Chapter 2
Cal West
It feels like I could’ve crossed the days off a calendar.
It’s been two weeks since I found Shirley lying on her kitchen floor. I still see the image every day, vivid enough that I know it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the niece she spoke so highly of.
Sloane Bennett.
Little did my old friend know, I already knew who Sloane was. I used to be friends with her shitty ex-husband back in the day. It’s a small town, and word gets around when a woman looks like her.
I was just pissed I didn’t beat him to the punch.
But the tides have changed, and now I might finally get my chance.
I’m not sure what has always drawn me to her. I’ve been curious about Sloane for years, even though we’ve never officially met.
I kept it that way for a reason.
I want her to get to know me for who I am, not through someone else’s opinion. She definitely doesn’t need to hear about the pathetic crush I’ve kept tucked away all these years.
It’s not like I haven’t dated other women. I’ve tried to move on, but Sloane has always been somewhere in the back of my mind.
And now she’s finally here.
Within reach.
So, what do I do?
Annoy the shit out of her.
I hadn’t meant for it to go that way. I was supposed to ease into her life slowly, not barge into her driveway and make myself look like a lunatic.
I wanted to let her ogle me for a few days and get curious about her single neighbor.
It’s not like I didn’t catch her eye-fucking me from her car yesterday afternoon.
But ever since Shirley passed, I’ve found myself increasingly worried about Sloane. Overprotective too, which makes no damn sense.
Christ.
The woman is becoming a downright obsession, and she doesn’t even know my name.
I know I’m coming on too strong, but I can’t seem to help it.
She’s so damn beautiful.
Her long chestnut hair frames a face covered in freckles, and those full lips are enough to make a man stupid. I hadn’t realized she had so many freckles, but they’ve taken over her complexion lately.
You can tell she’s been enjoying the sun.
After a quick shower, I throw on some clothes and head outside to get my yard work done. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning, and I need to start early so I have time to fix Sloane’s dead-skunk issue.
I laugh to myself again.
I still can’t believe she thought it was a human head.
The poor woman was seconds away from calling the police and bringing an entire crime scene unit over here.
I know she won’t be thrilled when she finds me at her house again, but what else is she going to do?
Sloane needs me.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
I rent a drainage machine because I’ll have to suck all that nasty water out after I remove the poor little guy.
Once I haul everything over to Sloane’s, I use a pool skimmer to lift the skunk into a garbage bag.
Damn, this smells bad.
I pull my bandana over my nose, but even that doesn’t stop the stench from burning my eyes.
After dropping a hose into the tub, I start the machine and take a step back as it roars to life.
My eyes widen.
Sloane is about to get one hell of a wake-up call.
Sure enough, the back door flies open, and Sloane comes barreling outside wearing nothing but a satin slip.
The gray material hugs her body before falling just above her knees. The lace along the bodice should look sweet, but there’s nothing innocent about the way her breasts fill it.
I swallow hard.
Thank God she can’t see my entire face right now. She might discover exactly how obsessed I am with her.
She waves her hands wildly to get my attention, making her breasts bounce beneath the thin fabric.
I watch them with great interest as I begrudgingly turn off the machine.
I do have other things to get done today.
“Yes? What is it?”
“What on earth are you doing?” she yells.
“I’m cleaning your hot tub,” I say calmly.
“And why do you think it’s okay to just come over and do this at eight in the morning?”
“I finished my yard work and thought I’d help with your skunk problem. I can leave if you don’t want my help.”
I add the last part just to make her life a little harder.
She rubs her temples. “God, you’re infuriating.”
“So, is that a ‘Why, thank you for taking time out of your busy morning to help me, Cal,’ or should I fuck off?”
Sloane lets out the cutest furious grunt.
“I need coffee,” she mutters before spinning around and stalking back inside.
“I take mine black!” I yell after her, grinning beneath my makeshift mask.
“Why, yes, of course. Thank you, Cal,” I mutter under my breath before starting the machine again.
This really is disgusting.
I don’t see my neighbor again after our morning debacle, but I didn’t expect to.
The least she could’ve done was bring me some water.
By the time I finish and lug the machine back across the street, I’m drenched in sweat.
I catch the slightest movement behind Sloane’s curtains before they snap shut again.
