I am woken by a gentle caress down my cheek. “Mmmmm.” My first act of the day was to smile.

  “Time to wake up, handsome.” The same cheek that is then blessed with a soft kiss as the heady aroma of Heather’s perfume surrounds me. Opening my eyes I find myself still on the sofa but ying down with a pillow beh my head and a homemade knitted b c my body. Above me, looking every bit the angel, Heather beams down ohere he is. Good m, baby.”

  “Good m, Heather.” I whisper in a parched voice.

  For a few wonderful seds we simply gaze as the events of st night es p bae. It wasn’t a dream. That had all really happened.

  “e on, sleepy head. Up and at ’em.” She gives my chest two firm pats then gives me a shake before stepping away and rounding the sofa back toward the kit. “Your lunch is packed and I’ve got some pe almost ready for breakfast.”

  Sitting up I rub my eyes and look over at the bagged lunch waiting for me oable. “Oh, um, thank you. You didn’t have to, Heather.”

  “If I ‘had to’ I probably wouldn’t have do.” She chuckles as she stirs the pot of pe. “I’m not doing this for free, mind you. I’m not your mother. I’d like you to mow the wn this weekend and look at that t the back gate.”

  With a big grin I answer. “sider them done.”

  “That’s my boy.”

  I y my on the back of the coud just admire her for a moment in her nice white blouse and long gray pleated skirt, looking so different but just as sexy to my smitten eyes as she had in her lingerie, before sighing. “I really e night, Heather.”

  Stopping mid-stir she gives me a side-eye and a smirk. “I should hope so!”

  We ugh.

  I turn ao my feet, fold the bhen hurry off for my room as I notice that, like yesterday, she’d allowed me to sleep in as te she could. Grabbing some clothes I swoop into the washroom to do my m routine of shower, shave, dress, affirmation and smile. My hing that I tell myself today is that, ‘If I work hard and do my best today is going to be a great Friday and this weekend will be eveer.’ The thought of spending my weekend here iher’s house, even it was just hanging out and doing chores, made my spirit soar.

  Ba the main room there is a steaming bowl of pe waiting for me. Add a bit of brown sugar and cream and shovel the food into my mouth as quickly as its temperature would allow. It is unlike any pe I’d ever tasted. Chalk full of nuts and different kinds of grains and seeds it is on hardy bowl of breakfast.

  “Lots of protein for a w man’s appetite.” Heather pats my back as she passes by. “And lots of fiber to keep yur.”

  “Ha! Well it’s awesome. Thank you, Heather.”

  “My pleasure.”

  After eating I quickly do my dishes then brush my teeth. At the door Heather is waiting for me with an eager glimmer in her eyes. In front of her already ced and sitting side by side were the work boots she had bought for me. Stepping back from them she crosses her arms over her big boobs to wait and watch. I felt quite self-scious putting on the rugged leather boots. There was nothing wrong with them, in fact they were the set of footwear I’d ever owned, but I couldn’t help feeling a pang of guilt knowing that Heather had dropped real money on these at a time she really couldn’t afford them. I knew I would pay her back for them but still I felt humbled, yet again, by her generosity. For her part she simply smiles. A bright, beautiful, proud smile.

  “How do they fit?”

  I shift from foot to foot. “Perfect. They’re perfect.”

  “Good.” She nods. “Last thing you need is blisters.”

  “Um…”

  Approag me she begins to fuss in that way she had. She smooths my jacket and adjusts the colr, even though it didn’t need adjusting, and just generally touches me with maternal care.

  “You are looking so handsome today, Elliot.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Yonna work real hard today, you hear me? Yoing to learn and grow aronger aer. Yoing to show them that while you might be new you’re the best darn worker they’ve got.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Her smile grows. “How you feelin, baby?”

  “Good.”

  “Not sore anymore?”

  “No, Ma’am. I feel…strong.”

  “That’s my guy!” She pats my chest. Tilting her head she looks me up and down as out soft sigh. “So handsome.”

  “Um…you’re beautiful too, Heather.”

  “Mm.” She runs her hands down my arms. “I’m going to be seeing Skye again today.”

  “Skye?”

  “That…” Her voice catches and I catch her left eye twitch before she tinues in a lively tohat pretty artist I told you about.”

  “Oh.” My bright mood darkens, just a little bit.

  “I’d like to tell her about you, if you’re okay with that. Drop a few hints. Ask a few questions. Talk my guy up. That kind of thing.”

  “Um…I guess that’d be okay.” I say, knowing that her heart was set on this pn of hers.

  “You’ve got a whole weekend ahead of you. Maybe you two could have a coffee or something? Maybe more?”

  “Oh, um, I…I don’t really have any cash to show her a good time or anything.”

  “You don’t need moo have good time. She’s a starving artist, you get creative!” She teases at my hair then smooths it down again. “But don’t worry, if it es to that we’ll figure it out. Okay?”

  “I’m not going to accept any money from you, Heather.”

  “We’ll figure it out.” She squeezes my shoulder.

  Sihe ‘pn’ had been broached I ot help but ask. “And Myles?”

  “Oh yes, Myles.” She sighs. “Yeah. I think I’ll swing by the library for a chat. It’s been a while since he and I caught up.”

  “You don’t have to, Heather.”

  “You and your ‘have to’.” She chuckles, though her brown eyes showed no mirth. “I want to! You said it yourself, he’s a good man.”

  “Yeah.” I whisper.

  “I ’t put this off too long, baby.” Laying her warm, soft palm against my cheek she looks into my eyes. “I feel myself…getting closer to you. Even without the honey our proximity and close tact is…having an effect. I don’t want to lose you, Elliot. Not yet.”

  “But…”

  “I need another honey boy before it’s too te. Remember? Remember the pn, Elliot?”

  “I remember.”

  “If we don’t bond then you stay here. You won’t have to go. I get to keep you…here.” Stepping in she presses her fato my neck just behind my ear and takes a deep breath in. She holds the breath for a long moment then slowly lets it out, a small shudder running down her body. She kisses my cheek. “Yonrong for me, Elliot?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll be strong.”

  “Good boy.” Stepping back she gives o once over then seals it with an approving nod. “You better get going.”

  I take a breath, stand tall and nht back. “Have an awesome day, Heather.”

  “I will.” She smiles. “You’ll be home for supper?”

  “Yes, Ma’am!”

  “Okay then.” She swats my ass and sends me on my way. “Go get’em, tiger!”

  The swat has me ughing as I hit the fresh m air. I look at the glow of the sunrise and wele the cool air against my just shaved face. What an amazing m! Since I had a bit of time and I was feeling so energized, plus I wao save on my meager amount of gasoline remaining in my tank, I decide to hoof it to my work site. Along the way I daydream about our meals together and sexy dances and strip shows and being tied up and big female did most of all…that peaceful look on her face as she fell asleep on my p. What I do not allow myself to think about was Skye or Myles. There was no point in spoiling such a fine day with things that hadn’t happened yet and may here was just too much to be happy abht now. You’d never seen a guy walking so proud as I was when I marched onto the work site in my spanking new boots.