Arlette's mind whirled around like a merry-go-round. Finally placing the receiver back in the cradle, she simply stood there. Arlette couldn't have been more terrified. She wanted to rush outside, leaving the door open for Jack while she searched for her mother. Instead, Arlette stood there, then slowly walked into the livingroom and waited for Jack.

He came in ten minutes, his now-familiar heavy tread growing louder outside the door. The bell rang, the jangling sound making the girl nearly jump out of her skin. She hesitated, then opened the door.

"My mother's…"

"Yeah, kid, I know. Just let me do my work," Jack said gruffly, stepping past her with a quick, but steady, hot look.

Arlette closed the door, putting one hand to her chest and breathing with some difficulty. She watched as Jack disappeared through the kitchen doorway. There was the sound of the back door opening. And then she could hear the sounds of work in the rear patio. Arlette sighed with relief and disappointment. Jack paid little, if any, attention to her. Monica was the only thing he was interested in. Pouting, Arlette shuffled her sandaled feet over the thick piling, her hands clasped loosely behind her. All her wild fantasies fell apart in that one moment. Was she attractive? Would Jack notice her? As dangerous as it was, Arlette felt she had to know. Prudence told her to remain in the house until her mother came home. Something else told her to stop outside and do what she could to arouse that dangerous young man.

If I were a man, I'd go after me, Arlette thought to herself, glancing at her reflection in the big hall mirror as she walked briskly from the livingroom into the kitchen. The sounds of his working grew louder. Pausing in the kitchen only for a moment to gather what little courage she had, Arlette stepped outside, spotting the bent-over shape of Jack near the border of the garden. He was tearing up some tiles, his t-shirt soaked with perspiration. Arlette held her breath. She could hardly swallow, and her heart felt heavy as it pounded against her chest. Jack stopped his work in a moment, aware suddenly that someone else was in the patio area. He turned around, staring up at her with those hooded, sexy black eyes. Arlette turned to butter.