Chapter 1  Getting to Know You

Charlie Peterson felt that his life sucked.  Nothing had ever gone his way and he saw nothing in his immediate future that would change his opinion of his situation.

At fourteen, he became head of his family when his father walked out on them because as he put it, “It was just too hard being a father.” 

Charlie’s mother had depended on him to take care of his three brothers while she worked three jobs.  Charlie did the best he could.  His brother Jared was four years younger and a handful.  Then there were the twins Michael and Marquis who had been four when their father exited stage left.

Somehow Charlie lost his teen years somewhere between wiping snotty noses and washing clothes.  It was all he could do to finish high school and then he had to get a job because his mother became ill from working her body towards an early grave. He was thankful that she had recovered and now only worked at her full time job at the nearby Petersburg General Hospital.

No, life wasn’t fair, but Charlie took it in the chin and still tried to smile and make the most of it.  His brother Jared was his mother’s favorite and got away with murder.  She totally ignored the twins, leaving them for poor Charlie to look after.

Charlie had long ago stopped arguing with his mother about the money she gave to Jared, about his brother not helping around the house or pulling his weight.  Jared could do no wrong in Valerie Peterson’s eyes.  Jared had dropped out of school his senior year, got into trouble on several occasions and Valerie always made excuses for her wayward son, and then turned to Charlie pleading for understanding.  He had grown tired of it.  Charlie wished that she would put some of her misplaced energy in spending time with the twins and give him a break.  He was glad when Jared had left home and then things seemed to settle down a bit.

Charlie couldn’t understand where twelve years had gone.  He was now twenty six, Jared was in and out of the house at twenty two and the twins were sixteen.  Charlie could finally breathe a little as the twins were pretty much self sufficient.

His mother still worked nights at the hospital and Jared was now living with his latest girlfriend which Charlie was glad about, because that meant that he wasn’t at their house eating up all the food.

Charlie looked out of the window after coming home from working at the construction site and noticed that a moving van had backed up to the front door of the house across the street. The house had been empty when he and his family moved into the rental a year ago. When Charlie walked into his house and immediately noticed that no one was home. Normally his mother was there since she worked nights, but the house was quiet with no sound from the TV in her room that was normally blasting at this time of day.

Now that the twins were in high school, they were involved in a lot of after school activities, so Charlie hadn’t been expecting them to be home just yet. He walked through the house picking up discarded clothes his younger brothers had left lying around and made a mental note to chastise them when they came home. Charlie then cut the crock-pot to ‘warm’ that he had prepared that morning before going off to work.  A meal of potatoes and corned beef and onions that he had made into a stew that morning before he left the house attacked his nostrils, and his stomach growled.

He quickly washed his face and hands and then fixed himself a bowl and sat down at the window looking across the street.   He was surprised to see a black woman with her hair cut extremely close to her head come out of the house across the street and was now headed in his direction.  Her skin was the color of milk chocolate and she had on a pair of cut off jeans exposing her long, well toned legs.  Her breasts though small, jiggled as she walked and his eyes locked in on the perky twin globes.  Charlie watched her from where he sat as she walked up their front steps and knocked on the door.

“Hello?”  the female voice called out.  “Anybody home?”

Charlie stood up and wiped his hands on his pants and went to the door.  The front door was opened, but the screen was locked, and he wondered what she wanted.

“Hi”  he said approaching the door.

“Hey” the woman said grinning back at him. “I’m Inga Meadows.  I’ve just moved across the street.  My water won’t be cut on until tomorrow and I was wondering if you would allow me to use your water hose to get some water.”

“I’m Charlie Peterson” Charlie said opening the screen and extending his hand.  “Sure you can have all the water you want.”

“Thanks” she replied grinning.  “The city cut on my electricity, but somehow the gas and water people dropped the ball and it won’t be on until the morning.”

“No problem” Charlie replied.

She smiled that killer smile again and Charlie noticed that she had a small gap in her front teeth, but it didn’t take away from her beauty…and she had dimples in her cheeks to boot.  Charlie liked girls with dimples.

