Work Boots

I wake up to my phone going off next to my head. I groan and bury my head back into my pillows. 6:30 am... good morning Tennessee. I've been trying to get my body used to the time zone change by getting up early and I fucking hate it.

It's been three days since we moved in and so far I haven't left the house once. I've been organizing which has been taking up a decent amount of time, but I'm starting to go a little crazy. I roll out of bed, pulling on some Nike compression shorts and a tank top, then head downstairs to the kitchen.

When I finally get to the kitchen I look out the french doors that lead to the back patio. I've seen every inch of this house twice now, but I haven't been able to go out and look at the backyard because mom decided she wants to rip up the entire thing and start from scratch. So for the past two days there have been trucks and workers all over the place.

I walk over to the doors and look around. It's six in the morning on a Saturday, I'm sure no ones here yet. I unlock the door and step out. The patio stones are cool on my bare feet. The sun is just coming up so I'm able to see the whole yard and it's a mess. All of the grass is gone and there are pallets of different materials scattered throughout.

I take a few steps forward and stop when I hear a car door close. I look over towards the driveway and freeze. It's a massive white work truck that's covered in mud. But it's not the truck that I'm staring at, it's the guy that got out.

I can't get a good look at his face because its hidden behind a camo hat and a pair of mirrored sunglasses. But that's ok because there's plenty of other things to look at. He is wearing a T-shirt that has the sleeves cut off. The arm holes in the shirt are big enough that I can get a glimpse of a well defined chest and stomach. I watch his tanned arms flex as he pulls work gloves onto his large hands. His beat up jeans are old and faded but they fit like they were made for him. His boots look broken in and are caked in dried dirt.

I look back up at his face and I realize he's looking at me, oh no. I can feel my face starting to go red.

I should probably run and hide in my room for the rest of my life, right?

As I plan out how to survive in my room for the next ten years, he nods his head toward me and gives me the sexiest smile I've ever seen.

God bless.

The smile on his face gets bigger and I realize I'm still standing here staring at him in a tank top and compression shorts. I give him a small smile and turn toward the door and try to walk back into the house as casually as possible.

Once I'm in the kitchen I run over to the window above the sink to try and get another look at him. I'm so short I have to climb on top of it to look out.

Scanning the yard I finally see him and I feel like I'm about to start drooling. He's putting large wooden stakes in the ground every few feet. The way his arms flex as he hammers them in makes my uterus do a back flip. The sun is starting to pore into the yard and I can see the sweat glistening on him.

I might have to go change my shorts.

"Katherine what are you doing?"

I jump at the sound of my mom's voice and I almost fall into the sink. I hop off the counter and turn around to see her sleepily walking towards the coffee machine.

"I was just looking at the progress in the yard. It looks good." Well the guy walking around the yard looks good.

She gives me a bright smile, "I'm glad you like it. I've been thinking about putting in a pool, maybe one you can swim laps in."

Ever since we got here she's gotten more excited and happy by the minute. Dad and Tyler seem to have hopped onto her happy southern bandwagon as well. So far I've felt ok about being here but the sound of getting a pool that I can swim laps in? That's too good to be true.

I'm grinning from ear to ear, "Mom you don't have to do that!"

"I want to! I know this move has been hard on you and I want to give you something that can make this place feel like it's your home. I don't know what Knoxville swimming at will look like. So, if it's not great at least you'll have somewhere to practice whenever you want."

I don't know what to say. I've been a swimmer since I was six and I've made state and national cuts since middle school. I would be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about what was going to happen when the school season started this fall.

"That would be amazing! Thank you!" I give her a big hug and she gives me a tight squeeze.

"I know you're worried but don't be. We will find a team or club that you'll be able to join." She gives me a smile and a kiss on the forehead then turns to her coffee.

I'm about to go back to the window and try to find Mr hot stuff when she interrupts my inappropriate thoughts.

"Oh! We're going shopping in an hour! Just you and me. We have to get stuff for school. Don't look so grumpy! Go get ready."

Back to school shopping. My favorite.

"Ok fine."

I turn to leave but pause to glance out the French doors hoping I'll see him but nothing. I sigh and head up to my room.

I take a quick shower, blow dry my hair and brush it out. It's almost halfway down my back now, I'm going to need a hair cut soon and that worries me. The thought of having a new hairdresser sounds horrible. I have trust issues when it comes to my hair.

I decide to wear my high waisted shorts and a t-shirt cause I'm sure it'll be hot out today.

I throw on some sandals, a light coat of makeup and head downstairs.

Mom is already waiting for me. "Ready?" I nod and we head to the garage. We climb in and mom starts backing out. I pull the visor down to look at my hair and fluff it a little as I put on my RayBans.

"Ah, that must be Wade, Jim Tackett's son. We hired their landscaping company to do the yard, they are such nice people. Wow that's impressive. Those must be really heavy."

I look over and see what she's talking about and my mouth drops open at the delicious sight in front of me. He's hauling hay bales from the back of the truck and stacking the on the side of the house. Those things must be extremely heavy because his arms are flexing hard. Oh what I wouldn't do to run my hand down those arms...and the name Wade Tackett? Sounds like a cowboy. How does that song go? Save a horse ride a cowboy? That sounds extremely appealing right now.

He looks over and waves at Mom. She smiles and give him a wave in return. My visual groping is cut off when she turns the car and heads down the driveway.

Mom bumps me with her elbow, "He's pretty cute isn't he! I think Jim said he is a senior at your new school. Oh! Maybe he could show you around."

I blush and let out a small laugh. "Mom I just got here and I've got Ben. Plus I don't need help finding everything, I'm sure I can find it on my own." I'm also sure that Halls High School is half the size of my old school and I'm sure it's full of hicks, but I keep that thought to myself.

"Ok...wait! I thought you and Ben were taking a break?"

"We are but that doesn't mean I want to start talking to guys right away. Who knows we might get back together eventually." I feel like I'm trying to convince myself more than her.

She chuckles, "Alright whatever you say."