I dropped my cup and rushed inside. The wave of guilt and pain and loss that swept over me left no room for rational thought. My only instinct was retreat – run – get away.

I turned to yell I was sorry or I’d be back or something along those lines, Christ anything, and turned right into a flannel-wrapped mountain of a man. His hands came down on my forearms and squeezed reassuringly. ‘Hey, Tuesday, I’m sorry. We don’t even know each other–’

‘It’s OK–’

‘And I come over here and make you cry–’

‘It’s OK–’

‘And upset you and it’s not even nine in the morning.’

‘It’s OK!’ I said again, almost angrily. But it wasn’t and we both knew it because I was crying so hard I was shaking. But for his hands on my arms, I’d probably shake apart into a hundred girl pieces.

This was a great start to getting to know your neighbour.

He pulled me in and crushed my face to his chest. Under the flannel he wore a faded blue tee that looked like it had been washed about a million times. He smelled of cold air and clean cotton and leaves. I wanted to snuggle against him and the thought made me cringe inside. What a horrible needy thing I’d become.

‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered. ‘This is so … fucking weird.’

He laughed and it rumbled through his chest against my ear. ‘It is weird. But it’s thanks to me. How about you let me make you dinner tonight?’

‘You’re an ultimate fighter, a handy man and you cook?’

‘I told you I know how to do lots of stuff.’

When he said it there was an undercurrent of sensuality. I don’t know how I knew other than all the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I had to suppress a shiver.

I looked up at him and he wiped under my eyes with his thumbs. I realised then I hadn’t let him go. I was hugging this stranger and letting him wipe my raccoon eyes and worst of all, he’d seen me cry. ‘What time?’ I managed though my tongue felt three sizes too big.

‘What time is good for you?’

I shrugged, and yet, Jesus … I was still holding onto him. ‘I have no job, I just moved in and you’re holding me while I cry six minutes after we just met. Just give me a time.’

‘Six?’

‘Six is good.’

‘Do you eat meat?’

I blushed and felt so fucking juvenile. He meant food not … cock.

He smirked at me and it was in that moment that I realised he could read my mind like a newspaper. ‘I do. I eat meat,’ I said and then turned my gaze away when my cheeks caught fire.

‘Steak it is. I’ll see you at six. Just …’He waved a hand. ‘Walk across and come in if I don’t answer. I tend to crank the music when I cook.’

‘Right,’ I said.

He shocked me by pressing a kiss to my forehead before he left. ‘And I am sorry I upset you, but …’ He pawed his hair. ‘But?’

‘But you needed to know. About Virginia. How much she loved you.’

Then he left and I put my face in my hands and cried. I’d never felt more grateful and more upset by a bit of information in my life.

So I started doing dishes and talking to my nan. Maybe it was crazy but it was my house now and who was here to eavesdrop anyway.

“Well, I’m thirty-nine as it stands, but I hit that big four-o within a matter of days.”

“Well, you look stunning on it,” Paul injected and I grinned rather manically, pleased by the compliment. “We both fancied you before we even got to the backseat.”

“Oh, hush.” Simon blushed. His dark skin took on a flustered tone like the centre of a rich cherry truffle.

“Really?” I replied, flattered and excited by this confession. How could these guys

fancy me? I’m old and sad, the years of training and the horrific break up with Darren had left their marks on me.

“Yes, really,” Paul continued. “That’s why we came to sit back here…in hopes we could chat you up.”

“Both of you?” The conversation spiced up nicely.

“We said we’re good at sharing.” Simon joined the conversation, sharing a purposeful look with his friend.

“Yeah,” Paul continued, picking up where Simon had left of with a cheeky smile and a flirty look. “And it seems we’re both sharing some symptoms, Doc.”

“Oh, yes? I’d better examine you both, then.” I stood and waved my hand, beckoning Paul forward towards me.

Paul got the message and moved a seat over, and I sat between the two men.

“What are these shared symptoms?” I asked, my hearth thudding in my chest. I had seen the knowing glances and read the lustful smiles. I hoped this was going to be something fun and raunchy but worried they had actual, real symptoms for me to work on.

“Well, we’ve become hot all over , Doctor. I think we’re both running fevers.”

“I will be the judge of that,” I said, reaching out and pressing a hand to each of their foreheads. “Oh yes, you certainly both seem to be hot.”

“And our hearts are beating ever so fast.”

I moved my hands down to hover over each of their chests then gently pressed my hands over each heart. I enjoyed the feel of their strong muscles as I pretended to assess their heart rates. I was rather enjoying the game, well, I suspected it was a game.

“Yes, your hearts are both racing, but I’ll need more specific symptoms before I can make a diagnosis.”

“Oh, well, the other symptom is a bit embarrassing, Doctor.” Paul shifted in his seat, pulling off a fairly good impression of being nervous.

I rested a hand on each strong thigh, squeezed my fingers together and clenched my own thighs as lust coursed through my veins. I was giving them the signal. If they wanted to play they could but they still had the opportunity to decline my offer without causing a scene. I was so nervous and desperate for them to play the game with me. “Don’t worry, you can tell me anything. I am a professional, after all.”

“Swelling.” Simon whispered.

Paul nodded and said “There is an incredibly uncomfortable swelling in my…erm…crotch area and I can see that Simon is having the same problem.”

My mind raced. This was it. This was exactly what I had wanted and I had to take it. I’ve always been a “do now” kind of girl, and I didn’t want to miss this glorious opportunity. The idea when it came was a simple one. I reached over Paul’s lap and picked up the paper I had brought along for a little light reading.

“Okay,” I said, unfolding it and placing it in his hands. “If you’d both like to come behind the privacy screen, I’ll examine you and try to ascertain exactly what your problem is.” My heart pounded like a drum, my mouth dry with nerves and my pussy wet with need.

“Certainly.” Paul slid closer to me whilst Simon repeated the action with his paper to my other side.

I took a deep breath and bit down the nerves that made my stomach flutter. I was positive they both wanted me to do this but until I made the first move there was a degree of doubt. I slipped a hand behind each paper and down to the crotches of these two near strangers. I felt the swelling through their clothes and commented so as I attempted to undo two flies simultaneously. Delicious anticipation built as I slowly eased down the zips and fished around to find openings in boxers. Their cocks were hot and eager as I encouraged them out of their warm confines with little trouble. Gently, I assessed the situation, thoroughly examining each member with my fingers. Both were hard but Simon’s was slimmer and longer while Paul’s cock was deliciously thick and stout. Both made my mouth water and my pussy pulsate.