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Chapter Nine. Due to her restless night, Trent ended up sleeping late and was only awakened by the sound of her doorbell chiming






Due to her restless night, Trent ended up sleeping late and was only awakened by the sound of her doorbell chiming. Disoriented, she got out of bed to open her blinds and look out her bedroom window. Monica was walking up her path to join Juliet at the front door.

“Fuck, ” Trent said. She opened her window and leaned out. “Morning, ladies.”

Juliet stepped back from the doorstep and shielded her eyes against the bright midday sun to look up at her. “Are we too early? ” she called.

“No, I’m running late, ” Trent said. She dangled a set of keys she’d dug out from her pants pocket. “Use these to open the side gate. I’ll be down in a minute.” She tossed the keys down and Juliet caught them. Then she shut her window and rushed to wash up and prepare to meet her guests.

Ten minutes later, tucking a T-shirt into a clean pair of jeans, Trent trotted down the stairs, slipped on her boots, and unlocked the back door.

Juliet stood out of the way while Monica trampled through some of the overgrowth. Trent couldn’t help but admire Juliet in her worn jeans and short-sleeved pink shirt. She closed her eyes briefly at the way her body reacted to Juliet’s presence.

“Did we wake you? ” Juliet’s voice broke Trent’s quiet communion with herself. She had slipped her hands into her jeans back pockets, waiting for Trent to answer.

“No, I was just being lazy debating whether to get up or not, ” Trent smoothly lied and tried not to focus on the way Juliet’s stance pushed out her chest or the way her lips curved even when she wasn’t smiling. She took an involuntary step forward, determined to taste those lips again. She was rudely interrupted by Monica stomping toward her. Trent almost retreated at the fierce look Monica leveled at her.

“How could you let your yard go like this? ” she said, sweeping her arm out to encompass the whole backyard.

“I wasn’t interested in it, so I just left it to its own devices, ” Trent said, trying not to stare too much at Monica’s idea of suitable gardening clothes. Her usual long hair was tied in two pigtails that hung low from a bright red skull-infested bandana. A red and black striped top was tucked into black cargo pants that housed a seemingly unlimited number of pockets.

“Do you have enough storage space there, Pirate Pete? ” Trent couldn’t stop herself.

“Yes, I do, Butch Cassidy, ” Monica drawled as she eyed Trent’s worn cowboy boots, “but obviously not enough for the copious sticks of dynamite I’m going to need to blow this yard away to replace it with a thing of beauty.” Monica stepped into Trent’s personal space. “You are a defiler of nature.”

“Actually, I’d say I was a poster child for the Green Party, letting this piece of nature choose its own path to follow.” Juliet chuckled behind Monica, and Trent was glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of whatever look Monica threw over her shoulder at her.

Monica balled her fists on her hips. “Don’t you ‘Greenpeace’ me. You’ve been too damn busy banging away at mushrooms in your games to pay attention to the land outside your own back door.”

Trent refused to blink under Monica’s stare. “So can you fix it? ” she asked.

“Fix it? ” Monica’s voice rose and Trent caught Juliet cringing in reaction. “This is not as simple as a game, my dear.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “There is no walkthrough for this disaster.”

Trent tried to school her features to look suitably contrite in the face of Monica’s ire. “Can’t you weave the magic that Juliet says you have when it comes to landscaping? ”

Monica looked over her shoulder at Juliet. “She said that? ”

Trent nodded. “That’s why I wanted you to come see this. I think you’re the only one who could resurrect this mess to something beautiful. And you’ll get Juliet to help, which will, in turn, help her toward making a decision on joining you in your work.”

Monica narrowed her eyes and seemed to consider Trent’s words. “I’d document the whole dig. Everything would be photographed to prove that I transformed it from this dump to something worth looking at.”

“Take all the pictures you need.”

“Let me give this disaster area a good look over and see what I can suggest.” Monica flicked a pigtail in Trent’s direction and stalked off, pulling a pad and pen from her back pocket.

Juliet quietly edged her way over to Trent’s side. “She’s excited by the challenge. I can tell.”

“Yes, I could see excitement bubbling underneath all that scowling.” Trent’s gaze traveled down Juliet’s body unbidden. She wedged her hands firmly into her pockets to stop herself from reaching out to pull Juliet close. Swallowing at the sudden dryness in her mouth, she finally spoke. “You wear pink well.”

