A Dozen Dates (11 page)

“So, how did you go this morning..?” Nathan asked.

“Really well... I picked up the foxtails at a bargain price, I’ve found most of the other plants I need, and have struck some deals with a couple of nurseries for bulk purchases.”

“Well, you let us know how much we need to reimburse you for the foxtails, and how much you need for the rest,” instructed Nathan.

“Actually, what if I come with you on Thursday?” Michael offered, “I can give you a hand loading up!”

“Okay,” Gemma agreed. That would be good... to dazzle him in her domain.

They finished afternoon tea and Sam announced she had to go. She stood up and Michael rose up with her. “I’ll call you...” he said grinning before grabbing her by the arm, pulling her to him and delivering a peck on her cheek.

Gemma flushed and quickly looked away.

“Michael!” Sam scolded him when she saw Gemma’s uncomfortableness. Gemma knew Sam wasn’t the type of woman that would ever rub her hurt into her – unlike that skanky Shelley had been.

After their break, Michael and Nathan came to help Gemma carry the palms and place them where she wanted them. “I could have done it... I would have just used the wheelbarrow... But thank you...”

“Gem, some things you don’t need to do while you are here...” Michael smiled at her and she smiled back, thinking how much she liked to watch him work anyway. He was a picture... Each individual muscle standing to attention as it was summoned, teasing and delighting her at the same time. Gemma liked to watch him glow under fine perspiration, which also, she noticed, incidentally resulted in his fresh, musky male scent becoming even more debilitating.

Michael picked up the last palm from the back of the Ute, took a step towards Gemma and said to her quietly, “Besides, you don’t want to deny me my opportunity to show off my muscles to you, do you?” He dropped his eyes, directing Gemma where to look and grinned as he started popping his bicep up and down, before returning his gaze to her misty eyes and raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively, “Did you see that.” Gemma failed miserably at holding back a pleasured expression and Michael chuckled. “Come on; show me where you want this one...”

The next day Gemma got to the house, and Michael took her to the first nursery where they collected a Ute load of plants... Then they dropped those off at the house and continued on to the next. They picked up take-away for lunch on the way back the second time, and enjoyed lunch with Nathan and Sam. Gemma spent the whole afternoon, planting and then watering all of the plants, but she still had a lot more to place.

This day she spent with Michael was pure pleasure, though he was obviously more attracted to the confident and competent, interior decorator. If only Gemma was more like Sam, she might stand a chance with him – he did seem to enjoy her company and her friendship, and wasn’t that supposed to be the foundation for any good relationship?

Perhaps if she changed the way she presented herself – she was so “girl-next-door” in her shorts and shirts and even the plats she wore in her hair were immature. Sam adorned brightly coloured suits and professional short, stylish hair. She flicked through her cupboard in search of more professional attire... Ah... A pants suit... Perfect! She held up the pinstriped pants suit and studied it... combined with a simple white cami, she should be able to give the impression of being all the professional young go-getter. She leant down and found a tidy pair of shoes – closed with elastic sides and sensible, three inch square heels, then she went to her mirror where she stood and pulled, twisted and held her hair in various styles, finally deciding on a simple but stylish French roll.

The next morning, Gemma arrived at the house bright and early – she was a picture of urban, sister success! She looked lean and almost mean in her very corporate two-piece pants suit and professional make-up, softened only by the professional, yet still feminine hairstyle.

“Good morning!” she confidently greeted the brothers.

“Good morning, Gemma,” they both greeted her, staring at her with expressions of surprise and puzzlement. Gemma noticed their astonishment and was pleased that she was able to collect Michael’s attention so quickly.

“Okay, I’m going to get started,” she announced as she exited the room.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the Australian, summer heat made wearing a black pinstripe jacket unbearable and she had to remove it and place it on the patio. She could feel her brow perspiring and knew her make-up would be running. She would remove her dirty gardening glove to dab her brow with her hanky, but still she managed to get dirt on her face.

