Then there had been Kari.  She and Nina had worked together at the D.A.'s office in Cincinnati, and had become fast friends.  By that time, the brunette and Dan had grown so far apart that even when he was home, Nina wanted to spend her time with her good friend, not her husband.  Things had come close to divorce at that time, so Nina and Dan decided that maybe they needed new surroundings, a new start.  That's when they bought the house on Walnut Street.  Nina had gotten a good job with the Appellate courts with the D.A.'s office, and Dan had promised his trucking company that he'd give them the rest of the year, then he was gone.

A new start.  That's what they needed.

Nina's reminiscing was interrupted by Dan's touch on her shoulder.  She looked up at him, smiling as she noticed his cowlick acting up again.  She reached up, smoothing it back into place.  He grinned, looking every bit like the little boy he once was.

"You all packed?" she asked.  Her husband nodded.

"Sorry I can't help more with the house.  Sucks I gotta leave so soon."

"It's okay, Dan.  I understand."  Nina closed her eyes as he bent down, placing a lingering kiss on her lips.

"Let's test the new neighbors tonight," he murmured, a hand reaching down to cup one of her breasts.  She wanted to tell him she was too tired, but knew trying to work things out, meant giving in sometimes.

Nina nodded, getting to her feet.  Dan released her and walked out of the room.  The brunette glanced out her window, seeing the closed blinds across the way before switching off the desk lamp.

***

Kansas was glued to the TV, watching the Tyra Banks show, and the guy on there who had once been a girl, but now looked like a remarkably cute guy named Josh, who wrote a song as a girl, recorded it, then redid the same song as a guy, putting the two tracks together.  So fascinated was she, the teen almost missed the sound of he doorbell.

She put her bowl of Cocoa Puffs down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and heading toward the front door.  Standing on her porch was the woman she'd seen two nights ago, but this time very much up close and personal.  She was dressed in a navy skirt suit, hair down around her shoulders, sunglasses perched atop her head.

Yet again Kansas was struck dumb the sheer gorgeousness of the woman.  She knocked herself out of her reverie, and pushed the screen door open.  "Can I help you?"

"Yes.  I'm Nina Bruckner, I live next door.  I'd like to possibly offer you a job."  Kansas was intrigued, and confused.  The brunette must have seen it on her face, as she smiled.  "Sorry.  A bit sudden, I know.  We haven't even been properly introduced.  As I said, I'm Nina Bruckner.  And you are. . . ?"

"Oh!  Right."  Kansas grinned, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable around the older woman.  She tried to gauge her age, figuring her to be somewhere in her late 20s, maybe.  "I'm Kansas.  Roberts."

"Nice to meet you, Kansas.  Do you have a minute?"

"Uh, sure.  I guess.  What kind of job?"

"The dreaded yard work.  Dan, my husband, mentioned he saw you mowing your lawn the other day.  I don't know if you already have a summer job, or anything, but if you'd like to make a few extra bucks. . . "

"Sure.  Why not."

 "Great!"  Nina's smile was blinding, Kansas totally sucked into it.  She would have agreed to anything to see that smile again.  The taller woman hitched her thumb toward her place, raising a dark, arched brow in question.  Kansas nodded, tugging her front door behind her.  She followed Nina across their yards, trying to keep her eyes from permanently resting on the brunette's incredibly shapely behind. "Basically, what we need you to do is mow the lawn, as well as-" Nina cut herself off, turning to look at the teen.  Kansas, who was still rooted to the brunette's ass, nearly ran right into her.  Green eyes snapped up to look into bemused blue.  Kansas felt like an ass, but did her best to keep her poker face in place.  "Do you know anything about flower care?"

"Flower care?" Kansas repeated.  "If you water them, they'll grow?"

Nina chuckled. "Something like that."  She turned and continued their field trip to Nina's backyard, and the wooden shed out there.  She opened the door, the smell of gasoline and cut grass immediately greeting them.  "Well, as I was saying, we'll need the front and back mowed.  I think Dan is trying to get the sprinklers on the correct timer, so watering won't be an issue."  Nina stepped inside the shed, Kansas following, looking around the dark, hot space.  She turned to the woman, realizing just how close they were.  Feeling uncomfortable, she tucked her hands into the back pockets of her shorts and stepped politely back.

"How often do you want it mowed?"

"I was thinking once a week.  You can decide which day will work best for you."  Nina looked around, noting the gardening gloves that rested on a metal shelving unit.  "What about pulling weeds?  Would you be interested in doing that, as well?"

"Uh, sure."

