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She nodded, then held out her hand in a very delayed reaction. He made no comment about it but shook her hand.
“Sorry, it surprised me. I guess I picked the right house. Can’t beat having the chief of police next to me. I’m Eve.”
“That’s true.” He laughed, even though her joke came out strained. “Nice to meet you, Eve. Would you like help unloading?”
“Oh, you don’t have to. It’s not much.”
“I don’t mind.”
Maybe he shouldn’t be so persistent with how skittish she appeared, but he couldn’t help himself. She was a puzzle, and he could never resist a puzzle.
“Ok, sure.”
She unlocked the car and grabbed a small duffle bag from the passenger seat, then opened the backseat and grabbed a box. He followed suit. They had the car unpacked in record time.
“Let me know when the moving van gets here, and I can help with that as well.”
“This is it. But thank you.”
He eyed the few boxes and bags in the empty living room. Odd. Not a lot of belongings. Where was the furniture? She had none.
“Well, if you need anything, I’m right next door. I work days, with a few odd nights here and there, but I’m around. It’s a small town.”
“I appreciate it.”
Then she ushered him to the door and closed it before he could say anything else.
Very odd woman.
He’d keep his eye on her. Which wouldn’t be too much of a hardship. Long blonde hair, green cat-like eyes. Kissable lips. His steps faltered. No, he shouldn’t be thinking about her lips and placing his mouth on hers. New in town and skittish. That was a recipe for disaster.
He walked across the lawn to his house, disarming the alarm before giving his cat, Walter, a few rubs on the back. He’d found the mangy thing digging in the trash behind the cafe. When he brought it to the shelter and it sat there for more than two weeks, no one coming to claim him, he took him home for himself. The pour guy looked pitiful with his one eye and front paw half gone. One of the volunteers, Timmy, had named him Walter, and Griffin hadn’t the heart to change it. The cat did act like an old soul half the time and Walter fit him well.
“How was your day? You didn’t get too crazy with the catnip, did you?”
Walter eyed him with a stony stare as if appalled he’d ask such a question. The cat had toys all over the house, catnip in every one. He’d yet to touch one of them. Such a waste of money.
Five fifteen.
Juliet would still be at the cafe, and Bryce would be heading out of the office soon himself. He chose to call Bryce. Though he was close to both of his siblings. They were the best of friends and had been since childhood.
“Want to grab a pizza and come over tonight?”
“Sorry, can’t. Denise wants totalk.”
Which was code for Bryce’s wife wanted to lay into him for something that she had no right to. The woman nitpicked everything he did. Griffin still wasn’t sure why he married the witch.
“Why, what’s up?”
It wasn’t uncommon for them to get together over a slice or two. Sometimes Chinese, or takeout from Vinnie’s Diner. Best meatloaf that was ever made. But Bryce knew him well, just as he knew his brother well.
“I met my new neighbor. She’s…nice.”
Bryce’s laughter filled the entire room as if he stood right there with him. “Oh, I’ll have to meet her soon. Where does she hail from? And what’s her favorite thing about Christmas? I hope it’s not elves. Those little bastards all lined up in Mr. Thorn’s yard creep me out.”
Griffin would agree with that assessment.
“I didn’t ask. Either question. She didn’t seem to want my company. Not quite standoffish, but not completely friendly.”
