Loving Thy Neighbor (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  LOVING THY NEIGHBOR

  Carol McKenzie

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  LOVING THY NEIGHBOR

  Copyright © 2009 by Carol McKenzie

  E-book ISBN: 1-60601-428-5

  First E-book Publication: June 2009

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2009 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  I dedicate this book to all of my online author friends on the world wide web.

  LOVING THY NEIGHBOR

  CAROL MCKENZIE

  Copyright © 2009

  Chapter One

  The tall grass swayed in the breeze. Nora Aames remembered the home owner’s covenant stating something about having an overgrown lawn and how it broke the law. Since Josh had been neglecting his duties, it grew to an all time high of four, four and a half, maybe even five inches. Rainstorms had assaulted the area and it sprang up as though some masochistic lawn keeper had fed it steroids instead of fertilizer.

  With a sigh, she thought about the problem while she ate a lonely chicken nugget TV dinner. After cleaning up the kitchen, she dressed in frayed jeans and holey Dominoes Pizza t-shirt, minus a bra.

  Others have gotten through marital problems. So will I.

  Nora read the mail. She wrote out a few checks, stuffed them into envelopes with their corresponding invoices and applied stamps. Without Josh's help, she didn't have enough money to pay the mortgage again. She piled the stack near the door so she’d remember to put them into the mailbox the next day.

  The throbbing in her head began. All the crying she'd been doing wreaked havoc with her sinuses. In the kitchen, she shook a couple of aspirin into her hand, popped them into her mouth and drank them down. Ignoring her angst, she stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. She walked down the sidewalk on her way to the garage.

  Her dark-haired neighbor appeared several feet beyond her garage, near a side window of his house.

  “Need some help?” he asked before she stepped into her garage. When she peered out at him, she saw that he had stopped stacking firewood and carried a ladder to his garage. When he sauntered back out, he waved.

  It took a lot out of her to muster up a happy tone. “Oh, hi.”

  Charley Kline took off his black, duck-billed hat and wiped his wet, suntanned forehead, giving him an enigmatic look. The glance bothered her, but she didn't know why or how it bothered her.

  Squinting into the sun he asked, “Did Josh come back?”

  Man oh man, this is difficult. She heaved a long exhalation. Telltale tears threatened to well in her eyes. “I’m afraid not.” Everyone in the neighborhood must know of his frequent absences.

  He raised a spread hand. “If you need help, let me know.”

  She recalled Charley's marital woes a year ago. His wife had driven up into the yard drunk and run over their bushes. She fell out into the mud, cursing his name. Another neighbor across the street had called the law. Three squad cars arrived upon the Kline property, their lights flashing. The scene had been a debacle Nora wouldn't soon forget.

  “Thanks. I appreciate your offer of help, but...well, I’ve got everything under control.” I don’t want to appear a helpless little woman next door when my husband isn’t around. I’m strong, right? She felt Charley's eyes burning into her as she opened the car door and slid behind the wheel. He suspects something. After all, he's an expert in marriages gone awry. The engine started and she closed the door. Thank God.

  After backing the Taurus down the driveway and onto the street, she shoved the gear shift into drive, rolled a few feet forward and parked parallel to the curb. A taxi passed, followed by a plumber’s van. She got out of the car feeling out of sorts and tense.

  As the handsome fortyish man knelt in his yard near a tarp, stirring paint. She attempted to suck in a calming breath, but failed to find relief from her marital sufferings.

  When he glanced in her direction, she looked away.

  Why can't I have peace and symmetry in my life?

  Leaving his view, she entered the shadowy garage—Josh’s domain where each wrench occupied its own place. The sockets, which were wiped clean after each use, rested in their allotted space. The hammer, the saw, and the car polish...all had their space that Josh assigned them—tidily, efficiently. Josh is such a neat person. Or, at least he used to be. So why is he such a fuck up now in our relationship? It just doesn’t fit. Damn it...damn you, Josh. Is it because his addiction is worse?

  Nora climbed on the riding mower and managed to start the engine, but it died a minute later. After a second and third try, the engine complied and roared.

  Charley appeared. He stood with his weight on one leg, his hands on his hips, wearing a worried look.

  He wants to say something, maybe. Shrugging, she raised a hand palm up. “What?”

  “Dozens of folks get killed on those things each year.”

  She snapped back. “Well, I won’t. I know what I’m doing.”

  He nodded. "All right.” His arms crossed on his chest and he stepped back.

  I’ll show the world, especially my neighbor, that I’m perfectly in control of my emotions.

  With a firm hold on the lever, she put the shaking contraption into gear, rumbled out of the garage and onto the lawn. Up and back on the grass, she drove it, cutting swath after swath of grass. Once finished, wearing a shaky smile, she steered the rattling monster up the driveway, stepped on the brake and shut it off.

