“I can’t go into your house. I don’t have a key. It feels intrusive or something.” She didn’t meet my gaze as she spoke.
“I don’t lock it.”
A look passed over her features I couldn’t identify. “Hmm. Trusting.”
I shrugged. “There’s nobody out here.”
“But that Wi-Fi, now that’s too precious.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm.
“You’re really bothered by that.” It was my turn to watch her until she looked away, flustered. “They set it up that way,” I explained. “The password is a long string of numbers and letters I don’t have memorized. If you absolutely insist, you can have that too. It’s not going to do anything for you down here, but it’s not some state secret.” Heat burned the back of my neck.
“You really don’t care if I go into your house and use your phone? What if I rob you?” She looked as confused as I felt.
This wasn’t the plan. This wasn’t what I even meant to say. Something about her had me speaking without thinking. I wished this was a new quality in me, but it wasn’t. The only difference was that with everyone else, it was much easier to stay away and avoid the whole situation to begin with.
Yet here I was, still talking, still sharing the same air. Still instinctually wanting to make her life a little easier.
“I know where you live,” I said. Ripley whined next to me. I put the truck back in drive.
“What if I snoop?” she asked.
“Haven’t you already?” I asked, remembering how the cameras had caught her near the shed.
Her cheeks flushed, and it was too much to look at. “I—Your door was open. I was closing it.”
“It’s fine. Nothing exciting to see.” I turned to check the side mirror, but really, it was to hide the half smile caused by her embarrassed blush. “It’s up to you. If the truck is gone, feel free togo on in.”
“Okay. Wow. That’s really helpful, actually. Thank you. Ralph and I appreciate you.”
“Yep. No biggie.” I took my foot off the brake and began to drift slowly away.
“You’re not—” Thinking better of whatever she’d been about to say, she said, “Thank you.” She called out, “And sorry about the snooping.”
“No, you’re not. Password is taped to the router in my office,” I shouted over my shoulder.
In the rearview mirror, I caught her biting that bottom lip, both dimples on full display with a smile.
So far, my plan to stay away from Claire was going exceptionally well.
“You’re an idiot,” I mumbled as I pulled under the carport.
Chapter 10
Claire
The next week,my curiosity finally got the better of me.
I waited roughly five minutes after Levi and Ripley left before I got dressed at record speed. To be fair, I’d made good progress on the story in the couple of days I’d been here. It turned out that not having internet was great for focus. The one time I went into town to send off what I had to my editor, Melanie, I ended up chatting with Ruth, who owns the local B&B, and she told me about the history of the popular local tourist destination. It was interesting enough that I was inspired to start up the old online journal I did for a class project in college. The story needed to be documented. Eventually, I might go back and add more details and pictures. But for now, the main focus was my exposé.
After one quick look at Levi’s house.
Another bizarre interaction with the supposed grumpy recluse, and I’d been left as confused as ever. His offer to let me use his phone was amazing, but it didn’t jibe with the man who wrote the listing or who I’d interacted with. Every conversation was more confusing than the one before. To be fair, I wasn’t exactly the consistent overthinker I usually came off as. I’d cried more in front of Levi in barely three days than I had with Kevin in three years.
It all made me want to investigate him even more. Who was this enigma of a man? What did he do to afford this land and property? He didn’t work at the grocery store, but he’d been there doing some sort of repairs, it seemed.
I scurried up the drive to Big Cabin. (I had very creatively dubbed his house Big Cabin and my place Little Cabin.) Sure enough, it was unlocked. I hadn’t even thought to try entering in my snooping, or at least not for very long. Because that would be weird. Weirder than being invited to use his landline. Weirder yet than the fact that he even had a landline.
“Whoa.” I walked into the main open front room. Large windows made up the north and east walls, giving the impression of opening right out to the forest. It was breathtaking. The highest tips of the Rockies were already powdered with snow, and the lower elevations were just starting to change from green to yellows and oranges. It smelled fresh, like pine and lemon cleaner. The counters of the modern kitchen were bare except for a few appliances. It was tidy, with a hint of artistic inspiration in the wall art that decorated the areas that weren’t all windows. Lovelywood and metal pieces complemented the modern design and simplicity.
