“I own a successful cleaning business.”
“I don’t care, honey. You’re in need of a reality check. You’re not getting any younger. One day you’re going to look back and wonder why you spent most of your adult life with a cloth in your hand rather than actually doing something. It’s sad. Now is the time for you to screw random guys, obviously making sure there’s a condom in place. Have some fun.”
“I’ve tried to have fun, and it’s not in my nature.”
Beth stared at her. “Your kind of fun is cleaning out a toilet. Normal people, they like to socialize and have fun. I mean look at you, you’ve been tense since you got here. You just want to get stuck in and start cleaning, don’t you?”
Biting her lip, she nodded. “Your kitchen could do with a clean.”
“I left it like this on purpose,” Beth said. “I like my kitchen to be clean when I use it. I just like to mess with your head. Not everything needs you to clean it, Elisha. It’s hard being your big sister, and watching life, all kinds of life, pass you by. You should be having sex, having your heart broken, and finding a replacement guy to fall in love with.”
“You didn’t do that with Andrew.”
“Andrew is the love of my life. We got caught early with kids, and I don’t have a problem with that.” Beth smiled. “We’ve got beautiful children, and a wonderful life. When we go on our date night, I have my moments when I can just be that girl. I leave to go to a bar, and Andrew comes and finds me. We have our moments together, and it’s magical.”
For a split second, Elisha was struck by a little jealousy. Her sister did have a happy life, and one that she wished she had as well.
When she was younger she had wanted marriage and children, but that had changed over the years. Her life was about her work, and keeping everything clean.
“You think I should accept an invitation.”
“I’m being honest here. I doubt you’ll even get another one. I wouldn’t invite someone who was like you. It’s too much trouble.”
“Beth, you’re not supposed to say that.”
“You’re my sister, I love you, but I have every right to tell you that you’re a pain in the ass, and you are, totally.”
Rolling her eyes, Elisha smiled. For the first time in months, even before all the problems with her neighbor, she felt happy.
****
“Go and ask her,” Brant said.
“Fuck off. She’s your neighbor, and she called you horrible. I’m not going to go and ask her shit.” Sean held his hands up in surrender. “I’m not doing anything to get her angry.”
Brant stared at his younger brother, annoyed and frustrated.
It had been a week since his encounter with his neighbor. During the last week his art work had taken a dramatic turn, and he was sketching her garden, the neatness of all of her plants. He’d even watched her walk down her lawn, and where there was a strip of grass she’d gotten some scissors, and trimmed it neatly back. Brant found her need for neatness infuriating. He wanted to dirty her up, mess up her calm exterior. She was such a beautiful, sexy woman, yet she kept herself back from feeling anything.
He’d done some research into his neighbor, and discovered she owned a cleaning business. After watching her clean her trash bin, and empty out each carton to make sure it was sparkling clean, he’d decided she was a little too OCD for his taste.
No matter how much he tried to put her out of his mind, nothing was working. He thought about her during his work, when he was at home. Three days ago he’d called Kasey over to work out his problem, only to find that it was thoughts of Elisha that had him pounding into Kasey’s pussy. What the fuck was wrong with him? The woman had called him awful, and he was fantasizing about her to get off.
“Why do I put up with you? You’re a little asshole,” Brant said, glaring at his younger brother.
“I’m the hot brother. You need me to get other women.”
“Fuck off.” Walking out of his house, Brant left his door open, and jumped the small fence. Her garden was spotless, not that he expected anything different. He’d do anything to be given the chance to dirty her up.
Raising his hand he knocked on her door, waiting for her to answer. He didn’t know why he was even bothering to ask her to his party.
It’s being nice.
Not awful.
He was really pissed off about his neighbor calling him awful. All of his friends liked him, and none of them ever thought of him as awful.
Brant was about to leave when her door opened. She was so damn beautiful with her raven hair and flawless skin. Elisha was like a hotter version than that fairy tale that he couldn’t remember the name of.