Lorena
I wake up the next day to see the sun shining through my curtains. It's a beautiful, dry morning and, as I eat my breakfast, I have an overwhelming urge to feel the sun on my skin. So when Amanda shows up to help me open the store, I tell her I am taking a few hours off to work in the garden.
I spend a little time cleaning up one bad patch of a stubborn little crawler, then stop.
These gardening gloves are scratchy!
I stand up, contemplating going down for my other pair, and see a man leaning against the door, watching me. I let out a little yelp of surprise, before realizing who the invader is.
"I am sorry if I startled you..." he says, pocketing his phone and pushing away from the door.
Just as last night, his words are apologetic but his voice and demeanor do not show any contrition at all. He seems amused if anything.
"You need to stop apologizing when you do not feel sorry Mr. Stewart."
The words are out of my mouth before I know it and I blush.
Why am I being rude to this man?
His overly self assured manner irritates me for some reason.
He blinks, looking slightly taken aback by my reply, but amusement still glints in his eyes "Please call me Liam... and I really did not mean to startle you."
I'm a little put out by the invasion, but man... is he ever a sight for sore eyes! Wearing light colored khakis and a soft, white, button down shirt, with the two top buttons left open and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he looks like an ad for men's casual. I usually have a problem with men in loafers, but even they look good on him! His hair is still in the low ponytail and I notice it looks black, even in the sunlight.
"How did you get up here?"
"Your assistant let me in." he stops by my side.
That was a little irresponsible of Amanda, what if he turned out to be a creep after all?
"You seemed very absorbed in your work. I decided to wait for a natural pause instead of interrupting you."
I can't help but smile "That was kind, but you are lucky these are not very comfortable." I wave the offending gloves in his direction "Normally I could go for hours without a 'natural pause'..."
"I came to see about setting up my equipment, as we talked about last night..."
I had been so excited by the idea of a morning gardening in the sun, I completely forgot about him. Surprisingly, since he was present in at least some of my dreams...
"Sure. I guess it's my turn to apologize. I got carried away by the sun and forgot about you..." I try not to blush while looking directly at him "Feel free to have a look around. I'm afraid I can't help you at all though, I know nothing about photography..."
"I would like to set up a tripod over there." He says, walking towards the side of the garden facing the bay. "If it would not be in your way..."
This is where most of the potted plants live. He should be able to easily find a spot for his things.
"Sounds good. You will not be in my way at all. I have to tell you though, the neighbors' cat likes to roam around here. He broke one of my little pots the other night... I don't know if he could interfere with the equipment..." I still feel sad about my little potted violets.
"Not your cat then..." he says strangely, then smiles slightly at me "I'm sure the cameras are too heavy for him to do any damage... If you really don't think I'll be in the way, I'll go get the stuff out of my car..."
"Nope, feel free..."
Still smiling a little, he saunters through the door and down the stairs.
I wonder if this means he will be coming here often to check on his equipment?
He comes back with a multitude of bags, drops it all on the floor, close to his chosen spot, and starts setting up what looks like very sophisticated equipment.
Hobby huh?
Not really in a mood to garden anymore, I pick up my tools, take all the clippings to the compost bin and wash my hands, then walk towards him, trying to decide if I should stay up here until he is finished.
"Have you lived here long?"
All right. Safe small talk. I can do that. I hope!
I clear my throat a little to find my voice before answering.
"A little over three years. I moved here from Seattle to open my store."
"Quiet little town. Don't young people usually move away from these little towns as soon as they are old enough?"
Oh-key...
Did he just call me 'young people'?
How old is he?
"I always liked it here and hadn't really anything keeping me in Seattle... So when this house came up for sale it was perfect."
"You don't mind the quiet then?"
"Not really... I don't think of it like that... and Seattle is just a ferry ride away when I do feel the need for more..."
Do I get to ask questions?
"What about you? Where do you call home?"
He thinks on it for a second. "New York, mostly..."
"Oh... mostly?" That's a strange way to put it...
"I travel a lot. New York is more like a base than home..."
My cell phone buzzes on top of the table, just as I am trying to think of a way to find out if he is available. It's a text from Amanda, she needs me down at the store to approve some items that just arrived.
"I have to go down help Amanda..."
"I just need another twenty minutes or so... I'll see you downstairs?"
--
Mrs Yates is still with me when he walks through the doors a little while later. She makes the most beautiful hand painted silk scarves. I feel privileged to have them in my store and, not surprisingly, they sell very well. I try really hard to focus on the story she is telling me - something about her grandson who has gone to college - but get distracted as Liam moves towards my work station.
"You have other business to tend to. I will leave you in peace dear." She gives Liam an up and down look and winks at me "I will see you again soon." We hug and she goes on her way.
Oh my, it would seem not even Mrs. Yates is immune!
Liam is examining some of the pieces on my table when I walk up to him. I feel a little more comfortable here, surrounded by my tools and the furniture I chose so carefully. It is like he is in my territory, so I am safe.
"These are beautiful." he points to the set I am working on right now. I am quite proud of it myself. Having finished a necklace and earrings, I am half way through a cuff bracelet in the same style. The stones are bold and the delicate, lacy, silver-wire work compliments them perfectly. That is how I feel at least.
"I like the contrast. The way the metal balances the stones..." He says pensive and I melt a little. He gets it.
"Thank you. That was the idea." I blush and smile, like a mother who has been told her baby should be the next Gerber Baby.