Juliet took her own time looking Trent up and down. “And that T-shirt clings in all the right places.”

Trent gritted her teeth, willing her nipples not to tighten at Juliet’s obvious stare. “It was the first thing that came to hand.”

“We did disturb you.” Juliet pouted and Trent stifled the groan that rose as swiftly as the urge to kiss those lips and put that pout to good use.

“I thought about you last night, ” she said out loud, startling herself.

Juliet looked equally shocked, then a wicked grin spread across her face. “Glad to see I made you restless enough to forget we were coming to visit.”

“If Monica wasn’t here I’d kiss you senseless.”

“Monica who? ”

“Hey! How y’all doing? ” Elton’s voice cut through the moment as he came in through the side gate. “Thought I’d come and see how my favorite ladies are all getting along. You know, in case any of you needed rescuing from whatever lives in this…” He gestured toward the yard. “I think I just witnessed Peter Jackson drive off. He mentioned something about an ape? ”

Trent made a face at him. “Very funny, wiseass.”

Monica sashayed out of the foliage and gave Elton a dazzling smile. He reached out to tug at her pigtails and she giggled.

“So are you two really going to take on this challenge? ” he asked, sweeping an arm around Monica’s shoulders to hug her close.

Juliet nodded. “It will give me a chance to see whether I’m ready to work in both landscaping and with Monica.”

Trent bit the inside of her cheek to hold her tongue in check. Monica caught it and cut her a look.

“I am perfect to work alongside, but the work itself is both demanding and very physical.” She looked Juliet over critically. “You’re not so flabby after sitting behind a desk for all those years, my friend. I think you could do it.”

Trent had to agree that Juliet was a fine figure of a woman, with curves in all the right places. She stuffed her hands even deeper in her jeans.

“I just need to get some more measurements and then I’m all yours, ” Monica said to Elton, who swiftly made himself available to hold the tape measure while Monica plotted out the lay of the backyard.

“What do you have planned for the rest of today? ” Trent asked Juliet while Elton followed orders like a docile lamb.

“I have a proposal that I am supposed to be getting ready for in a month’s time to present before my bosses. Charts and graphs on ways and means to cut costs and save the bank money.”

“Sounds enthralling.”

“Oh, it’s the highlight of my life. It’s like applying duct tape to a sinking ship. What about you? What does the rest of this Sunday have in store for you? ”

“I have a game on the ’net with some friends later tonight. I think Zoe and Nick will be online so I’ll team up with them, and we’ll go gang up on some poor unsuspecting players to shoot the bejeezus out of them.”

Monica had finished writing everything down that she needed, then slapped her book shut. “I am done. Let me go and work on this and we’ll plot out a plan of action.” She gave Trent a considering stare. “You going to be okay with us camping out in your backyard? ”

“It will be just fine. I’ll give you the key to the side gate and you can come and go as you please if I’m at work.”

Monica nodded. “Juliet, I’m going to go back to Elton’s. I’ll see you later? ”

Juliet waved her off. “I’ll use the time alone to work on that damned proposal.”

Elton gave Trent a thumbs-up sign as they left.

“Something tells me our being here isn’t something you’d usually tolerate, ” Juliet said.

Trent shrugged, unsure how to explain or if she could even begin to. She reached for Juliet’s hand and tugged her toward the back door. “Come sit a while before you have to leave.” She led Juliet to her kitchen table. They sat for a while drinking Pepsi.

“You don’t spend much time down here, do you? ” Juliet asked quietly, gesturing to the plain rooms and the empty feel they radiated.

“That obvious, eh? ” Trent looked about her home and for the first time acknowledged what Juliet could see. “It does look pretty sparse, I’ll admit. I tend to spend most of my time upstairs, so these rooms just never get used.”

Juliet raised an enquiring eyebrow. Trent shook her head at the obvious silent comment.

“No, not like that! I don’t invite women back here at all.” She realized too late just how much she had inadvertently admitted.

“And yet, here I am, ” Juliet said softly.

“Yes, here you are.”

“What makes me different, Trent? ”

“You just are.”

Juliet reached over to brush a stray lock of hair from Trent’s face. “I’m glad.”

“Me too.”

 

It had been a none too chaste kiss that Juliet had left Trent with at her front door. Now, over twenty-four hours later, Trent was still feeling the press of those full lips against her own.

“You’ve got that faraway look again, ” Elton said, handing her a roll of stickers and guiding her to a cart. “Price ’em up, partner.”