Before Charlie could think of what to say next, she had left the porch and gone around the side of the house.  He could still smell a whiff of whatever she was wearing and he closed his eyes a moment to take it in. 

He had never dated, never so much as kissed a girl since he had been chained with the responsibility of his family from the age of fourteen.  Charlie didn’t remember what it was like to have a free day of responsibility.  He couldn’t remember many carefree moments when someone wasn’t depending on him for something.

He had thought about dating on numerous occasions, but his days and nights were filled with work; and when he wasn’t working and cleaning or cooking, he was sleeping.  He had no social life at all, and Charlie felt that his bland existence would hopefully one day take a turn for the better.  He felt that he could feel the weight of responsibility lift a little now that the twins were sixteen and his brother Jared had left home.

Jared’s life had been totally opposite of what Charlie had experienced.  Charlie’s brother had talked about his numerous conquests of girls ever since he was fifteen.  Jared seemed to enjoy throwing it up in Charlie’s face.  Charlie usually ignored his brother’s barbs.

Jared was spoiled, and it was their mother’s fault.  She had told Charlie that while he looked just like his father, Jared in turn looked just like her father and she doted on him to the point of obsession.  Jared took advantage of their mother, and she let him. Charlie had grown tired of his brother’s antics. 

A part of Charlie always felt that his mother was making him pay for his father walking out on them.  He knew that sometimes she looked at him and saw his father and he didn’t like that at all.  She had told him at the tender age of fourteen that his father didn’t want the responsibility anymore and that Charles Peterson had taken off and that Charlie was now ‘the man of the house’.

Charlie had become responsible for his brothers care while his mother worked.  Jared had been ten and the twins had been four.  His life from that point had ended as he knew it.  Charlie had to take care of his family.  It had been a heavy burden, but he’d done it without grumbling and his heart at times became heavy as he watched his brothers play and still enjoy their childhood, not realizing the sacrifice he had made for them.

Still, he hadn’t regretted any of it.  Jared had been a handful, reminding his older brother that he wasn’t his father whenever he got out of line.  His mother was no help, always taking Jared’s side and it was all Charlie could do not to smack the smirk off of his younger brother’s face when she did that.

Charlie had worried that Jared’s rebellious behavior would affect the twins and he worried that they would follow in their brother’s footsteps; however Charlie thanked his Jesus everyday because Michael and Marquis worshipped the ground he walked on and did whatever Charlie told them to do without question, which totally pissed Jared off.  Jared seemed to have forgotten how he had tormented the twins when they were little and Charlie was the one who had always come to their rescue.  Jared had forgotten, but the twins had not; and though they loved their brother, they handled Jared with ‘a long handled spoon’ as his mother would say.

Charlie was still standing in the doorway when the beautiful Miss Inga came from around the side of his house with a bucket filled to the brim.  He watched as the water splashed out of the bucket onto her feet as she carried it.

“Let me help you with that” he said hurrying out of the house to meet her.

“Why thank you Charlie” she said giving him a killer smile that made his heart beat faster.

He took the bucket from her and they walked across the street. Charlie couldn’t help but to stare as she wiped her hands on her ample hips.  Charlie had to admit to himself that he liked a girl with a big booty, and this girl had a butt to die for.  It was big and round and he couldn’t help but to wonder what it would feel like in his hands.  Her waist was small and so were her breasts.  She didn’t have a bra on and he tried not to stare.

“If you need help with anything else, let me know” Charlie said shyly.

“Thanks, I will” Inga replied taking the bucket and walking up her front steps.  “I’ll see you around, Charlie”

“Yeah” he said standing there and staring at the house a minute before turning and going back across the street.

Charlie walked into the house only to find Jared inside putting some of the stew he had made in a bowl.  Charlie had hoped to have some leftover for his lunch the next day, but he doubted there would be much left after Jared was done.

“What are you doing here?”  he snapped as he watched his brother heap his bowl to the brim. 

