Kim Pritekel: Crossing Lines

Kansas was about to snap the blinds back into place and close them when the woman looked up. The teen was momentarily stunned at what she saw- even from this distance, Kansas could see the startling blue of the woman's eyes, and the amazing structure of her features. She was mesmerized. The woman smiled and gave her a small wave. Feeling stupid, and realizing she was standing there only wearing a bra and shorts, Kansas quickly closed the blinds.

***

Nina Bruckner only got a view of the girl across the way for about three point two seconds, but was amused by what she saw. Her husband, Dan had told her that a teenaged girl lived next door, and that he'd spoken with her briefly while out smoking his cigarette. The brunette was a little worried about that, and hoped it wouldn't mean parties or loud music. She and Dan had moved into the neighborhood for a new start, hoping things would be better here. Also, Dan wouldn't be doing long-haul trucking after the first of the year, so in six months, he'd be home more.

In truth, Nina wasn't sure if that was good or bad. In the five years they'd been married, she'd had to learn to only have a husband that was around 133 days a year. The first couple years it had been really hard, as she had been on him all the time to bring his load down, knowing he couldn't. Then, after awhile, she had gotten so used to having her own life, without him, it had almost been more difficult when he was home for long stretches. She had to get used to having someone else in the house again.

Then there had been Kari. She and Nina had worked together at the D.A.'s office in Cincinnati, and had become fast friends. By that time, the brunette and Dan had grown so far apart that even when he was home, Nina wanted to spend her time with her good friend, not her husband. Things had come close to divorce at that time, so Nina and Dan decided that maybe they needed new surroundings, a new start. That's when they bought the house on Walnut Street. Nina had gotten a good job with the Appellate courts with the D.A.'s office, and Dan had promised his trucking company that he'd give them the rest of the year, then he was gone.

A new start. That's what they needed.

Nina's reminiscing was interrupted by Dan's touch on her shoulder. She looked up at him, smiling as she noticed his cowlick acting up again. She reached up, smoothing it back into place. He grinned, looking every bit like the little boy he once was.

"You all packed?" she asked. Her husband nodded.

"Sorry I can't help more with the house. Sucks I gotta leave so soon."

"It's okay, Dan. I understand." Nina closed her eyes as he bent down, placing a lingering kiss on her lips.

"Let's test the new neighbors tonight," he murmured, a hand reaching down to cup one of her breasts. She wanted to tell him she was too tired, but knew trying to work things out, meant giving in sometimes.

Nina nodded, getting to her feet. Dan released her and walked out of the room. The brunette glanced out her window, seeing the closed blinds across the way before switching off the desk lamp.

***

Kansas was glued to the TV, watching the Tyra Banks show, and the guy on there who had once been a girl, but now looked like a remarkably cute guy named Josh, who wrote a song as a girl, recorded it, then redid the same song as a guy, putting the two tracks together. So fascinated was she, the teen almost missed the sound of he doorbell.

She put her bowl of Cocoa Puffs down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and heading toward the front door. Standing on her porch was the woman she'd seen two nights ago, but this time very much up close and personal. She was dressed in a navy skirt suit, hair down around her shoulders, sunglasses perched atop her head.

Yet again Kansas was struck dumb the sheer gorgeousness of the woman. She knocked herself out of her reverie, and pushed the screen door open. "Can I help you?"

"Yes. I'm Nina Bruckner, I live next door. I'd like to possibly offer you a job." Kansas was intrigued, and confused. The brunette must have seen it on her face, as she smiled. "Sorry. A bit sudden, I know. We haven't even been properly introduced. As I said, I'm Nina Bruckner. And you are. . . ?"

"Oh! Right." Kansas grinned, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable around the older woman. She tried to gauge her age, figuring her to be somewhere in her late 20s, maybe. "I'm Kansas. Roberts."

"Nice to meet you, Kansas. Do you have a minute?"

"Uh, sure. I guess. What kind of job?"

"The dreaded yard work. Dan, my husband, mentioned he saw you mowing your lawn the other day. I don't know if you already have a summer job, or anything, but if you'd like to make a few extra bucks. . . "

"Sure. Why not."

"Great!" Nina's smile was blinding, Kansas totally sucked into it. She would have agreed to anything to see that smile again. The taller woman hitched her thumb toward her place, raising a dark, arched brow in question. Kansas nodded, tugging her front door behind her. She followed Nina across their yards, trying to keep her eyes from permanently resting on the brunette's incredibly shapely behind. "Basically, what we need you to do is mow the lawn, as well as-" Nina cut herself off, turning to look at the teen. Kansas, who was still rooted to the brunette's ass, nearly ran right into her. Green eyes snapped up to look into bemused blue. Kansas felt like an ass, but did her best to keep her poker face in place. "Do you know anything about flower care?"

"Flower care?" Kansas repeated. "If you water them, they'll grow?"

Nina chuckled. "Something like that." She turned and continued their field trip to Nina's backyard, and the wooden shed out there. She opened the door, the smell of gasoline and cut grass immediately greeting them. "Well, as I was saying, we'll need the front and back mowed. I think Dan is trying to get the sprinklers on the correct timer, so watering won't be an issue." Nina stepped inside the shed, Kansas following, looking around the dark, hot space. She turned to the woman, realizing just how close they were. Feeling uncomfortable, she tucked her hands into the back pockets of her shorts and stepped politely back.

"How often do you want it mowed?"

"I was thinking once a week. You can decide which day will work best for you." Nina looked around, noting the gardening gloves that rested on a metal shelving unit. "What about pulling weeds? Would you be interested in doing that, as well?"

"Uh, sure."

"We'll pay you, of course. What do you feel is fair?"

Kansas shrugged, having absolutely no idea how much to ask for, and not wanting to sound greedy. "Twenty a week?"

The brunette shook her head. "No. Not good enough. We'll make it thirty-five for the mowing, and ten bucks a day for any additional work, whatever that may be. How's that?"

Kansas blinked at her neighbor, then nodded at the expectant look on Nina's face.

"Great." Nina smiled, nearly pushing Kansas off her feet with its brilliance. "I need to get to work, so you can decide when it works best for you. Just help yourself to whatever tools you need in here, okay?"

"Okay." Kansas felt like she was in the middle of a whirlwind, Nina's perfume left in the wake as the brunette hurried out of the shed. Kansas shook herself out of her stupor, and out into the fresh air of the morning. Once again she nearly ran into her neighbor.

"I really want to thank you for doing this for us, Kansas. It's a big help. Dan's gone so much, and I'm not home even when I am home, you know? So, thank you." That smile again. Kansas grinned stupidly.

"No problem."

"Great. Well, have a good day."

Kansas was left standing in the backyard of a perfect stranger, watching said perfect stranger hurry out to her driveway, and climb into her car. "What a woman," the blonde breathed, then remembered she had a bowl of Cocoa Puffs waiting for her.