  Silence.

  I have to get hold of myself. Under her breath she cursed, climbed down and dusted her hands. Now for the weeds. She went to the back end of the gas fume-scented garage, grasped the whacker and pulled it off the hooks.

  Charley had returned she noticed out the corner of her eye. His head cocked, he gazed at her again and said, "If you need some help I can—"

&n
bsp; "Oh, well, let me see here."

  Her insides quivered. She gained several impressions of Charley all at the same time. He loomed in her peripheral vision. No shirt. Well-muscled arms. A few tattoos; one says U.S.M.C. Sexy looking as hell. How would it feel to have his hot body pressed up to mine? The image of them together twirled in her mind. She shooed the provocative idea out of her mind. The frustration of having an absent husband resumed destroying her mood.

  “Arrgh!” she said and threw the plastic, curling mess down. The implement dropped to the floor with a thud at her feet. The attempt to wind the infernal string into the casing ended in miserable failure. Scalding tears streamed down her cheeks and she brought her hands to her eyes. But that’s not why I’m crying. It's Josh. He's abandoned me, I think. The floodgates opened and try as she might, she couldn’t stop the torrent that followed. “Damn you, Josh! Why are you doing this?”

  Charley stepped up, brushed her arm with his wrist. In a heartrending effort to help, he curled a strong hand around the weed whacker. “Here,” he whispered. His emerald gaze flashed as dazzling as his white smile—gentle as a calming spring breeze.

  Oh my God. My neighbor thinks I've lost it.

  With the patience of a monk, he continued, “There’s a special way you do it, Nora. You have to squeeze and pull at the same time.”

  Squeeze and pull? “Oh God. Thanks.” She crossed her arms at her mid-section and stepped back, letting him manage the impossible task. "I'm so sorry. I—"

  “If you keep working with it, sooner or later it’ll go on and stay on.” During a fraction of a second, his eyes lowered to where her dark, plump nipples tented the thin fabric of her t-shirt.

  “Something like trying to chew gum and walk at the same time?” she asked, adding a measure of comedy to the sad problem.

  “I’ll do it. You go on inside,” he said as though he knew she suffered through a difficult time. “Relax. I’ve got it.”

  “I-I hate to—”

  “Go on in, I said." He fluttered his thick fingers at her. "I insist.”

  After a little bit of hand-wrenching, she shook her head. His face blurred like an abstract landscape through wet windshield. “I, uh...” Unable to hide the hurt, she said, “Thank you. I’m, uh, so sorry. This has been one difficult week.” Embarrassment ravaged through her like a wildfire. I need a lawyer. She spun, left the garage and tramped to the front door. I need a Kleenex, too. By the time she reached the door she thought, Hell. I need a whole case of them. My whole life is shit.

  Once inside, she closed the door, located the tissues, and wept for the better part of an hour. Occasionally she checked on him as he labored outside in the hot sun, working in her yard. Josh should be doing the work, not the neighbor. But that's okay, I kind of like Charley. I need to return the kindness.

  Chapter Two

  Charley mowed patches of grass that Nora had missed. Late into the day, he hacked at weeds growing around rose bushes and zinnias until the plastic line that he had replaced earlier ran out. Without a second thought, he trekked into his own garage, and brought out a refill. Once the implement worked, he chopped down the remainder of dandelions, foxtail and a myriad of other weeds that surrounded the Bachelor’s button beds in the front and back yard. He went on to clean up the clippings around the foundation and tree trunks in the back yard. The scent of fresh cut grass and gas fumes hung in the air. Swinging his arms with vigor and determination, Charley raked cuttings and piled them into the wheelbarrow. He didn't get tired; he just worked.

  The neighbors, Ruth and Jeff Hodges, drove by, stopped, backed up and said, "Uh, hello, Charley." Jeff's mouth dropped.

  "How're you doing?" Feeling like deer caught in headlights, Charlie smiled, waved and returned to his job. When he looked back, a strange expression entered their eyes. They pulled ahead and entered their driveway.

  Cursing under his breath, Charley picked up twigs and branches that the last storm had brought down, put them in the wheel barrow, and wheeled them to the back alley. There, he piled all the cuttings and started a fire. Pungent smoke spiraled heavenward. Out the corner of his eye he witnessed her pull the curtains aside and peer out.

  There existed no doubt that Josh devastated Nora. It burns my ass. What the hell could be the bastard's motives?

  Charley carried her trash to the edge of the road. He started up the leaf blower and blew the clippings off the driveway and sidewalks.

  Twice, her delicate features appeared in the front window gazing his way. It was his best guess that she wished he was Josh. If only I could go to her and give her a warm hug and tell her that everything is going to be okay. I've been in her shoes.

