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| WATERING THE PLANTS by Janey “Yes?” barked James gruffly, answering the door to his parent’s home. “Oh hi,” said the blond haired young woman quietly. “You must be James, Sue and Monty’s son, I’m Rosie.” “And?” ‘How rude,’ thought Rosie. ‘You certainly don’t have the manners of your parents’.’ “And?” It was more forceful that time. “Your mum and dad asked me to come round and feed the plants while she and Monty are away. Said something about you being lethal to greenery!” She had tried to inject some humour but the miserable git didn’t appear to appreciate it. “Your usage of the language is appalling,” he chastised, staring down his nose at her. “Yes well, at least I don’t mumble like you do and I’m far more polite. Honestly you must have been at the back of the queue when manners were being given out. Manners maketh the man you know!” “Bollocks,” he replied gruffly. “You’d better come in and take care of those poor little plants before I send them to their final resting place.” “I’m beginning to wonder if you aren’t a burglar rather than Sue and Monty’s son,” observed Rosie walking steadfastly in to the house. “If I am you should be very worried,” he said wryly, pleased that she was unable to see his smile. “If I didn’t know it was you, I would be,” she answered confidently. “Don’t worry I’ll be out of your hair in five minutes or so.” “Do you mean you won’t stay and have a cup of tea with me?” he asked. “That’s such a shame.” “Would that be laced with arsenic or strychnine?” “Ha, very funny!” James watched as she took a small watering can from under the kitchen sink and proceeded to fill it with water. It was obvious that she knew her way around his parent’s home very well, and he liked the fact that she wasn’t afraid of him and was returning his banter. James liked his women feisty! “Seriously, stay for a drink.” Rosie turned around and smiled. “Actually I’d love one. I’m absolutely parched!” James grinned warmly and left her to give the plants some much needed attention, whilst he made a pot of tea and even put some chocolate biscuits on a plate for them both. “Oh sorry,” she muttered jovially. “I seem to have managed to walk into the wrong house somehow. Do you know where I can find that grumpy git? Oh my, it’s you! Well, well. How civilised of you.” She teased walking over to him and taking a biscuit off the plate. “Very nice.” “Glad you approve, you cheeky madam.” “You asked for that!” “Ok I did.” Together they walked through to the lounge and sat down on the sofa, Rosie smirking whilst watching James pouring their tea. “Sugar?” “No thanks,” she said and then quipped, “I’m sweet enough.” “I don’t doubt that for a minute.” Half an hour later and they were in deep conversation, James enthralled at some of Rosie’s experiences as a psychiatric nurse. “I couldn’t do your job for all the money in the world,” he said honestly. “Seeing Richey when he’s ill is the hardest thing in the world, how you cope with lots of people like that I don’t know.” “You can tell from some of my little stories that it’s not all bad, and it’s great when you see people going back home to their families and their jobs again; makes it all worthwhile.” “Sometimes I wonder that Richey won’t find a way out of it, he seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.” “But you’re there for him and that’s what’s important. He’s twenty-five and he has a lot to deal with, so many people expect so much from him. Some fans think that because he’s in their favourite band that he’s their property, and he owes them something. Complete bollocks of course but there you go.” “Quite true all the same,” he said philosophically. “Have you nursed him or do you know him from mam and dad?” Rosie laughed and blushed. “I’m actually quite a fan, and used to go and watch you when you first started out. Came as one hell of a surprise when I discovered I’d moved next to you and your parents I can tell you. I stopped playing my music loud ‘cos I was embarrassed that you’d hear it! So you see, I’ve seen you all coming and going.” “Oh you haven’t seen me coming,” James sniggered suggestively. “Not yet any way.” “No I guess I haven’t,” she laughed back. “Perhaps one day though.” “That would be something to look forward to.” “Well don’t hold your breath James,” she retorted quickly with a huge teasing grin. “Thanks for the tea; I’ll see you in a couple of days.” “Going so soon?” “Well I’ve done what I came here for and I have things of my own to do, and, as scintillating as your company is, I can’t do them while I’m here so, I guess I’ll have to tear myself away.” Cheekily, she winked at him. “What if I’m not in the next time you call?” “I’ll cope.” “That’s not what I meant and you know it!” “Don’t worry, I have keys,” she said, standing up and walking to the door. “Nice meeting you at long last James, take care now.” Before he had chance to say anything she waved and left, leaving James to wonder if they would meet again. He brooded. Instead of going round to Richey’s he insisted that they all went to his parents house, in the hope that he wouldn’t miss her when she came round again. They had an interview to go to and James was not happy about going but was reluctant to go into details leading