“Oh, don’t mind me..I’ll stay out of your way, but I can’t miss this Warriors game!”
Lewis adjusted his cap with his company’s logo, L & Sons Painters, on the bill and looked at his client sitting crosslegged on the sofa, munching popcorn and drinking a beer. He tried to think of something clever to say, but only came up with, “No problem, Ms Franklin. It’s just the door frames and baseboards, so if you don’t mind the smell I don’t mind the view…uh, I mean, I don’t mind that you’re here.”
Carolyn stopped munching and took another look at this painter. ‘The view’, eh? Mr. Hot Painter, are you referring to my legs? You’re certainly measuring them. Of course, she didn’t say that, but did smile and said, “No problem…uh…I’m sorry, I know you must’ve told me your name, but I’ve been watching Steph’s last crazy three pointer and I missed it. And please call me Carolyn—‘Ms Franklin’ makes me feel as though I’m still a teacher.”
Lewis grinned back and at the same time warned himself to stop staring at this knockout woman while working. And she WAS a knockout—-salt and pepper hair, big green eyes, a killer smile and…those legs! He wondered if she was married. He hadn’t seen any signs of a male occupant. Whatever, Lewis, stay focused on the job. You’re not here to get a date.
“Sure,….Carolyn. I’m Lewis. I’m the ‘L’ in the L&Sons Painters’ name.” Just then Thompson dunked over LeBron and the crowd noise was deafening. Carolyn raised her hands and spilled popcorn.
“Holy crap, did you see that? I’m so glad Klay is back. The Splash Brothers reunited!” She stuffed another handful of popcorn in her mouth and took a big swig of beer, rivaling any of his buddies gulping during poker games.
But his buddies didn’t have legs like that or a mouth like hers.
“Yeah, he’s almost as awesome as Curry, but I’ll remain a Curry fanatic forever.” Lewis thought she probably didn’t hear him, and he turned to continue carefully covering the fuchsia color around the door with white.
The sudden silence made him turn back around to find her staring at him with her mouth hanging open. “What? You’re a Warriors fan? And you’re WORKING during a game? Put that brush down right now and get over here, Lewis! I rarely have anyone to watch the games with, so I now proclaim that you’ve finished the job for today.” And then she winked at him.
It only took a few seconds for the angel and devil on his shoulders to fight it out. “You got it, Carolyn, if you’re sure you’re okay with me not finishing the job today.”
She laughed and stood up.
“Sure, Lewis.” He followed those legs as she uncrossed them and started walking to the kitchen. “I’ll get you a beer, too, just to complete the ‘bad workman’ review I’ll be writing.”