Chapter 6 WESTLEY
My throat feels raw as I heave in lungfuls of air. Sweat drips down my forehead and chest as Patch and I reach the end of the driveway and slow our pace.
I reach for the shirt tucked behind my back, towelling myself off as we walk down the drive leading up to our townhouse.
I’m vaguely aware of other voices as my pulse continues to thud through my head, and I get my breathing back under control.
Patch runs ahead, noticing someone new standing at the end of their open garage door.
A young girl, headphones covering her ears, and an off-key song being belted from her lips, reaches into the back of a Jeep just as Patch sidles up beside her, his tail wagging a mile a minute.
“Hello,” she says, crouching down to his level with a smile. She looks up at me once I’m a few steps away and pulls her headphones down to hang around her neck. “Can I pat him?”
“He’d be more than happy if you did,” I say, still catching my breath.
With my okay, the girl turns to Patch, scratching behind his ears.
He shuffles his butt closer to her, never one to turn down love.
I’m guessing this is Maevyn’s daughter. For the little thought I’d given to the fact that Maevyn’s a mum, for some reason, I was expecting her daughter to be younger.
This kid looks at least eleven or twelve.
Maevyn herself doesn’t look much older than her late twenties.
Not that it means anything against her ability to be a mum, it just makes my own curiosity to know more grow tenfold.
“Patch,” she says to herself as she holds the tag on his collar, before looking at me. “I’m Aurora.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Aurora. I’m Westley.”
“Ahh, that’s your real name.”
My brows pinch together. “My real name?” I ask.
“Mum calls you Thief,” she says, as if that’s completely normal.
“I can assure you, I’ve not stolen anything.” I’m a little offended by the suggestion. I’m sure I haven’t interacted enough with the woman to merit such a reputation, not even by accident.
“I don’t think she meant it seriously. She was muttering it to herself. She probably wasn’t even talking about you.” She chuckles. “My mistake.”
“Aurora?” Maevyn calls from inside. I look past her car to an open door at the back of the garage.
She stands in the middle of her kitchen, back to me, and my eyes slowly trace the curves of her figure.
Her tight waist, the flash of soft skin between the hem of her top and the waistband of her jeans.
Damn, the woman wears the hell out of denim.
“Are you bringing the rest of the bags in?”
“Whoops.” Aurora gives a final pat to Patch’s head, but I quickly close the distance, reaching into the back of their car before she can.
“Allow me.” I quickly move around her, scooping up the last three bags.
“Thanks,” Aurora says, just as Maevyn steps into the garage.
Maevyn freezes, looking between me and her daughter.
In the blink of an eye, she switches, popping a hip and folding her arms over her chest. I swear, her skin’s glowing today—there’s some kind of shimmer set over her chest and arms. The moon and stars inked over her shoulder and bicep look ethereal.
Maybe it’s my mind playing tricks on me again.
This woman should come with a warning label.
Likely to tempt and bewitch men out of their ever-loving minds.
“Dog Daddy. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
A nervous chuckle escapes me as my heart thumps, trying to recalibrate from the way her mere presence seems to disrupt my senses. “Ah… just helping Aurora with the last of the bags,” I say, stepping closer to her.
Maevyn slowly reaches for one of the bags, but I shift them from her reach, arching an eyebrow in challenge. She purses her lips, but I can see the smile trying to fight its way through.
“Would you please allow me to help?” My eyes are locked with hers, the rich, deep brown pulling me in.
She steps backwards into the house, keeping her attention on me with a wicked smile. “Okay, but I’m keeping my eye on you.” She points an accusing finger my way. “I know all about your kind.”
“My kind?” I chuckle as I follow her, the smell of strawberry and creamy vanilla filling the kitchen.
“Chivalrous. A dangerous, dying breed, if you ask me.”
I place the bags on the bench, then turn around, leaning back against the counter and folding my arms over my chest. “Happy to restore your faith anytime.”
Maevyn assesses me from the other side of the kitchen, fiddling with the bangles on her wrist, as her eyes drop to my chest. It’s then I remember I’m still sweating and bare-chested from my run.
It feels like the blood is zipping through my veins like an out-of-control pinball with the way her eyes map my body.
My shoulders, my chest, all the way down to my thighs, before they jump up again.
I take the moment to enjoy my own perusal of her.
Her dark hair is curled in big, shiny waves, resting on top of her shoulders.
Thick, black pencil lines her deep brown eyes and a heavy, metallic grey is dusted over the tops.
More shimmer shines over her cheeks. The simple nose ring she usually wears has been changed to a more elaborate design with sparkling little diamontes.
She’s breathtaking. In every version of her I see.
But my favourite was last week, out on our balconies, when she wore no makeup.
It felt like I was seeing a part of her that’s normally hidden.
She clears her throat, then moves to the bags and starts pulling things out: whipped cream, maple syrup, pink sprinkles. “Well, thanks for your help,” she says, spinning on her heel and giving me a look of her perfectly round arse. Those damn jeans are painted on.
“No problem. Just wanted to make sure it all got inside. Would hate anyone to steal something.”
Maevyn whips around, momentarily stunned. “What?”
“Apparently, there’s a thief running around.”
A little giggle to the side of us has Maevyn shaking her head from its daze, and we both look over at Aurora.
I didn’t even hear her come in, but she’s crouched down, scratching Patch, who’s lying belly up.
I lean forward, yanking my shirt from where it’s tucked in the back of my waistband and tug it over my head.
I’m sure she and her daughter don’t need a half-dressed man in the middle of their kitchen.
Even if I detect a hint of disappointment in Maevyn’s eyes as I pull my shirt into place.
“Oh, really?” Maevyn looks at her daughter with a less-than-impressed expression, but Aurora seems unfazed. It must be a dynamic they’re used to.
“Are you going out tonight?” I ask.
That signature side smirk is back, along with eyes that sparkle with mystery. “Of course.” She shrugs. “Two lovely ladies such as ourselves? Our lives are constantly full of adventure and excitement.”
I can’t tell if she’s joking or not, but when I look over at Aurora, she just lifts a shoulder. “Yep, we’re a riot.” She grins. “Anyway, I should finish my homework. See ya later, Westley.”
I wave to her as she disappears up the stairs, then give my full attention back to her mother.
“I’ll get out of your hair then.” I push off the bench, and she follows behind me.
I whistle to Patch, and he slowly, without grace, rolls off his back to trot outside and over to our house.
“Umm, thanks again for bringing the bags in.” Maevyn follows me all the way to the end of her garage.
“Just doing my neighbourly duty,” I say over my shoulder.
“I’ve never had a neighbour do that.” I’m not sure if I was meant to hear her; she spoke so low.
I turn when I hear her stop behind me. “I’m happy to help anytime.”
She nods once, with a reluctant smile, as if the idea of accepting help is so completely new to her.
I can’t help but want to know everything.
I’m a pretty social guy. I love meeting new people and surrounding myself with friends, just as much as I enjoy time to myself, but this pull is new.
She’s like a magnet, demanding my focus. “You look pretty, by the way.”
She chuckles. “Is that you doing your neighbourly duty, too? Compliments?”
I walk backwards to my front door, all eyes on the trickster before me. “Nah, that was the thief in me. Just wanted to steal your breath.”