Chapter 5
BORING PEOPLE
Arden should have stayed on her property rather than walking over to see the smoking doctor again.
He had this pull that no one ever had over her before.
A quiet strength that could control a room.
A powerful voice that demanded attention.
Looks that could wet a woman’s panties and make her forget everything else around.
The easy way his voice and personality changed when dealing with Abigail this morning. As if he weren’t the one in control but handing it over to the frightened little girl so that she could help conquer her fears.
“Sorry if Gracie was a little loud out here playing. She’s not used to having all this land to run around on.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “It’s pretty quiet here and the sound of a child’s laughter is welcome. As you know, we don’t always hear it at work.”
There he was again, showing another side. “And you said I was an onion.”
He smirked, his dark blue eyes almost lightening a fraction. Or maybe it was the stress and pressure of their jobs that left him troubled thoughts.
If she thought her job was tough on a good day, his had to be more so.
“I think it could be said for both of us. Do you like your new house, Gracie?”
She nodded her head. “I have a bigger room.”
She didn’t make a habit of opening up much, but he seemed harmless enough.
She’d done a quick search when she realized the Sheriff of Warren County had the same last name and noticed they were siblings.
She hadn’t read much more on his siblings though.
Just that his family owned an apple orchard and were a staple in the community.
“Did you get a chance to decorate it? My sister, Gale, loved to change her room.”
“We painted it pink before we moved in,” she said. “We closed on it over a week ago, but spent some time getting a few things changed prior since my lease didn’t run out until the end of this month.”
“Got everything all set now?” he asked.
“We do. Well, everything is here, but not completely put away. I should do that, but all work and no play...”
“Makes for boring people,” he said. “I don’t think there is much boring about you.”
“Sometimes I wish there was.”
“Mom, I need to go potty,” Gracie said.
Her daughter was clutching herself and crossing her legs. She shook her head. “You always wait like that.”
“Go inside,” he said. “I’m sure it’s the same layout as yours. Bathroom off the kitchen.”
She didn’t want to do that, but she didn’t want her daughter to have an accident either.
“You don’t mind?”
“Mom!” That was the crazy urgency pee voice.
“Go,” he said, opening the French door for her.
She dashed in with Gracie and pulled the door to the half bath wide for her daughter to go in and then shut it.
As much as she hated to look around his place, she couldn’t help herself.
Yep, the layout was exactly the same. One big room, the kitchen in the back, a big island looking into the living room with a table in between.
Though the space was the same, the decor and colors weren’t. His walls were white, some black and white photos on them, his floors were gray hardwood, his kitchen had black cabinets, with black granite that had white swirled in to go with the white subway tile backsplash.
He lifted his eyebrow at her. “What?” she asked.
“Say it. It’s like living in a fifties show.”
She pursed her lips. It hadn’t been what she was thinking, but now that he’d said it, it was true. Black, white, and gray. That was it. Nothing else was here.
“Let me guess, it’s easy?”
He pointed and laughed. “You got it. Nothing clashes and everything matches.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.” Her daughter was still peeing. Good lord, it was surprising there hadn’t been an accident if she’d held it that long.
When the toilet finally flushed, then the water turned on, Blaze put his empty dish in the dishwasher. She hated she had interrupted his dinner, but it looked as if he was finished when she crossed over. Maybe even putting the last bite in his mouth.
She supposed he got home late, maybe right before she came over.
“Thank you,” Gracie said when the door opened.
“No problem,” he said.
“Sorry we interrupted your night.”
“Not much to interrupt. This is about all the excitement I get.”
“That’s sad. But after the last year I had, maybe I’d take that with bells on.”
She wasn’t sure why she had volunteered that. Then she told herself it didn’t matter. He had already witnessed her giving her ex shit in the parking lot. It wasn’t like he couldn’t piece things together.
Hadn’t he already approached her earlier today to see if she was fine, then offered he was home if she ever needed anything.
Too many times in her life no one stepped in to help.
Which made her job even more depressing because she got to witness firsthand what victims went through and she’d never thought of herself as one prior.
She still didn’t. What she’d tried to do was help and stayed on longer than she should have.
Her fault, her guilt, and the remorse she had to carry when she looked at her daughter being shy when she never used to be.
“Trust me, I get it.”
She put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “We’ll get out of your way. Gracie needs to get ready for bed.”
“No, Mom.”
She smiled over the show of defiance. Any other time she’d be annoyed, but this just told her that Gracie felt more comfort than she had in close to two years to speak up in front of someone.
“Yes. It’s already past your bedtime, but it’s been so nice out that I allowed you a little more time. We can come out right after dinner tomorrow, I promise.”
“You won’t be unpacking?” Gracie asked.
She rubbed her daughter’s head, noticing Blaze smirking at her. “I promise. I’ll finish when you’re in bed.”
Though that was hard to do and be quiet at the same time.
“Have fun,” he said, opening the glass doors.
“We should go out front. I’m not sure if the neighbors will appreciate me crossing their grass.”
“The ones next door to me are retired. They aren’t around much. They spend half the year down south but are home now, just visiting with their kids when they are in town.”
“That’s good to know,” she said. “I haven’t met any of my neighbors.”
“The ones next to you are nice. Younger couple, no kids, have a dog.”
“I told you, Mommy. We can get a dog.”
Her shoulders dropped. The last thing she needed was to be responsible for one more thing. “Not right now,” she said.
They walked to the front door regardless. If there was a dog next to them, they were lucky not to step in anything stinkier than an onion.
Blaze stepped in front of them, and she got a whiff of something pleasant from the motion of his body.
Fresh, clean, almost musky, then he held the door while they left, stood on his front porch and watched while she walked home.
She turned, he waved, she returned it, then went around back to get in that way since the front was locked.
“Do I really have to go to bed?”
“Yes,” she said. “You do. Go brush your teeth, go to the bathroom and get your jammies on. I’ll be right up.”
Gracie ran up the stairs, her feet echoing on the wood under the carpet.
She filled a glass with water, gulped it down fast. She needed it after spending just ten minutes talking to Blaze.
When had a man had that effect on her?
Never!
It wasn’t smart for her to let those feelings break free now either.
“Mom!”
The sound of her daughter’s voice reminded her why she had made this move. Why she was stepping into another city. A smaller one. Quieter.
Life needed to be that way for her. For Gracie.
Too bad it never seemed to last.