Chapter 6
Andrea was jolted awake by pounding on the door. She groaned, rolling over in bed to her nightstand and searching for her phone. Her hand connected with it but managed to knock it off the stand; it crashed onto the floor.
“Shit,” Andrea grumbled, hoping she hadn’t cracked the screen on the tile floor.
She peeked over the bed but didn’t see it.
Tossing the covers off, Andrea got out of bed and searched the floor, finally finding her phone under the bed.
Thankfully, there was no scratch, but that relief was short lived when she saw the time.
It was barely after eight in the morning.
Who was knocking on her door at this hour?
As if to make a point, there was another pounding on the door.
“For crying out loud.” Andrea tossed her phone on the bed and stormed down the hallway to tear open the door without checking who was outside first. She was too upset about her beauty sleep being ruined to have a care at the moment.
It wasn’t a burglar; they wouldn’t take the time to knock on your door before robbing you. Which meant it was a door to door salesman or Mrs. Krantz.
“Hi,” Michael greeted with what she was coming to realize was his signature grin.
He didn’t seem to care that she was glaring at him with bedhead and no makeup on.
It wasn’t fair how gorgeous he looked even in just a pale blue shirt and board shorts.
A gentle breeze teased his short curly blond hair, while she stood in the doorway in her pajamas and had bedhead.
“What are you doing here?” She thought she had gotten rid of him last night, unless this was some sort of revenge for walking away when she did.
“I suppose asking to borrow some sugar would be too much?”
Not what she’d expected him to say. “Yes,” she chuckled, startled by her own reaction.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had smiled or laughed.
Somehow, that was even sadder. But he’d caught her off guard with that ridiculous question.
He was good at doing that. Knocking her off kilter. She didn’t know what to make of it.
“Sorry if I woke you, but I was planning on mowing the lawn and realized there isn’t a mower here. I was wondering if I could borrow yours.”
“Mine?”
Michael took a step closer. This close she could smell his spicy scent.
Cologne? She didn’t think a man like that needed artifice to attract women.
Michael lowered his head and spoke in a low tone, “All of the other neighbors are a bit past their prime. I’m sure they no longer mow and instead hire someone.
I assume as a woman who can do everything herself, you have your own lawn mower. ”
He wasn’t wrong about the neighbors. She had been the youngest until Michael moved in. A fact that never bothered her.
True, the neighbors could be intrusive and lived for gossip, but they all left her alone, except Maya.
“Why don’t you just buy one instead of borrowing one? You’ll need to cut your grass more than once.” It’s not like he could keep borrowing hers every week.
“I will, but I have a day full of things to do.”
“IT world keeping you busy?” Andrea was still doubtful that was what he did.
“If you only knew. I was hoping I could just borrow it for this morning, and I’ll buy one later on this week. Do you have a lawn mower I can borrow? You’d be a lifesaver.” He stuck out his bottom lip and looked like a sad dog one might see on the humane society commercials.
“I do have a lawn mower,” she admitted, biting her own lip to keep from laughing at his absurd face. Really, he was pathetic.
Micheal’s lips pulled back into a grin, causing a flip in her stomach like butterflies dancing within it. “I’ll give you some money for the gas I use…unless it’s electric.” He almost looked offended by the thought which made her smile.
She thought about tormenting him but confirmed, “No, it’s gas. And you may borrow it.”
“You’re the best. You’re more than welcome to come over and supervise me unless you prefer to do it yourself.”
Her good humor vanished like a rogue wave crashing over her, threatening to drown her. “Are you seriously trying to sweet talk me into mowing your lawn?”
Michael’s eyes widened, and he took a step back at her lethal glare. “No, I was just leaving the offer open in case you don’t trust me with it.”
“Oh, how generous of you.” She laid the sarcasm on thick.
“It’s a lawn mower not my car. Meet me in front of the garage, and I’ll open the door for you.
Just leave it in the driveway when you’re done.
” Andrea pulled back into the house and slammed the door shut.
“Asshole, thinking I’m going to mow his lawn for him.
‘Well, it’s your lawn mower,’” she mocked in a deep baritone voice.
Andrea marched into the garage and opened the door as she stepped down, walking past her car to where she kept all of her yard tools in a neat and orderly fashion.
“There, knock yourself out,” she grumbled as she waved her hand toward the lawn mower.
Michael looked at the mower then at her. “Out of curiosity, are you always this friendly or am I just special?” he asked in all innocence.
Andrea scoffed. Leave it to this man to think he was special. “It’s how I treat everyone. You are no more special than Mrs. Krantz.”
“Ouch,” he clutched his chest in mock pain, “I’m offended.”
“You’ll survive, I’m sure,” Andrea replied dryly, not fooled for a second that he was offended. The man seemed immune to every snide remark she spoke.
Another thing that annoyed her about him. Nothing seemed to faze him. It must be nice to not have a care in the world. Unlike her, always having to ward herself against people to keep from getting too close to anyone.
“I’m offended on behalf of Mrs. Krantz. She is a remarkable woman.”
She was. Though nosy, Mrs. Krantz was a sweet woman. “Fine, she’s more special than you,” Andrea amended.
“Well, she’ll be happy to know that.”
“Getting close with her now?”
“Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?” Michael looked at her with interest.
“No,” Andrea quickly denied. “She’s just a sweet older woman. I’d hate for you to take advantage of her.”
“I’d hardly think it was taking advantage, but don’t worry on that score. My tastes run younger.”
“Good.” Andrea didn’t know why she should care who the man slept with. It wasn’t like Mrs. Krantz would complain if the man gave her a tumble in the sheets. Though it might cause her a heart attack. There were worse ways to go…dying from pleasure.
“Do you want to know where my tastes lie?”
“No.” She could care less so long as he stayed away from her and Mrs. Krantz.
“They run toward brunettes with hazel eyes that are more green than brown,” he commented.
He had just described her. Andrea licked her suddenly dry lips. “Well, there are plenty of brunettes in Florida. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding one.”
“What if I already have?”
“I told you before, I’m not interested. Now take the lawn mower or don’t, but regardless, I’m leaving.” Andrea spun on her heel and walked back into the house without a backward glance.
As soon as the door shut, she fell back against it. She closed her eyes, feeling her heart thunder, and it had nothing to do with marching throughout her house so much in the past few minutes.
It had everything to do with the man on the other side of the door. He unnerved her like no one before. Not only his ability to deflect her barbs, but his ability to dish them back. She had never found an opponent like that before.
Most thought her as prickly as a porcupine and avoided her once they were on the receiving side of her sharp tongue. Not him. He actually made her smile and laugh.
Andrea felt her lips and pulled them into a grin.
A motion that felt foreign yet good. If she wasn’t careful, that man would find a way to worm himself into her heart.
That she could never allow. It still didn’t stop her from turning her head and pressing her ear to the door when she heard the lawn mower being pulled from the garage.