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“Almost?” It seemed the color drained from her face. “I told you to look straight ahead. I told you not to make eye contact!” she chastised.

“I always gotta know my surroundings, Poet. It’s not like she’s Medusa and if I looked at her, I’d turn to stone. Well, I did turn to stone, actually. Maybe a little bit. Gotta scrub my eyes when I get home.”

“Oh God… what did you see?” She placed her hand over her mouth, and her eyes watered as if she were embarrassed beyond belief.

“I saw that her shirt was hiked up, and her bra pulled down to her waist. I saw her breasts. Come on and show me where you want these two titties, I mean, shit!” He kicked a rock. “I got doubles on my mind now… twins. Clones. Pairs! Where the fuck do you want the greenhouse built, Poet?!”

And then, as they stared at one another, they both burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he could barely speak. His entire face flushed with heat. Poet bent at the waist, holding on to the banister.

“I am so sorry, but I warned you. She does this shit all the time! Showin’ off those little deflated balloons to the world. Are you okay?” She looked as if her legs were about to give out.

“Damn. She just flashes everyone, huh? I was hoping I was special,” he succeeded in choking out, causing both of them to giggle even harder. After a while, they managed to pull themselves together, then walk around to the side of the house, and to the back as she explained her thoughts and plans.

“So, as you can see, I can place it on the side, or the rear.”

“Mmm hmm.” He took out his measuring tape as she stood back and watched.

“Don’t you need to write that down? The dimensions?”

“Nope. I’ll remember.”

She made an expression as if she were impressed. He went on to the side of the house and did the same.

“I think off to the side here would be better than your backyard. Your water set up is easier to access from over here, and I can use that to get the sprinkler system set up with no problem. You’ll need drainage lines, too.

It’ll also be more convenient because I won’t have to build it around a door, or worry about the overhang.

That would cost you more money in the long run, too. ”

“How much will this run me?”

“It depends on if you wanna keep it small and simple, or bigger with more features. We usually charge per square foot.”

“I see. So, what about average size? Not huge, but not a tiny closet-sized enclosure, either. Something right in the middle.”

“Glass costs more than polycarbonate or plastic sheeting, and you said you wanted glass, right?”

“Yes.”

He looked around, calculating in his head. “Wood or metal framing?”

“Hadn’t thought of that. Which one is better?

” My wood is always better. “Metal, but both are fine. Lumber prices have risen recently, so the savings gap isn’t as big as it used to be.

If you’re going with metal, and you’re looking at about eight hundred square feet…

no more than a thousand, then I’d say somewhere ’round twelve is what you can expect to pay. Give or take.”

“Twelve thousand?”

“Yeah.”

She tapped her lower lip as she sank deep in thought. The wheels in her pretty head were turning.

“Okay, that’s not too bad. An investment.”

“It is an investment, and it’ll increase your property value.

Plus, after a few short years, you’ll probably make the money back by sellin’ whatever you grow from in there.

” She nodded in agreement. “I stand by my work. We offer a guarantee. We fix repairs for free for up to five years, as long as they are not created due to carelessness or misuse, and don’t exceed a thousand dollars in repairs. ”

She nodded in understanding.

“How many greenhouses have you built?”

“Plenty. Enough of them. Honestly, it doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters. Experience matters.”

“Poet, if somebody shows me somethin’ and they want it built, I can do it. If I don’t know how to do it, I will find out how and get it done. I love a challenge.”

She visibly swallowed.

“I need to get goin’.” Picking up his toolbox, he headed towards his truck. He could hear her trying to keep up, running behind him until they were side by side. He opened his vehicle door, set his tools on the passenger’s side floor, then turned to her.

“When can you start?” she asked.

He leaned closer to her. She looked up at him. Her lips parted, and her eyes latched onto his. He stared hard at her, sketching her image in his mind. She bit her lip and blinked.

“When do you want me to?” He was sure of himself, and he fit smack dab in her strange, yet beautiful, universe.

“As soon as possible.”

They exchanged numbers, each of them typing their information into their phones.

His hand grazed hers as he leaned even closer, by her ear, and cleared his throat.

She stayed rooted to the spot, as if waiting for syllables and lullabies.

Waiting for the rushing rivers of a sweet nothing, or the naughty whisk of the wind.

Black curls twirled like dark cyclones as a gust of air blew past them, catching her sweet scent and tossing it in his face.

She smelled like pineapples and sunshine. His damp darkness wanted to devour her.

“Poet, you must know why I’m r eally here.”

“Why?”

“The greenhouse was legit, but it was also a valid excuse for me to get next to you. I’m single, but lookin’.

You’re single, and you may not have been lookin’, but you found me all the same.

You see, I find you…” he scanned her real slow, and her cheeks reddened.

He reached out to touch her, but gave her a little room for her next breath.

It looked as if she’d been holding it for far too long. “…irresistible.”

“I just want you to build my greenhouse, Kage.” Her voice quivered ever so slightly, even though she was looking at him square in the eye, as if she meant business.

“Nothin’ more. Strictly business. Can you handle that?

” Her lips twitched as she suppressed the truth.

She’s a horrible liar. He reached back inside of his truck and slipped his cowboy hat back onto his head.

“As you wish,” he said with a gleaming smile, showing all of his teeth. “I’ll be back out here in a couple of days, sweetheart. With receipts. The deposit is twenty percent. I’ll send you the contract tomorrow.” He closed the door, but looked down at her through the open window.

“Sounds fantastic.” She hugged herself tight as he cranked the engine. The skull’s eyes on the front of his ride glowed bright red, shining onto her house as 16 Horsepower’s ‘Black Soul Choir’ blasted from his speakers. He gave her a quick wave and a wink, then drove away…