The minute Michael called morning tea she collected her jacket and scampered for the bathroom to fix her failing make-up, before she joined Michael and Nathan for coffee.

“Where are you off to today, Gemma?” Michael inquired, curious as to why she was dressed the way she was.

“Nowhere.”

“Why are you dressed like that?” he asked.

“Like what?” Gemma tried to play it cool, like she always dressed like a fresh, young go-getter, and Michael had simply never noticed before.

“Why are you wearing a suit?” Michael continued to probe.

“I like to be professional in my work?” she avowed.

“Okay, but you are a landscaper...” Michael pointed out.

“What is wrong with being a Landscaper?” Gemma asked, becoming defensive of her vocation and unconsciously pulling down a few strands of her hair to twist around her finger.

“Nothing!” Michael declared clearly. “It just that... Gemma, you look like a lawyer...” he pointed out, and she started to become concerned. “I mean, you look like you are about to sue the weeds for trespassing...” Nathan chuckled at his brother’s revelation, and then Michael snickered also.

Gemma’s face dropped... This wasn’t the result that she had anticipated – she looked at Michael and instantly felt a fool.

“Gem...” Michael’s voice softened at her sad expression, “It’s okay... You look very lovely. It’s just you don’t look like... It can’t be comfortable working like that, Gem..?”

Gemma looked away, “It’s okay...”

“Okay...” soothed Michael, “But take of that jacket before
I
faint from heat exhaustion... And I will get you a hat... Okay?”

“Okay...” said Gemma. She peeled the coat from her clammy body - grateful for coolness the fresh summer breeze provided as it fluttered on her damp, sweaty skin.

She struggled through to lunchtime when she eagerly went to the bathroom, changed into her black bikini and jumped into the pool. She swam a while, only to return to the bathroom to get dressed and discover her clothes missing.

“Where are my clothes?” Gemma asked the boys, but they both played dumb.

“Where did you leave them?” Nathan had inquired.

“I will get you a t-shirt to work in,” Michael had offered.

Never would Gemma be so stupid again... She knew they had stolen and hidden her clothes, but she also knew it was for her own good. It was awful working in that suit, and when she was honest with herself she could admit that she was glad to have shed it in exchange for Michael’s t-shirt.

Before she left, Nathan invited her to stay for a barbeque the following night.

“Oh, that would be good... I will get to meet Miranda... again!” Gemma added, and smiled brightly.

On Saturday, Gemma returned to dressing in her sensible shorts and shirt combo and completed planting all the plants, and then spent some time watering them. Afternoon came, and Miranda arrived with an esky of supplies for the barbeque.

“Hi Gemma! It’s good to see you again...” Miranda greeted her and even threw in a loving hug.

“Oh good, I do recognise you...” Gemma confessed with a chuckle which Miranda happily joined in.

Miranda was, to Gemma’s surprise, a very pleasant, average looking woman – Nathan had spoken of her as though she was a movie star! She had long straight, brunette hair which on this day she wore pulled back into a single ponytail. She had pretty hazel eyes which shouted her virtues of honesty and loyalty, and compassion – Gemma wasn’t surprised that she worked in aged care. Though, she wasn’t career minded as such... She was actually looking forward to the day, hopefully within a couple of years, when Nathan lets her start a family... He just wanted to do a few houses first to put them in a better financial position, and Miranda understood this. But still, raising at least four kids and being a good wife to Nathan was all she really wanted and she was pushing twenty-eight!

“Can I lend a hand?” Gemma asked, accompanying her into the kitchen.

“Well, I prepared everything at home, but you can help me put the salads on the table if you like...” Gemma helped Miranda, and then she insisted Gemma share a drink with her and show her around the garden while Michael and Nathan cooked the barbeque.

“Just one... I have to drive,” Gemma informed her, though elated to be able to show off her design talent.

