Sex for Beginners Box Set(17)

“Yeah, Gemma, you were an actual person before you met Jason. I was there, remember?”

Gemma blinked at her friend’s sarcasm. “What’s with the attitude? You introduced us.”

A hesitant hum sounded over the line, then Sue said, “I thought you’d go out, have some fun. Honestly, I never dreamed the two of you would get married.”

Gemma’s mouth opened and closed. “So…you didn’t…you don’t think that we were a good match?”

“That wasn’t for me to decide. But I admit I was surprised when you and Jason got serious.”

“You didn’t think I was good enough for him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The two of you just seemed so…different. You were so earthy with your art, and he was already so judicial.”

And judgmental, Gemma added silently. Jason had a way of making people feel they needed to be on their best behavior around him. He had been a lifesaver at the time, a reason to rein in her deviant sexual conduct and keep herself in check. She had needed him, and had worked so hard to be what he’d needed in return. “Well, since it didn’t last,” she said lightly, “I guess you get the prize.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Gemma.” Sue sighed. “I’m just really happy for you that you’re moving on.”

Gemma leaned her head back on the headrest. “I don’t feel like I’m moving on.”

“You have a new job.”

“It’s temporary.”

“And how about that neighbor of yours?”

“He’s temporary, too. He’s flipping the house by the end of the month.”

“That old Spanish two-story? Isn’t it kind of a wreck?”

Gemma lifted her head. “Yeah, but it’s going to be spectacular. Chev is really paying attention to detail.”

“Sounds like you are, too.”

Gemma realized too late that her voice was elevated, her words rushed and excited. She backpedaled, adopting a casual tone. “He asked for my help on a couple of historical aspects of the house.”

“Oh? Well, you know your stuff, so this Chev guy is showing good sense by asking your advice.”

“I’m sure he wants to set as high an asking price as possible when it goes up for auction.”

“Uh-huh. What kinds of things are you helping him with?”

“Architectural details. And I’m replacing a mural for him.”

“You’re painting again? That’s wonderful! What’s he paying you?”

Gemma swallowed. “Actually, it’s a trade. He’s going to fix my air conditioner.”

“Is he now? Gotta love a man who’s good with his hands.”

“Sue, I’m not sleeping with the guy.”

“Are you at least thinking about it?”

Gemma started her car engine. “Oh, look at that—my phone battery is dying, and I need to get home.”

“Liar. At least tell me if he lives in Tampa.”

“No. Like I said, he’s temporary.”

“No strings can be a good thing.”

“Goodbye, Sue.”

Sue sighed. “Goodbye.”

Gemma disconnected the call and shook her head. Sue meant well by encouraging her to have a meaningless relationship to help move past Jason’s rejection. But her friend would be shocked if she knew what had already transpired between her and her neighbor.

Just like she would’ve been shocked if Gemma’s exhibitionism in college had been exposed. Shocked and ashamed.

On the drive home, Gemma reflected on Sue’s comment that she and Jason hadn’t been suited for each other. Had other people thought the same thing? Had people whispered that their marriage wouldn’t last even as they were standing before the altar taking their vows? Had her desperation to marry Jason been so apparent?

Had Jason sensed it, too? Even though she’d never uttered a word of her subversive urges to exhibit herself, had being her safety chute worn on him?

By the time she pulled onto her street, both the sun and her mood were on the downslide. Chev’s property was crowded with vehicles and equipment and workers, most of whom were loading up to leave. She saw him standing shoulders above them, looking like some kind of primitive chief in his bandanna, his torso bare and brown. He turned his head as she drove past and his dark gaze pierced her to the core, suffusing her chest with pleasure as she wheeled into her driveway.

But at the sight of the peacock in her yard, uprooting her newly replanted flowers, those warm, fuzzy feelings were obliterated, and high voltage anger whipped through her.

* * *

FROM HIS YARD, Chev saw the peacock and cringed. Considering the way Gemma had slammed her car into Park and come charging out, he wouldn’t be surprised if she were about to wring the poor thing’s neck.

The bird veered away, emitting its high-pitched mewling noise. Gemma chased it around the yard, windmilling her arms and stomping her feet. In her voluminous black coat, she looked ridiculous, but the peacock must have found her menacing. The bird lunged, flapping its wings and careening wildly to stay a few feet ahead of her.

The men standing around him laughed and made circular motions with their fingers indicating that Gemma was loco. Chev smiled and waved them on their way, then stood for a few minutes watching Gemma chase the squawking bird around her yard, laughing to himself.

It was therapeutic, he reasoned, for her to lash out at the bird. The woman had had her life torn apart and was clearly struggling to put the pieces back together. He couldn’t blame her for snapping over a few unearthed flowers. The colorful animal was a handy target for her pent-up frustrations.

For the bird’s sake, he decided to intervene.

As he walked up behind Gemma, she stopped and leaned over to grasp her knees. She narrowed her eyes at the cock, which had also stopped running and was eyeing her intently. “I wonder how you’d look on a platter,” she muttered.

“The meat is supposed to be an aphrodisiac,” Chev offered.

She turned and straightened, looking adorably sheepish, her cheeks pink from the exertion.

“Not that I can say firsthand,” he added. “Peacocks are protected in most parts of the world, but some cultures still consider the meat a delicacy.”

She glared at the bird. “We’d have to catch him first.”

As if the bird had heard her, he extended his wings and flew up into a nearby tree, then called down to them in triumph.

“I guess that’s the reason they’ve been around for centuries,” Chev said.

She stamped her foot clad in a chunky black high heel, then groaned when she realized what she’d stepped in.

Chev bent over laughing, then wiped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry.”

“I called animal control,” she said, indignant, “but they said they didn’t have a place to take the bird even if they could capture it. They told me not to feed it, and if it hasn’t left in two or three weeks, they would give me the name of a preserve to contact. They said that I was encroaching on the peacock’s habitat.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true. We all are.”

“But why did it pick my yard?”

He grinned. “I guess he just liked the look of your grass.”

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. “Do you think he’ll ever leave?”

“Eventually his instincts to mate will drive him to move on if he doesn’t find what he’s looking for.”

The humidity in the air between them suddenly became sticky with mutual desire. His sex grew heavy as he imagined what lay beneath the belted raincoat. Considering the black mesh panty hose and high heels, he was sure it was something pretty damn fantastic. Her pale hair was tousled from the impromptu activity. Her mouth and eyes softened and her gaze traveled over his bare shoulders and arms. His chest expanded as he inhaled sharply. She wanted him…but enough to let him near her? He watched while she visibly struggled with her physical response to him. She looked away, and when she looked back, she had regained her composure.

“How’s the house coming along?” she asked in a breezy tone.

Chev exhaled. “We made a lot of progress today. I wanted to show you a couple of things if you have time.”

She glanced at her own house and he wondered if something had happened today to make her even more skittish of him.

Then she turned back to him and smiled. “Sure. I’m going to let this mess go for now.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Chev conceded. “Let it ride. You can clean up the yard once he’s gone for good.”

He said the words lightly, but as soon as they left his mouth he realized that Gemma might be drawing comparisons between him and the pesky peacock.

One delicate eyebrow arched, but otherwise Gemma didn’t reveal what was going through that pretty head of hers. “Let me put the car in the garage.”

Chev knew he should have offered to let her change clothes first, but honestly, he wanted to keep imagining what she was wearing under the coat. And he was hoping that when she undressed, she’d do it for him.

He bit back a smile as she dodged more bird deposits and sacrificial plants on her way back to the driveway. He glanced up at the peacock staring down from a tree branch and wondered if either one of them would have any luck finding female companionship at 131 Petal Lagoon Drive.