by Sam Crescent
Only, writing didn’t pay the bills. Nor did her love of dogs either. Her two biggest passions were not money-making in any way.
Only amazing, stunning authors paid their bills. So rather than study literature and art, she took accounting, business, and law.
Yay.
Now, she worked for a bunch of lawyers she couldn’t stand, and worse, they treated her like a tea lady and slave.
Kicking off her heels, she rubbed her feet.
It was too late for Katie to come around and visit. It had been a week now of her getting used to kindergarten. The first day had been stressful. She’d watched the clock the entire time, leaving her job at five and starting muffins. Katie arrived within minutes of her pre-heating the oven. Her first day had been amazing, which was really something. She was so happy for her.
The second day even more so.
She wondered how Katie got on today but it was way too late.
Her stomach grumbled and she got to her feet, heading to the fridge to make herself something to eat, only to find some moldy cheese waiting for her. Closing the door, she pouted. She had to go shopping.
Dragging her feet to the front door, she slid into some pumps, not caring how she wasn’t wearing socks. She’d have to walk as her car was on fumes. She needed gas, and well, that was for emergencies. She really needed her paycheck right now.
Opening the door, she came to a stop as Eli was about to knock.
“Hi,” she said, shocked to see him at her door.
He held a brown paper bag. “So, I know my daughter. She eats a lot and well, I’ve been meaning to pick you up some groceries, and I figure I’d bring them around.”
“You bought me groceries?” she asked.
“My kid is probably eating you out of house and home, why not?”
She was close to tears. “I was just about to go grocery shopping. How is Katie? Where is Katie?”
“She’s at her grandmother’s for the weekend. After the long week at school, my parents decided they wanted to hear all about it and give me the weekend to prepare for the next.”
“Come in. Come in.”
“You’re back late.”
“Rough day at the office.” Her body wasn’t going to betray her with how much she liked that this guy was in her home. Not going to happen. She would have some restraint. They were alone for the first time since they’d moved in.
Totally alone.
No little five-year-old girl.
After closing the door, she followed him into the kitchen, tossing out the moldy cheese, and began to unpack the groceries he bought.
As she did, her stomach rumbled.
“How about I make you something to eat?” he asked.
“I’d like that. Would you mind if I, er, freshen up?”
“No, go ahead.”
He couldn’t be an ax murderer, could he? No guy with a young kid could kill anyone. She tried not to think of all the possible serial killers through time who had a family and a murdering hobby on the side.
Once she’d removed her clothes, she took a quick shower, changing into a pair of jeans and a large shirt. She dried her hair, running a brush through it, and didn’t even bother with makeup.
She stepped into the kitchen just as Eli served up.
“I’m pretty good at stir-fries. I hope you’re okay with that?”
“I don’t mind. I don’t have to cook so I don’t care.” She took the offered bowl from him, breathing in the scents. Her mouth watered, and she didn’t even bother with chopsticks, opting for a fork. “Come on, let’s relax.” She noticed he’d already opened a bottle of beer, and a soda for her.
They sat down on her sofa, and she didn’t put the television on, more focused on food.
“Do you work late most nights?” he asked.
“Nah, this is one of those days. They’ve got a case and they need all the help they can get.” She wrinkled her nose.
“Are you a budding lawyer?”
“Hell, no. I don’t like law. It’s way too complicated and full of … no, I’m not a lawyer.”
He laughed. “I don’t like lawyers either.”
“Have you dealt with plenty of them?”
“More than I ever want to do. I’ve got a whole team of them.”
“Oh, right. Katie mentioned how you own some kind of computer company,” she said.
“Software, but it’s close. It’s in computers. What is it you do?”
“Right now, I get coffee, research old cases in books, and pretty much do whatever I’m told to do so I can keep my job.” She shrugged. “I like this town. It’s why I moved here. After I left college, I did get an apprentice as an accountant.”
“It’s not what you want to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know what I want to do.” She did but she wasn’t about to tell him what she did late at night when she couldn’t sleep. Her stories were her hobby. They were also private. “I’ll figure it out. For the most part, working as a legal assistant isn’t so bad. The hours can suck, and the bosses can be assholes. I guess it’s like that at most places.”
“It’s a lot different from college, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah. I don’t even think they teach you in college how to deal with douchebags.” She shrugged. “I guess I will have to learn as I go.”
“Most college boys are. Just treat them like that and it’ll all be good. Most men are.”
