The day of the block party had arrived and it had to be the hottest day of the year. Jen would sweat as soon as she stepped out into the sweltering heat. While she would have rather spent the day inside the cool house, that wasn't an option. She had to help set everything up and make it look great for all the neighbors coming over.
She had dressed in her thin sundress with the short hemline and was still sweating buckets as she moved around the backyard setting up the tables. As she went inside to grab more chairs the doorbell rang. Jen grabbed a towel to wipe some of the sweat from her face and went to answer the door.
"Hi, Jen," said Ryan as the door was opened. "I thought you guys might want some help."
Jen was happy for any help she could get even if it came from Ryan. Ryan had been their neighbor for years, a man in his mid 40s who had become a friend of her fathers. While he was always friendly, as Jen grew up Ryan began noticing her more and more. Quick glances became lingering stares and the occasional touch always made Jen uncomfortable.
"I'd love some! Come on in and grab some chairs," Jen said with a smile.
They exchanged idle talk as they moved the chairs outside. Ryan asked all the questions everyone asked since she got home from college. She could feel his eyes linger on her from time to time, but she was so happy with the help it didn't bother her.
It wasn't long till everything was set and Ryan went to the grill to talk with her dad. Jen made her way inside to enjoy the nice air-conditioning. She had just gotten comfortable when she was needed once again.
"Jen, go help Ryan bring some fans over from his house. It's going to be hot tonight and I don't want people uncomfortable," her dad commanded.
Before she could move, Ryan had appeared.
"Comeon, kiddo," he said getting an eyeful as he stood above her.
She ignored it and with a sigh, Jen got up from the sofa following Ryan out the door. The heat added a fresh coat of sweat that trickled down her neck, tickling her as it went between her breasts. Ryan opened the door, inviting her in, as she walked past he put his hand on the small of her back. The act made her cringe deep inside, but she managed to maintain her composure.
She always was impressed at how clean the house was whenever she went inside it. No dust to be seen and everything in order. Her eyes couldn't help, but dart around the house as she followed Ryan.
"They're in the basement," he said as he opened the door. "I'll go down first and you can go up first. That way if you fall you'll have something a little soft to land on."
She followed him down the stairs into the basement. It was surprisingly cool down there and like the rest of the house everything was tidy other than some dust on the floor. She followed him over to where the fans were in the corner.
"Here you go," he handed her the smallest one and picked the other two up. "They won't make it as comfortable as staying inside, but they should make it bearable," he said with a smile.