Smile For Days: Eligible Bachelor

1. Denver

I watchedthe ball go over the fence and cursed softly. Of course this was how my day was going. Great way to start off.

My dog, Jersey, a brown and black German shepherd with a ball fetish, was showing me just how ‘not happy’ she was by barking, her butt in the air, nose to the bottom of the fence. Like that was going to bring it back to her.

I didn’t move fast enough for her, so her next bark was accompanied by her running along the fence line. I knew she’d stop if I told her, but it was her favorite ball. She deserved to stress for a moment.

“Hold on, I’ll get it.” I moved to the gate that granted my neighbor and I access to each other’s yard. When I was a kid and my friend Tony and his family lived there, it was great. After the family moved, it wasn’t the same. Then I moved away, went to college, got married—which has been my biggest mistake to date—and now, I was back. I’d needed a fresh start. Or a restart in a semi-familiar place.

Being home, in a place I was sure he knew little-to-nothing about, under a new identity, living a life that I wanted was what was best for me.

It was as if the universe felt sorry for me, and finally the barren turd of a spirit gave in. I’d gotten away from the hell my life used to be. Was able to find help along the way and now, here I was in a somewhat stable mental space living my best life.

My aunt, who I loved dearly, had left her family home to me in her will. It was one of the many things I was able to keep from Tyrone. Thank God. If he had any clue where I was—nope, not going there.

The house, which was originally built in the late 1800s, has been sitting here for a few years, collecting dust…it was just where I needed it at the right time.

I knew from my many talks with her that over the years, they’d had one shitty neighbor after another. After her passing, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I had a home, with someone I thought would be around forever. Boy, was I stupid. Back then, I’d been tempted to have someone fix it up and sell it. You know, flip it. I could use that money for myself. Money that didn’t have to come from him, with rules and stipulations. Money that I earned on my own.

I’d never been so glad things never lined up before. Because now I had a home. A place that was all mine.

Plus, I was sure my aunt would come back from the grave and brain me if I ever thought about giving it up.

I did have the same thoughts about this house once I got here. It’s about the same age, similar design. Old, plantation style with a large porch on the back. The only difference was that my aunt’s house—my house—had a full wraparound porch and the second floor had a send porch off the upstairs bedrooms. This one had been an adjacent family home. Her aunt’s home, maybe? I can’t remember.

After thinking long and hard, it wasn’t something I could do by myself. What did I know about home renovations? Nothing. I could hold a paint brush and that was as far as my skills went.

It was good in theory, just not doable. Anyway, about a month ago, someone bought the old house. I saw the moving trucks, heard people moving about for a couple of days, but since then, there has been nothing happening that I could see. I could hear the garage open sometimes if the windows in my office were up.

But I rarely saw anyone myself. I stayed inside, only going into town when I had to. My anxiety and my seizures made it hard sometimes. That’s why I had Jersey. She’s my best friend, a companion, and my service animal. She could tell me when a panic attack was about to hit before I even knew it. This allowed me to sit down and let it happen. There was less chance of me hurting myself with her here. And let me be honest, with her at my side, my anxiety has lessened…unless there were loud noises or someone came up behind me and I startled.

With an ex like mine, I had a fear that I would be ambushed at any moment. Some days it’s ridiculous. I felt hopeless; useless even.

Maybe I was just too much in my head. The research for my next book and the fact that my ex seemed to keep finding my new cell number was making me feel a little off. Uneasy. I needed to open my story up and find a way for a demon to come up out of the ground and eat my ex…damn, if only.

Opening the gate, I hurried across the yard, my eyes scanning for the pink and yellow ball. I really didn’t want to be trespassing. You could get shot that way.

Jersey followed me in, her nose to the ground. I finally spotted it right up by the back porch. I scooped it up, ready to race back to my yard, when I heard a crash inside the house. Biting my lip, I waited, frozen where I stood. Something inside of me—my gut, I guess—told me that something was wrong. I was proven right when the back door flew open and a young man came barreling out. He had a half open backpack in his hand and tripped over the potted plants on the back porch. He face-planted onto the unforgiving ground a few feet from me, groaning.

An old man came out of the house, his shotgun raised, anger streaking across his face.

“You little bastard!”

He stopped when he saw me; I held up my hands, Jersey’s ball still clutched in the left one. My heart started to race, panic rolling through me. I really didn’t want to get shot today.

“Don’t move, scumbag!”

I closed my eyes and put my hands up higher.

Jersey barked once, then I felt her paws on my chest. She was alerting, but I was frozen. Fear had me in its grip so tight, I might not escape. I felt her cold, wet nose poking at my stomach as she whined. It was too late though. I felt the world tip, and I hit the ground hard.

“Hey, can you hear me?”

I felt a warm hand on my cheek. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was and what had happened. There was a weight laying across me. Jersey’s nose buried in my neck. She whined, her tongue coming out to lick across my face when my eyes opened.

“Are you okay? I think you stopped breathing for a second there.”

My gaze went up, and I met the greenest eyes I’d ever seen before. They took me in and for once, I didn’t feel that overwhelming fear of being trapped, like I normally would. It could be the fact that I wasn’t cornered; I could see the sky, and there were other voices around us.

“Doc, she awake?”

“Miss, you all right? Mr. Blake said you passed out.”

“He came out waving a shotgun, of course she fainted. Crazy bastard.”

Before I could reply, there was a thump and a yelp. “Watch it, asshole.”

“I…um...just wanted my dog’s ball. I don’t know what happened.”