to the guys teasing him mercilessly. On his return home he was livid: “Sorry I missed you but I’m pleased that the plants are ok. Love Rosie.” “Who’s Rosie?” asked Nicky inquisitively. “Girlfriend?” “No she comes round to feed the plants because my folks don’t trust me. It used to be Sean’s job but of course he’s not here now.” Not long after Nicky made his excuses and left, James was unbearable when he was in such a foul mood. Needing to see her he hunted through the telephone directory and his mother’s phone book by the phone and also rifled through all the drawers seeking an address book or diary with Rosie’s number in it; nothing. Surely her number was written down somewhere? In bed later that night, she invaded his dreams once more leaving James more than a tad frustrated and yearning for the real thing. “Morning!” Rosie sang chirpily when James opened the door to her. “I was shopping and saw this new plant food, I’ve bought some for me and thought I’d get your plants some too. Hope you don’t mind.” “Do you know how bloody early it is?” he barked, fastening the belt of his robe tighter and strategically placing his hands over his crotch region. “What the hell possesses someone to shop at this ungodly hour of the morning?” “I’m on my way home from a night shift,” she offered,” and I needed milk and stuff. Did I wake you?” “No, I always have my eyes welded together like this.” “We are tetchy aren’t we? Not a morning person I take it James?” Her eyes wandered up and down, scrutinising him. It was more than obvious that he had no underwear on beneath his robe. He glared at her, taken aback by her audacity. Not only had she made him get out of bed but also she was now preparing a pot of tea. “Some of us haven’t had much sleep.” “Some of us haven’t had any sleep,” she retorted quickly but humorously. “Do you want a cup of tea or should I just piss off and let you go back to bed and your beauty sleep, which I have to say, you’re in dire need of.” Tired as he was, James laughed, he couldn’t help it. She was a beautiful sight, even if was a ridiculous hour. “Tea will be nice, thanks.” “Next time I’ll let myself in with my key so I don’t disturb you.” “Great! I’ll wake up hearing strange noises and think I have unwelcome visitors. That could mean trouble.” “Could be interesting.” She poured the water into the pot, stirred it and then left it to brew. “Shouldn’t you be going home and curling up in your bed to get some sleep?” “I can’t go straight to bed,” she explained. “I need to unwind first.” “So you thought that you’d unwind by winding me up. Gee, I hope I’m never one of your patients, you must drive them madder than they already are.” “I’ll have you know that most of my patients would be delighted to find me in their kitchen in the morning making them a pot of tea.” “Not if you’re fully dressed I’d wager!” he smirked, finally sitting on one of the stools at the breakfast bar, taking great care to cross his legs and make sure he was covered up. “Why not wait until later when you get up?” “Because I know that I’m a grouch when I wake up, it takes at least two cups of tea to get me going.” James huffed but also laughed. “Great, you take the piss out of me but you’re just as bad! Talk about pot calling kettle.” “Are you angling for a payback James?” she asked mischievously, sitting next to him and handing him his drink after she’d placed the sugar bowl down. “Such as?” “Would you like a spare key so that you can come and wake me up?” Rosie flashed him a dirty smile, walked over to her bag, unzipped it and wafted a key in front of him. “There you go.” James stirred at her, his deep brown eyes muddied with lust and confusion. Was she tormenting him or giving him the ‘come on’? Either way his body was responding. Rosie sat down next to him again, put the key in front of him and smiled. “It’s up to you,” she said enigmatically. “I’ve got a better idea.” “Oh yes?” “Mmm, leave your tea and come with me, NOW.” “What are you suggesting?” Rosie couldn’t help but tease him a little, but James had had enough of playing and desire was getting the better of him. “Oh I think that you know full well,” he smiled, stroking a thumb across her lips. “Let me take you to bed.” “Tempting though that offer is, I have to decline. It wouldn’t be right, not here, I’d feel that I was betraying Sue and Monty.” “My parents do let me have girlfriends over Rosie, I’m not a kid.” “That is very evident,” she sniggered, reaching a hand out and touching him briefly over the soft terrycloth of his robe. “It’s my hang up James, sorry, but you do have my key.” “I could come over with you now.” “Would I get any sleep if you did?” “I very much doubt it.” “Thought as much. My alarm is set for 4pm, the rest is up to you.” James took a sip of his tea then leaned forward and kissed her. He’d never known anything quite like it before; his stomach had butterflies and his heart was beating so loud that he felt sure that Rosie could hear it too. “I want you Rosie,” he murmured. “Then come over,” she simpered, getting up and taking her bag, leaving him bemused. “You know where to find me James.” She blew him a kiss, smiled and left. James stared at the key, held it in his palm and grinned. He couldn’t wait for the afternoon! <<< Janey's stories |