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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 11 A couple of hours later, Kristy’s belongings had been delivered. While the girls unloaded some of the boxes of their contents, Howie, Tim, John and Kevin moved the heavier packages and the furniture into the condo. "Thank God you only thought to build two-story condos, D," John said wiping the sweat from his brow. Howie leaned against the dolly taking a short break. "Next time the architect will be designing single-floor studios – just one big room. No more loft bedrooms." "Hey, hey, hey… come on you lazy bums. No siestas allowed," Tim warned. "That bed needs to be moved. Chop, chop!" Kevin appeared in the doorframe. "Yes sir, Sargent, sir." As he and Howie grabbed one of the mattresses, the latter man smiled. "I don’t know how we managed to get suckered into this." "Feminine persuasion, my good friend. God gave them the wiles and we got the minds willing to be manipulated. Besides, it’s like you said, at least we get to spend the day with our ladies." Our ladies. Howie wondered silently how, after only two days, Cheryl and Kristy had earned that moniker. Both couples were moving fast – comfortably fast. It wasn’t like a runaway train but rather a bullet train. More controlled speed. Still he wasn’t ashamed to admit that it scared him to some extent. Little known to Howie, Kevin had lay awake the night prior consumed with the same thoughts. He had come to the conclusion that he wouldn’t fight it. Obviously he belonged with Kristy. The situations surrounding their relationship were too perfect to be circumstantial. Kevin had always been one to believe in the power of fate and destiny. Clearly, Kristy was his soulmate. Later, the men, exhausted from the physical activity, collapsed on the couch and chairs in the livingroom. They still needed Kristy and Cheryl to direct them as to exactly where the furniture should be placed, but everything was inside. Kristy and Cheryl emerged from the kitchen each carrying a tray with either drinks or snacks. Kristy handed Kevin a glass of iced tea and made herself comfortable on his lap. Cheryl gave Howie a lemonade and joined him in her pappizan chair. "My God, woman," Kevin said, now refreshed after downing three-quarters of his drink. "How did you get all this packed up on your own?" "Who said I did it on my own? I had male friends in Oregon who were just ‘dying’ to help me." She sighed contentedly. "The joys of being a woman." Cheryl couldn't help but giggle. "Gentlemen, I do believe we’ve fallen under the spell of these beautiful women and are inclined to do their bidding," Howie told his friends with mock reluctance. "It’s the 90’s version of ‘I Dream of Jeanie,’" Cheryl joked. Howie and Kevin glanced at one another. "What is thy bidding my master?" Kevin asked the blond on his lap as he bowed his head in submission. "Uh, Kev, you’re supposed to be Barbara Eden not Darth Vader," Tim corrected. Their laughter was interrupted by a knock on the still slightly ajar door. Cheryl squirmed out of the pappizan chair’s tight quarters to answer it. A beautiful woman with long dark hair and big brown eyes stood on the doorstep. "Hi, the office said I might be able to find my brothers here. I’m Pollyanna Dorough." "Nice to meet you. I’m –." "Cheryl." The redhead gave Pollyanna a quizzical look. "My younger brother described you perfectly. He’s been talking about you non-stop." Cheryl blushed. "Come in…John and Howie are in the livingroom taking a short break before we crack the whip again." "D mentioned they were helping you move in today." Polly had to chuckle when she saw her brothers sprawled out in the livingroom. "Tired guys?" "Hey, Pol," Howie greeted barely lifting his hand to wave to her. Cheryl offered her a drink and went to retrieve it from the kitchen while Polly was introduced to Kristy."Now you want this where?" Kevin inquired as he and Tim lifted the armoire. "In that corner please," Kristy replied. She had enlisted Kevin and Tim’s help in her room while Polly and Cheryl directed Howie and John’s efforts downstairs. "What about this box?" "In the closet for now," she said without thinking. "Uh-no, wait..." But it was too late, Kevin and had already open the door and she watched as his green eyes widened. "What?" Tim asked, wandering over to discover the reason behind his brother’s look of surprise. He peeked behind the closet door and erupted into laughter. Kristy could feel the blush spread across her cheeks. "No doubt in my mind now. You are a fan," Tim teased. "Cheryl hung that up to help welcome me to the house," she explained sheepishly. Kevin walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. "No need for that anymore. You have the real thing."Downstairs, while John and Howie received directions and played “musical chairs” with various pieces of furniture, Cheryl listened as Polly revealed stories about her kid brother’s childhood. Howie only groaned as he overheard each tale becoming more embarrassing than the one before. "Ooh, I think Mom still has the photos… when you come to dinner at the house, she’ll drag them out of the attic." "Uh-uh..." Howie protested. "I don’t think so, dear sister." "I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours," Cheryl whispered teasingly. Howie cocked his eyebrow, but his thought process was interrupted by Kevin’s voice. "Hey, D, go check out your girl’s closet." Cheryl jumped quickly and ran to the stairs blocking his way. "Are you hiding something?" Howie needled her. "Hiding? Me? No, um, it’s just, um, messy and I don’t want you getting the impression that I’m not domestic." "Cheryl," he said in a sing-song voice. "Come on, baby." He kissed her mouth. "H-howie." They could both feel her giving in. He took the chance and raced upstairs followed by John and Polly, whose curiosity was also piqued. By the time Cheryl joined them, the trio was laughing. She didn’t have a viable excuse like Kristy’s. "I don’t know," Howie said with uncertainty before his lips curved into a smirk. "Do you really think it’s my best side?"Next: Chapter 12 |