I stepped in the front door, exhausted from work, and I was swept away by Jimmy Buffet's easy-lazy vocals resonating at full volume through the house. The sliding glass patio door that covered the entire back wall of the apartment was open and the house smelled of sunshine and outdoors. One sleepy cat was lying in a puddle of sunshine just inside the door.

I placed my purse on the cream sectional sofa as I wandered toward the open door. Jonathan was outside, clad only in a pair of Gap jeans, barefoot. His long, curly hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and his round sunglasses rested on the tip of his nose. He held a Marlboro Red in his right hand as he swept the patio. The bright green water hose was resting in the huge plumeria pot, water spilling over the edge. The other cat was asleep on the wooden bench behind him.

I watched his muscles move under his smooth skin, the way his tall frame looked bathed in the sunlight, his toes peeking out from under the cuffs of his baggy jeans.

Leaning against the doorframe, silently drinking in this scene, I felt my exhaustion and stress melt away.

When he noticed me standing there, his mouth curved into a sparkling smile, his eyes shining.

"Hello beautiful!"

I smiled and asked him what he was doing.

"I'm loving on the patio…", he replied, grinning at me.

I couldn't stop laughing.

patiolove…