Free A Dozen Dates by Missy Mitchell Page B

Nathan.
    After their break, the boys tackled the dangerous task of cutting down the badly abused and out of shape abomination of a eucalypt. Nathan boosted Michael up to the fork in the tree and they discussed which bough would be best to lop first. Once they made a decision, Nathan threw up the rope, so Michael could tie it around the branch, ensuring it would be accurately pulled to fall in the safest direction. Next Nathan passed up the chainsaw and Michael pulled the cord, igniting the engine. Nathan pulled the rope taut and used his weight to urge the branch in the direction he wanted it to fall.
    Gemma watched Michael as he balanced confidently in the branches of the tree and buried the rotating jagged teeth into the flesh of its bough. His biceps bulged, veins popping to the surface and his pectorals and stomach muscled twitched and rippled sublimely. Michael wouldn’t have much washing she decided in bliss...
    Crack! The sudden noise brought Gemma from her trance and she jumped back out of the way while the tremendous branch crashed to the ground. She looked up at Michael, who grinned and yelled above the commotion, “Don’t try this at home...” making she and Nathan laugh.
    It took some time to get the whole tree cut down, after which Nathan returned to work on the house, while Michael and Gemma proceeded to the back corner of the yard where the scrappy palm tree stood.
    Michael smiled at Gemma and stated, “Don’t get excited...” and he handed her the chainsaw. He then scaled the six foot fence, aided only by the proximity of the palm tree and balanced on the corner. “Okay,” he said and he squatted, steadying himself with one hand gripping the palm, and then he reached down with the other to collect the chainsaw. Gemma watched his bicep and triceps flex as he lifted the chainsaw with one burly arm and then his thighs and calves bulge as he stood up and mindfully maintained his balance. He was the picture of a God... He started the tool up and then lifted it high above his head and made a nick in the back of the tree, before changing position and calving into the front. Gemma moved out of the way and watched the palm top plummet, conquered by the superb male divinity. Michael then squatted on the fence and lopped off a section level with his feet, before shutting the motor down and carefully passing the tool down to Gemma, the idoliser, and warning her to be careful not to get burnt. Michael, jumped down off the fence, and announced, “Okay, you can cut down the base...”
    Gemma again wasn’t insulted, instead, she just charged up the chainsaw and finished cutting down the palm. They then went around the front, where Michael allowed her to fall the Conifer and the native and the climbing rose, before together loading them into the back of Michael’s Ute. That part of the mission completed, they returned to the back, where they shared the task of sectioning the fallen eucalypt into manageable sized pieces so they could carry them to the truck for removal. But Michael wasn’t going to have Gemma lifting too much, even though he was certain she would manage one way or the other, so he called out to his brother to assist with the heavier exertions.
    By the time they were finished it was lunch time... But first things first – the day was stinking hot and they were all sweating and dirty from the tree falling task. “Swim,” stated Michael like he was suggesting it to himself out loud, but Nathan soon joined the conversation with an affirmative testimonial. “Gem, you got your swimmers with you today?” Michael asked her.
    “I do...” she confirmed with relief as she stood dripping in the heat, I’ve got them on!”
    “Clever girl,” Michael reported and he smiled. She was a little self-conscious about being half naked in front of the men, but not so much that she would deny herself an invigorating dunk on this scorching summer’s day. Nathan removed his shoes and dived in, looking instantly