CHAPTER 88

“Oh my!”

Sharon screamed, at the top of her voice apparently

As she looked at the parcel of land she had intended to weed

Someone had cleared the grass, and placed baskets of seeds for her, flower seeds. Another basket had trowels in it

“Sunflower, lilies, chrysanthemum, roses, dandelion—”

“Do you like it?”

Sharon turned around, to see him standing behind her. His arms were folded in front of him, and he was wearing black shorts

Completely shirtless

Sharon looked at him from head to toe. It was apparent she was staring

“Yes, I like it”

Somehow she felt she wasn't referring to the flowers

She had a beautiful smile plastered on her face. Her freckles spread across her cheeks. She was elated. It truly was the little things that made big impacts.

The fact that she only mentioned it once—

He squatted down, and picked a trowel

How do you want them planted?

“No, no— I mean you don't have to worry”

“Don't tell me you were going to do it by yourself”

“Luca you've done enough—”

He gave her a look, that made her blush

“I want them planted the way you placed the seeds”

“Luca nodded”

He dug a small hole, and placed two flower seeds inside

Then he covered it

Sharon squatted too, and grabbed another trowel

“I'll plant too”

“You won't like getting your hands dirty”

“I'm not a little girl. I can do stuff, I can be useful”

Luca nodded

“Sure”

Sharon began to plant the flowers too. When she wasn't doing it right, he corrected her.

“You're a natural”

He said, his eyes fixed on her

“Thanks I guess”

She tried to hide the blush that formed on her cheeks

She was just a girl, one that was forced to grow up, and accept the reality of things. Once in a while, her goofy childish side came to light. But it only happened when she was comfortable with someone

And Sharon was comfortable with Luca

“Who taught you?”

Sharon asked, trying to shift the attention away from herself

“My dad, he loved gardening”

“I would've really loved to meet them, your parents”

Luca paused, and thought for a moment

“They would've loved you”

Sharon could sense his mood changing. She felt like she had spoilt his mood by bringing up his parents

She dipped her fingers in the dirt, and plastered her hands on his face, so it was smudged with dirt

Then she stood up, and grabbed the garden hose

“Brace yourself!”

She sprayed him. He had tried to avoid it, but he was unsuccessful

Funny enough, there were two hoses

In a couple of minutes, they were both soaking wet. Luca's face was still smdged with dirt

“Okay, that's enough”

Luca said as he held her from behind. She wiggled in his arms unsuccessfully, but she wouldn't stop

“I got you, you've had enough mischief for one—”

“Miss Riann!”

It was Georgia, in horror

*****************

“It's not what you think”

“It's exactly what you think”

“Excuse me young man, but I've been tasked to protect this young lady during her stay here. And I must say, you're on the top of my list of people l don't want near her”

Georgia really had no idea, who had employed her. She would've never expected it to be him

To her, he was a pervert, a lowlife who wanted a taste of the aristocratic life, who wanted to use his good looks to woo Sharon, so he could climb up the social ladder

“Georgia were friends”

“Lovers”

“No Luca we're not lovers”

“She's my Baby girl”

“Listen, it's complicated”

“So you've been seeing each other?”

“Absolutely, do you have a problem with that?”

Georgia looked from Luca, to Sharon, then back to Luca

“I'll be watching you”

She said, as she walked away. Occasionally turning back to give him a nasty stare

Sharon pushed him away from her, and groaned

“I can't believe you just told her we're dating”

“Aren't we?”

“No”

Luca stared at her, then placed his hands around her waist

“Whether you want to accept it or not—”

He used his nose to brush her neck

“We're a thing”

His voice sent shivers through her spine, and she could feel her knees grow weak.

She could smell his cologne, feel his hot breath on her neck.

“You're soaked”

He said, as he felt her clothes. He wouldn't have sprayed her as much.

But Sharon's mind was somewhere else

His deep blue eyes were fixed to her neck, she swallowed. She had never felt so watched

He trailed his eyes from her neck, to her shirt. She wore a sleeveless white top, which had become partly transparent because of the moisture.

She watched him bite his lips, watched his expression go dark—

Well— I'm going to wipe the dirt off my face

He let go of her, and began to walk towards his apartment

“So you're just going to walk away, you're just going to leave me”

“Um, yes”

He said, giving her a wry smile

“But—”

“It's not like we're dating or anything—”

“But we're a thing!”

Sharon screamed

He stopped walking, and let her catch up with him

“I don't know what we are yet, but I really like being around you. And I don't get nightmares when we sleep together. And I feel comfortable with you—

“And I love you—”

“Say it again”

“Say what?”

“The thing you said”

“I'm comfortable around you”

“No, not that one”

Sharon acted like she was deep in thought

“You know, I don't remember”

He grabbed her, and placed her on his shoulder

“leave me the fuck alone”

“No

I want to watch you say those words again—”