Chapter 6 - Riker
Jonas and I pulled up in my truck and I motioned for him to carry the toolbox. “Head around to the back and stay out of the water. I’ll be down in a minute.” He was not at his happiest just then, but he did as I told him.
I tapped on the door and was a little surprised when Melanie opened it. I guess I’d expected Lacy.
“Hi, there,” Melanie cooed, blossoming like a flower facing the sun. “I didn’t know you were starting this soon.”
“Yeah? Well, I am. FYI, the boy at the back is my helper. Where’s Lacy?”
Melanie pouted. I think she was hoping for more attention. Too bad. She’d have to get it somewhere else. She shrugged and stepped a bit closer to me. “Mmmm… love your aftershave,” she commented, standing on tiptoe to smell my neck.
“Melanie, don’t you have some work on the deck waiting for you?”
Lacy had entered the room from her bedroom. She had a perturbed look on her face. I wondered why she was still putting up with Melanie. I was beginning to change my opinion of her a little—maybe she had a bigger heart than I’d given her credit for.
Melanie frowned and wiggled excessively on her way out the door to the deck—not that she had a whole lot to wiggle. She shut it just a little louder than was necessary.
“That ever get to you?” I asked Lacy.
“What’s that?”
“That horny little gal who just went out the door.”
“Oh, Melanie… yeah, I know she’s not the ideal assistant, but she’s connected, which doesn’t hurt, and very young. She wants to be a designer, and when she finishes school, she’s coming back here to be my competition. I know what it’s like to be in her shoes, so I’m willing to give her some space.”
“You’re more generous than I would be. But while we’re on the topic of assistants, I’ve got a young man with me as a helper. You’ll be seeing him around after hours and on weekends. He’s starting school here tomorrow.”
“Oh? Your son?”
I grinned. “You’ll know when you meet him. No, actually, I’m more like a big brother. He’s been in some minor trouble and I hope to straighten him out. He’s a good kid, and pretty bright. Just needs a new neighborhood.”
She giggled. It was a cute sound that went straight to my groin. “Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.”
It was my turn to laugh. There was a knock on the door and I opened it to reveal Jonas. “Jonas, say hello to Miss Lacy.”
Lacy’s face was flushed and her mouth shaped like an O. “Nice to meet you, Jonas.”
Jonas looked at her but didn’t respond. Instead, he looked at me. “You comin’ or not?”
I looked to Lacy. “See what I mean?”
She nodded, understanding the nuances of what we’d just said. “I was wondering if you could work on the lower floor first since this is where customers will be coming?”
I nodded. “Not a problem, but I need to see to some foundation issues first or you’re liable to have your lower floor wash out into the lake.”
“Oh, geez, really? That sounds expensive!”
“Some guys could make it be. Lucky for you, I’m not one of them.”
“Them?”
“The bad guys who would take advantage of you.”
“Would I at least enjoy it?”
Our conversations always seemed to end up filled with double entendres. Jonas was regarding us with a look of complete disgust. I wasn’t going to stop, though; this was too much fun.
“I can think of several things you might enjoy,” I returned, and her eyes got big.
“Always did want a bad boy,” she said in her best Mae West imitation.
I chuckled and looked to the side and back at her. “You think so, huh? Well, I’m pretty good at fixing just about anything.”
Jonas couldn’t take it any longer. “Okay, enough of this bullshit. Can somebody just tell me what to do next so I don’t have to watch?”
I frowned at him. “You can begin by minding your manners. Then go to the truck and get the shovels. Carry them around back and start digging a trench twelve inches deep against the foundation wall.”
“Whaaaat? Hell no, man. I ain’t doin’ that.”
I frowned again. “Remember the strike three?”
He hung his head, but I could see the defiance in his profile. “Go on now, do as I said. I need to check what we’re sitting on before we go any further.”
“Check what she’s sitting on, more like,” he muttered in a disgusted tone as he headed for the door.
