Anyone surprised I'm posting so quick? It's short and sweet but hopefully just as good :)

Pulling up behind the green bug I knew too well I glanced over towards the house only to find that my family along with Amy seemed to be having a warm meet and greet with Jerry. My car was also not the quietest car on the block and I had caught everyone's attention, everyone including Jerry. My hands slid loosely off the wheel as I leaned my head against the wheel and groaned. It had been a long day and I just wasn't sure meeting Jerry with my family was a safe plan but it seems I didn't have a choice.

The door creaked as I forced it open, got out, and slammed it shut in all one frustrated motion. The day and not to mention the interview had been a long and annoying process and the fact that now I had to deal with Jerry seemed only to make it worse.

I dragged my feet over to the group and moved to the open spot Charley and my mom had made for me, which put me directly in front Jerry. Without even thinking I crossed my arms protectively across my chest and did my best to pay him no attention.

"Oh Jerry this is my daughter, Kaylee. I was just telling your brother he's the new neighbor that moved into the Perry place."

Mom sounded way too ecstatic to be introducing me and I figured out fast it had nothing to do with me really. She only had eyes for the very tall, pale, and handsome man before us. Turning to face him I noticed he had extended his hand out to me with that dazzling smile of his spread across his lips. Not hesitating I enveloped my small hand in his and watched as his fingers swallowed my hand whole.

"It's nice to meet you Jerry," I said sharply.

I held his gaze with my eyes hoping that he would maybe be able to figure out I wanted to play this like we just met. It would be tragic for mom to figure out her new neighbor who she has the hots for caught her daughter smoking…stuff in the backyard. She'd most likely be mortified and say she was going to die of embarrassment. Luckily for me, followed by a slight possibility I was unlucky, Jerry seemed to understand what I wanted because amusement crossed his handsome features instantly making him appear younger.

"Nice to meet you as well…Kaylee."

I fought against the shiver the sound of his voice threatened to give me as I tried to gracefully pull my hand away and failed miserably. Jerry on the other hand didn't seem to notice one bit. Facing my mom I noticed she had began to fiddle with the back of her ear meaning only one thing: something was bothering her. She continued to try and play it cool with her smile tightening little by little at the corners of her mouth. I started counting down until she was finally going to explode. Finally it appeared she just gave in an asked what she had been dying to know the answer too.

Faster than I could catch she pointed hurriedly at what I assumed was my whole outfit and tucked her hand back under her arms.

"Kaylee, please tell me you didn't go to your interview dressed like that."

Smiling I did a quick once over of myself.

"I don't think I look that bad," I replied playfully.

If she could've I was sure my mother would have let out an exasperated cry of pain, instead she opted to give me a short look of annoyance. Faintly I could hear Charley chuckling behind me. I was still wearing her knee length charcoal skirt but had replaced the devil heels with my converse and had removed her cream puff shirt just leaving the black tank top underneath.

From the corner of my eye I could see Jerry just staring me down from the side making my heart begin to race.

"How did your interview go anyway?" Charley asked from behind me.

It didn't take much for me to turn to him and when I did I gave Amy a nod of hello who surprisingly gave me a small but genuine smile in return.

"Not good to be honest but on the way out I ended up meeting one of the main casting directors for Peter Vincent's live show and he told me that Peter might like my look. I just had to wait around until he was done with dress rehearsal for him to get a good look," I said in air quotations, "at me."

Charley's eyes widened as he and Amy both got hysterical.

"Holy shit Kay that's amazing! Did you get the job?"

My eyebrows rose in doubt at the biggest overstatement of the year.

"Yeah I did," I replied bleakly.

"Uhm," Charley laughed, "Shouldn't you be like a lot happier?"

"Yeah, that is really awesome Kaylee," Amy said to me, real excitement in her voice.

I was more surprised that she had even spoken to me. Wonders never cease.

"You guys haven't seen my outfit," I grumbled.

"I'm sure whatever it is you would fill it out nicely."

I don't know how but apparently I had completely forgotten that we were in Jerry's presence. With his sudden input I found myself looking in his direction and that sexy smile plastered on those lips that had barely a few days ago, ran across my throat.

"Strangely enough that's exactly what Peter said. Except he leaned in really close to inspect them," I pretended to air grope my chest, "and once he was finished told me I'd fit the outfit much better than the last girl. Oh and my favorite part, I think, was when he walked away snapping his fingers and demanded I go on a date with him," I finished my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Charley jerked me around hard to face him his eyes wide in pure awe.

"You did say yes, right?"

Slapping his hand away I gave him the harshest glare I could muster.