Trent went through the motions, gaining comfort from the routine. She could sense Elton hovering nearby.

“Are you seeing Monica tonight? ” she asked, hoping to deflect his concern.

“We’re over at my place for pasta and a fine wine.”

“Get you, Mr. Domesticated. Wine, eh? ”

Elton leaned against her cart and threaded a finger through his beard while he mused. “I’m so glad she came to the tournament. What if we’d never have met? The most perfect woman in the world for me and I could have missed her.”

“How she dresses makes her kind of hard to miss, ” Trent said and accepted the punch on her arm in good humor. “She complements you, my friend. You were obviously meant to be.”

“And what of her guiding light of a roommate? ”

Trent sighed. “She kisses like a dream.”

Elton clapped his hands. “Now we’re talking! No wonder you’re all misty eyed and off the planet today. So could this be something serious? ”

Trent wouldn’t meet his eyes. “You more than anyone know I don’t do serious.”

“But Juliet isn’t like any of the girls you used to hook up with.” He leaned in closer. “You know, before you took the vow of celibacy.”

“No, she isn’t, which is why she is dangerous.” Trent continued applying the sales stickers with a little more aggression.

“Trent, you deserve someone who will make you happy. You’re way past due.”

“I’m doing fine on my own.”

“Sure you are, but your heart is yearning toward that pretty blonde whose eyes light up every time she sees you, and yours return the same signal. Like it or not, you’re pulled toward her.”

“She’s too fine for me, Elton. She’s way beyond my reach.”

“Well, she doesn’t seem to agree, ” Elton said cryptically, his tone making Trent follow his line of vision. She checked her watch.

“School’s out already? ” She wondered how she had sleepwalked through the entire afternoon in her job.

“Looks like little bankers are too.” Elton sauntered over to where Juliet and Kayleigh were perusing the game-lined shelves.

Trent felt the tug on the invisible string that bound her to Juliet. Elton got a hug from both Juliet and Kayleigh and then Juliet sought out Trent.

Oh God, her eyes do light up. Trent took an involuntary step forward. And like a sailor called forth by a siren’s song, I have no course but to go to her.

“Trent! Juliet brought me to see if anything new has come out.”

Trent accepted Kayleigh’s hug. “New games are released on a Friday, so you’re too early to start spending your birthday money, kid. How about we go peruse the list that tells you what’s out soon and see if we think any of the new releases will be of any interest to you? ” She checked out Juliet’s banking suit. “You’re looking very somber there, Juliet. I think I like you better in your jeans.” For so many reasons, Trent thought, remembering how the denim clung to Juliet’s curves.

Juliet tugged at her jacket as if it were constrictive. “This is my power suit.”

“Something tells me that’s just one of the reasons why you want to look into changing vocations.” Trent moved closer and noticed Juliet’s added height. She looked down at her shoes. “Serious heels.”

“Butt-kicking heels, ” Juliet said with a steely glint that sent a curious shiver down Trent’s spine. She admired the length of leg Juliet was displaying. Kayleigh tugged on her hand and broke her from her musings.

“Trent, my money is burning a hole in my pocket here! ” she whined.

Trent was suitably chastised by Kayleigh’s tone. She tried to ignore Juliet’s amusement and Elton’s choking cough. “Sorry, kid. Your sister distracted me looking so girly.”

“She always looks girly, ” Kayleigh replied as she was led to the counter. “She’s pretty that way.”

Trent couldn’t argue with that and just reached for her list to start thumbing through the games. She could hear Elton and Juliet’s conversation as they spoke nearby.

“Monica says after we’ve tackled Trent’s yard that yours is next on her to-do list.”

Trent felt a little less picked on now that she knew Monica had seen Elton’s backyard and found it equally wanting.

“I’ve asked for a centerpiece shaped like a skull, ” Elton said.

“I’ve seen the preliminary sketches. You’ll get your wish. She knows exactly which pebbles she’ll use for the skull and what plants will be perfect for the eyes to make them ‘glow’ red.”

Elton rocked back and forth on his heels in delight. “God, that girl is a genius. It’s going to look so cool.”

“Trent, I want this one.”

Trent turned her attention back to Kayleigh to see what game she was pointing to. “An excellent choice. That will be a great game. I’ve seen some of the previews, and it looks amazing. Let me get you a pre-order slip and you can pick it up on its day of release.” She reached under the counter for the necessary paperwork. “You going to leave a deposit on it? ”

“How much? ” Kayleigh said, obviously enjoying having Trent’s full attention.

