Love Under Quarantine

He shakes his head and if he had a hand free, I think he would have waved a pointy judgey finger at me too.

“Well, now you can sit outside in the sun with me and eat a decent meal. Doesn’t that sound nice? You can’t live on candy and cookies, Sadie. Shit food like that doesn’t fuel you. Like Cookie Monster says, they’re sometimes foods.” He flashes me a grin and disappears through the slider, I assume heading back into the apartment to deliver the food.

Before long, I hear two loud knocks at my door.

Gloria blinks her gorgeous green eyes at me expectantly before settling herself in a sunbeam for a nap. Tail curled around her. Head resting on her sweet little paws.

“He’s feeding me. I’m not sure a male has ever actually cooked for me before. Do you think this is part of some sort of mating process or just a friendship sort of thing? What’s your opinion, fluffy baby?”

Only the cat is already fast asleep. I’m on my own with this one.* * *

EVANAfter I knock twice, I set the food down in front of her door. It’s definitely piled high, but that woman needs to get some real food in her belly.

I make my way back into my home away from home, grab a couple cans of beer, and bring them outside. The grill still smells amazing. I set the remaining New York strips on the higher half to ensure I don’t overcook them. Plans for a steak and egg scramble for tomorrow have me doubling up on the beef today. And if I was being truthful, something I’d never admit to Succulent Sadie, I did hope the scent of grilling meat would bring her out of her hidey-hole.

Grinning like a loon, I make my way back onto the balcony where Sadie is already chowing down.

“Didn’t your mama ever teach you any manners?” I tease.

She stops with her fork halfway to her mouth. Her plump, pink, soft-looking mouth. Mr. Happy once again takes notice. Sweet Jesus. Every time I look at this girl, I have to fight a stiffy.

“What?” She shovels the bite into her mouth and chews, then closes her eyes and moans. Loud.

Tonight’s spank-bank material just came to life right in front of my eyes. My dick hardens painfully in my jeans as I memorize her gorgeous face and that heavenly sound.

I hiss, adjusting myself while gathering what I need to pull the remaining steaks off the grill. I set all but the one I plan to devour into the ceramic dish I brought out. Then using the tongs, I take my cut of cow off the fire and wedge it onto my already stuffed plate.

“You’re supposed to wait for everyone to get their meal before eating,” I admonish playfully.

She frowns and purses her lips. “Says who?”

“Everybody.”

“Well I’m somebody, and I say ‘to each his own.’ And, I like my food hot! And, thank you, Sparky. This is incredible. Where did you learn to cook?” she asks before sinking her teeth into her corn.

I cut a piece of meat and stick it into my mouth. The savory flavors of the meat and rub I used mingle together on my tongue. “Damn, this is good.” I mumble around my food, and then finish chewing and swallowing. “Dad taught me. And Curt, my little brother, from the time we could peek our heads over the Weber.”

She laughs sweetly and it sounds like a song. Or maybe it’s just that I’m into this girl. Really into her. I haven’t so much as touched a hair on her head or held her hand and I can already feel my need to please her. To make her laugh. To feed her.

“Well I’ll have to send a thank you card to the man because this,” she points to her plate with her fork, “is amazing. Even the ruffage is tasty. Did you make the dressing?”

I grin. “Yeah, but it’s just a touch of olive oil and balsamic. Healthier.”

She pokes several leaves and a tomato. “Do you always eat healthy?”

I sip my beer and hold it up. “Not always.”

“Besides beer. I think enjoying beer might be part of the male DNA.” Her eyes sparkle as she smiles.

“When I’m training day in and day out, I can take more liberties, because I need a lot of calories. But if I don’t want to spend extra time in the gym, I try and eat right.”

She nods and continues eating.

“How about you. Any siblings?” I ask, eager to find out any little morsel about my mysterious neighbor.

“Only child. My dad is a dentist in Dallas. My mom works in his office as his receptionist and office manager. He has two hygienists and a couple office assistants. Unfortunately though, he’s only supposed to go into the office if there is an emergency. He cancelled all his clients for the next three weeks—thank God!”