Page 15 of Hardy

“You better stop talking about mytroubles with Millie,”Hardy said, pointing at him.

Baker went bright red.“Sorry.It justspilled out, and I didn’t have any control over it.”

“What are you?A fuckingwoman?”

“I panicked.She’s alwaysquiet around me, and I’m not used to someone being quiet aroundme.”

Hardy shook his head.“I’m justletting you know I’m cleaning the backyard up today.”

“Rose is taking anap.”

“I’ll be quiet.”

Hardy moved around the back of thehouse.He removed his leather cut, entering the garage.The garagewas a mess, and he started to empty it out.He killed all thespiders he came across, and opened up the whole of the garage.Bythe time he was finished Rose would be able to enter the garagewithout fear.His woman was terrified of spiders.

Once the garage was finished, helooked at the garden.The lawn was overgrown, the flower patcheswere covered in weeds, and the small walkway was lost in a jungleof grass.Baker came out to help him, getting stuck into the weeds,while Hardy started to mow the lawn.When he was done with thebackyard he’d go to the front, and mow that one.

He removed his shirt, and withinthe hour he was down to his jeans.Baker ended up the same way.Rose stood at the kitchen door, andHardy turned off the mower, and stared ather.

“What’s going on?”sheasked.

“I noticed this gardenneeded cleaning up,” he said, wiping at his brow.

She wore clothes that were at least threesizes too big for her frame.Her red hair was bound up on her head.She looked so damned sexy that she made Hardy ache for a chance toget his hands on her.It had been too long since he’d been insideher.

“You’re doinggardening?”

“Yes.”

“What’s happened,Hardy?”

“Nothing.”

“You don’t do yardwork.”

“I’m a changed man.You’re goingto find that I do a lot of things you didn’t think I did.”He gaveher a wink, and got started back on work.

Once the grass box on the mower was filledwith the cut grass, he turned the machine off, and started to putthe cuttings in compost heap.

“You’re wooing Rose,” Bakersaid when he made to pass him.

Looking toward the kitchen door, he didn’tsee Rose standing there.

“Have you got a problemwith that?”

“No, no problem at all.Ithink it’ll be great if you two get back together.You both deserveit.”

Hardy was thankful that he had hisbrothers on his side.

Rose brought out some lemonade, and hetook it, keeping her out to talk.He listened as she spoke aboutbuying some roses to mix in with the flowers.

“We’ll go and pick some up.Do you want to do that now?”

“Yes, I’d like that.Areyou coming, Baker?”Rose asked.

“Nah, I’ll let you two go.Tellme where you want the roses, and I’ll dig up the holes.”

Hardy finished up his mowing as Rosetalked with Baker about where she wanted the bushes.When hefinished the lawn, Rose was ready to leave.He cursed when he sawthat he had his bike.“We can ride to the clubhousefirst.”

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