She chuckled. “This is really good food. I had no idea you can cook.”
“Katie hasn’t been bragging about my skills. How do you think I feed her?”
“I don’t know, takeout?”
He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t do takeout. Hate the stuff.”
“Stir-fry is takeout food.”
“No, it’s home cooking, what I love.”
This was the first real conversation they’d had. Staring into his brown eyes, she nibbled on her lip, wondering if he would ever look at her the way she caught him doing in her door’s reflection a few weeks ago. She really needed to stop thinking about that. It wasn’t healthy. This guy was her neighbor and there was no way she would give in to the rumors she’d heard floating around. No one had come out and said it but after a little research, she had come to see their two houses were … cursed?
No, she didn’t think they were cursed. So the people who had each lived in this house and his had in some miraculous way found each other and were now totally in love. Sure, she believed that.
The houses didn’t control what a person felt or who they felt it for. There was just no way it could happen.
She finished her food and licked her lips, sated, full, and happy. Resting her hands on her stomach, she glanced at Eli to find him watching her. She smiled. “What’s up?”
“I was just wondering…”
“What?”
“What made you decide to come live here? This town. I know my reasons for it, what are yours?”
“Have you seen this neighborhood and this house?” she asked. “There’s no way I would have ever been able to get a mortgage and I do make okay money as a legal assistant.” It was one of the reasons she’d moved to the town. She’d applied for her current position. Sure, she didn’t have a lot of money for anything else but she put all of her money into paying for this place every single month. “Believe me, starving aside, I’m doing okay. Also, this isn’t a bad neighborhood.”
“You’ve got that right. It is a pretty decent one, isn’t it? It’s why I moved here with Katie,” he said.
She giggled. “It sure is. I don’t know. The house isn’t haunted, and it’s structurally sound.”
“You have heard of the rumor though, right?” Eli asked.
As she turned her gaze back to his, her heart raced. “I’ve heard about it, if we’ve heard the same thing?” she asked.
“The woman that lived in my house before. I’m useless with names, I can’t remember, but she told me the woman of my dreams may be living right next door.”
“The love rumor, that’s the one I was talking about. Yep, totally, love.” She rested her head on her hand, watching him. “What do you think of it?”
“I don’t know what to think of it. I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t believe in fairy tales.” He rubbed his eyes. “I better go. I’ve got a lot of work to do this weekend.”
****
Eli kept glancing over at the door as his mom came out, carrying all the food she’d been making for the day. He’d decided to open his house up to the street. To invite some of Katie’s friends over along with a few parents. The couple of times he’d been around to Ann’s place, she hadn’t been there. He’d shoved a card into her mailbox inviting her to his party.
He had the grill fired up. Burgers and sausages were already sizzling away. His mom took care of all the extra salads and trimmings. He grabbed dessert from the bakery in town.
A couple of the single moms were already circling him like hungry vultures.
“What makes you keep looking at the door, son?” his mom asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Is this the neighbor Katie keeps talking about?”
“I see Katie can’t seem to keep her thoughts to herself,” he said, glancing over at his daughter who was dancing like a crazy person.
“I don’t know, I’m interested to know what this woman with the pool is like. If she can wow a child, she’s a good woman, Eli. You should know that.”
He didn’t know the first thing about women and kids. Sure, his own mother had been amazing, so had his dad. They were both supportive and when he told them he wouldn’t be marrying the mother of his child, they didn’t push.
Eli had never been the kind of guy to do things he didn’t want to do. He also rarely did anything stupid. Of course, his track record hadn’t been great when it came to Katie’s conception.
“Ann!” Katie squealed excitedly and ran across the garden.
He turned to see Ann standing there, her red hair down in ringlets, wearing a plain white sundress. She’d pushed her sunglasses up into her hair and she nearly fell as Katie barreled into her.
“I missed you too, pumpkin.” Ann laughed.
Damn it, she was beautiful.
“So I see there is more to this neighbor than I originally thought,” his mother said.
“Mom, don’t.”
“You’ve got drool. You forget who your father is. Believe me, I know when a man is … interested in a woman.”
“Mom, please, not now.”
His mother chuckled and he handed her the tongs to keep turning the food on the grill as he walked up to Ann, who was still hugging his daughter. “You made it.”
“Yeah, your note got stuck under the mat. I was about to go out when I saw it this morning.”
“We’re not keeping you from anything important, are we?” he asked.
“No, no, nothing at all.” She waved her hand in front of her. “Nothing I can’t deal with next week.”
