Love by Love - 14
Reba went to work with a cast on her right arm. Dolly was concerned about her favorite employee, wondering if she could work. Dolly was a fun person to work with. She and Reba grew attached immediately like long lost friends. Dolly loved to sing, so did Reba. Once a month, she would bring in a karaoke machine to the office to celebrate the sales. When Dolly and Reba stood behind the microphone, no one wanted to go up next. It hard to tell who was better at singing, but no point comparing apples and melons. Reba was one mean real estate agent. But she wasn't as rough as her boss. Dolly could take a graveyard and talk a home buyer into believing it's a place to live in. Reba's motto was she didn't sell houses, she sold homes. At first Dolly thought Reba was too nice for her firm, but it turned out that clients loved her for honest opinion and they recommended Reba to their friends. She ended up bringing more clients than anyone else.
"I fell off the bike." Reba explained to her boss about the accident. And how it was Brock's fault.
"Oh, the hunky neighbor of yours will be taking care of you during the time you're wearing the cast? Like what? Helping you dress and undress, giving you a bath..."
"No, like doing my chores around the house and taking care of Kyra. Oh and either cook for me or pay for take out."
"You're no fun. So are you sure you're okay to work?"
"Yes, I can still show people houses. I might need some help with the paper work though." Reba thought she would be okay without the right arm, but in fact it was so frustrating for her that she couldn't really do things that way she used to. Good thing that her colleagues were nice and helped her out when she needed help. Reba had to learn to survive without her right arm for now. She had a sandwich that Brock prepared for her for lunch, so that wasn't a problem. But when she was having roast beef for dinner, that's when the problem started. "Urgg...." Reba groaned when she couldn't cut the beef with her left hand.
"Here, let me." Brock helped her cut the meat into bite size pieces. He tried to feed her, but Reba could manage. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay?"
"There's a Frisbee on the roof." Reba kidded.
"Ha ha, very funny." Brock laughed sarcastically. "I was in so much touble the last time I went up on the roof". Reba elbowed him with her cast. He picked up every one's empty plates and did the dishes while Reba was watching TV with the kids in the living room. "Okay Cheyenne, let's go get you in bed. You'll be okay staying with Barbra Jean tonight? I have to stay here to make sure Mrs. I mean mommy's all right."
"Wait, wait, wait... What do you mean you're staying here?" Reba piped up.
"To make sure you're doing okay. Kyra said you were in terrible pain last night." Kyra insisted on staying with Reba last night in her room to keep her company. Reba woke up in the middle of the night groaning in pain. Kyra woke up too so see if she could be any help. Since she couldn't help her mom, she decided to tell Brock that Reba was looking for a painkiller and she couldn't open the childproof container with just one hand. Reba ended up suffered with pain throughout the night.
"I am okay. I'll take a pain killer before I go to bed."
"That thing would put you to sleep, what if Kyra needs help in the middle of the night?" Brock tried to come up with seven trucks load of excuses for why he should stay at her house tonight... and every night until she was healed. Reba agreed to let him stay that night, for now. Brock came back after he tucked his daughter in and Reba put Kyra in bed. She went to do her evening routine. She brushed her teeth and washed her face with her left hand. She made a mess, but she could clean up later. Now she had to get changed. She unbuttoned her blouse and carefully took it off her body. She tried to reach to her back to unclasp her bra... Kyra helped her clasp it this morning, although she had difficulty helping her mom since the hooks were so small and tight. Kyra was already asleep and Reba didn't think she should wake her daughter up for just a silly reason too. Reba kept trying with no success. Why did she have to pick this bra to wear! She sighed in frustration; she put on her bathrobe and reluctantly went down to her living room to see Brock.
"Brock... uh... I kinda need your help..." Reba hesitated
"Sure, what is it?" Brock showed his concern via his eyes. Reba took a deep breath and turned her back at him.
"Can you help me unclasp my bra?" Have mercy! Brock's breath got caught in his throat when Reba let her robe slip off her shoulder far enough for Brock to unclasp her bra. Although she was holding the front part of the robe to conceal her body, but since he was taller than she was, he could clearly see her soft curves. Brock eyed her freckled shoulders with mix emotions. He wanted to just bury his nose at the crook of her neck, but he was also afraid that she would be mad at him for taking advantage. Reba's heart skipped a beat when his finger brushed against her skin. Reba pulled the robe back on and held it tightly the moment her bra was unhooked. "Thanks"
"Any... Anytime." Brock stammered wondering if he should just think about politics to steer his mind away from the sexy redhead or just go home and take a cold shower. Brock tried to shake her image out of his head and lay down on the couch trying to get some sleep. Reba was tossing and turning too. She could still feel the warmth of his finger burn into her skin. She could still feel his warm breath linger at the crook of her neck. She couldn't believe that a gentle touch could drive her this insane.
"Mom…" Kyra opened the door to her mother's bedroom without knocking. Reba was sitting at her vanity with a towel wrapped around her body, and another towel draped across her shoulders. She was trying to apply some make up with her left hand. She gave up on eyeliner and mascara: her hand wasn't steady enough.
"Oh good you're up. Can you please help mommy again today?"
"But I already did that yesterday." Little five year-old Kyra frowned when Reba turned her back at her. It took her forever to hook those little hooks together too. It wasn't that fun for a kid.
"I know sweetie, but I'm afraid you'll have to help me until I remove this thing." Pointing to her cast, Reba hated to be so helpless.
"I'm tired, I'll go get Mr. H. to help." Before Reba could stop her, the girl ran outside and called Brock from the top of the stairs. Reba quickly put her robe on, but trying to put on a robe quickly with an arm bent wasn't an easy task. Brock ran up the stairs skipping steps when he heard Kyra yelled 'mom needs help!'.
