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“Uh, I didn’t hear you knock.”
He shook his head. “Your door was wide open. I saw it from the side.” He thumbed over his shoulder toward his house.
“Oh,” I managed.
He reached for the doorknob, turning it, glancing my way, and offering, “It seems a little loose.”
My heartbeat was starting to slow from being startled. “It is. I haven’t fixed it. When it’s locked, it stays shut, but…” My words trailed off as I shrugged.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of those multi-use tools.
“Do you always carry that?” I asked as I approached.
He glanced over at me, his eyes glinting with his smile. “Yes, actually. It’s handy. Hang on, I can fix it right now.”
I watched as he quickly tightened a few screws, tested it, and then adjusted it again. He stepped back, saying, “Try it.”
I walked over and closed the door. It closed snuggly. I smiled over at him. “Thank you.”
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “No problem. By the way, I don’t normally show up unannounced, but your door was open, and I wasn’t sure if you were here.”
“No, I appreciate it. If I notice your door open, or anything open, I’ll stop by too. You never know what might walk in. We don’t have too many bears, but they’re around. There are also lots of rabbits, porcupines, and squirrels.”
When he smiled again, my belly shimmied, and my breath became short in my chest. I stood there smiling at him, feeling foolish the moment I realized that was all I was doing. I cleared my throat. “We should exchange numbers. That way, we can call or text if anything comes up. Since we’re neighbors,” I offered, willing the heat rising in my cheeks to dissipate.
In another moment, he texted me his number and I replied to confirm.
“Thank you for checking on me,” I commented.
He opened the now-fixed door, stepping back outside. Belatedly, I added, “And thank you for fixing my doorknob.”
He turned, dipping his chin quickly. “You’re welcome. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
I watched as he walked down the steps and along the slate walkway onto the grass and then disappeared into the trees between my house and his. We really weren’t that far apart, at best maybe a quarter mile. Just close enough for me to watch him as he walked all the way to his house, glancing back just as he opened the door.
Heat flashed into my cheeks. I was still standing in the doorway, where he could see me. Flustered, I closed the door, pressing my back to it and taking a deep, shuddering breath.
Jonah Adams, my new neighbor, made me stupid and foolish. I resolved to get that under control.
ChapterSix
Alice
I held the keys in my hand as I stood at the back door to the veterinarian clinic. I’d been here with my parents when we used to take our family cat and dog for annual checkups. The most memorable visit had been when our dog had gotten too close to a porcupine and ended up with a nose full of porcupine quills. She’d been distraught and whining.
I slid the key into the lock, almost surprised when it worked. It’s not that I thought I had the wrong keys. It’s just that I couldn’t believe I was going to run this clinic. I was accustomed to being a small fish in a big pond at my last job. That clinic had been huge, with twenty veterinarians working there. For now, this place would just be me.
“I’m here,” I whispered as I walked into the back hallway.
Natalie, Dr. Dan’s wife, was meeting me here in half an hour. I had decided to come a little early so I could look around.
I closed and locked the door behind me. I stopped at the end of the hall, glancing to the side to see a row of light switches. I turned them all on. The hallway lights came on, and two of the office lights blinked on.
Anticipation fluttered inside. I stood there for a minute as a smile stretched across my face.
“Wow,” I whispered to myself.
I slipped the keys into my purse and peered into one doorway to see what must be a supply room. Office supplies occupied shelves against the wall. I stepped in and ran my finger along the shelf, surprised to discover there wasn’t any dust. Someone must have cleaned.