“Hang on there. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
He looked at me blankly. I knew he knew what I was talking about, though, so I just stared back. He blinked first. “Okay. Miss Lacy, pardon the cussing.”
She nodded, declining to enter into the argument.
“That’s almost better, but you’ll improve even more with practice, I’m sure,” I told him, jerking my thumb toward the door to get him started. Jonas left, and soon there was a great deal of unnecessary noise coming from my truck.
I looked back to Lacy. “Okay. I guess I’d better get started.” I winked, and to my surprise, she winked back.
“Looks like you already have,” she said, dropping her eyes to my groin. I turned and left to hide my growing hard-on. I’m in trouble, I thought to myself.
I cuffed Jonas gently on the back of the head when I caught up to him. “Listen to me, big man. This is my business we’re talking about. I told you, don’t be cussing, and most especially not in front of my customers, and most most especially if it’s a woman. You got that?”
“Yeah, I got that. Is this all we’ll do from now on? Dig in the sand?”
“It might just be if you don’t improve your attitude. Now get busy and mind your own business.”
I picked up on her energy rather than hearing her approach from the back. I turned to see Lacy standing in a pair of jeans and a pink blouse that was tied up around her waist. It was unbuttoned down into her cleavage, and it was a sight for sore eyes. It didn’t help my hard-on to see her like that.
“Something you need?” I said the words and they sounded like Kermit the frog. I tried again. “Was there something you needed?”
“No, not especially. I just came down to see what you were doing. I don’t know much about construction, but in my business it would be a good idea if I learned a little. For example, it never occurred to me that there might be a problem with my foundation.”
I looked her over slowly from top to bottom and said, “I don’t think I’ll find anything wrong with your foundation.”
It wasn’t my imagination. She blushed. Even Melanie, working overhead, caught on to that one and “accidentally” dropped a screwdriver over the side. It landed in the sand next to Jonas and I couldn’t blame him for what he said.
“Jesus Christ, you trying to kill me or something?”
“Jonas…” I growled.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry, Ms. Lacy,” he said in a monotone.
“I don’t blame you,” she said. “Hey, Melanie, Jesus Christ, what are you doing? Trying to kill us or something?” She looked at Jonas and he broke into a grin. The day was getting better and better.
“Well, let me know if you need anything. I’ve gotten a whole list of potential clients from Mrs. Pettibone and I’m anxious to get started. I need to change my clothes and make a few calls.”
I nodded and she smiled before she turned and left. I helped Jonas with the shoveling and was relieved to see that the foundation seemed to be up to code and didn’t show any signs of damage. I’d learned that the hard way—you always needed to know that what you’re building was going to be supported.
Once I’d had a good look at it, I took some measurements to make sure everything was square and then told Jonas to go ahead and fill the sand back in. I walked around the house and went in the kitchen door to give Lacy the good news. I hadn’t knocked, and later I wondered why. I guess I just felt comfortable being there.
I didn’t see her right away, so I walked into the living area and looked out over the waves. I had to admit it was a breathtaking location. Even if the house was a pile of sticks, the property would be worth quite a bit. I spotted what looked like a small mound of sawdust against the floor molding and got down on my knees to see if she had termite problems.
I heard the sound of the door opening behind me and turned to see her walk from the bathroom into her bedroom. She was wearing a pair of pink bikini panties and no bra. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I watched her long legs crossing the hallway, the lace lifting slightly where it met her pussy. I wanted to put my finger beneath that lace and just a little higher, maybe even lick that soft, tender skin. Then my eyes slid upwards, and before she turned into her room I got a good look at those magnificent breasts. They were high and abundant, with pink nipples that stood out and begged to be sucked.
I almost groaned aloud as she closed her door. I had to roll onto my ass and stare out at the waves until my hard-on faded in my pants. I looked up and saw Melanie watching me. She hadn’t missed a thing. With a knowing look she went back to her work—but every so often she looked in the direction of my crotch and licked her lips. There was nothing subtle about that woman.