"We'll pay you, of course.  What do you feel is fair?"

Kansas shrugged, having absolutely no idea how much to ask for, and not wanting to sound greedy. "Twenty a week?"

The brunette shook her head.  "No.  Not good enough.  We'll make it thirty-five for the mowing, and ten bucks a day for any additional work, whatever that may be.  How's that?"

Kansas blinked at her neighbor, then nodded at the expectant look on Nina's face.

"Great."  Nina smiled, nearly pushing Kansas off her feet with its brilliance.  "I need to get to work, so you can decide when it works best for you.  Just help yourself to whatever tools you need in here, okay?"

"Okay."  Kansas felt like she was in the middle of a whirlwind, Nina's perfume left in the wake as the brunette hurried out of the shed.  Kansas shook herself out of her stupor, and out into the fresh air of the morning.  Once again she nearly ran into her neighbor.

"I really want to thank you for doing this for us, Kansas.  It's a big help.  Dan's gone so much, and I'm not home even when I am home, you know?  So, thank you."  That smile again.  Kansas grinned stupidly.

"No problem."

"Great.  Well, have a good day."

Kansas was left standing in the backyard of a perfect stranger, watching said perfect stranger hurry out to her driveway, and climb into her car.  "What a woman," the blonde breathed, then remembered she had a bowl of Cocoa Puffs waiting for her.

***

Kansas wiggled her ass and bobbed her head as she jammed to Guns 'N Roses, finishing up the trimming around the Bruckner's yard.  She'd been at it all morning and into the afternoon, just allowing herself to enjoy the day, and curious of what her new, lovely neighbor would say.  Plus, the money would be nice.  She'd even missed Dr. Phil to make the yard pretty.

The sun was high, and Kansas was due for a break.  She finished up the trimming and pulled the earphones off, slinging them around her neck.  She was ready to go in and get lunch when a big rig pulled up in front of Dan and Nina's house.  Dan hopped down, pushing a pair of sunglasses up to rest on his forehead.

"Hey.  What's up?" he asked to Kansas, who was making her way out of their backyard.

"Just finishing up.  Nina took me to the shed this morning to show me all your gardening toys.  Nice mower."

"Thanks."  Dan smiled, but he was eyeing her as though he wasn't sure he believed her.  Didn't Nina tell him?  Kansas knew she had done nothing wrong, so strolled across the yard, hopping the fence, and making her way into her house, relived to get a reprieve from the hot sun for a bit.

The day went on without incident.  Kansas felt good that she'd done a good day's work, and was happy with what she'd done for the Bruckner's.  She told her mom about it when she got home, too.  Over all, it had been a good day.  Certainly a productive one.

Around seven o'clock that night, the doorbell rang.  Marina answered it, surprised to see the statuesque beauty standing on her porch, asking to speak with her daughter.  Kansas pounded down the stairs, almost breathless when she got to the door to see who her visitor was.  Nina smiled when she saw the teen.

"Hello, Kansas.  I wanted to tell you personally what a wonderful job you did on the yard today.  It looks gorgeous."

Kansas beamed. "Thanks.  It was nothin'."

Nina chuckled. "That may be, but you did great, anyway.  Thank you."

Marina watched the interaction, a smile on her face.  It was nice to see Kansas actually taking something serious.

"I also wanted to give you this."  Nina handed the teen some folded bills.  You did a great deal of work today.  You've earned yourself a reward."

Kansas took the money, shocked to see $75.  Her eyes got huge.  "This is too much."

"I don't think so.  Work hard, earn hard."  Nina smiled at the girl, and then at Mariana, then stepped off the porch, and disappeared into the darkness of the summer night.

Marina closed the door after her, turning to her daughter.  "My god!  That woman is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen who wasn't on TV."

Kansas nodded dumbly.  "Yeah."  She turned and ran back up the stairs to her room.  Marina watched her go, chewing on her lower lip.  She had suspected about her daughter's sexual preference since Kansas had been 11, making strange comments about the women she saw on TV.  Kansas had also had a hard time making friends with girls her own age, instead always hanging out with the boys, though Marina could tell it wasn't romantic relationships she had with them.  They treated her as one of the guys- especially after Kansas beat James Maynard up for picking on one of their school mates.  Seeing her reaction to Nina, and the way the normally nonchalant, 'I don't give a crap' attitude girl reacted to the brunette, Marina knew there was a bit of a crush going on.  Though a bit disturbing, she couldn't say she entirely blamed her daughter.  Nina Bruckner was gorgeous.