“I just stopped by.  Aren’t you glad to see me?”  Jared replied grinning.  “Who was that little chocolate number you were talking to across the street?”

“She’s our new neighbor” Charlie replied.  “So where is Christy?  Why aren’t you home eating her food?  You don’t live here anymore, remember?”

“Christy doesn’t cook” Jared replied tasting the stew.  “I thought I’d come home and eat some of your cooking.  You’re so good at domestic duties, you know.”

Charlie sat back down to finish his bowl of stew which was now cold.  He quickly stuck it in the microwave. He wasn’t in the mood for any of Jared’s nasty comments today.  His brother liked to pick arguments with him on a regular basis; and Charlie hoped that he wouldn’t lose his temper and choke the life out of his younger brother.

“So are you finally going to man up and get you some pussy?”  Jared asked and Charlie knew that his patience would be tested to its limit.  “I can’t believe that you’re almost twenty seven and have never ever felt it, tasted it or touched it. You’d rather work and wash clothes than to get a girl.”  He shook his head when Charlie didn’t reply.  “What’s up with you Charlie?  You’re still walking around with that big V on your chest. Aren’t you tired of being a virgin and jerking off in the shower? Don’t you want some warm pussy or are you a queer?  I bet you’re scared of pussy, aren’t you Charlie?  I bet you’re scared shitless.”

Before he could think Charlie was on his brother and had shoved him against the wall with his hand on his throat.  It was at that point that Jared knew that he had gone too far.  He liked picking at his brother and he usually knew when to let up, but now he realized that his intuition must be a bit rusty as Charlie was cutting off his air.

“Shut the fuck up!”  Charlie hissed angrily.  Rather than punch Jared in the face and see him go bitch crying to their mother, Charlie smacked his brother hard in the face.

 “I’ve never had a social life because I have been taking care of the twins and your trifling ass since I was fourteen!” Charlie growled angrily shaking him.  “You should be grateful instead of being the asshole that you’ve become, Jared!”

Jared raised his hands above his head in mock surrender, clearly intimidated by his older brother.  “Hey Charlie, I was only joking. Don’t be so damn serious!”

Charlie shoved his brother away and turned to retrieve his bowl from the microwave.  He sat back down and continued to eat, Jared’s words still haunting his mind. He hadn’t planned on still being a virgin as old as he was, and it made him somewhat ashamed.  He was sure that even the twins had most likely gotten some by now.

“Man you need to lighten up” Jared said rubbing his neck where his brother had grabbed him.  “If you’re so sensitive about being a virgin, do something about it.  That honey across the street looks willing.”

“How the hell would you know that?”  Charlie hissed.  “Eat your stew and get out Jared.”

“Look, you’re a better man than I am” Jared admitted, trying to make amends.  “I’d have left this shit behind me when I turned eighteen.  I wouldn’t have been our mother’s nanny.”

“That’s the difference between you and me.”  Charlie said quietly.

“I guess” Jared admitted. “Why didn’t you just leave when you turned eighteen?”

Charlie looked at his brother as if he were stupid.  “What?  And leave you here raising hell?  The twins were only four and Mama worked like a dog! Social services would have been in here like a duck on a June bug.  You’d have ended up in Juvenile Detention and the twins would most likely be in foster care.  Mama was already close to a breakdown after Pop left.”

“And Charlie saves the day” Jared remarked dryly.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”  Charlie asked tired of the back and forth with Jared.

Jared quickly finished his stew and left the house.  Charlie slammed the front door shut behind him after Jared walked out.  All he had done, all he had sacrificed he had done for his family.  Did his family really think that he was a bitch like Jared had said?  He could have left them when he was eighteen, but he chose to stick it out and help his Mom.  Did that make him a bitch in the world’s eyes?  He didn’t think so.

Now that the twins were in high school, he had time to spend on himself.  Could he possibly start with the lovely Miss Inga?  He wasn’t too sure.  Even though she had been friendly, there was no guarantee that she was interested, and he didn’t know if she was married or single or dating.  His tongue had been tied as he tried to make conversation with her. He hadn’t had that much experience with women.

