Taking a Chance

"Man, what made you buy this old place?" Bill, his friend Tucker's younger brother, asked Adam as he carried a couple of boxes through the front door and stooped to set them on the floor in the front room. Coming in behind Bill with his own load of boxes, Adam set them down next to Bill's before answering. "I don't know, really. But I wanted to be in the neighborhood close to my old friends and my folks. And this place....well, I think it can be something spectacular." Adam responded. As he spoke, he looked around the main floor. He already had the main floor remodeled. Several walls of the older home were taken out to open the front rooms up so they flowed well into the kitchen nestled in the back of the house. He kept one room off to the right of the stairs closed in which would serve as his office. He had no problem hiring someone for this part of the job but the upstairs was his to do. He wanted to get his hands dirty on this project but was practical enough to know he couldn't live in a construction zone for months. Hence, his compromise. Professionals downstairs and he got the upstairs and outside. "Well, I know your folks have been talking to my folks who have been talking to just about anyone who would listen that they were so excited about you moving back to Denver." Bill joked as they heading out for another load. "You would think you were the fatted calf or something." Grinning, Adam responded, "You're just scared Tucker and I will gang up on you again and give you head nuggies." "Ha! Like to see you both try that now. I am a little bit bigger and a lot cleverer than you two." "That sounds like a dare." Adam growled as he put his head down and went for Bill. "Shit!" Bill exclaimed as he was tackled from behind. Laughing as he hit the ground they both grappled with each other trying to be the first to get the other in a headlock. Neither noticed the truck pulling up into the driveway next door or the women watching them. One on the front porch and the other getting out of the driver's side of the truck. "I win, noodle head!" Adam shouted as he got Bill in a headlock and proceeded to give him a head nuggie. "Well, dear, I think we have had our afternoon's entertainment." Ms. Mimi called out to Baylee. "And, I must say there is nothing like a couple of good looking young men rolling around in the dirt to give this old woman's heart a jump start." Laughing as she shut her truck door Baylee almost choked on her laughter when the two men looked up and over at Ms. Mimi and Baylee realized who they were. They looked absolutely mortified at being caught. The look on their faces was priceless and Baylee doubled over with more laughter. Adam already felt like an idiot when he heard his new neighbor, Ms. Mimi, call out her teasing comment but when he looked over and saw Baylee laughing her head off at him he felt both vulnerable and joy. There was a part of him that had refused to acknowledge some of the draw to coming home was just twenty feet away laughing like a loon. Watching her now, he welcomed the knowledge she was a part of why he chose to come home. Untangling themselves and getting to their feet they walked over to the ladies. Bill reached Baylee first and wrapped her in a big hug. "Hey! Talk about a small world. What are you doing here?" he asked. Still laughing Baylee replied, "I heard there were a couple of good looking guys rolling around in the dirt and couldn't resist." "Ha! At least you called us good looking." "Actually, Ms. Mimi is a family friend and I am going to help plant a couple of new shrubs for her. What are you doing?" Brushing off grass and dirt from his clothes Adam was tired of being ignored by Baylee and decided to get her attention by answering her question. "Sprite." he said as a way of greeting. "I just moved in and noodle head here couldn't resist giving me a dare." Adam took delight when his response had Baylee turning to look at him in acknowledgement. He didn't so much care for the sour look she had on her face though. "Oh. Umm. Well, welcome to the neighborhood. I didn't realize you were thinking of moving back to Denver." Baylee mumbled in the way of a greeting. "Do you live around here also?" "Yes." Came her short reply. "Now sweetheart you are only a couple of blocks away and your business isn't much further." Ms. Mimi chimed in as she came down off the porch to join the conversation. "Business?" Adam queried with a lift of his left brow. "My girl here has a wonderful nursery just a couple of miles from here called the Green Thumb and she has quite the green thumb." Ms. Mimi gushed proudly. "Really" Adam drawled. "Yes, really!" Baylee snapped taking offense at Adam's tone. "Now I am sure you have a lot of important things to be doing and I have a couple of shrubs to plant." Adam watched as Baylee jumped up into the back of her truck bed and was mortified to see she was going to try and unload two shrubs and a bunch of other paraphernalia by herself. Adam elbowed Bill indicating they should help and then jumped up into the truck bed next to Baylee. "Here, let us help with this.” Adam said. "What the hell!" Baylee exclaimed defensively. "I can do it! I may be small but I lift stuff like this every day." A little taken aback, Adam just looked at Baylee trying to assess the best way to salvage the moment. But before he could say anything Bill jumped up into the bed of the truck, lifted Baylee up and lowered her over the side of the truck. Grinning, at the look on Baylee's face Bill said, "I've been recruited to lift and lug stuff today and the sooner we get this done the sooner I can get to my sweet Ann. Now close your mouth and show us where you want these." Snapping her mouth shut and leveling both men with a mean stink eye Baylee pivoted on her heels and marched towards Ms. Mimi's backyard. She chose to ignore the laughter coming from Ms. Mimi. Adam just watched and then turned to Bill as they both squatted to lift the first shrub. "You are one brave man." Smirking at Adam, Bill hopped down to grab the shrub off the tailgate. Adam followed with the second shrub. "Well, it helps that she LIKES me." he teased. As Adam passed Ms. Mimi on his way into the backyard with the shrub he heard her say. "A smart man would be wise to figure out why a woman reacts so strongly to him either in a positive or negative manner." When he turned to asked what she meant he saw she was already heading back into the house. Well, he always considered himself a smart man. And if Ms. Mimi's tone was anything to go by he decided either reaction from Baylee meant he got to her on some level. Feeling much better he whistled as he went to find Baylee. ****** Adam watched Baylee finish spreading mulch around the newly planted shrubs from his upstairs bedroom window. After he and Bill transported the shrubs to where Baylee indicated she very decisively, albeit politely, kicked them out of the yard. Bill had helped with the last of the boxes Adam had and then took himself off to go see his girlfriend, Ann. Adam found it humorous Bill fell in love with his brother’s wife's sister. While Tucker and Jenna were falling in love, Tucker's brother, Bill and Jenna's sister, Ann were doing the same thing. A movement caught Adam's eye. Turning slightly he saw Ms. Mimi putting some iced tea down on her patio table. He continued to watch as Baylee brushed off her hands and clothes and gathered up her garden tools. It was obvious there was great affection between the two women. And wasn't it nice since it meant Baylee would most likely come visiting on a regular basis. Adam was pulled to Baylee for some reason and he wasn't about to let Baylee's cold shoulder stop him from finding out why.