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9
LENORE
I’m woken up by the sound of knocking. I must have slept deeply because my eyes feel like sandpaper, and my mind hasn’t fired up yet. I probably could have used a couple more hours and a pitcher of coffee.
What the hell was that sound? I don’t have any neighbors close by who would be working on construction, and I know they aren’t doing anything to the road.
It’s relentless. My brain begins to wake up, and I realize there’s someone at the front door. Who the hell is knocking on my door this early in the morning? Probably a serial killer.
There’s a pause in the knocking, and I almost tip over with relief and fall back asleep. It starts again, louder this time, and my brain jolts into sudden awareness. My phone alarm is too far away. Where did I leave my phone? More knocking from the front door, louder and quicker this time.
I jerk out of bed and stumble toward the stairs. First, I go to the kitchen, where I vaguely recall leaving my purse. I grab it and take it with me as I stumble toward the door and swirl my hand around in the bag looking for my phone with its now audible, constantly chirping alarm.
Getting to the door, I yank it open without checking the window to see who’s out there. I blame the lack of coffee for how my brain stutters when I see Matt dressed and ready for work. Damnable handsome man. He’s clean-shaven and in a blue polo shirt with his logo embroidered on the chest. The white one yesterday hadn’t had the logo. It’s a stupid detail to notice other than it spans one side of his deliciously wide chest.
My fingers close around my phone, and I silence the alarm without having to look at the screen. Shit. Work. I was supposed to start work at Matt’s. Damn damn damn. He’s going to think I’m completely unreliable now. “What time is it?” I answer my own question by glancing at the screen and seeing it’s already after eight-thirty.
“Hey,” I mutter and back up a step.
I’m pretty sure he’s trying not to laugh. I can feel his eyes scanning me, taking in what I’m sure is hair that looks like a tornado hit it, sheet indents on my face, and my three-day-old pajamas.
“Rough night?” Instead of humor, I hear concern. I startle at the realization and back up another step. What did he think I did at night?
“I actually passed out right after you left.” I look down at my phone and see the battery is gasping for life. “Shit.”
“Forget to plug it in?”
“How’d you guess?” My sarcasm is resurfacing.
“Do you need a day? I don’t mind if you don’t want to come in. I’m sure you’ve got other stuff to deal with.”
“No, no, I’m good. You’ve driven all this way. Can you give me ten minutes?”
He looks skeptical but nods his head in assent. “Seriously, I don’t mind. It’s always good to decompress. Especially after a day like yesterday.”
“Nope. I’m coming in for my first day of work. Feel free to grab anything out of the cupboards if you haven’t eaten already,” I say over my shoulder and dash back up the stairs.
“Take your time!” Matt calls.
The mirror reflects the unflattering picture I feared, and I wince. Why do I have to look like a mess in front of someone who seems to be so put together all the time? I grab my brush and run it through my hair before pulling off the band I keep wrapped around the handle. A ponytail will have to do for today. No time to try too hard.
“Do you have a dress code?” I holler downstairs.
“Nope. Wear whatever’s comfortable.”
Great. T-shirt and jeans it is then. Fishing through the pile of clean clothes on the floor, I find a set that’s not too wrinkled and pull it on. Now that I’m not driving back and forth to Green Bay for work, I might have more time to fold my clothes when they come out of the dryer instead of dumping them on the floor to wear later.
I pull my phone charger out of the socket and stumble downstairs, collecting my purse and shoes on the way to the door.
“All set.”
Matt’s in the kitchen, gazing out the back window toward the two acres of forested trails that make up the bulk of the property.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” The peaceful scene helps slow my overactive heart.
“Yes, it is.” He turns toward me. “Al would have a field day hunting out here.”
“The Standfords don’t allow it on their property. They market it as a pseudo-nature preserve where you can catch a glimpse of the native wildlife.” I make air quotes with my fingers. “The only wildlife I’ve seen so far are squirrels and an occasional rabbit.”