“Give me one hundred dollars and you can buy mine for me too.” Trent gave Kayleigh a sly look and was pleased to see her laugh.

“I don’t have that much! ”

Trent pretended to be disappointed. “I’ll buy my own game, then, penny pincher.” She started to fill in the form for Kayleigh. “Give me ten dollars for a deposit and you’re set.”

Kayleigh whipped a bill out of her purse. “That I have.”

“Excellent.” Trent finished her form and ripped off Kayleigh’s copy. She ran the money through the register and stapled the receipt to Kayleigh’s form. Then she made sure Kayleigh tucked the slip safely away in her purse. “In two weeks’ time, the game is all yours.” Trent nudged her gently. “Or if you can’t make it, have your sister call me and I’ll bring it by after work for you.”

“You’d do that for me? ”

“Only for you.” Trent found Elton and Juliet still deep in conversation. “What are they up to? ” She figured if anyone would know, it would be Kayleigh.

“I think Elton’s asking Juliet about Monica.” Kayleigh cupped a hand to Trent’s ear. “I think he likes her a lot.”

Trent nodded. “I think so too.”

“My sister says she’s going to dig in your backyard when she’s not in the bank. Can I come help? ”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m allowed to go anywhere near it either while Monica is working.”

“She’s a landscaper. Juliet says that is way more important than a gardener.”

“A lot more, ” Trent said. “And I think she’s in charge.”

Kayleigh frowned, then let out a pitiful sigh. “Guess I’ll be told to stay at home, then.”

“You can come see it when they’re all finished. It will look better then.”

“What will look better? ” Juliet asked, coming over to join them at the counter.

“The yard once you and Monica have finished with it.” Trent caught Zoe gesturing toward Kayleigh, and Trent nudged her so she would see what Zoe wanted. Kayleigh grabbed up her purse and left them alone.

“She just made a ten-dollar deposit for a game that’s out in two weeks. It’s perfectly suitable, and she’s going to love it.”

Juliet gave her a curious look. “I trust you, Trent. I don’t think you’d steal Kayleigh’s birthday money from her.”

“I’m just keeping you informed. The receipt is in her purse so you can see what deposit she made.”

“She was so excited about coming here today. Seeing where you all work. I managed to get off work early to go fetch her. She wanted to see you.”

“And what about you? ”

“I’m trying not to let my mind wander as to things I could do with you and that tie you’re wearing.”

Trent blinked at Juliet’s casually spoken words; her face flamed as her own mind conjured up images. “Damn it, you can’t say things like that to me here.”

“Why not? ” Juliet’s voice was innocent.

“Because the storeroom isn’t as private as I’d want, and you’re testing my limits.” She was pleased to see Juliet shiver at her words. She could smell her subtle scent as Juliet leaned toward her and spoke very quietly for Trent’s ears alone.

“I deserve more than a quick fuck.” She deliberately returned Trent’s words to her.

A soft sound escaped Trent’s lips at the sensuous tone in Juliet’s voice.

“Monica wanted to know if she could start work at your place tomorrow, seeing as she has the day off work? ”

Trent was more than a little thrown by Juliet’s ease at changing the subject. She slipped the necessary key from her key chain and held it out for Juliet. “Tell her to just let herself in through the side gate. I’m in here from nine a.m. tomorrow. The yard will be all hers.”

“I thought I might swing by after work to help her clean up.”

“If I promised you a meal when you were done, would you eat with me tomorrow night? ”

“I’d love to.”

Trent didn’t censure the words in her head before they tumbled out of her mouth unbidden. “Then it’s a date.”

Juliet’s delighted look made her chest ache with the need to pull her close and kiss her. She looked toward the storeroom door and was caught by Juliet’s-all-too knowing eyes.

“You drag me in there and the whole place would know what we were doing.”

“Would I be dragging? ”

“No, I’d be quite willing, but I don’t want to give my little sister any more fodder for what she already tells strangers about her big sister.”

“I’m not a stranger anymore.”

“There’s still so much about you I just don’t know. Maybe tomorrow you’ll open up and tell me about yourself.”

Trent tried not to let her fear show. You’ve already gotten closer than anyone has in years. I don’t know how much closer I can let you get.


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