The man sat up and brushed himself off. “I’m fine. Just a little scuffed. Your dog all right? I don’t think I hit him.”
“I think he’d have yelped if you had. I’m sure there was no harm done. Again, I’m really sorry.”
The man grabbed his sunglasses, which had fallen off, and stood. He was younger than her, about a head taller, and had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. The agencies would have loved him.
He put the glasses on his head and stuck his hand out. “Oliver Keen. I’m new to the Colony.”
“Blaise.” She gave his hand a quick shake. “I’m new, too. Have a good day.” He was probably a lovely man, but she wasn’t interested in making any new male friends. None that might think she was interested in anything more than friendship.
Outside of Jay and Evan (and Beau, of course), her history with men wasn’t great. She’d dealt with enough of them as a model to know most had ulterior motives. Which was why being scammed by a man stung that much harder. She should have known better. To say she was slightly gun-shy where the male of the species was involved was an understatement.
“Yeah, you, too.” His gaze lingered on her face a moment longer, then he pulled his sunglasses down, gave her a wave, and jogged on.
Maybe he’d recognized her. It did happen. If he had, she appreciated him not saying anything.
She picked Beau up. “You okay, baby?”
He licked her chin. He was fine. She held onto him as she started walking again. The Colony ought to issue wristbands with colors to indicate a person’s relationship status. Maybeblack could be for widows and widowers who just wanted to be left alone.
Probably not the cheeriest thought, but so what. At least the neighbors on the right and left sides of her were women.
She set Beau back down.
By the time she’d done her mile and a half and had reached her home, one of her neighbors, Cece, was rolling her recycling bin to the curb. A little early, as the truck wouldn’t be coming until this afternoon, but maybe she wasn’t going to be home. She was dressed like she had errands to run or something. Tan pants, peasant blouse, and sandals.
Cece gave Beau a big smile. “Hello, handsome.”
His little tail wagged, and he went right up to her.
“Morning, Cece,” Blaise said. “Going out today?”
“I am, actually. My daughter’s coming to pick me up. We’re going to Orlando. I’m doing a story on the Mall at Millenia for theBuzz.”
TheBuzzwas the Colony’s newsletter, but it was the destination that caught Blaise’s attention. The Mall at Millenia had great shopping. Actual designer stores. Not that she could afford them anymore. “That’s quite a drive.”
“Two hours.” Cece shrugged. “But Natalie and I talk the whole time. Makes the trip go by like nothing.”
Blaise just smiled. She and Evan didn’t have that kind of relationship. Maybe it was wishful thinking or maybe it was straight-up jealousy, but a pang of longing went through her. “Have a great time. I can’t wait to read the article.”
“Thanks. I’m doing an interview with our new neighbor, too.”
“New neighbor?”
Cece nodded. “The house in front of yours. Second on the left, I think. New guy, just moved in. Dr. Oliver Keen. He works for the hospital. A cardiologist.” She laughed. “Hopefully, he’ll say something I can understand.”
“I just met him. Beau tripped him, the poor man.” Blaise laughed as well, but she knew Cece was an exceptionally smart woman and wouldn’t have any trouble understanding Dr. Keen. “I’m sure he’ll be very interesting and make for a great interview.”
All that mattered to Blaise was that she didn’t have to talk to him.
Chapter Two
Cece Davenport held onto her smile until she was back inside. Then she deflated. Was this really her life? Writing stories for the community newsletter on amall? Interviewing aneighbor? She’d had a National Press award once. That was gone now. Rescinded due to lies that she’d known nothing about.
“How far the mighty have fallen, Peanut.”
Peanut, her little orange and black calico cat, ignored Cece to continue sunbathing on the steps that led to the loft.
The loft that was supposed to have been her office, where she was going to write her masterpiece novel exposing the newspaper industry for what it really was.