“I didn’t mean to startle her; this idiot ran out the door, and I followed.”

As I was helped to a sitting position, I saw the older gentleman sitting on the steps; his somber look made me believe him.

My hands were starting to shake, an after-effect of my attacks. Jersey whined, rubbing her face on my shoulder. I instinctively reached for the scruff of her neck and held her to me, letting her calmness, her warmth ease me.

“Good girl. Thank you.” I slid my hand into my pocket, pulling out a small baggie with pieces of treats in it. The peanut butter pumpkin cookies were her favorite. Jersey took it gently and chomped. I smiled and gave her another.

“Do you need me to call someone, or take you to the hospital?”

I looked at the man; he was on one knee, his eyes locked on me. The warmth flushing through me had my face heating. He was wearing a pair of green scrubs. I blinked, rechecked, and yep, green scrubs.

I raised a brow.

“If I need a doctor,” I asked, my hand waving his direction, “isn’t there one here?”

Why was my voice so low, timid even? I’d just woken up on the ground, and the first handsome face I see…I flirt with? Was it flirting? I really had no freaking clue. I’d only ever been with Tyrone since college, after living a rather sheltered life—and well, we see how well that ended. I apparently know jack-all about anything.

His broad smile was nice. Comforting. Like the heroes I write about…but this was real life. My confusion seemed to intrigue him.

“I am a doctor, but not that kind of doctor. If you need your mouth worked on though, Ive got you covered.”

A few things happened after that.

His meaning went right over my head, so my brows pinched together.

His smile got wider, and someone chuckled.

“Are you offering to put your hands in a stranger’s mouth? I thought Gran taught you better than that,” a deep, gruff voice said from behind me.

I jumped, not knowing he was back there. I clutched Jersey’s fur. She licked my face, whining. Her version of “you’re fine, dummy, stop it,” but nicer of course.

“Easy, it’s okay. Are you sure you’re alright?” The man from behind me came before me, hands raised slightly before he squatted down.

“Yeah, I—I’ll go now.” I released Jersey, letting her get off my lap. I scrambled to my feet and quickly realized that was a mistake. I was not the most graceful person in the world. It’s not that simple of an explanation, but I had ADHD, so it came with the territory. So the fact that I not only elbowed the guy—you know, the freaking hot god beside me—but fell over my dog to land in his arms…yeah. I was just gonna go curl up under a rock and die of mortification.

“Whoa, sweetheart, I’ve got you. You okay?”

“Is she okay? Stop manhandling her, Sawyer.”

“Gramps, I’m catching, not manhandling.”

“Ma’am, I’m Deputy Greene; I need to ask you a few questions.

Too much was coming at me. I was hypersensitive after an episode, and his warm arms around me should have added to my stress, but for some reason, they had the opposite effect. However, the crowd of hardened-faced men suddenly crowded around…well, it started the whole cycle of chaos over again.

Jersey’s bark then jumped, and her paws squashed my boobs. That got my attention. I focused on my dog. Her brown eyes always felt as if they were going through me, looking into my soul. She got me.

“Everyone, back up and give her some space.” The old man, my neighbor—whose name I still didn’t know—stopped a few feet from me and frowned. “Help her to the steps, let her get her bearings, Sawyer.”

Instead of him simply helping guide me to the steps, I was hoisted up into his arms. I was stunned speechless as he moved me to the edge of the porch. I was pushed back slightly when Jersey ran up the stairs and put herself between us. Her tongue bathed my face again and again.

“Okay,” I laughed softly, the threat of me freaking out lessened by the second. “I’m okay, girl. Hey, I’m okay.” I pulled at the baggie in my pocket, snagging her a treat. “Down.”

She laid across my legs, her weight a comfort even if her boney knees were digging into my thighs. My fingers stroked her head, using this familiarness to calm my suddenly racing heart.

I’d never had such a reaction like this to a man before. A reaction to aggression and fear of one, yes, but this was so much more. I glanced up, taking in the men now staring at me. Two others walked around the house then, large orange-striped bags on their shoulders. They’d called EMS; great.

“We got a call, someone fainted?” the older woman asked, her gaze moving from person to person then stopping on me. “Ah, let me guess, the call was for you?” She smiled as I nodded.

“Yes, ma’am, I’m okay. Just a…ya know.”

The first day I’d been in town, there was a situation at the grocery store. A child had a tantrum, threw a glass bottle of pickles to the floor, and the sudden loud noise sent me into an episode. I’d scared the poor cashier so badly, she’d almost come over the counter.

I’d ducked down, tears rolling down my face, all while poor Jersey did all she could do to calm me down. That was the first time I met Mrs. Sheila here. She was so understanding and had been a big help.

“Hey, Jersey, can I look at your mama here?”

“I’m fine…”

“You’re pale, and seeing as your pup is alerting, you’re not back to normal. Did you hit your head?”

“Um…” I shrugged as I reached up to feel the back of my head. It didn’t hurt, but I couldn’t really say what happened.

“She toppled over like a tree, but I don’t think the girl hit her head,” my neighbor said, coming closer.

“I’m sorry I scared you, miss. I didn’t know anyone was out here.”

“Not your fault. I was in your yard, after all.”

“Why were you in Mr. Blake’s yard? Is it a coincidence that you were here at the same time he was dealing with an intruder?”

“Ye-no. I didn’t?—”

I looked up, panic rolling through me as the deputy made his way toward me. I wiggled back, not wanting him to touch me.