I am a single, 48-year old, self-employed gardener. It is work which I have done for many years; I've always liked outside working in the fresh air and it keeps me trim. Although I live in a small town of 8,000 people, my job takes me all over the county. I have many regular customers and am always picking up new ones, many of whom I manage to snag as they stop to chat while I'm working away in another customer's front garden. Most customers stay very loyal to me and I often get well looked after by ladies of all ages grateful for my help; their husbands and partners always out working. Tea in a nice garden on a late summer afternoon with female company is a most enjoyable part of my job.
I was married once, she was a city girl who left me for a man with a more glamorous job 15 years ago. I was devastated at the time, as I wanted a family. Since then I have had a few relationships, nothing ever serious, so I have gotten used to living on my own. I own some property which I let out, giving me some income when gardens go quiet in the winter, and also helps to fund my main hobby which is my two classic racing motorcycles. I live above an old tyre and exhaust centre, which is now my workshop. I put all of my funds into converting the house and garage, and getting it right. All my equipment and my two racing motorcycles are kept there securely, I call it my "man cave."
Whilst working on a garden in an upmarket area of the next town over last month, a most pleasant lady walking a small dog stopped to chat. She was in her early fifties, good looking with a friendly smile, dressed neatly, with blue eyes, brown hair and a curvaceous figure, She introduced herself as Julia and asked if I could come round and have a look at her garden. Her husband worked abroad and the regular gardener had been in hospital for an operation and would be recovering for 3 months. She looked familiar to me, although I couldn't figure out why.
I drove 'round to her place that evening and what a beautiful secluded property it was. Pulling into the gravel driveway, she saw me out of the window and came out to greet me with a friendly smile. Showing me around the garden, she pointed out many names of plants and shrubs demonstrating her knowledge of horticulture; she wanted me to come once a week for some grass cutting and general tidy-up. I agreed and said I would be 'round Wednesday mid-morning, unless there was heavy rain, in which case I would call to reschedule.
Wednesday came and I arrived 10:30 am, having already worked another much physically harder garden about 3 miles away. It was a warm July morning and my polo shirt was damp from perspiration. I rang the doorbell and Julia answered wearing a towel, having just come out of the shower. She looked good without make up and her hair brushed back, I also noticed neatly painted toenails and tanned legs.
"Sorry to bother you, I just like to announce my arrival so you realise there is someone on your property."
"That's okay, I appreciate it. Thank you." she replied smiling, and shut the door.
I set about my work and after 90 minutes cutting grass, trimming the edges and light pruning of bushes overhanging the pathways, I was done. I loaded my equipment back into my Land Rover and rang the doorbell. She answered this time wearing a silky gown that stopped above her knees, and invited me in for tea. I took off my boots and followed her into the nicely decorated hallway, I could not help noticing her lovely shaped body being hugged by the silky gown tied at the waist, I could see the outline of her panties and I would say she was a size 18, just a perfectly curved figure. The muscular curve of her calves and an ankle bracelet made my mind wander!
We went right through the kitchen onto decking in the secluded back garden where she had been lying on a wooden sun lounger taking in some July sunshine. "Would you like me to pour you some iced lemon tea?"
There was a large jug already sitting on a matching wooden table, freshly prepared, some fruit, and some fresh cream. "Ah, you like strawberries," I remarked.
"Oh yes, Scotland always has the tastiest." she replied.
I sat down next to her lounger, she lay back and put her oversize sunglasses back on, looking almost like a pin-up lady from the 1960's. I could she was wearing a bikini under her gown, cerise colour. Wow. We chatted away whilst we enjoyed some fruit and she commented on my fitness. I was a bit embarrassed as I was also quite sweaty at this point.
"Would you like some lunch...?" She asked, picking up a strawberry and dipping it into the small bowl of cream. I was about to make an excuse as I had two more gardens scheduled that day, when she continued her sentence, "Or would you like me for lunch?"
"Pardon?" I said, somewhat blushing.
"You are an attractive man with your silver hair, your polite manners, your dedication for your work and customers; I fancied you the first time I saw you, when you held the door open for me at the newsagents on Priory Road at Christmas time. I see you tending to local gardens in the passing, only 2 weeks ago you let me into the traffic from a side street."