Just then the twins came barreling in the house through the front door.

“Hey Charlie, where’s Ma?”  they asked in unison.  Unlike Charlie and Jared’s dirty blond curls, the identical twins were raven haired and handsome.  They grinned at their brother as they threw their backpacks on a nearby chair.  Many people got them mixed up, but Charlie could always tell the difference.  Michael’s nose was a little different than Marquis.

“Don’t know” Charlie replied.  “There’s stew warming if you’re hungry.”

“Thanks” Michael said as they rushed to the kitchen and washed their hands.  Charlie followed them to the kitchen.

 “We’re going to the basketball game tonight, OK?” Marquis replied getting a bowl.

“Be home by eleven” Charlie responded and they nodded in unison.

Charlie had been glad that the twins listened to him.  They were nothing like their brother Jared and he was glad about that.

He watched as the quickly ate, showered, and then walked out the door as someone was blasting a horn for them to hurry up.  Charlie stood on the porch and watched as his brothers got into the car with two girls and quickly drove off.  He had to admit after watching them, that he felt older than his twenty six years.

“Hi again” Inga said coming from around the side of the house.  “She held up the bucket” More water.”

Inga Meadows had made a second trip across the street just to get another glance at the handsome hunk that had allowed her to use his water.

Normally she didn’t go for white guys, but damn he was fine!  He was tall and very muscular and he oozed sex appeal. She could feel the heat radiating from his body as he walked with her across the street with the bucket of water.

Inga didn’t miss his hungry stares as his eyes undressed her.  She had thought that something about this man was different, almost innocent.  He reminded her of a shy schoolboy as they exchanged words and he had blushed slightly when she had caught him staring at her breasts. Inga had made up her mind to try to get to know him a little better.

At twenty four Inga had inherited the little house in the town of Jarrett, Virginia from her grandparents.  Her mother couldn’t believe that she would actually leave Hampton and move to that small hick town, but Inga longed for some peace and quiet.  She was tired of the gunshots, the street brawls and the loud music. She had fond memories of Jarrett when she would come to visit her father’s parents in the summer.

The house where the hunk lived was a rental and she remembered seeing people move in and out on a consistent basis when she stayed with her grandparents.  She hoped that Mr. Charlie wouldn’t be departing any time soon.

Another reason Inga was ready for new scenery was because of her abusive boyfriend, Jermaine.  One thing her mother had always told her was that she should never allow a man to hit her.  One time was enough for Inga; and once Jermaine had crossed that line with her, she was done.  No amount of begging on his part would allow her to change her mind.  He couldn’t handle rejection and continued to come around her apartment accusing her of seeing someone else, even though she wasn’t.  Inheriting the house was a godsend and she had transferred from managing the Dress Barn in Hampton to the one at the nearby Southpark Mall in Petersburg.

She had no intention of getting involved with anyone when she came to Jarrett, but after eying the delectable Mr. Peterson, she was slowly changing her mind. 

It had surprised her when she came back across the street with the excuse of asking him if she could borrow some Pinesol, when she had overheard the argument between Charlie and his brother.

Well she hadn’t been eavesdropping exactly.  The front door was open and their voices carried through the screen.  She had been shocked to find out that the desirable piece of man flesh which she had eyefucked on the sly was a bonifed virgin.  A virgin!  Not only that, he apparently had character!  Inga wanted to be the first one to rock that white boy’s world, but she knew that she had to play her cards right.  She had quickly turned and returned to her own home undetected.  She had then watched until she saw the man leave, but then two other teenagers had gone into the house.

Inga grabbed her bucket and returned, but by now the front door was shut and she couldn’t hear a thing.  She went around the side of the house and mentally chastised herself for not talking with him more earlier. She didn’t want to come on too strong and scare the man away…she knew that she had to play her cards right.

