Free A Dozen Dates by Missy Mitchell Page A

nobody special... It’s not like he has ever promised her anything – except seven more dates. My goodness, she could smell him on her... He wafted up her nose and lodged himself in her obsessed psyche... She desperately needed to get unattached; and fast!
    She had to protect her heart. She had to stop seeing him – except for when she was fulfilling her employment obligations, of course. He would argue, feeling at fault for stealing her virginity without dating her initially, but damn it, two dates would have to do. She has assured him of this, already, earlier that night... It was her who was using him ... Two dates was enough! Penance completed!
    Gemma had college all day on Wednesday, but on the Thursday she didn’t have class until the evening. She got up early and had a healthy breakfast of hi-fibre cereal with sliced banana and a coffee, before heading out to visit a selection of landscaping centres to see samples of and get quotes for various types of soil and mulch. When she was happy with her outcomes she called into a tucked away little bakery she spotted and picked up some sugary delights for the Michael, Nathan and yes, she will admit... for herself!
    She thought she was over him... until she spotted him. Suddenly, all of her resolutions abandoned her and she was emotively smitten all over again.
    “Hello,” he greeted her with a smile that was so alluring it ought to have been outlawed.
    “H-hello,” she stuttered back. Gemma opened the box of sweet pastries and tarts, presenting them, and Michael’s face lit up like Christmas!
    “Must be time for morning tea... Coffee, Nathan?” Michael asked his brother.
    “Sounds superb..!” Nathan answered, and then upon seeing the treats that awaited him, he too smiled hungrily and doubly confirmed that it was indeed a superb time to break for a cuppa.
    “Michael, when can we cut that Eucalypt down?” Gemma asked as she removed the milk from the fridge and added a spill to each of the cups for Michael to blend with the instant coffee and sugar.
    “Straight after morning tea if you like..?” He answered her with refreshing decidedness.
    “That would be great! Then I can manage the others on my own,” she informed him.
    “What, the palm tree and conifer and that?” Michael inquired.
    “Yeah,” she answered as she picked up her coffee and the box of donuts and followed him out to the back patio.
    “We can do it for you...” Michael offered before sitting down. Gemma sat down after him.
    “Or I could do it...” Gemma suggested confidently, “It is my job!” Their eyes locked.
    “Yes, but it’s our chainsaw...” Michael pleaded, trying to erase the image from his mind of her severing off her foot! “Nathan... Coffee!” he yelled.
    “Do you not trust me with you power tools?” Gemma questioned his motives. Michael frowned - caterpillars at their cutest... Damn him!
    “No, it’s not that...” He reached in and selected a cream donut and as he enjoyed the first luscious mouthful, he arrived at the wise decision to be honest, “I’m just not used to seeing chicks with chainsaws...” Then he grinned and admitted, “It makes me nervous!”
    “I see... Okay...” Gemma said and smiled back. It didn’t offend or anger her... Michael was, in a patriarchal way, protective, and she knew his concern was coming from a good place, and truth granted, most girls her age wouldn’t have any experience with a chainsaw; it was only, with her particular background, she happened to be one that did.
    “I’ll tell you what... I’ll let you have a go, but I get to assist... from a very nearby place.”
    “Deal!” Gemma happily compromised.
    “Oh Gem, yum!” exclaimed Nathan, “I knew hiring you would work out well...” He made eye contact with her and grinned before reaching into the box and grabbing out a plump apple turnover.
    “We’ll get that eucalypt cut down after morning tea?” Michael approached his brother.
    “Yeah sure...” agreed