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“It’s pretty good. A nice neighborhood.”
“I heard a rumor you’re not planning on staying long,” she said.
He tensed up. “That’s a pretty accurate rumor.”
“Or it’s just random gossip. I love listening to it.”
He chuckled. “Okay, so what is the gossip?”
“You want to know?”
“Why not?” He had nothing else to do, at least until Anna-Beth arrived. He wasn’t going to allow her to keep on avoiding him. He didn’t like it when shit like that happened. If he’d done something wrong, the only way he could fix it was if she told him the truth. Not do all this hiding and secrecy stuff.
“If you must know, some believe you’re an ex-convict. That you’re only here for your time out on bail or something. Or is it parole?”
He wasn’t going to elaborate his business for her.
“Some think you’re an undercover cop.”
“That’s a good one,” he said, finishing up their coffee. He couldn’t believe he’d invited this woman in for coffee when he usually made things that were inedible.
She took the cup from him. “You’re a biker though, right? One of those MC types.”
“Yes, and you’re right, I did my time. Now I’m staying out of trouble. You and the neighbors have nothing to fear.”
“And the woman who lives next door to you, how is that going?” she asked.
“Do you know Anna-Beth?”
“Oh, her name’s Anna-Beth. The woman who lived in this house before you was named Ann. Such a sweet woman.”
“Right,” he said, not interested in any previous owner. He sipped at his coffee and it took every ounce of strength not to make a face at how disgusting it was.
“I can see it now. You and Anna-Beth, is there already a thing going?”
Older woman or not, dogs or not, he didn’t like how much she seemed to know about him. It wasn’t fucking right.
“Look, lady, I don’t know who you are.”
“Me, I’m no one. You don’t have to worry about that. I know you’re probably a little freaked out and that is all well and good. No reason to be, believe me. You and Anna-Beth, I saw her on the day she moved in and I just knew you two would hit it off. It’s all in the cards, you see.” She clapped her hands and cheered. “This is going to be a lot of fun.”
“Are you spying on me?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “You don’t know?”
“What don’t I know?”
“About these houses, of course. How magical they are and how, my friend, you are already pulled within its trap.”
“No one has told me anything about these houses, so why don’t you enlighten me?” She better have a good fucking story because right now, he wondered if she had any family who’d miss her.
****
Rix hadn’t been outside his house when she returned.
Anna-Beth wasn’t disappointed. She’d been avoiding him and whenever he was easy to find, she couldn’t exactly hide, no matter how hard she tried. Once inside her house, she pulled out some vegetables. She didn’t have the energy to cook something exciting, so she settled on a stir fry. Something quick and easy. The sauce she’d use was already in the fridge as she used it as a dip.
Her stomach growled and just as she put the wok on the heat, a knock sounded on the door..
She groaned.
Maybe if she ignored it like she’d done the past couple of times, he’d get the hint and leave.
Why are you behaving this way? It’s not like you’re going to get married and have a bunch of kids.
It’s sex.
Treat it like it.
Another knock. This time it sounded more like a fist banging against the wood and she could safely say from experience it was a very unhappy fist.
She’d already kicked her heels off and removed her jacket, and she flung the door open to find Rix about to knock again.
“Hello,” she said.
“You’re home. Finally. What time do you call this?”
“You’re not my dad,” she said. “I can get home any time I want.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not your dad.” He brushed past her. “I’d have you over my knee so fucking fast and your ass a beautiful shade of red, but then I’d start thinking what I want to do to you, and it’s not right.”
She closed her door. Force of habit had her locking it again.
If she ignored him, he might get the hint.
Stepping back into her kitchen, she fired up the wok. She saw the pot of water was already boiling for the noodles.
“You will not believe the day I’ve had,” Rix said. He leaned on the counter opposite her.
Ignore him.
Tipping the noodles into the boiling water, she gave them a stir with a metal spoon, being careful not to let it heat up.
Once she was happy that it was boiling, she got to the wok, added in some infused oil, and began to put her ingredients in.