She heard footsteps on the front porch as she ran the water and quickly cut it off and walked back around the front of the house.  She saw the two teens get into a black SUV that a teenage girl was driving.  Charlie was standing on the porch  watching them as they pulled off.

Inga cleared her throat and Charlie looked at her surprised.

“Hi again” she remarked.  “I was going to ask you if any pizza places delivered around here.  I’ve been working trying to get the house straight and I’m starved.”

She batted her eyes at him and gave him her most seductive smile. 

Charlie stared at her a moment.  “You’ll probably have to wait a while.  Pizza Hut takes about an hour to deliver.”

“Oh”  Inga replied disappointed.

“I’ve made some stew.  You’re welcome to some and some biscuits”  Charlie ventured. “It’s not much, but it fills hungry bellies.”

“I’d like that”  Inga replied as her eyes roamed over his thick thighs.  Down girl!

Charlie opened the screen door as she sat the bucket in the yard.

“Come on in” Charlie said grinning, holding the door for her.

Inga’s heart was beating a mile a minute.  He even smelled like a man, all hot and sweaty.  She felt moisture pool between her thighs at the thought of being the one to cause him to work up a sweat.

“I know I must look a mess”  Charlie said running his fingers through his sweaty locks.  “I’ve been working and I haven’t had a chance to shower. Please excuse my appearance.”

“There’s nothing nicer than the smell of a working man”  Inga heard herself say. “I appreciate the invite.”

“Oh really?”  Charlie asked surprised. “I thought women liked nice smelling men.”

“Depends on the situation.”  she replied grinning at him. 

She watched as he quickly washed his hands and got a bowl and put something from a crock-pot in it.  He then opened the oven and she saw the biscuits on a cookie sheet.

“You make these?”  she asked sitting down where he pointed.

“Yeah.  I hope you don’t break your teeth” he joked nervously.

Inga bit into the crunchy biscuit.  It wasn’t bad…just crunchy, but it was good.  She tasted the stew and grinned at him.

“Corn beef stew.  My grandma used to make this.”  She remarked grinning.

“Really?”  Charlie replied.  “Mines too.”

She could tell that he was a bit nervous.  Virgins were always nervous around the opposite sex.  No wonder he was a human radiator!  His body was begging to be touched and groped.  His eyes were an incredible blue; and that hunger that she had seen in them earlier was back now with a vengeance.  He couldn’t hide it, and she doubted if he even realized that it was there, that his need was so obvious to her.

“Some woman must be very lucky” she ventured sipping the stew as he stood nervously by the sink.

“Yeah, right.  My mother.”  He replied chuckling.

Inga paused.  Was this a Mama’s boy?

“Where’s your Mama now?”  she asked casually as she wondered if the woman would approve of her being in her house.

“I don’t know” Charlie replied honestly.  “I’m sure she’ll show up eventually.”

He shifted his weight and leaned back against the sink watching her.

“This is good.”  Inga replied eying him as all sorts of perverted thoughts ran through her mind.

“Thank you”

She finished the bowl and sat down her spoon.  He had stood there the whole time watching her as if he had nothing else better to do.  Inga stood up and stretched.  His eyes were still on her as she walked up to him at the sink.  She pressed her body casually against his and kissed his cheek, surprising him.

“Thanks for dinner, Charlie.”

His arms seemed to automatically go around her waist and he was staring down at her; a mixture of confusion and a little lust.  She grinned at him innocently before he regained his composure.

“Uh..you’re welcome.”  He stuttered, quickly sidestepping her.

Inga smiled.  She noted the he seemed a bit unsure of what to do next.  Yep, this was a bonified virgin for sure.

“Well I’ll be going.  Thanks for the water, Charlie” she said, switching her butt just enough to draw his attention.  She walked outside and noted that it was now getting dusky dark.  She picked up the bucket and looked back to find Charlie standing in the doorway watching her.

Somehow Inga Meadows knew that she was going to enjoy living in the small town of Jarrett Virginia and getting to know Charlie Peterson a lot better.