A masterpiece... may be unwelcome but it is never dull.

-Gertrude Stein

‘What’s up buttercup?’

I jumped out of my skin as a hand reached out and squeezed my shoulder making me scream from the fright of my life.

‘Easy… Easy… I’m not trying to kill you.’ He said, but I didn’t hear a word, nor did it register who it was trying to kidnap me.

I dropped the paint brush in my hand to the floor, bent my knees and kicked out, hitting him in the kneecap making him fall back to the ground.

‘FUCK HARPER! That…. Hurts…’ My mind, eyes, and the pounding beat of my heart had me on high alert before I could register who I had attacked.

“Oh… No… I…” My words were lost as I pulled my headphones off. “What are you doing here?” My heart still pounding hard in my chest I pushed myself as far back as I could away from him.

‘I... Came to help. Fuck.’ He was lying flat on the ground, his knee pulled up to his chest holding it with both hands.

“Don’t you know, you should NEVER come up behind a girl like that?” Still in shock I slide down the wall and then remember too late that this was the wall I’d been touching up the paint on.

We both sat in our places without talking gathering ourselves. I wasn’t sure how long it took before he slowly half sat up and glanced over to me. ‘Are you okay?’ This time his voice was low, something like pity ( or at least that was how it sounded to me. )

“I’m fine. It wasn’t my legs which were taken out from under me.” I retorted

‘One leg… And I’ve taken harder from a goat in the past, trust me.’ #JuanDiaz kept his deep brown eyes on me. ‘And I mean… If I knew… I wouldn’t have tried to make funny like I did.’ He dropped his head to the side, as if he were watching a caged animal.

“Knew what exactly?” I slowly make my way back up on my feet, trying to see just how much paint I had wiped off with my back.

‘I know that move Harper, I’ve taught it to many women who have been attacked. There is no shame in it, it’s good to learn self-defence.’

I spun around; my eyes burrowing into him. “You know nothing. And I am not ashamed. I just… I…” What was it about this man? Why did he know which buttons to push. “It’s none of your business and I do not wish to bring my personal life into this work arrangement… thank you…”

He had come to his feet, shaking out his injured leg to the side. He held his hands up in the air. ‘Understood.’ Is all he said and then stood there just looking at me.

“Now, would you like to tell me what you are doing here?” I asked once again.

‘I came to help.’ Was he reply.

“I didn’t ask for your help.” I responded.

‘Tough luck, I’m here now.’ That smug grin was back in place. ‘Rosa told me you were going to spend your down time setting the reservation support residential unit up for me. And let’s face it, I’m not willing to sit back and let you make it all pink and girly.’

I knew he was teasing me; I knew I should not bite, I knew I was better than this, however…

“Pink and Girly? I would have you know I have excellent taste in home décor.” Now some part of me wished that I had indeed set the unit up with nothing but neon pink.

Bending down to pick up the brush I had dropped. I frowned. “Great, Char just polished the floor too.” Rushing over to the kitchenette for a damp cloth.

‘Let it dry.’ He followed behind me. ‘Once it’s dry, I can scrape it off, it will be like it never happened.’ He was leaning on the small island. That was when I noticed the boxes by the door.

Pointing towards them I gave him a questioning look. ‘Like I said, I really did come in peace.’ His gaze moved around the unit. ‘But I can see you have it in hand.’ He was smirking again.

“I had a lot of help from my friends.” I told him washing the brush out.

‘What would you do if I sang out of tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,

And I'll try not to sing out of key.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.’

He was singing the song off key. And yet with his eyes closed he hit some notes that really didn’t need to be so high.

“Please… please don’t do that again.” I couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto my lips.

‘Wow, so she does smile. Just not for me.’ This made the smile disappear.

“Would you like a tour of your new home while you are here in La Push?” I didn’t wait for his reply and started to walk towards the bedroom.

“You have seen the kitchen, and the living room. I have a small table coming for you tomorrow which can be placed—” He cut me off.

