Page 2 of I see you Beauty

“Are you all right, Miss?” I hear a smoky male voice behind me, which doesn’t belong to my husband or the gardener.

I quickly turn toward him, swimming in place with light leg movements. My breath catches briefly when I see the stranger’s appearance. Bare-chested, he stands at the edge and looks down at me. A light layer of sweat glistens on his broad, clean-shaven, and fully tattooed chest, highlighting the most pronounced abdominal muscles I’ve ever seen. His strong, vein-covered, and tattooed arms add to his imposing presence.

I’m mesmerized by the sight, but especially by all his muscles. Jesus Christ! How many of those can one man have? But more importantly, what the hell is he doing in my garden?

“Miss?” he asks again and tilts his head. Only now do I notice that he’s wearing a hat and sunglasses.

I haven’t looked him in the face yet. I’ve just stared at his upper body. God, that’s embarrassing!

My cheeks must be flushing. I’m so ashamed of my behavior right now, acting like an old bat and staring at this young—far too young—man. He must be at least ten years younger than me.

“Mrs.,” I correct him as I regain my voice.

His cheeky grin at my delayed response has not escaped me, even if it has only crept over his full lips for a second.

“Mrs. Shepherd,” I complete my statement and swim toward the stairs.

He follows me like a predator cat, strutting through the jungle until we meet at the stairs. He is taller than I expected, towering over me by nearly a foot. I look up at him uncertainly and step aside as I realize he’s standing directly in front of me. His slightly salty yet pleasant scent of sweat, combined with the aroma of his aftershave, wafts toward me.

“Mrs., then,” he murmurs and looks at my ring, which I twist nervously, as I always do when something makes me uncomfortable.

“With that rock on your finger, it’s no wonder you went under,” he jokes about the size of my wedding ring.

Thomas has always had an extravagant taste. Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford the gigantic engagement and wedding ring he would have liked when we had to get married quickly. I assured him I didn’t need all that, but Thomas always got his way. That’s why he insisted that as soon as he earned enough money, he would finally buy a lavish wedding ring, marking me as his possession ever since.

My gaze also falls on the diamond, but I can’t keep my eyes on it for long and let my gaze wander again. Only this time, more inconspicuously, I hope. The stranger is not only exceptionally fit and attractive but also has several tattoos. His arms and entire chest are covered in several black patterns. Normally tattoos always put me off, but they look like they belong on his body.

I completely ignore his statement. After all, I don’t know this man… and it’s not proper to talk to strangers about marital affairs.

“And you are?” I ask as I walk to my lounger to put my silk robe back on, not missing his intrusive glances.

Who do you think you are?

Playfully shocked, he clutches his chest, bows slightly, and can’t seem to help himself but grin rakishly. “Where are my manners? I must have lost them at the sight of you. My name is Ezra King, and it looks like I’m your new neighbor.”

Are you flirting with me?

He points with his thumb to the property behind him. I furrow my brows skeptically because the neighboring property is a five-bedroom house. They don’t come cheap in D.C. How does a young man like that get his hands on a house like this? It’s been empty for several months because it’s completely overpriced.

Without meaning to, my eyebrows rise; I’m growing more suspicious of this man by the minute.

“And you live all alone in that spacious house?” I ask a little too curtly.

“I’m single, yes. If that’s what you’re getting at. I’m unsure if a married woman like you should ask me something like that…”

My jaw drops briefly, but his cheeky grin distracts me from my stupor.

“Have a nice day, Mr. King,” I reply sternly and turn away.

“You too, Mrs. Shepherd,” His deep voice emphasizes my surname as if it were a secret as he says goodbye. His tone, with its deep resonance, doesn't quite match the age I had imagined. You seem like a man one shouldn’t be messing with…

I grab all my things from the lounger and am about to return to the house when I turn back to him and watch as he leaps over the high fence with an impressive leap.

I haven’t even asked him what he was doing here or how he got into my garden. However, the latter has probably just become apparent.

Lost in thought, I shake my head and go back inside. By shutting the door, I try to lock him out of my thoughts as well.

Chapter Two

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