"Honey, are you okay?" Brock rushed into her room thinking something serious must have happened.
"Oh no… no… nothing," said Reba forcing out a smile and quickly held her robe closed together.
"Mom can't hook her bra." Kyra innocently told Brock. He tried not to laugh when Reba turned red.
"I told you, you could always ask me to do anything. Dress you or undress you... I'm game! Here, turn around."
"Wait, wait! I'm not ready!" Exclaimed Reba jumping away. "Can you go outside for now, I'll let you know when I'm ready." Stepping out of the room, he chuckled. Well, this 'taking care of her' worked out to his benefit after all.
Brock just finished vacuuming every room upstairs and his back was killing him. He came down to the living room hoping for a little break. Reaching for the remote, he spotted a book Reba was in the middle of reading. He picked it up and flipped in to the page she left her bookmark. He couldn't help but spread a huge grin across his face.
"Brock!" Exclaimed Reba seeing him reading her book, she put her drink down and tried to snatch the book from his hand, Brock stood up and walking away, facing his back at her, reading it aloud.
"Catherine opened her mouth, her growing urgency yearning for more and melted against him, tasting, teasing, his advancing tongue, welcoming the tremors racing through her. She also made a sound but recognized it as her own sense of wonder that she was not frightened but empowered by his response. The muscles of his shoulders tightened under her hands, the tendons in his neck straining, as he moved to taste her. Her breasts felt heavy, her nip-"
"BROCK! Stop it!" Reba could feel every drop of blood from her body gathered at her cheeks. Brock chuckled and let Reba snatched the book back. Her flushed cheeks really look kissable right about now.
"I didn't know you like this sort of romance."
"It's Barbra Jean's."
"Really? She lives at my house and I never see this kind of book lying around before." Brock commented. He enjoyed seeing her blush. "So tell me more about that book."
"Never mind that. You're done vacuuming?" Reba quickly changed the subject.
"I'm taking a break."
"Break time is over, back to work."
"What? Don't you want to 'cup the sides of my face and pull my mouth, down to yours.'" Brock took part of the book and mocked her with it.
"Oh shut up!" Reba couldn't turn any darker shade of red. She wondered if she would ever hear the end of it.
Next evening, Reba hung up the phone forcefully. She couldn't wait until this stupid cast came off. She was making an appointment with a salon to wash her hair, but they wouldn't be available until next week. She would have done it herself, but with her thick long hair, it was hard enough when she could use both hands. And it wasn't easy to keep the cast dry if she would wash her own hair. Brock brought the laundry into the house and caught Reba sighing in frustration. Reba explained to him what made her upset.
"All I want is just shampoo and blow dry and they said they are packed until next week." She frowned.
"I can help."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Here, you could sit by the sink, and I can wash your hair right here in the kitchen. I don't have to be in the bathroom with you, and you'll be fully dress." Reba thought about it and decided to take the offer. He had been good to her since she had the accident. He did her laundry; vacuum the stairs, taking care of Kyra. Her heart melted when she saw him teaching the girl to tie her shoes. Reba though she had to give him a thank you card or return a favor somehow.
Brock put a high chair in front of the kitchen sink. Reba came back down with a bunch of towels and her shampoo. Brock motioned her to take a seat. Reba sat down and rested her neck at the edge of the sink. Brock pulled out the faucet and turned on the water adjusting the right temperature. Reba closed her eyes enjoying the gentle massage on her head.
"I've never noticed your eyelashes are red" Brock commented. Reba opened her eyes to meet with his sweet grin only few inches away from her face, his hand still lathering her hair with shampoo.
"Of course. Just in case you hadn't notice, I'm a redhead."
"I know, but you usually use black mascara and black eyeliner." Reba hadn't been using them since she was in a cast, she couldn't steady her left hand to do the delicate job. Brock rinsed the shampoo of her hair, but his eyes were studying every feature of her face, trying to memorize every detail. Reba wanted to look away, but his gaze hypnotized her to still every movement and locked her eyes with his. Her lips parted as if they had the mind of their own, inviting his lips to press on hers. Brock lowered his face down closer to hers, looking deeply into her eyes. Reba didn't pull away. She closed her eyes when his lips met hers, pleasurably welcoming his kiss.
"Mom… What are you doing?" Kyra confusedly looked at the two adults who just jumped a mile apart.
"I… uh…"
"I helped your mom washing her hair." Brock told her girl.
"Ah. Can I have a glass of water?" Nodded in understanding, the girl asked for the item she came to get. Brock grabbed a bottle of water for Kyra and twisted the cap open for her and put a straw in it. Reba stood up from the stool, her hair was dripping wet. Kyra left when she got what she wanted, leaving the two adults staring at each other awkwardly.
"That was… emm" murmured Reba.
"Not suppose to happen." Brock finished his sentence.
"No? I mean no, it wasn't."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take advantage when you couldn't defend yourself." Brock apologized, he was afraid she would be mad at him and wouldn't talk to him again.
"Yes, I mean no you shouldn't. But let's not talk about it again."
"No? I mean sure…" Right now they just wasn't sure how to feel.
"I'm gonna go have a shower now, I'm all wet. I mean my top is all wet, not me, I'm okay." Reba wasn't sure why she had to cover up the innuendo she just said. Brock probably didn't even think of anything.
"Me too. I mean, I'm not wet, but I'm gonna go have a shower too. I'm a little stinky." He actually need a cold shower right about now.
"I think you smell nice." Reba bit her bottom lips just after she finished her sentence. Did she just say that aloud? "Gotta go!" She hurried to her room. Gosh that kiss sure created some spark! Brock watched her running up the stairs, he still couldn't believe what just happened. Did they really just kiss? And she kissed him back too… She could have pushed him, but she didn't. Then why the heck did he apologize?