Caroline wiped her arm across her sweaty forehead and sat back on her heels. Looking around her garden she was pleased with her day's work. Her home had a large back garden and she worked hard to keep it looking at its best. She and her husband, Eamonn, loved entertaining their friends during the summer months with barbecues and lazy evenings relaxing on the patio. She nodded her head in pleased acceptance as she surveyed the vast expanse of green lawn, that she had mown just that morning, and her colourful flower beds.
Standing, she stretched her arms her, the muscles in her legs and back enjoying the change of position after being crouched over weeding for the past hour and a half. Caroline looked at her watch, it was mid-afternoon, she wouldn't be expecting Eamonn home until early evening. With this in mind, she collected up her gardening tools, bucket full of weeds and dead flower heads, put everything away in the correct place, before returning to the house to change into her bikini. A couple of hours sunbathing was just what she needed.
Eamonn boarded the train, a smug smile playing on his lips. He quickly righted this, no one likes to look smug, but he did just win his company a much coveted account, so he was feeling very pleased with himself. Why not smile? He'd earned it. He settled into his seat and pulled the contract out of his briefcase. Putting it on the table in front of him, he used his mobile phone to take a photo of the signed document to send to his secretary, with an adjoining note telling her to take the rest of the afternoon off as he wouldn't be returning to the office.
There was only one person Eamonn wanted to share his success with, and that was his wife. He settled in for the hour train journey home, watching out the window as the the city views transformed into the green English countryside.
Twirling around in front of her dressing table mirror Caroline took in the form of her body reflected back at her. She was petite and had kept herself in good shape, at forty-one she could pass for a woman at least five years younger. She swept her long strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder and tied the strings of her bikini around her neck. Caroline liked the way she looked, her pale skin matched her hair and hinted at her half Irish heritage. Her stomach was still flat, her breasts were large for her frame, but firm and round, the triangles of her red bikini barely covering them. Turning to the side she tried to rearrange the bikini bottom over her pert behind, but it was no good, there was absolutely no way she was going to able able to keep her cheeks covered, she might as well be wearing a thong, she thought to herself.
Outside on the patio Caroline spread her towel out on the sunlounger, took off her sunglasses and lay down on her stomach. With the late spring sun warming her body, she quickly found herself dozing off.
Caroline stirred, a slight shiver running through her. Had a cloud covered the sun? Lifting her head slightly and opening her eyes she looked up to see where the sun had disappeared to. She sat up quickly, startled at the sight of three burly men standing over her.
"Sorry to bother you, missus. We did call out but nobody answered, and then we noticed the side gate was open, so we thought we'd see if anyone was in."
Caroline looked from one man to the other. They all looked to be in their late fifties, dark hair and eyes, and well formed. Not from working out at the gym. No, these men were big from physical labour. She took in their clothes, oil stained jeans and work boots, clean but rumpled shirts.
"Oh erm, I must have dozed off. Is there something I can help you with?"
The man who had spoken to her crouched down bringing them face to face. "Looks like you were having a lovely wee nap, missus. Can't say I blame you, felt real envious watching you lay there, almost wanted to lay next to you and catch a bit of sun myself," he said with a wink of his eye. "Anyway, me and the lads here, we're in the neighbourhood looking for scrap metal, we'll take anything you got."
Caroline tugged the tiny triangles of material covering her breasts, trying to somehow make them magically cover her up from the intense gazes of the three strange men in her garden. "Oh, I , yes, I think the old washing machine is still in my husband's workshop. It will save us having to take it to the tip. It's just over there, next to the garage," she replied pointing to a door in a small building.
"Sounds perfect. Pat, Mick, go take a look. I'll keep the lovely young lady company while you do it."
Caroline watched while two of the men strode off to the workshop. Turning her attention back to the man still crouched in front of her. "Well, I'm sure my husband will be home soon," she said nervously.
"Oh I'm sure he will be. I can't imagine wanting to stay away from a stunner like you. Must have to tear himself away every morning."
Caroline laughed, "Oh, I don't know about that. We've been together 15 years now, I'm sure sometimes he can't wait to get to the office."
"He's a bloody fool if he does. No, a woman like you needs attention, needs looking after. If you were my wife I'd make sure you knew exactly what you meant to me."
Flicking her hair back Caroline looked him straight in the eye, "I don't know what you mean. Eamonn is a very good husband, I know he loves me and would do anything for me," she retorted.
Holding his hands up in front of him the strange man looked as though he was surrendering to her. "No offense, missus. I just meant that you're a fine looking woman. And forgive me for being crude, but I'd be shagging you morning, noon and night if you were mine. Making sure you're needs were meet like."
"My needs are meet, thank you very much! Now if you'll excuse me." Caroline made a big show of laying back on her stomach, dismissing the man.
"Oh now I have offended you. I really meant no harm. An old gypsy like me doesn't really have a good way with words."
Caroline sniffed and continued to ignore him.
"Ah now look at your pretty back. It's all pink with the sun. Here let me."
Something cold and wet hit Caroline on her shoulder blades. She squealed and looked at the man. "What the hell was that?"