AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He winked at her as he walked away. “I’ll save my charm for when I need it.”
“Mm, does that man ever need it?” Junie drawled.
Mara and Willa laughed while Bex smiled happily. “No. No, he does not.”
The sound of a motorcycle sparked to life outside and I wondered if it was my curb-mate leaving.
Safe travels.
Chapter Four – Cougar
Barbecue – Lucky’s Take
Pulling my helmet off, I ran my hands through my hair to mess it into submission before heading back inside.
I’d gotten to Lenny and Junie’s hours ago and had gone inside to look for something in their garage. I don’t know what compelled me to look out the back window before going back out. When I did, my eyes immediately fell on the object of my most recent imaginings. With her chin tipped back, laughter spilling from her pretty lips, her beautiful face framed by a halo of strawberry blond hair that she’d swept back in some sort of twist, I was caught.
The urge to flee wrapped around the drive to claim and froze me in place. I stood staring, the protective barrier of the window between us.
Olivia chatted away with Junie behind me while I creeped on Minty, then Olivia provided me the perfect excuse to leave when she asked if Junie had any Kraft dinner. She reminded me a bit of my cousin’s kid, and I wondered if she was on the autism spectrum.
Turning, I caught the flash of anxiety on Junie’s face.
“You want me to go pick some up?”
Immediately the lines in her face smoothed. “That would be great.”
I knocked briskly on the counter. “I’ll be back.”
The truth was, I needed to escape.
I passed Rhys and his entourage returning from the park and briefly explained my mission.
“Make sure it’s name brand,” Rhys advised. “Olivia’s got exacting standards when it comes to her mac and cheese.”
These people were tight. They were a family. Made me grateful for my own.
Once on my bike, I let my thoughts wander.
Minty.
I mentally rolled her name around my tongue, thinking about the woman who had occupied rent-free status in my mind since first meeting her at Barrett’s wedding months before.
She enthralled me.
No one had ever done that before.
Returning with three boxes of Kraft Dinner in hand, I parked my bike against the curb and headed up to the front door.
Junie bounced through the back slider just as I came in. I tossed the mac and cheese on the counter. “Alright, Junie?”
“It’s great.” Her gaze flicked down to the counter, and she huffed out a breath of relief. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” I muttered, returning to my station in front of the window.
Junie sidled up beside me and followed my line of sight to Minty.
“Hmm,” she hummed. Nudging me with her elbow, she murmured, “She doesn’t bite.”
