“He’s inside his room now…”

Try not to think of this as another shower scene that most movies would squeeze into the script even if it didn’t have anything to do with the story. Neither was it a lonely woman’s way to get the attention of a very attractive man who’s just at the other side of her wall. 

Actually, it really was Diwana’s habit to take a short shower before going to bed because it helped her sleep more soundly. For some reason though, she hasn’t been able to find a deep enough slumber to fully recharge these past few days.

No thanks to those damn dreams about a handsome muscled man who had just arrived recently into her life…

Correction, their lives.

As the warm water continued to flow down her supple silky skin, she found herself smiling at the memory of him eating dinner with her and the kids, along with Jack as their guest. The way that he was joking around with everyone, passing the salt, pepper and what not, all with that charming smile on his face. Even offering to help clear the table and sweep the floor at the end of their meal. 

And everyone was positively reacting to him and everything he did...

Including her…

The memory of their recently finished dinner came to mind as she continued to soap her curvy tanned torso…

+++

“So bro, you have a special someone right now? I mean, it’s not something to be ashamed of, since I’m single too.”

She watched as Eron almost choke on his food then take a quick drink of water as the girls giggled along with her. Somehow Jack’s statement didn’t sound right and judging from her renter's reaction, he had the same thoughts as they.

And he did…

“Jack, please… I told you, you’re not my type so stop offering, ok?” Eron replied with a chuckle, as he wiped his mouth with a white embroidered napkin.

“Damn bro, not in front of the kids!"

“Why not?” Macky said with a toothy grin. “We kinda heard that you were under him when he saved you and mama from that flying piece of lumber.”

“We think it’s so romantic…” Erica quipped in with a mischievous tone.

The two men looked at each other in surprise, then stared at the kids at the same time…

“Who’s WE?” the two lumberjacks asked in unison.

“All of us, haha!” squealed Katya. “JOKE!”

Everyone laughed, including the two men, though they sounded a little unsure.

“No, it’s not,” Diwa countered, her naughty smile full blast. "Is it?"

More laughter around the table, and this time everyone was truly at ease with the joke. Looks like this would be a running gag in the future and the two muscled males would not hear the end of it.

Well, at least they won’t be offended by it, based on their reactions.

“But seriously, do you already have a girlfriend? I don’t see a wedding ring there, brother Eron,” Erica asked, surprising the renter with her frankness but mostly for the word “brother” that the teenager had added to his name.

“Nope, he’s not married. His application says he’s single.”

“Hey, out of all the info about me you had to remember THAT part? Now I’m really starting to doubt your true intentions with me bro,” joked Eron, trying to shift the topic.

Jack laughed first before retorting, “I know more about you than that, man, and I’m known to be a boss who remembers a lot about his employees, alright.”

“Aren’t our applications supposed to be classified, BOSS?”

“Don’t go there, bro! Ahahaha!”

“Enough of the jokes. Come on Eron, do you have someone in your life right now?”

“Erica, please…. It seems he doesn’t want to answer your question. Please don’t force him.”

Eron was fast to speak out upon seeing the frowns on the youngster’s faces, “No, no it’s ok. I don’t have anyone… right now… Sorry for not answering at once.”

She noticed the city boy glance at her when he paused, but she didn’t want to read into that. But to be honest, she was eagerly waiting for his answer too, which is why her eyes were on him as he replied.

At the end of his sentence though, he returned his look on her and their eyes connected. Their gazes locked for a while before Jack spoke up, breaking their momentary and unexplained link…

“So come on, bro. Spill the beans! What do you like in a girl…?”

"It's WOMAN, dude. I don’t think she… I mean, whoever I choose would be JUST a girl." 

“Wow, such high standards, bro…”

“No, not really. I’ve had romantic relationships before but nothing solid or long-lasting. Never found the time for it or maybe didn’t put that much effort to keep anyone by my side…”

“Maybe you haven’t found the right one…” said the male teenager opposite him.

“Maybe…”

And once again, Eron’s eyes sought hers.

This time, she avoided them.

She’s not supposed to think anything about that. She couldn’t do that to him…

Eron looked into the distance, through the dining room window, before he continued his answer, “I honestly like older women, those who are loving, compassionate, responsible and thoughtful. Physically, I prefer them curvaceous, more meat than bones, simple feminine outfits, hardly any make-up, natural long hair…”

“Slightly tanned?” Katya interrupted with a naughty smirk.

“Dark brown eyes?” Macky spoke up with a sparkling look.

“Not too tall?” Erica meaningfully chirped in. “Like up to your shoulders?”

“Haha! That sounds all so… very specific… Are you guys trying to be matchmakers or something?” Jack joked.

“Alright, enough,” Diwa ordered in the middle of Eron's uneasy laughter and the more mirthful ones from everyone else around the table. “Time for dessert, everybody.”

“Awww, he never got to answer…”

“He doesn’t have to, Katya. Especially if he’s forced to do all that because you keep asking him very specific and embarrassing questions.”

“I didn’t mind answering, Diwana… I just didn’t know if I should…”

Diwa looked at Eron instantly. She could have sworn she heard his voice inside her head.

“What did you say?” the widow asked her boarder who was sitting beside her, a surprised look on his face.

“Nothing… I didn't say anything..."

"Yes, Mama. I didn't see him talking..." the bright-eyed youngest affirmed with her head slightly tilted to the right.

"Wait... What did you hear me saying, Miss Diwa?”

“I… N-nothing, Eron…. I-I’ll just go get the pie from the oven… Kids, get the dessert plates ready.”

The long and lusty cheer from the kids drowned out the thoughts of wonder in her head as she tried to explain to herself what she thought had just happened.

Maybe, it was just her imagination playing with her. After all, she knew that she was attracted to Eron. It would be crazy for her to deny something so obvious but she would never admit that to anyone else since she couldn’t risk him finding out about her feelings for him.

But she didn’t dare give him any reason to like her beyond being a friend, like the way Jack and she were. She couldn’t do that to her new boarder and friend. Besides, she’s sure he wouldn’t give her the time of day since she's practically a nobody compared to the other women he’s obviously met in the city.

No, why would he want a poor little country mouse with three young ones who were under her care?

“This is just the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted in my life! It’s even better than the pies from the more popular Michelin-star restaurants in the city’s five-star hotels!”

“Bro, how the hell can you afford that kind of classy pastry on a security guard’s salary?” Jack asked while guffawing.

“Uhhh… my boss bought me one… for my birthday…”

“Nice boss… makes me wonder why you left…”

“Already told you, bro… come on…”

“Yeah, yeah, just don’t expect me to buy pies as a gift for you…”

“Awww, I’m hurt bro. Don’t worry, I’ll ask Di… uhhh, request Miss Diwa to just cook me pies… I’ll pay for them, too.”

Everyone laughed.

Her thoughts: You don’t have to… I can cook for you anytime, Eron…