"No! I am not a cheap floozy you dick!"

He held up his hands in surrender but at the same time was fighting not to laugh.

"I think the lady doeth protest too much if you ask me," he teased.

"And me think that if young Charley ever wants to use his testicles in the future, he should probably shut up right about now," I shot back.

That earned me a short laugh from Amy.

"Anyways," my mom cut in fast, "Jerry here has to basically redo his basement."

Slowly I turned my head back to my mother and tried desperately hard not to laugh. I knew she couldn't resist figuring out what the hell he was doing.

"You just couldn't help yourself could you?"

I started to giggle but was cut short. The minute Jerry had looked up at the sky that brief second was all my mom needed to jab her fingers into my side.

"And he's handy."

"No kidding," Amy added as her eyes devoured him.

I couldn't keep the shock off of my face as I watched the two women basically fall all over themselves. On second glance Jerry did look edible as usual but this time his well-muscled arms where bare and dirty from his labors. The tank top clutched to all the right places on his chest and the tied arms of his cover-all showcasing a lean waist. My guess was underneath those cover-all's his legs were just as athletic as the rest of him.

When I finally looked away my cheeks immediately flushed as I locked eyes with his. I probably had looked as feverish as the rest of them.

"I was just telling your mom Kaylee, that I was going to have the dumpster gone by tomorrow."

"Its fine dude my mom was just-"

"You know Jerry does night construction on the strip," she began cutting Charley off hurriedly.

"That's…cool."

"So," Jerry interjected, "I'd invite you guys inside but it's a mess. I've been meaning to-"

"Be neighborly," my mom added in helpfully.

He gave her a small nod and locked those Obsidian eyes on me.

"A drink…or something," he finished seductively.

My heart raced as his eyes wandered down my body and when he reached the bottom gave me a wicked look as a devilish smirk slid back onto his lips.

The silence swelled around us as Jerry shot us each a strained smile and looked up in the sky. As he let out a heavy sigh he etched back as he gave my mom that infamous smile of his.

"Soon, okay?"

"Yeah you bet and thank you so much for the help."

"It's the least I could do."

As he turned to leave he gave me one last look and we all went our separate ways. The minute he was out of range Amy ran over to my mom her excitement growing with each giddy step.

"Oh my god! Why did you blow him off?"

"What? A guy that good looking still single? Bad bet he is a player," she replied reassured by her own words.

We each took a side as we formed a tight circle.

"Nah he's smoking come on mom break him down."

Charley was trying to encourage her but apparently mom had already made up her mind.

"I've had enough man troubles I am not getting suckered again."

I shot her an incredulous look as she made a funny face at me.

"What? I date!"

As Charley's phone went off in the background I threw my hands up in mock surrender.

"Whatever you say, you serial dater you," I cooed.

"Oh wow, uhm, I gotta go."

"What?"

Mom snickered not fully believing him until he started to back up down the driveway fast. Clapping his hands he made all three of us girls jump as he moved back up the driveway and pointed at me.

"Kay I'd like you to come with me."

"What? Why?"

"Because you have talents…that I could use…right about now."

"Charley is this illegal?"

Great fucking genius choice of words there Char-Char.

"No, no I just need Kay," he furiously waved me towards him, "to hurry up and get her ass moving."

"Dinners on!"

"Yeah Charley dinner is on," I repeated.

I was totally down for some dinner what I was not down for was using my "talents" for something that I had no idea what it was.

"We can eat after," he growled through clenched teeth.

Letting out a heavy sigh I started forward. I realized that if I didn't just go with the kid he would never stop bugging me. Even though he had won this battle it didn't mean that I wasn't going to drag ass.

"Okay we'll see you guys."

Quickly he turned on his heels and began to jog down the sidewalk.

"Where are we going Charley? Is it far?" I groaned.

"Just come on Kaylee!"

Groaning up at the violet and deep azure sky I hobbled into a jog.

"Kaylee!"

I knew that voice.

I stopped my lame attempt at jogging and turned to see Jerry coming out from beneath the darkness of his garage his hand clutching tight to something. He didn't say another word as he launched whatever it was at me and without thinking I reached out and caught it. Surprisingly he had thrown me one of his green apples he loved so much.

"Catch ya later."

There was no playfulness in his voice our expression this time. An icy feeling began to take hold of me as every ounce of my being told me I needed to get away. So without further thought I clutched on tight to the apple in my hand and took off running after Charley.

Reviews. Comments. Concerns?

I promise the next couple of chapters will pick up the pace!

Much Love, Jeneane