Travis warmed up his cereal in the microwave and sat down at the table with the ladies. They all exchanged glances, the atmosphere slightly tense yet amusing.
[A/N: Yes, I eat warm cereal. It's freakin' normal, alright? Try it sometime.]
"Sweety," Debbie said with a hint of motherly concern, "maybe consider wearing a shirt from now on. Remember, we have company."
Yumi quickly chimed in with a playful smile. "Oh, don't worry, let him be. I don't mind at all."
Debbie hesitated, her expression uncertain. "You sure? I just don't want to make a bad impression."
"It's completely fine, Debbie," Yumi reassured her, waving it off.
Travis didn't contribute much to the conversation. His attention kept drifting to Debbie's chest, his eyes following every subtle movement. When she noticed, her cheeks flushed, but she made no attempt to scold him. She just gave him a quick, knowing look and carried on, as if reading his mind.
'Is he... admiring me?' she thought, feeling a mix of surprise and a small thrill.
Finishing breakfast, Travis headed upstairs to change, skipping a shower since he knew he'd end up sweating again anyway. No point wasting water.
'Alright. Time to go,' he thought as he grabbed his things and headed out.
Travis left his house and headed toward Diane's place, the calm Sunday streets giving his walk a relaxed, almost lazy atmosphere. He noticed the silence, the kind that only seemed to come on Sundays. That quiet reminded him of the nun from the church, a thought that made him smirk. She was easily one of the most attractive women in town, and while he hadn't managed to get her into his bed before, he now felt like he could make that happen.
As he passed by the church, fate seemed to favor him—she walked out just as he was approaching. Her usual stern gaze fell upon him, judgment etched across her face. Travis kept his composure, ignoring her for now; he had other plans today, but he filed the encounter away for later.
Arriving at Diane's, he spotted her lounging on a camp chair, soaking up the sun. She turned at the sound of his footsteps, smiling warmly as she met his eyes. Standing, she opened her arms, inviting him into a hug. He didn't hesitate, wrapping his arms around her and savoring the feeling of her chest pressed warmly against him.
"You're here," she said, pulling back just enough to look at him. "Good. I almost thought you'd flake on me."
"Didn't we say ten?" he replied with a grin, pulling out his phone to show her the time. "I'm actually a minute early."
Diane squinted, trying to remember. "Did we? I don't really recall, but what matters is that you're here now. I need a hand with the garden again. Usual stuff—but this time, I need you to haul all the waste in that wheelbarrow over there, okay?"
"Got it," Travis said, smirking as he peeled off his shirt, making a show of it. He caught Diane's quick glance at his torso, a small smile tugging at her lips as she looked him over.
As Travis peeled off his shirt, Diane's gaze was immediately fixed on him, watching the ripple of muscles across his back as he walked toward the garden. Her eyes trailed over every defined line and sculpted curve, admiring the strength and sheer masculinity in his form.
'Wow... that nephew of mine is really... something,' she thought, letting her gaze linger on him longer than she probably should.
Settling into her chair, she continued to watch him work, taking in the sight as he moved with strength and ease. Each movement showcased the raw power in his arms and shoulders, muscles flexing in a way that left her almost transfixed. Any ordinary person would've been worn out within minutes, but he kept going, unfazed. After a solid thirty minutes, she watched him lift the wheelbarrow effortlessly, her face flushing as she took a sip of water to calm herself.
'He's strong, he's handsome… the kind of man I could really use in my life,' she mused, biting her lip as she watched him haul the heavy load away.
The next few hours passed with Travis working tirelessly, his endurance and vigor on full display. When he finally finished, he stood there covered in a light sheen of sweat, his body exuding a raw, masculine scent that Diane couldn't ignore. She felt her body respond instinctively as she drew closer, breathing in his earthy aroma, feeling a strange warmth stir within her.
'God, that scent... so intoxicating,' she thought, allowing herself a quiet moment to savor it.
Stepping beside him, Diane handed him a bottle of water, watching as he drank deeply, his Adam's apple moving as he swallowed. She couldn't help but admire his rugged appeal, her gaze trailing over his features, taking in every detail.
"You did a wonderful job, handsome. I only wish I could reward you with something... a little more meaningful," she murmured, her tone soft and almost inviting.
Travis smiled softly. "Oh, really, it's alright. I'm just grateful for the extra cash you give me," he said.
Diane gave him a sly smile, slipping her arm through his and gently squeezing his bicep, admiring the defined, taut muscles underneath her fingertips. She could hardly believe the strength he possessed. "You're built like a damn Greek statue. I bet every girl at school is trying to get your attention," she teased.
He laughed, shaking his head. "Not quite. I'm just an average guy to them."
"Don't be modest," she replied, still holding his arm and feeling the undeniable power within it. "Come on, let me see those abs everyone probably talks about." Without waiting for his response, she gently turned him to face her, her fingers trailing over his torso as she traced the ridges of his defined abs. She took her time, savoring every inch, her eyes flicking up to meet his in a long, meaningful gaze.
"Wow… is it hot in here, or is it just me?" she murmured, her voice dropping slightly.
"I don't know," he replied, grinning as he picked up the garden hose. "Maybe you need to cool down a little."
She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You wouldn't dare."
He met her gaze, mischief in his eyes as he turned on the water. "Oh, I think I would.
TO BE CONTINUED