It started innocently enough. Jack lived two doors down. He and my husband Phil had 'bonded', or whatever it is guys do, shortly after we moved into the neighborhood. Jack does handyman work when he's not doing the fireman thing, so my husband saw it as the perfect opportunity to help out a friend and get a few things fixed around the house while he was out of town. The perfect solution, right? Not if you're me and have a major case of the hots for the man with the tools.
Jack was out behind the garage when I got home, taking a cigarette break. "Kids at school?" He asked conversationally when I joined him.
"I'm a free woman for the next two hours." I explained, smiling up into the sunshine. My youngest son had just started kindergarten and the sudden onslaught of 'free time' was still kind of new to me.
Jack nodded and took a drag from his cigarette. I watched enviously as the smoke curled around him, wrapping him in a loving embrace. "Could I bum one of those?" I asked carefully, already anticipating the rush of nicotine through my veins.
"I thought you guys didn't smoke." He remarked, shaking one from the pack and offering it to me.
"He doesn't." I clarified, sliding the cig from its pack and gently placing it between my lips.
Jack provided a flame and I inhaled deeply, savoring the forbidden fruit. "Then why do you?"
I exhaled and watched the lazy trail of smoke drift away from me. "It's my own little form of rebellion." I admitted, watching him from behind my tortoise shell sunglasses.
"Why would you need to act out?" Jack inquired, leaning against the garage.
"Don't we all at some point?" I returned. "I mean, I don't see you smoking in the living room in front of Carla." I reminded him as I took another deep drag.
Jack smiled in concession. "But at least she knows I smoke."
I leaned in close and winked up at him. "I promise, I won't tell him if you don't."
He studied me for a while as if really seeing me for the first time, which was good, since I'd been appreciating him from afar for quite a while. I have always had a thing for firemen, and Jack was both HOT and heroic. A dangerous combination. "What other things do you do to rebel, Angela?"
Feeling bold, I leaned in close and flicked at a spec of plaster on his t-shirt. "Oh, I don't know...whatever I can manage in two hours."
Jack gulped visibly. "I'll bet you can manage quite a bit."
"You'd be surprised." I took another drag of my cig before stubbing it out on the ground a la Sandy in
Grease
. "Well, I'm off to shower now. All by myself. Alone...no one to wash my back..." He didn't say anything, but I could tell by the stirring in his shorts that he wasn't entirely immune to me, either. "Good thing my vibe is waterproof." I added over my shoulder as I sauntered off to the house.
I wasn't really expecting Jack to follow, but I wanted to be sure to leave him a mental picture while I was showering in the room above where he was working. I figured it was only fair that I return the favor and give him a fantasy or two for the many he had given me.
For the next few times he was there, which was generally when he wasn't busy fighting fires, it was the same thingβI'd join him for a quick smoke out behind the garage after the kids were off in school, flirt shamelessly, then go off for my morning shower. If I didn't know better I'd say that he was enjoying this little game as much as I was. Either that or it was by an incredible stroke of luck that he just 'happened' to be taking a break out back every morning when I got back from dropping off the kids.
"When does Phil come home?" He asked one Friday morning after we'd gone through the normal morning banter.
"This evening." I rested my hand on his arm and batted my eyes up at him playfully. "We have lots of undisturbed time if you're planning on joining me in the shower today."
Jack leaned in a little closer, allowing his chest to brush against mine, and whispered in a deep, sexy, voice that made my panties moist, "Some day I may just take you up on that."
"Promises. Promises." I shot back, pressing a little closer into him.
He bent his head forward and I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. I held my breath. All I had to do was turn my face a little to the right..."Sadly I have some work to finish in your family room before Phil gets home."
Oh yeah, him. "I'll let you off the hook this time." I teased, easing back into my personal space.
Did he have to have such a damned sexy smile? "Actually Carla wanted me to ask you guys over for dinner and games tomorrow night."
"Killjoy." I groaned in mock remorse. "All those spouses around are just gonna spoil our fun." I pouted playfully.
His eyes were riveted for a moment on my nipples, now hard and straining under my t-shirt. "Not if we're very clever."
I licked my lips, wishing at that moment for something, anything, to drink to ease my suddenly parched throat. "I can be clever." I responded brazenly.
Jack winked. "Atta girl! That's the spirit!"
Okay, this was a different Jack entirely today. I usually did the bulk of the flirting while he just sort of indulged me in my little dalliance. But was I really ready to play with fire? "Phil should be calling from the airport later. I'll check with him then, but I'm sure he'd love to."