***
Dunc almost crashed into his computer desk at the distraction. Amanda was dancing on top of her cabinets in only a nightshirt. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. The nightgown went down mid-thigh and was covered in what appeared to be Star Wars droids. She was singing along with him! Dunc lost all sense of coordination. His face turned bright red, and he tried to keep doing what he was doing, but wow. He had not expected this at all!
And then the mental image that plagued many men his age flashed through his head. Amanda dressed up as Slave Leia. He shook his head, banishing that image away as fast as it appeared. No! The slave part he was completely uninterested in, but the rest of it kept bouncing through his mind. He tried to focus on singing and dancing, but Amanda was doing a far better job of it.
Dunc was relieved when Amanda finally stopped singing and dancing. She sat down on top of the cabinets to catch her breath. He wasn’t sure how long he could restrain himself from leaving his house and running over to hers. The temptation was strong, but it was late.
She leaned against the glass and smiled at him. Dunc sat in his chair and smiled back.
Chapter 13
“I’
m not going to fit.” Dunc ran a hand across his chin, studying the hammock in Amanda’s backyard.
“You’re sure?” Amanda looked from the hammock to Dunc, then back to the hammock.
“See.” Dunc turned and sat in the hammock. He waited a moment to make sure it was steady before swinging his legs up into it. Dunc had to bend his legs, and that wasn’t going to be comfortable for long. He preferred stretching out. Amanda climbed into the hammock next to him and yelped as she lost her balance and fell on him. She laid there for a moment against his chest, which took up way too much room. The hammock wasn’t wide enough. It was a cheap rope one meant for one person. Dew and Sallie got away with it because they were small.
“If you want, you can curl up on my chest like a cat,” Dunc smirked, lifting his hand to Amanda’s shoulder to pull her closer.
“I know it’s cool right now, but that would get too hot after a while.” Amanda put her elbows on Dunc’s chest and rested her head in her hands. She purposely dug her elbows into him.
“Ouch.” Dunc grinned, getting the point. “I have a me-sized hammock in my backyard, but if my mother sees us, she is not going to leave us alone.”
“We could sneak in the side gate?” Amanda suggested thoughtfully.
“Like a couple of randy teenagers?” Dunc smirked.
“I am too tired for randy.” Amanda groaned, sliding her arms out and falling on Dunc’s chest. “I just want a nap.” Dunc hugged her for a moment while she was there, then sighed and sat up.
“Let’s get with the sneaking. The sooner we get some sleep, the better.” Dunc grumbled.
***
Dunc and Amanda went around to the side of his house and snuck into his backyard. Dunc’s mother was supposed to be doing some baking, so he assumed she wouldn’t be looking into the backyard. Amanda had seen his backyard from her studio before. It was how she knew he had a garden. The garden was on her fence line, running the entire length of it in upraised beds.
She couldn’t help but feel hungry at the sight of the full garden beds. There were several types of squash, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots. Dunc didn’t do anything halfway.
He led her past the garden and to the back area of his yard with several trellises set up. She had never seen what was behind them. They were obscured by climbing roses and other vines.
Hidden behind the trellises was a wide hammock on a steel frame. Dunc had mounted poles across the top of the fence so that vines could climb over, weaving in-and-out to form a natural canopy.
The fence behind the hammock and the trellises buffered the area inside from outside sound. The surrounding fence was painted in shades of golden orange. Colorful dragonflies and butterflies decorated the fence against the bright background. A few small wind chimes hung from the canopy on the inside and outside of the trellises.
“Welcome to my secret place.” Dunc grinned, motioning to the hammock. “Perfect for daytime naps away from nagging moms.”
“Looks great.” Amanda yawned.
“No funny stuff,” Dunc smirked as the pair climbed onto the hammock. It was more stable than Amanda’s hammock, and Dunc could stretch out on his back. He folded his arms under his head. Amanda laid down next to him on her back and did the same. She folded her arms under her head and sighed contentedly.
“Amanda, whatever my mother said, don’t believe her. Don’t listen to her. She likes to talk.” Dunc began slowly. “I know she said something to you.”
Amanda stared at the canopy, thinking about what she should say.
Her silence worried Dunc. “Amanda? What did she say?” He ventured carefully, keeping his eyes up and away from her.
“She said you love me,” Amanda whispered.
“Meddling witchy woman.” Dunc groaned.
“Is it true?” Amanda turned her head to look at Dunc curiously.
Dunc sat up and looked at Amanda sadly. “My mother likes to say things. She doesn’t think before she talks. She’s-”
“Is it true?” Amanda sat up and looked at Dunc. He dropped his gaze and scowled.