Gemma gradually led Miranda around the side of the yard and then to the front, explaining to her the changes she had made and why, and showing her the patterns within the design. “So, Michael’s a good bloke... Hard working too...” Miranda suddenly injected into the dialogue.

Gemma paused for a moment, trying to create a response that wouldn’t give away too much, and then replied, “Yes, he is, and funny too.”

Miranda giggled, “Yes, he is a bit of a ratbag, I do admit... He’s cute, too, don’t you think?” She looked up at Gemma in time to see her blush shyly, and continued speaking, to ease the pressure on her. “He doesn’t shut-up about you...”

Really..? God only know what he says though... Although, if she wasn’t mistaken, the tone in Miranda’s voice suggested that at least some of it was positive... But then she surmised that he probably didn’t shut-up about Sam either, and Miranda was just being polite in not telling her so... Miranda would definitely be polite like that.

“Nathan, I think we need Gemma to come and fix our yard up... This is gorgeous...” Miranda told her fiancé upon their return to the patio.

“It’s not bad, is it?” Nathan said.
      

Nathan and Miranda started packing up to leave just before seven, Miranda stating, “It was great to see you again Gemma... I’m sure I will be seeing lots more of you,” and she gave Gemma another sisterly hug.

“Well, I better go too...” Gemma told Michael.

“Why? It’s Saturday night... I thought we could watch a couple of DVDs together..?” Michael suggested, and Gemma froze. “It’s okay for friends to watch DVD’s together, Gemma...” Still, Gemma said nothing. “C’mon... Do you have something better to do?” Michael smiled at her encouragingly.

“I guess watching movies would be okay...” Gemma concluded.

Michael smiled wholly, “Good!”

Michael threw the blanket over his mattress bed and pushed it up against the wall, propping pillows up at the back to make them a comfortable lounge, and popped the first DVD in the player. It was a comedy and they relaxed back against the wall next to each other and laughed and enjoyed the movie together. Michael resisted the strong temptation urging him to slip his arm around her and lovingly pull her into him – he didn’t after all, want to frighten her away from even having a friendship... He needed and desperately wanted for Gemma to feel relaxed around him again.

The first movie finished and Michael offered Gemma a drink. “I can’t, I have to drive...”

“You had one drink four hours ago – if you have one now, you will be quite fine to drive if you want to leave after the next movie. If you decide to stay, I have a whole collection of movies over there that we could work through...”

Gemma contemplated her choices, and concluded, “Sure then, why not?”

Michael returned to the room with a couple of beers and a block of chocolate... Instantly Gemma snatched the chocolate, broke her herself off a row and began nibbling on it. After the initial shock of the blur that brushed his hand and left it feeling empty, Michael re-joined her on the mattress and twisted of the bottle top for her before handing her a beer, and then he opened his own and swallowed a mouthful. “Hey, are you going to share that chocolate?” Michael asked her.

Gemma swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of beer and placed her stubby down on the floor. “What chocolate?” she replied, talking with her mouth half full of sweet smelling, brown mud.

Michael chuckled at her, “That chocolate you have in your hand...”

“Oh! Yeah sure...” Gemma severed another row, broke a single square off of it and handed it to Michael before stuffing the rest of the row into her own mouth.

“Gee thanks...” he expressed and Gemma grinned at him as she placed the rest of the block behind her back. Michael savoured his single piece and then insisted, “I’ll have more now...”

“No you won’t...” she told him. Michael was surprised yet pleasantly delighted by her playfulness. This was one of those times when she didn’t try and her inner buoyancy just shone through.

“Hand over the damn chocolate, Wench!” he warned her and he thrust his hand behind her back to retrieve it. Unfortunately for him, Gemma was just as fast and managed to rip it out from behind her with her opposite hand and hold it at her arm’s length.

She turned to him, held her empty hand up, palm facing towards the ceiling and claimed, “All gone!” The next thing you know they were wrestling and laughing, Michael swearing at her and calling her playful names, and Gemma doing her best to engage his sympathies and deny him his cocoa flavoured treat.