  He pictured the frayed, short, cut-off jeans and torn t-shirt she wore. His awakened awareness of her vulnerability beckoned him like a flower drew a bee. Is he blind? Charlie pictured the lift of Nora's ample, mocha-colored breasts under the thin fabric of her shirt. He imagined how good he could make her feel as his hands explored her supple skin.

  Just as he was about to walk back to his house, Nora opened the front door, surprising him. He stopped and gazed her way. His heart almost quit beating when he observed her expression of gratefulness.

  "Charley, what you did today is wonderful. Thank you." She took his hand, rocked up on her toes, and pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek. Her breasts pressed into his biceps. He remained still and silent, letting her move against him and brush her lips across his face. His cheeks heated and he wanted to take her into his arms and give her a real kiss, one that involved the tongue. In response, his cock began pressing against the seam in his shorts. She doesn't realize the effects she's having on me.

  "You're super. I want to do something nice for you soon," she murmured.

  Off hand, he thought of two or three things she could do, but he sure as hell couldn't mention them now. "That's alright, Nora. I'm here for you. Just give me a call when you need to. Okay?"

  She half-turned toward her door and pointed inside. "Can I pay you?"

  "No, no. Hell no. I know you're in a bad way and I just wanted to help."

  * * * *

  Later, after he showered, he slapped bracing Old Spice after shave on his cheeks, and then slipped on a blue shirt and jeans. His buddy Jeff called to shoot the breeze about the latest scoop on the management shake-up at the plant. The conversation lasted a few minutes. Charley’s mouth dropped when he brought up Josh's absence.

  "The grapevine has it that Josh Aames has gotten lost and can't find his way home. Is that what you heard?"

  It's best to play coy. "I don't know about it." Maybe even out and out lie.

  "I saw you over there."

  "Oh, yeah." He shrugged. "Sure, I went over. She needed help with their over-grown yard."

  A strange laugh sounded over the line. "I would, too. She's a beautiful woman, isn't she?"

  “Yeah, very." Charley shrugged and pulled his keys out of his pocket. "She looked like she was at her wit's end, so I just offered."

  “Oh yeah? Offered...what?"

  He walked to his black cherry-colored truck and pressed the auto-unlock button on his key chain. After rolling his eyes, he said, "To help, I said, damn it." Her crying spell in the garage replayed in his mind.

  “She seems strong and is holding up well, considering her husband doesn't come home like he's supposed to."

  “Splitting up takes it toll on the strongest of the strong. It sure as hell did me in, almost." Charley glanced at Nora's home and her now neat yard and the window where he saw her peering out. He scanned it twice hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

  “Break ups have knocked me on my ass a couple of times, too." Jeffrey said. "Oh..."

  After a pause, Charlie asked, “Yeah?"

  “Say Charley, Ruth and I are having a cookout Friday the fifteenth. Seven o'clock. You're invited. It's nothing much."

  “I don't know..." He thought about going without a date...about the loneliness he'd feel while watching everyone else there with their s
pouse or a date. "I'd feel like a fifth wheel."

  “Just come over and eat. It's no big deal. It's just the neighbors."

  Charlie visualized Jeff clucking his tongue like he always did when something exasperated him. "Uh, okay. Sure."

  "Great. I'll tell Ruth."

  Charley switched his cell phone to the other ear, climbed into his immaculate, truck and closed the door. He squinted into the late afternoon sun as he stuck the key into the slot. With a quick swipe, he took off his black duck-billed cap and placed it on the seat beside him. He started the engine. "Well, I'd better get going. I have to buy groceries and get a couple of errands out of the way."

  "Talk to you later. I'll tell Ruth you'll drop in, then."

  "Er, right." Charley put the phone in its case that was connected to his belt and buckled up. I'm going to be there to help her out every chance I get.

  * * * *

  Nora dialed Josh's cell number. She thrummed her fingers, clicking her manicured nails on the end table while the phone rang. She watched Charley's truck pull up his driveway and stop. He climbed out, carrying a sack and strode out of sight when the cell phone started the third ring.

  As she feared would happen, Josh's voice mail picked up and said. "Josh Aames here. You're reaching this message because I'm probably at a sales meeting or something that concerns work. I'll get back to you. You know what to do at the tone."

  Beep!

  "Damn you, Josh. Call home. Why are you doing this?" Confounded, she placed the handset back on the base. Fact number one. He's not coming home. What's the matter with me? Pain set back in, stronger than before. Her mood dropped to a new low. Her upper body slumped and she drew her hair back from her face. Is he even getting any of my messages? What have I ever done to him? A sigh left her lips. She yanked the last tissue from the Kleenex box. Should I call his parents and tell them? Is it going to come down to me divorcing him? After giving the idea more thought, she shook her head, deciding to shuck the angst for the evening and try to get her mind back on track. His mom and dad wouldn't understand. They'd say I asked for it. I need to get my mind off this.