She was checking to see if the coast was clear.
There are endless projects that need to be done around her house.
I used to help Shirley with repairs, and over time, I grew fond of the old place. Ann drives me nuts with her comments about how rundown it is and what it’s supposedly doing to everyone’s property values.
Most of the other neighbors gossip about it too, but the house has grown on me.
Just like my feisty new neighbor.
I know Sloane is having a rough time, and I don’t want to push her too far.
Still, it’s fun to push her buttons.
I’ll fix her porch light next.
First, I need another shower and some coffee.
After washing the stink off me, I head into the kitchen to make a fresh pot. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a woman walking toward Sloane’s house.
Ann, my prim and proper neighbor to the left, is strutting across the street with what looks like a basket of muffins.
I roll my eyes.
If Sloane only knew what that woman really thought about her house.
I watch Ann knock on the door. A frazzled-looking Sloane answers, wiping her hands on her pants before accepting Ann’s handshake.
It’s a brief exchange.
Ann isn’t usually one for small talk. No one knows much about her, even though she always seems to know everything about everyone else.
She’s so tightly wound that one wrong comment might send her over the edge.
It’s not like her husband pays her much attention.
Sometimes, I almost feel bad for her.
My attention drifts back to Sloane.
Not that it strays from her very often.
That ex-husband of hers is the scum of the earth. I heard he’s making the divorce as difficult as possible, even though he’s the one who fucked everything up.
He strung that beautiful woman along while breaking every promise a husband could make.
Unforgivable.
The bastard has no clue what he’s giving up.
I head into the garage to grab my ladder and a new bulb for her porch light.
It’s about time the godforsaken thing gets fixed. It bothered me long before Sloane moved in, but now it’s a security issue.
I wasn’t as worried about someone trying to break into Shirley’s house.
Sloane is gorgeous, living alone, and new to the neighborhood.
But no one is getting close to her with me across the street.
I watch her house like a hawk.
The ladder makes an awful squeal when I set it against the porch, and I’m sure my little neighbor will come out to investigate.
Sure enough, Sloane bursts through the front door the second she sees me.
“Okay, do you plan on fixing everything?”
“This is a safety issue, Sloane.”
I say it like it should be obvious, but she rolls her eyes.
“I’m still trying to figure out how you know my name, let alone why you’re obsessed with my house.”
More like obsessed with you.
My eyes travel down her body. When I make it back to her face, her eyes have narrowed into slits.
“Will you quit checking me out and answer one of my questions?”
“I’m not obsessed with your house.”
She throws her arms in the air with an exaggerated huff, and I smirk.
I can’t help it.
She’s so damn cute.
Sloane turns to go back inside, but I call after her.
“Sloane, wait. I’m sorry.”
She faces me again. “How do you know my name?”
“Shirley told me all about you. I don’t mean to be such an asshole.”
“Well, you are.”
“Would an asshole fix your hot tub? Or your porch light?”
She doesn’t answer. She just crosses her arms over her chest.
“I really don’t need this stress in my life right now,” she says. “You may think you know me, but I most certainly don’t know you.”
I finish twisting the new bulb into place before looking down into her beautiful eyes.
“I’m Cal. Your sexy neighbor who likes to fix things.”
“Of course you are.”
“So... are you always this beautiful when you’re grumpy?”
“I’m not grumpy,” Sloane counters.
I grin. “That’s exactly how a grumpy person sounds.”
“You are making me feel murderous at this point.”
A laugh escapes me. “So, you’re the one who killed that poor skunk.”
Sloane’s mouth drops open.
“I can’t even believe you right now.”
She plants a hand on her hip and leans against one of the old columns supporting the porch roof.
“Are you ever going to leave, or is there something else that’s magically broken?”
“I don’t know. That skunk didn’t smell very magical.”
I grin, and a small smile tugs at her lips.
She tries to hide it, but she thinks I’m charming.
I know she does.
Still, I’d better not push my luck.
“Goodbye, Cal.”
Sloane draws out the words like she’s completely exasperated.
Guess she’s reached her limit.
“Have a nice afternoon, neighbor,” I call as she walks away.
My eyes drop to the sway of her ass before she disappears inside.
That thing is something to behold.
I’ll make this woman fall for me if it’s the last thing I do.