Disgruntled Read Online Free

“Are you Eric?”
“Yeah. Sorry about my ferret. He likes to eat your plants and
sometimes I can’t catch him before he makes it under the
fence.” She heard some rustling around as the kid climbed
up to peer over the top of the fence at her. “You going
swimming?”
Reva looked down at the swimsuit and shook her head. “No,
just sunbathing.” She reached for the towel to wrap around
her.
“Don’t stop on our account.” A husky voice joined the
child’s. Reva jerked her head up and caught Todd dropping
an arm over the fence, watching her fumble. “He has Bugsy
back in the cage so he shouldn’t bother you anymore.” He
had a shit-eating grin sprawled across his face and she knew
he’d witnessed her bolting up when she felt the animal on
her leg.
“Does it bite?” She ignored him and wrapped the towel
around her waist. She wanted to wrap it around all of her,
but she decided against it. She wasn’t that squeamish…or
prudish
either.
With
the
towel
covering
her
hips,
she
dropped her hands to her waist.
“Only if you antagonize him. He’s usually pretty skittish
himself so he just runs off most of the time.” Todd had dirt
on his hands; a small fleck of it fell to the ground.
“Today’s a yard work day, hmmm?”
“Fillin’ holes,” Eric answered. “Bugsy keeps digging under
so we’re fillin’ ’em up.”
“Oh. Thanks for that.” She smiled.
“Then we’re going to get a new ball thingy,” he added when
Todd nudged him.
“Thanks for that too, but—”
Todd cut her off. “Eric’s going to pay for it himself with the
money he makes working in the yard today. After he fills the
holes, he’s adding some plants to try to deter Bugsy from
getting through. Aren’t you buddy?”
“That’s right. Better get back to it.” The child gave a dirtyhanded wave as he dropped behind the fence.
“Sorry we bothered you, Reva.” Todd pulled his arm in and
smiled. “Nice suit, by the way. Should get a lot of attention
at the pool—you might want to tie those strings up though.”
He disappeared behind the fence to join Eric.
Reva looked down and let out a gasp. She had loosened the
strings from her neck so she wouldn’t get tan lines. Great! I
almost flashed the man’s five-year-old son. She yanked the
strings tighter and cemented them in place. Tan lines will
just have to do. Her old top had been a tube-like thing and
she didn’t think about the strings.
She settled back onto the towel and closed her eyes but the
sound of the voices on the other side of the fence held her
interest. Would it be obvious to mute the radio and listen?
She guessed so. Still, a few words came across and it was
entertaining to hear the number of questions Eric asked and
the calm way Todd answered them. Her brother’s kids were
much the same way but she hardly ever saw them.
Reva lounged in the warmth of the sun and fantasized about
tan legs and worn-out chacos sitting next to her. It amazed
her that she had been able to relax knowing they were just
past the fence. Still, something about their presence relaxed
her further and she felt the pinch in her shoulders release
along with the tension in her neck. She drifted off with a
smile on her lips. Incredibly realistic footsteps plodded her
way. Thump. She sucked in her breath and jolted up, then
rubbed her eyes to get the blinding brightness into focus.
When she moved her hands from her face, a cardboard box
lay next to her full of lemons and limes. She blinked up into
the sun, placing a hand above to shade her view.
“I didn’t want to toss them and hit you. Throw them away if
you want but they make great lemonade. I use the limes for
some pretty killer mojitos.” Damn those legs. She quelled a
rash impulse to reach out and stroke the baby-fine hairs and
toned calves.
“I love mojitos. You’ll have to give me your secret.” She
glanced at her watch and realized she’d been in the sun
almost an hour. “Wow, I’m going to be toasted. I fell
asleep.” She knew he