Adventures of Purranna Fox - Chapter Three (FINAL)
True to his word Gator sent an email detailing his maintenance suggestions and costs. Ranna read the email three times just so she could understand. Basically he wanted to replace everything right down to the light bulbs and he estimated the work would take three days instead of two. He had also attached a tentative schedule of what work would be done when. All was left was for her to arrange which days were convenient. Ranna emailed him back that she did indeed wanted to proceed with his suggestions and listed several dates. That done she wondered how she was going to get to know him better; while he wasn't exactly unfriendly Ranna didn't want to overstep her bounds and have him thinking she was a desperate housewife.
Gator replied with what days and times he would be over. She was surprised that he picked three Saturdays in a row. Who wants to work on the weekend she mused. The first Saturday came around and Gator arrived promptly on time. Ranna had slept late so she was unable to execute her plan of having cinnamon rolls baking when he arrived. Taska had suggested the idea, stating that men are most attracted to the smell of cinnamon and vanilla. Silently cursing herself, Ranna let Gator inside. She asked him what prompted his choice of the Saturdays, Gator merely replied that working on Saturdays gave him something to do on days that he couldn't work outdoors. Once that mystery was solved Ranna found talking to him was rather easy. Gator pulled no punches and answered her questions with an honesty that she found rather refreshing and brutal at the same time. When she ventured a question on his relationship status, he replied that he was not made for monogamous relationships and that he could be an asshole when dating. He didn't really trust women and that mistrust played a factor in his dating habits, that and the fact that he was bisexual. A question about his living status got a response of the fact he had a roommate who basically did all the household chores. While surprised at all of his candidness Ranna began to get a picture of Gator. He was not "the gator" to sweep her off her feet (matter of fact she realized she was so not his type), but more of an idea of what she wanted, she couldn't deny that his naked maleness attracted her like a cat to catnip.
Upon the end of his first day Gator did make a couple of side comments concerning the cleanliness of her home. While far from a pit, Ranna was not the best housekeeper and detested cleaning in general. While some of her other friends would make a comment she didn't seem to care, but when Gator made similar observations, she found herself highly embarrassed. She vowed to herself that he would not find her housekeeping lacking the next time.
With five days until Gator's next visit, Ranna enlisted her friend Katra to help her clean the condo. Katra was highly domesticated in the sense that she enjoyed a clean home. When Ranna explained her dilemma to her friend, Katra agreed to help in between smart ass comments. "If I had known a gator would inspire your sense of domesticity, I would have tried to fix you up sooner" she snickered. Witty comments aside Ranna and Katra spent Friday evening, drinking wine and cleaning up the condo. Thankfully the place was not all that big and it did not take much time.
The second Saturday's work consisted of many of the more time consuming tasks. One of them was redoing the weather stripping of the front door. By this time Ranna felt comfortable with Gator in the house and left him there while she picked up some groceries for breakfast. When she arrived back home, she found him staring at the front door looking puzzled. Apparently Gator was not pleased with how the door was originally hung and was debating on if re-hanging the door was an option. Ranna felt a mixture of amusement and dismay at this. Was he that much of a perfectionist, she wondered. The rest of the morning went by pretty quickly, Ranna made them both bacon and cheese sandwiches and while they sat at the table eating, they talked about a variety of topics. Ranna found him to be quite fascinating as his life was far more colorful than her own. He did prove that he was perfectionist as Gator took time and attention to make sure everything was repaired correctly. Ranna did express a concern that she was taking up so much of his day, but Gator simply shrugged if off. Hmmm... she thought maybe he actually does enjoy her company.
The third and final Saturday arrived. Ranna was a little sad as this was the last day she was going to see Gator. She did manage to get up in time to pop the cinnamon rolls in the oven. When Gator arrived it seemed normal for them to start the day at the table enjoying the treat, with the usual variety of topics. Ranna delighted in the maleness that Gator brought into her home. It was such a sharp contrast to the femininity that was present. The two energies existing side by side as if they were meant to be.
Ranna was treated to Gator's male energy at work as she watched him replace a door knob. Gator first tried to pry the door open with a utility knife, the knife bent. Then he tried to use a screwdriver, didn't work. Finally taking a hammer Gator knocked the knob straight off the door, with such a look of glee on his face. Ranna, slightly horrified, commented "Was that really necessary?" Gator looked at her with a humorous grin "I tried doing it the nice way first." "You are so freakin male" she muttered. "Yes I am" was all he said. While he cleaned up the debris Gator surprised Ranna by offering his hand in friendship. "I have really enjoyed talking with you; and I would like to keep in touch" Ranna agreed. The tingle in her brain had not reoccurred but she was certain that a friendship with Gator was indeed the goal. He was a catalyst for her but to what she did not know. While she did know he was not "the gator" for her, thoughts of making out with him did pop into her head. Maybe that will come to pass who knows. The most important thing to her however was to win his friendship and trust.