Chapter 3

THUNK!

Severus turned to look out of the now clear window. He could see out of it, but there was a charm to prevent nosy neighbors from peeking inside. So he was free to act the voyeur, and since it was set to be a quiet summer, he wouldn't mind something, other than the few projects he had planned, to distract him. He watched as a beefy gentleman stepped out of a truck that displayed the same company logo that the vehicles from the previous day had sported. He looked to be in his early forties, fit, and had slightly graying hair. His skin was brown from working in the sun. Severus watched as a silver car pulled into the driveway and a young girl stepped out.

He watched as she stood by her car. She was petite.

"Macto," he entoned.

The window immediately presented him with a magnified image of her. She turned to shut the door, and he watched as the hem of her peach colored dress twirled around her calves, tan, shapely calves; she had long brown hair. The sun hit her hair and it was a bundle of copper strands caught in a breeze that blew it across her shoulders, her face. She had a lovely figure from behind. Young woman, he corrected; definitely a woman. The wind had molded the dress to her frame, and he admired her shapely curves, firm shoulders, waist that nipped in, and lovely round hips and ….

"Perhaps this would be a most interesting beginning to the summer," he mused. While he was use to denying himself carnal pleasures, he saw no reason why he could not admire a lovely woman. He was unmoved by the girls in his classroom, and he would never think of them in that way. They were children, but he could certainly appreciate a pretty woman. Sometimes they avoided his gaze. He tried not to stare. Sometimes they would meet his eye with a polite but strained smile and look away quickly. He knew he was not handsome, and he never anticipated that any of them might want him to approach them.

He watched as her slim fingers pulled back her hair to reveal a sweet profile. "Yes," … " a most diverting summer".

She looked young, but he couldn't be sure. She had a pert little nose and lovely lips. She smiled, beautiful, straight white teeth. Lovely smile. He watched as she reached out to confidently shake the contractor's hand. Severus watched the man take her in.

He bristled as Beefy, for he had bestowed this moniker on the large, unwieldy man, ogled her. The man never quite met her eyes; he stood gazing at her breast. Granted, he was sure they were lovely. He could see the shape of her; and she was perfect. Beefy was going to be a problem; Severus could sense it.

He saw the strained smile in her eyes. She noticed that the man was staring at her chest. Severus watched as the large man stepped closer and the young woman stepped further away. Beefy gestured toward the house. She shook her head "No". He likely wanted her to accompany him on a tour so that he could get her alone. Severus readied his wand. He watched as Beefy smiled and stepped forward to grab her forearm. She tensed and stern lines appeared on her forehead and her brows drew in. With a small frown on her lips, she shook her head "No," again. Beefy let go and put up his hands, but Severus relaxed, but he could tell that Beefy wasn't through with her yet. The man walked back to his truck and turned to look her up and down. She visibly shuddered. Beefy pulled off with a wave that she did not reciprocate.

He watched as she leaned back on her car. She took a breath, and her tense shoulders relaxed. She closed her eyes and took another breath. When she opened her eyes, she was looking right at him. He knew she couldn't see him, but he met her golden eyes, doe eyes. The sort of sweet, pleading eyes that make your guts clench and make you swoop in to rescue the damsel in distress. She was a lovely woman, and he suddenly had the feeling that he was not going to get away this summer unscathed.

Beth pushed away from the car and walked into the house, suddenly relieved that the large man had finally left her alone. He made her promise to call him if there were any issues with the house.

"Not likely," she huffed. She could still feel his eyes on her; she felt like she needed a shower. He had reminded her of Matt in a way. The guy was a creep, and she hoped today would be the last time she ever had to deal with him. His manner had her more than a little worried.

He had asked her if she would like him to walk with her as she took a look at the house; privately she had wondered if this was just a ploy to get her alone, away from the prying eyes of her neighbors. There was no way that was happening. She had refused, and then he had asked her to have lunch or maybe a drink with him at a local pub this afternoon.

"No, thank you," she had stiltedly replied.

She had been more than a little disturbed when he had grabbed her arm. It looked like he was about to insist, when a strange expression had flitted across his face. It was the look of determination. He had stepped back and put up his hands in false resignation.

"Ok, maybe another time," He said amiably.

She hadn't replied, but she had given him a look that said "Not on your life." She hoped she was done with him; perhaps he was just a bit of a weird-o.

She walked into the house with purpose. She looked around at the new, serviceable cream carpet. It was soft and clean. The walls were bright and the several walls had been removed to make the kitchen, dining room and living room more open. The rooms flowed into one another. There were several bedrooms in the back of the house. She would bring her personal items from the hotel this afternoon, but she would need to go shopping for more furniture. She had ordered a bed yesterday that would be delivered this afternoon. As she stood thinking over this matter, she heard someone pull up in the driveway. She prayed that it wasn't the contractor, Lou, coming to try to convince her that she really needed to have a drink with him. The guy was a creep.

She stepped outside and spotted a delivery van and watched as several young men got out of the van and began unloading the large four poster bed out of the back. They would need to assemble it. After they were done, she would go and purchase bed linens and groceries this afternoon. Thankfully Aunt Helen had left her a serviceable refrigerator as well as a fairly new washer and dryer. She would definitely update the refrigerator soon, maybe next weekend? But it would hold groceries for the week. She would need to go grocery shopping this afternoon. It was going to be a busy day.

Severus looked out the window as the delivery van arrived. He watched as the young woman stepped out of the house onto the porch and smiled at the two young men who were unloading several large boxes marked BED in large black letters. Inevitably this led to thoughts of her tan legs splayed against crisp white sheets.

"Severus, you go too far," he admonished himself.

He watched as the young men gave her appreciative glances. They were large boys really, hardly men. She stepped aside as they hefted the large boxes and moved them into the house. He watched as they preened and flexed for he; their young muscles straining against the short cotton sleeves of their shirts. As they went into the house he saw her shake her head, look out into the driveway and smirk.

Severus smiled. He almost heard her mental shrug "Boys will be boys."

It must not have taken them too long to assemble the bed because they left the house within the hour. She likely had nothing to offer them to drink; he was sure that her cupboards were bare. She followed them out of the house with her arms folded across her waist and a pleasant smile on her face. He was sure that she was unaware of the way her arms pulled the fabric of her dress tautly across her body pulling down the neck of her dress to reveal the tops of her golden breasts, which were sprinkled with freckles. He secretly wondered if her entire body was that glorious golden color and how long it would take to kiss each lovely little mark.

"Really Severus," he muttered " as if she would welcome your advances old man." He snorted absently rubbing his broad, sweaty palms across his lean hips. He wondered what the little muggle would think if she knew that such a man as he was spending his time peering out his window at her thinking about what she would look like in a state of mused undress, bruised lips from tortured kisses, and eyes hooded with desire. Really, he was as unworthy as Beefy to be thinking of her this way. This is what happens, he mused, when one had entirely too much time on their hands.

He watched as one of the young men reached in his pocket to pull out a wallet and handed her his card. She smiled, nodded and thanked him, and the young men left. Like Beefy they waved, and she returned the friendly gesture with a rather sardonic expression in her eyes. He watched as she waited until the van was out of site, and he was secretly happy when he saw her rip the card up in to several small pieces as she shook her head. "That 'a girl" he thought.