Chapter 9
Andrea groaned when an hour after she’d slammed the door in Michael’s face, there was another knock.
Why were so many people bugging her all of a sudden?
In the seven years she’d lived here, she could count on one hand how many people had knocked on her door.
Even the solicitors stopped after her scathing reaction to them showing up throughout the day.
The worst was when one showed up around nine in the morning after she’d gotten off the night shift at two in the morning. Let’s just say, no one came to her house for a long time after that, and when they did, it was well into the afternoon.
“Seriously?” Andrea didn’t know why she should seem surprised. The man was harder to get rid of than a cockroach. At least there was spray and killer for that. Nothing seemed to deter this man. She didn’t know if she should be flattered or frustrated by that fact.
“Well, that’s a hell of a greeting.”
“What do you want now? Borrow my edge trimmer or some other tool?”
“No,” he chuckled. “I came to bring you this.” He held up a cup like an offering.
“What is it?” Andrea looked at the cup as if it were poison.
Michael turned the cup, so the label faced him then turned it back to her. “I should think it was obvious. It’s a coffee cup.”
“I can see that,” she sputtered. “But why are you giving me one?”
“To drink?”
Was the man purposely trying to drive her crazy, or did it come naturally to him? She was willing to bet on the latter. Actually, it was probably a bit of both.
“Think of it as a peace offering and an apology.”
“Apology for what?” Andrea asked skeptically.
“Are my grievances that great?” Michael questioned, sounding shocked.
“There’s a long list I’m keeping in my head. So which are you apologizing for?”
“Can it just be a broad apology?” He looked hopeful.
Andrea felt her lip twitch. She refused to smile. “That’s not how apologies work.”
“Is there a manual on apology-giving because I’ve never seen one.”
Andrea shouldn’t enjoy sparring with Michael so much. For the most part, he annoyed her. Although there was a tiny part of her that enjoyed it. She didn’t really have anyone to talk to. She usually went out of her way to avoid people.
“No manual, I just figure an apology means more when you apologize for something specific instead of a broad apology.”
“Fine, I’m sorry I tried to kiss you.”
“And?” she prompted.
“I have to apologize for more?” Michael tsked. “Alright, and I apologize for suggesting we be fuck buddies.”
Saying such a carnal word made Andrea’s stomach flutter. It had been ages since she’d had sex. She instead focused on her work and avoided the opposite sex. Sex tended to complicate things. Even casual sex. Emotions would eventually find a way to weasel their way in.
“So am I forgiven now?”
“That depends.” She wasn’t willing to forgive so quickly.
“On?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you going to suggest we kiss and make up?”
“No.”
Andrea couldn’t suppress the flare of disappointment, though she should be excited by that. That meant he’d finally gotten the hint. “Good.” Andrea took the cup and sniffed the top through the small sip hole. “What’s in it?”
“Carmel macchiato.”
“I love that flavor. How did you know?” she inquired before taking a sip. She bit back a groan as the flavor hit her tongue. Her taste buds instantly came awake, and she felt a jolt of energy she had been missing this morning.
“Would you believe me if I said I guessed?”
“No.” He’d probably spied on her or something.
“Fair; I asked Maya.”
Now that surprised her. “You asked Maya what kind of coffee I like?” She didn’t even know how Maya would know what kind of coffee she liked.
“Well, I asked her what you liked, and she told me coffee and what kind. It was about the only thing she did know about you.”
Andrea planned to keep it that way. “I can’t believe you asked Maya about me.” No one had asked her neighbors about her. Then again, no one but her neighbors knew she lived there.
“I find you a very fascinating person.”
“I can assure you, I’m not.” She was plain and mundane. No excitement for her, and she preferred it that way. She liked predictable and boring.
“Let me be the judge of that.” Michael took a step closer to her. “I’m having a get-together at my house next weekend. I’m inviting all the neighbors. Come and let me get to know you better. Let them get to know you better.”
“I don’t think so.” Andrea felt herself shrinking back. Physically and emotionally.
“Why not?” he questioned, his head cocking to the side with a look of puzzlement on his face.
What excuse could she say that he would believe and drop the issue? “I have something going on next weekend.”
Michael didn’t look like he believed her, but he didn’t outright call her a liar. “Very well, let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will.” She wouldn’t. Andrea had purposely avoided get-togethers with the neighbors for years. Maya had tried several times, then finally gave up after Andrea’s consistent rejection. “I have to get back to work; I’ll talk to you later.”
“Work? I thought you worked at the bar.”
“I do, but I also volunteer at a local charity that helps support a shelter for battered women. I do their paperwork.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get into that work?”
“An even less exciting story. There was a group of women standing on a street corner with neon signs advertising a charity race. I pulled over and asked them about it. They were doing a charity race to raise money to build a bigger shelter, but so far, they haven’t had many sign-ups.
I volunteered after that, and I’ve been working with them ever since. ”
“That’s a very noble cause. They’re lucky to have you.”
He made it sound like she did something heroic. She didn’t. “I don’t do anything special for them. I’m more of a glorified secretary.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Andrea. All roles, no matter how insignificant they seem, are important. Even secretaries.”
“How do you figure that?”
“How do you think organizations run? People behind the scenes. The people that budget and make sure to keep the doors open to continue to help others.”
“I never thought of it that way.” She had just wanted to help in a small way and keep herself anonymous. The way he spoke though, made her feel important and special. Her work at the shelter was much more fulfilling than the bar job was.
“It’s all a matter of perception.” He smiled warmly at her, and she found herself returning it with one of her own. “Well, I’ll leave you to get back to your important work.”
“Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“Have a good day, Andrea.”
“Thanks.” She leaned against the doorframe and watched him walk back to his house without a backward glance. He really was a handsome and charming man when he wasn’t being overly flirtatious all the time. Who was she kidding—even then, he was cute; she just refused to admit it to herself.
Andrea caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Maya standing on her porch staring at her. Andrea waved and ducked back into her house. She really needed to get her report back to her supervisor.