And screamed.
He said something. She saw his lips move but couldn’t hear it over the music.
Gus, the old mutt Pops had adopted years ago, wandered into the hall, probably to see what all the fuss was about.
She pulled the earbuds from her ears and the mop clattered to the floor. No! She needed that for protection. Tessa swiped the mop up from the floor and her earbuds went flying. “Don’t come near me!”
She held the mop like a weapon.
Gus wandered to the man and licked his fingers, which was odd. The man rubbed the top of the dog’s head.
She needed a good defense against this intruder.
“Just because you won the dog over doesn’t mean you can…”
What were his intentions? Was she about to be abused and then murdered in some grizzly way? Left for Pops to find. Like he hadn’t had enough loss in his life already.
He took a small step toward her.
“Don’t come near me! This is my house, and you’re not welcome!”
He said, “Lady, I’m not a vampire. You didn’t have to invite me in.” His chin lifted. “And last I checked, this ain’t your house.”
“How would you know?” She brandished the mop, just in case he got any bright ideas about taking advantage of her.
“Because it’s my house.” He turned and walked away, into the kitchen, where he called out, “I was gonna ask if you wanted coffee, but I guess don’t worry about it. You probably know where to find all the stuff to make it yourself…since this isyourhouse and all.”
Oh, boy.
The woman who’d been the girl everyone calledGoodie two shoes Tessahad told a bald faced lie and been caught.
She set the mop back in the bucket and managed not to slip on the wet floor. “I’m sorry, okay?” She reached the doorway, where she could see him pour coffee in a huge mug. “I have to clean the water off the floor. I don’t want Pops to slip when he comes in.”
She rushed back and swiped the squeezed-out mop across the floor, clearing the puddle. The floor would still be somewhat slippery, but now it wasn’t a hazard.
When she’d set the mop back in the bucket she found him standing against the arch pillar with his mug. Watching her. “Sorry that you have to clean?”
“Sorry I lied.” She realized her earbuds were on the floor and swiped up the closest one. He reached for the other, holding it out for her.
She lifted her hand, palm open. He dropped it there, careful not to touch her. Tessa’s gaze drifted to his arm, and the scars.They didn’t look all that old. Whatever happened to him, it’d been this year. Maybe in the last few months.
He caught the direction of her gaze. “I’ll remember to wear long sleeves next time so I don’t disgust you.”
What expression had been on her face? “That’s not…It looks like it was painful. I can’t even imagine going through something like that.”
He stared at her, taking a sip of his coffee. Keeping his expression so placid she kind of wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him out of it.
“Sorry.” She winced. “I am sorry.”
“So you clean the house?”
She cleared her throat. “And you live here.”
That was what he’d said, but the only family Pops had was two AWOL grandsons and they hadn’t told their grandpa that they were visiting this year. Yet. He always hoped they would, but Tessa wasn’t holding her breath. They usually had a nice Christmas day, her dad and her, and Pops and Gus. Watching Christmas movies and enjoying too many of the desserts she made.
Maybe this guy was a renter, or someone who paid to stay like a short term thing.
His lips curled at the corners, but only slightly. “He didn’t tell you I was home?”