‘In front of that window. I can tell there will be some beautiful sunrises to be seen as I eat my breakfast.’ I wasn’t going to tell him that was why I had thought it to be the perfect placement.

“This here is the bedroom; it may look small however that is a full-sized queen in there.” Walking in I pushed a door open on the far side. “The closet is small; however, we have added some racks in there.” He was right behind me looking over my shoulder. I ducked out and around him.

Heading out into the small hallway I opened the door to the shower room. ‘What no tub? And I so like a soak with some bubbles in the evening.’ He was frowning. And now so was I.

“I…” I hadn’t thought that maybe he’d like a tub and not the shower, but he burst out laughing. Pulling me back out of my thoughts.

‘Relax, this is all perfect. It’s a lot nicer than anything I was expecting from a shared unit.’ He told me leaning on the doorframe with his hands pushed into his pockets.

Did I want to hit him? Yes, would I allow him to get under my skin? No.

“It is a shared unit; however, I have ensured that only you will stay in this one. It will be assigned to the Practice until we tell them we no longer need it. Chief Black has been very kind to us, as have the council.”

I had bought the Chief a bottle of whisky as a thank you gift, only to find out that he didn’t drink. So, he had asked me for a bottle of my watermelon juice. ‘I heard it’s very refreshing.’ He had said. And I knew #Jessica must have told him about it.

‘They don’t need to do that; Really I’m used to sharing accommodations.’ The expression on #Juan’s face had changed. He was no longer joking, and I could tell this was the Navy man who I was speaking too now. #Damian would have the very same look when he meant business.

“What is it you said… Tough Luck… it’s yours.” I told him.

I made my way back into the living room space and then gazed at the boxes. “Do you have any more of those?”

#Juan shook his head. ‘I travel light. I am guessing there is a washer and drier, or a laundrette in town?’

“Down stairs… You will find the laundry room for everyone who visits. There is a small convenience store there too. And then in town there are— ” As I spoke, I could tell that for once #Juan was listening and taking it all in.

Once I was sure he knew what we had in town, I made to leave. “If that is all.” I walked over to the door and stopped. “Oh, the keys.” Pulling them out of my pocket I set them down on the island, picking up my jacket to slip it on.

‘I wouldn’t do that; you have paint on the back of your shirt. Do you want to change into something of mine?’ He pointed to a rucksack beside the door, and I shook my head. He stepped behind me and tested the paint. ‘It’s actually dry.’ He laughed.

#Juan walked me out of the unit and then followed behind me down the stairs, in the front of the building we stopped beside my car.

‘I guess I will see you at the practice.’ He said before his attention was pulled to the sound of a motorbike.

We both stood watching and I smiled when I saw the long dark brown/ black hair flying in the wind. Her leather jacket opened with her white t shirt showing, over her jeans. #Leah looked like a Goddess set out to fly free as she sped by fast.

‘Well, damn! Is there anything sexier than a woman with a beast like that between her legs?’ He whistled low, bending his head back to follow #Leah as she turned the corner of the street. If I didn’t know better, I was sure that her head turned to look back when #Juan spoke. But that was impossible. There was no way, she could have heard him.

“I really would not if I were you. I hate to burst your bubble, however I’m not sure you are Leah’s type.”

‘Leah? A beautiful name too.’ He was grinning from ear to ear. ‘Is she seeing anyone?’ His eyes were still on the last spot he had seen her disappear.

“That is none of mine, or your business Doctor Diaz.” Opening the door to my car, I climbed in.

‘Don’t be like that. At least tell me where I can find her?’ He was bent down.

“Nope.” I slammed the door closed and started my ignition.

I was sure before long he would find himself at the door of the Bar, it was the only one in town. And I hoped I would be there to watch him try to speak to #LeahClearwater.

“Now that will be fun to witness.” Glancing at my rear-view I saw him still stood there, his shoulders bobbing up and down as though he were laughing.

( Music: With A Little Help from My Friends · Benjamin Francis Leftwich )