Wide shoulders. Thick from the bone. Not the kind of bulk that could be acquired. He stood at the back of the greenhouse, shoveling fertilizer. She let her eyes dart up to watch the fabric of his shirt strain. He wiped at his brow with a gloved hand and their eyes met. He sent her a kind smile and went back to his work.
The thing about a real man, the kind that can make a woman feel small, is that there's no faking it. A man can pretend to protect but not for long. Annabelle was used to brash men and mean men. She even knew some desperate men. That's why she had such a hard time believing she'd found a kind man. That's why she spent all summer avoiding the back of the greenhouse.
He came with the service. She hired a company to tend the grounds. Her ex-husband bought this house. Sure, she was the wife when the house was bought, but it was his purchase. And now the house was part of her consolation package.
Annabelle was cared for and pampered. Like a little doll. Delicate and breakable. The Gardner didn't dare touch her or even come near her. He knew his place. The stiff way she held herself reinforced the distant look he sent her. It was a kind smile but not a friendly one.
She knew about getting dirty. A kind man was still a man. He wouldn't turn down a blatant invitation to romp. So Annabelle walked to the back of the greenhouse and let her cover-up part. The bikini underneath was tasteful. It was more a bathing suit in two parts than a revealing garment. But it was still less clothes than a decent woman wore in front of the help.
His hairline was receding and hints of gray peppered his sideburns. He combed his fingers through the damp curls atop his head. There was the hint of boy in his face. A softness to his features and in his eyes. He pointed those gray eyes at her and she felt her heart stop. The moment of truth. Could she really go through with it?
"I told Gardner to prepare a window box for me."
He nodded.
"To be ready today." She continued. "For my upstairs bathroom."
"It's ready." He said, his voice slow and easy.
"I want you to bring it upstairs. Now."
"Jose'll be back-"
She interrupted, "Do you know where it is?"
He took in a breath through his nose and nodded.
"Then follow me."
She walked to the greenhouse door and paused. Her breath was shallow and quick. She waited to hear if he was following. She felt him walk up behind her. Annabelle didn't let him catch up until they were at the house.
Once inside, she slowed down. He was damp from the heat. She could smell the combination of sweat and dirt emanating from him. He stood just inside the doorway, waiting for her to lead.
"I'm not bossy." Annabelle blurted.
He didn't say anything.
"This way." She said and started to walk again but continued to babble. "This wasn't always me. I was a waitress. Before I met..."
She looked back to see if he was bored or disgusted. His stoic face betrayed nothing. Annabelle stumbled and steadied herself with a hand on the wall.
He asked, "Are you all right?"
Annabelle tucked hair behind her ears, cast down her head, and continued on to the bathroom. She didn't want to loose her nerve. Once inside the bathroom he didn't require her instruction. He stepped into the tub and leaned over to slide in the flower box. She closed the bathroom door and leaned on it.
"Do you have a girlfriend...Jack?"
Saying his name felt nice. It fell off her lips easily. He wasn't a Gardner or the help. He was Jack.
Jack turned to her, his brow knit. He stepped out of the bathtub and towered over her. The bathroom was roomy but managed to feel claustrophobic in his presence.
"Mrs.-" Jack started but Annabelle jumped forward.
"No! Please. If-if...just..."
When she couldn't find the words to continue, he stepped forward and looked down at her.
"Look. We all know you're having a hard time."
Her jaw squared as she looked away. "I don't want you're pity."
"If it was me you really wanted, there would be no question. But-"
Annabelle stumbled over herself to interupt, "N-no!"
"It's loneliness." He told her.
Her lip curled up and her eyes hardened. For a moment she hated him and then she resolved herself. She faced him, daring him with her eyed. "I'll take the pity. If that's all you have to offer, I'll take it."
He leaned a hand on the door behind her, next to the side of her head, and returned her stare.
"If you won't believe my words. Then do it out of pity."
"You deserve better."
"Better than what?" She laughed bitterly. "Than you?"
He put his other hand on the door and leaned in as if to menace her. Her breath quickened but it wasn't out of fear.
"I had a rich man. He set me up in this house. So I'd never have to worry."
Jack put his mouth up against her ear and growled, "I'm a rough man. I drink. I fight. I'm tattooed and unpresentable."
Her eyes rolled sublimely closed. "You'd own me."
She felt him shake his head and hear heart dropped.
"You don't want me?"
He replied dispassionately, "Is that what you need me to say?"
Annabelle clenched her fists. "I need you to give in."
Jack pressed his face into her hair and strands clung to his stubble. He slid a hand down past her shoulder and down her side. He pushed his thick fingers underneath the elastic of her bikini top and onto her breast.
"Open your eyes." He demanded.
He was right up in her face. So close that she almost couldn't see him. She had to blink her eyes to keep him clear. She felt his rough fingers pinch her nipple and then twist it hard. Annabelle cried out. Her eyelids fluttered.
"Don't close you're eyes."
She kept her gaze steady as he pulled his hand from her top and ran it down her stomach. He slid those same fingers under the elastic of her bikini bottom. She went flush as he pushed through her pubic hair. Her mouth parted with a little gasp of embarrassment as he slid a finger over her clit. Her face tightened uncomfortably as he pressed open the lips of her pussy.
He had to drop his shoulder down to press three of his thick fingers inside her.
"Is this what you want?"
Annabelle met his stare straight on. "I want kindness."
He pulled his hand from her and leaned his head against the door next to hers. She closed her eyes. A moment later she heard the rustling of his pants. They fell to the floor with a thud. She felt him pull down her bikini bottoms.
She kept her eyes closed as he pulled up her left leg. She felt his hand guide the tip of his penis inside her. And then she felt him fill the space his fingers previously occupied. Without a kiss he filled her.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and pressed his face into the tangles. His thrusts pressed her up against the door, raising her and dropping her at a building pace. She held onto him, grasping at his wide shoulders, and went along with the ride.
The moment didn't last long. He groaned and released his seed. Panting, he pinned her to the bathroom door.
"I don't like being manipulated." He wheezed in her ear.
She whispered tentatively, "That's why you're punishing me?"
Jack gathered his breath before he spoke again. "I was trying to give you what you wanted."
"You're a kind man." Annabelle said. "I wanted that kindness."
Jack sighed. "You don't know anything about me."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Jack shook his head.
"What about me?"
Jack chuckled, "You wanna be my girlfriend?"
Annabelle nodded with all seriousness.
"I'm you're Gardner."
"I've watched you handle my roses. You're gentle with them. You cup them in your hands, like they're glass. You never crush or bruise a single petal."
Annabelle smiled up at Jack, "That's how I know you won't break me."
Jack stared down at her. He pursed his lips and let out a long stream of breath from his nose. Then, resigned, he cupped her cheek in his hand. Annabelle leaned into his fingers. He brought her face up and pressed his lips against hers.
It wasn't a romantic or passionate kiss. It was perfunctory. A kiss to seal the deal.
"Like kissing a rose." Jack murmured and smiled down at his girl. The End.
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