator, the quietness of the rest of the house shone through. The movie had finished and Kadee was napping peacefully on the sofa. But the peace and quiet was short lived when I heard some sort of commotion outside. I strained to hear. Was it coming from across the street?

I held the back door ajar to listen to the bangs and shouts. Yep, there was definitely something up judging by the expletives that were being broadcast over the street like angry radio waves. I shook my head and let out a long breath. Don’t interfere. It’s not your problem…

With one more high pitched scream I couldn’t take it any longer. I checked on Kadee napping on the sofa and started to head on over. Kadee would be fine sleeping I just had to check things out. For my own sanity really.

There was no answer when I knocked on the door. Georgie—or someone she was potentially beating into submission—sounded in real trouble so I tried the door. It was open and I darted in, following the sounds. I didn’t have to go or look far… water sloshed under my feet.

Georgie was crouched in her kitchen. She was drenched from top to toe. Water was spraying from under the sink and she looked almost in tears. Though I couldn’t be sure what with all the goddamn water. What the hell was she trying to do? Drown herself? Install a swimming pool in the kitchen?

“What on earth is going on, you need a hand?” I asked already heading for the sink to take stock of the situation.

No more expletives were forth coming, she just waved the wrench she was holding threateningly towards the sink.

“I was trying to… I just wanted to…” she stuttered in cold wet bemusement.

“It’s okay, don't panic. We can sort this out,” I said doing my best to block the spray with a rag.

“Wait, you’re getting soaked too.”

“Georgie, is the mains valve not turned off?” I said looking up at her, her usual snarky composure was all but abandoned in this moment. She just blinked her big brown eyes at me, probably the only feature right now that could distract me from the sopping wet white blouse clinging to her.

“How about the electricity? This water’s getting everywhere now.” There was still little reaction from her.

I stood her up and held her shoulders to shake her. “Georgie! We need to act fast. I can get the water and the fuse box. I want you to grab some towels and turn on any other cold taps in the house. Quick.” I took the wrench from her hand. “Are you with me, Georgie?”

This call to arms finally broke her from her reverie.

“Okay, I can do that.”

We headed off to our respective tasks, fortunate that I already knew every details of the house and its layout. With everything turned off I returned to meet Georgie back at the sink. The leak had almost abated and she was diligently packing the towels around the area and damning the flood from escaping any further down the hall. Brushing past her I ducked down under the sink to connect the necessary fittings.

“Are you crazy? What the hell were you actually trying to do here?” I shouted out from under the sink. I mean, how clueless could she be? There had been no need for this mess. Just like the steps this was creating more work. Not that I should give a damn, the house wasn’t mine, but still.

“So I skipped a couple of steps, I thought I had it,” she retorted, her snark creeping back. “Sue me why don’t you?”

“Jesus, and there’s wiring down here too. It’s so dangerous, Georgie. Just going at things like this, half-assed, not knowing what the hell you are doing, is going to get you or someone else hurt!” I berated her as I fixed the problem, the naivety made me so angry.

There was no more retorts from up above. I bit my tongue and continued attaching the waste disposal unit she’d tried to add on. Once finished I got back up.

We stood there still breathing heavily from the mayhem, water dripping from our hair. She looked positively miserable with the conclusion of the crisis. Hell she had the far away look of a defeated child, who’d just lost at their favorite game. And I hadn’t exactly helped by shouting at her.

“Georgie?” I said softly.

She bit her trembling lip. “I’m sure you’re right, it was stupid. I was stupid. You could stop yelling at me,” she replied, looking up at me with glossy eyes.

I couldn’t stay mad at her for long when she looked like that, all bedraggled yet gorgeous and hell, her soggy clothing left little to my imagination. I had an overwhelming urge to take her in my arms and hold her until her sass came back. Instead I held steady, feet away from her, resisting the temptation to lick the wetness from her lips.

“Listen, I’m sorry for shouting. I’m just glad we got things fixed and you weren’t hurt.”

“Thanks, I have to admit I’m glad you were here.” She leaned forward, catching her breath and reached out to pat my chest as if in thanks.

She paused, stroked my chest, exhaling a little gasp then looked up at me with those big brown eyes.

I was a goner. Done for. Stick a fork in me… I could no longer resist my growing urge. In one crazy movement I took her in my arms, lips descending upon her mouth with no way of stopping. My fingers cradled her head as I finally got my first taste of the spitfire from across the street.

Almost as if I’d breathed life back into her, she responded eagerly. Desperate hands clutching my shirt, tugging me closer, our cold soggy bodies pressing together. No longer did I feel the cold anymore only the heat of our passionate kiss and the reckless fiery urge to claim her.