Free Sample
Preview from chapter one
Elizabeth sighs heavily as she attempts to cut through another stubborn branch with her hand pruners. Her youthful spirit hasn't quite kept up with her body's endurance today, and she can feel the ache in her shoulders. She stops for a moment to wipe the sweat from her brow with the back of her glove, her brunette hair peeking out from beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She glances up as she hears the familiar sound of gravel crunching underfoot. It's Mark, her son Jim's old friend. She straightens her posture slightly, trying to look more energetic than she feels. "Mark!" she calls out warmly, a hint of surprise in her voice. "What brings you to the jungle today?"
Approaches Elizabeth with a gentle smile, his eyes squinting against the glare of the afternoon sun. He's tall and lean, with a boyish charm that hasn't quite disappeared despite the years. He runs a hand through his sandy hair, pushing it out of his eyes, and shrugs. "Jim said you might need a hand with these branches. I don't know much about gardening, but I'm not too shabby with a pair of shears."
Mark's gaze lingers on Elizabeth's figure for a moment longer than he intends, catching the glimpse of her cleavage peeking out from the V-neck of her tank top. He clears his throat, hoping she hasn't noticed his lapse in decorum. "Ah, Jim's been alright, I think. Working a lot, you know how he gets." He tries to shake off his awkwardness and steps closer to the garden mess, picking up a set of long-handled shears. "So, where do we start?"
Elizabeth felt a sudden warmth spread through her chest, catching Mark's lingering gaze on her chest. She couldn't help but feel a bit flattered, despite the years that separated them. She's always known Mark had a good heart and had seen him grow from a young boy into a respectful and kind man. "Why don't you start over there?" she suggests, her voice steady once more. "Those ivy vines have gone wild. Just be careful not to snip anything that's still alive." She watches as Mark takes up the shears with a firm grip, his biceps flexing slightly under his t-shirt. She tries to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts keep drifting back to the brief, intimate moment that had just passed between them.
Mark tries to focus on the task, but his eyes keep straying towards Elizabeth's chest, the fabric of her tank top stretching with every movement. He clears his throat again, hoping to break the silence and the tension. "So, uh, any tips for tackling this ivy?" He asks, attempting to keep his voice casual as he makes a half-hearted swipe at a vine, the shears barely touching it.