Exhausted from the long meeting, Jerome threw his keys on the coffee table and slumped down on the couch. The meeting had taken all afternoon and the thought that he could've really used that massage instead was setting in. He eyed the big binder on the kitchen counter and loathed the idea of having to check the books for the deal James sent him on. At the moment, exchanging the suit for sweats and sports with a beer were his primary goals.
Next door, Marisa held her towel closed as she reached for the shower faucet. Upon turning it on, she heard a rumbling coming from the bathroom closet. Curious to the sound, she opened the closet and looked towards the water heater, it sounded as if it was churning rocks. The bath continued to run, but Marisa noticed the familiar steam from the hot water was missing. She touched it to check the temperature and it was ice cold. Marisa wrapped up in the towel again and retreated to her room to find her cell phone.
As she approached the dresser where her phone was, she wondered where her husband was. But the thought vanished as behind the phone, outside the window, she saw Jerome's car in his driveway. Maybe he could fix it, she thought. She jot down a quick note for Stephen, throwing on her yoga pants and sports bra, then finding her way down the stairs to the back door. Scoping out the area, she checked to see if it was okay to cross the yard next door. Tip-toeing made her feel like she was being extra stealthy. The blinds to Jerome's patio door appeared to be shut.
Inside, Jerome took a swig from his beer as he watched the game on TV. His legs were propped up and he felt comfortable just vegetating. Thought the volume was turned up on the TV, Jerome caught the faint sound of the knock on glass accompanied by the shadow of a figure at the patio. He pulled the blinds back a bit and his eyes widened at the sight of his neighbor looking away in her generous sports bra. Marisa turned back around to see Jerome surveying her up and down, waving when their eyes met. Jerome pulled aside the door and let her in.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you're here." Marisa said, putting her hand up to her forehand.
"What's up? You alright?" Jerome asked.
"Yeah... just a domestic issue." She said dejectedly. Jerome perked at the thought, he considered if she and Stephen had gotten into an argument. "I was trying to draw a bath and the water was running cold. I think the water heater is broke."
"Oh that ain't good. You want me to take a look at it?"
"No it's okay, I'd hate to trouble you if you were busy. I was hoping I could just hop into yours if you didn't mind?" Marisa asked.
"Nah it's no trouble. I'll take a look." Jerome walked away from the door and grabbed a workout shirt from the kitchen chair. "Alright, lead the way." He followed her out on to his patio, the only place his focus fell was the hardly contained ass in her yoga pants. "You just work out?" Marisa turned in time to notice his eyes mesmerized below. She unlocked the back door.
"Yes I did. Actually I just got this new DVD for the lower body." Marisa enthusiastically replied, omitting the fact the DVD was titled Glorious Glutes: Butt Boot-camp. Inside, Jerome searched for the gains she had made from the DVD.
"Is that right?" He took advantage of the free opportunity to peer closer at her ass. He followed her up the stairs and continued to admire. Marisa, fully aware of the attention, shifted her steps to up the production. In the bathroom, she pulled the closet door open.
"See, I think it's making some weird noises whenever I turn the hot water on." Marisa pointed to the faucet at the sink. "Could you try turning it out? You'll hear what I'm talking about." Jerome did as he was asked. Marisa took to her knees and began looking behind the water heater on all fours. When Jerome turned to get a visual confirmation to turn the faucet on, he didn't expect to see the yoga pant full moon. "Go ahead and turn it on!" Marisa called out.
Jerome turned the water on and could hear the slow rumble come from the heater. He stood behind her, looming over her inviting butt. "Yep, I see it now."
"What is it?" Marisa called out again.
"Two things. It looks like you're gonna have to drain it out and make sure there isn't any sediment in the tank."
"Oh..." Marisa replied blankly. "What's the other thing?"
"The other thing is I see that that DVD you're doing is working." Jerome added nonchalantly. Marisa's blush was hidden from him as a strange silence passed between them. "Alright, you mind if I take a look?"
"Sure, let me just move so you can get to the-" Marisa moved to get up.
"It's alright, you're good right there." Jerome took a knee behind her, his gaze fixed. "How long this been going on?"