“Come on, Ann, let’s dance.”
Just like that, Katie dragged Ann into the circle of kids. He quickly noticed some of the moms giving her the stink eye, clearly assessing her and finding her wanting.
“So that’s Ann,” his mother said.
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting. She’s young.”
“Don’t.”
“And I don’t even think she’s your type. The red hair and she looks like she is more down to earth.”
“Mom, seriously, stop it. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, so just drop it.”
“Consider it dropped. Although…”
He turned to look at his mother, not in the least bit interested in what she had to say.
She held her hands up. “Fine, fine, I’ll go and be nice.”
His mother was already heading in Ann’s direction before he could stop her. Katie made the introductions, and he watched as Ann smiled, shook her hand. They were talking. He didn’t know if this was a good thing or not. Talking equaled bad, didn’t it?
As he returned to the grill, one of the moms came up to talk to him.
“Hi, I’m Jade, Louisa’s mom.” She held out her hand. Deep-brown hair, no wedding ring, and a smile with a promise on her lips.
“Eli,” he said, shaking her hand.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Ann and his mother. They were still talking and Ann still smiled. What could they possibly have to say to one another? He didn’t get women, not at all.
Of course, Jade wanted to keep on talking. He nodded, smiled, and when she suggested a playdate, he looked toward his daughter who still stood with Katie.
“Which one is your daughter?” he asked. In truth, he was only mildly curious. Katie hadn’t mentioned any Louisa in the past couple of weeks, and he wasn’t about to set up a playdate for his little girl with someone she didn’t even like.
Jade pointed to a girl sitting in a crowd of girls and he didn’t recall Katie ever being near her.
“I’ll have to talk to Katie to arrange it.”
“Please do, I would love for the opportunity to get to know you better.” She placed a hand on his arm. Her nails were painted red, sharp.
He nodded and returned to his grilling. There was a time he would have taken the woman up on her offer. There were always willing women and he could have his pick of the lot of them. However, since becoming a dad and moving from the city, his sex life had dived down to nothing.
Well, being a father hadn’t stopped him, not back in his old life when he had nannies to care for Katie. He had taken what he wanted with whatever willing female had been there. Now though, it wasn’t going to happen.
Nope.
Glancing over at Ann, he couldn’t help but admire the curve of her ass. She had her back to him, and the dress seemed to be taunting him as it melded to those gracious hips.
With the food done, he started to serve up. Kids ran to him with plates and buns. Each of them took his offering before heading over to the table for some more food.
Ann was the last person to arrive. He put some food on her plate and she said thank you.
For the rest of the party, he didn’t see her. Katie kept her all to herself, and it was wrong of him to be jealous of his daughter, but he was.
He spoke to a couple of other dads who were interested in setting up man date of playing cards or watching football. He wasn’t interested in either and promised to look at his schedule. Some of the single moms offered to bring him a pie.
He wasn’t interested in pie, but again, he kept his tongue. There were times he missed his old self, who was quite happy to tell people to fuck off.
He saw them all out and that left him with only Katie, his mom, and Ann.
“Well, I guess we’d better get going,” his mother said.
“Have you been left with the cleanup?” Ann asked.
He had every intention of calling a cleanup crew but he nodded.
“That sucks. If you want, I can stay behind, help out? I’ve helped in my fair share of party cleanup.”
“I’d love that. Only if you’re free.”
“Yep, I am, free. Nothing to worry about on that score. Totally free.”
He grabbed Katie’s stuff and saw his mom out. Before she left, she threw herself into Ann’s arms and told her they would be hanging out soon.
“Yes, we will. We’re going to be making lots of muffins soon. I’ll grab the chocolate chips.”
Katie giggled and then they were gone.
Alone.
“This was a great party,” she said. “The food was great.”
“You didn’t get to meet many people. My mom and Katie kept you occupied.”
“I’m good, thanks. I don’t think I exactly fit into the crowd.”
“What crowd?” he asked as they made their way outside.
Now with everyone gone, and the cleanup on him, he saw how messy it was. He left out trash bins, so why did they throw their empty beer bottles on t
he lawn?
“I don’t have a kid. This was very much a parent party. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Far, far, from it. I don’t have a kid so it makes me an outsider.” She shrugged. “I don’t mind. Katie’s awesome and she’s really smart. I had an amazing conversation with her.”
“I don’t know if you’re mocking me right now or being genuine.”
“I’m actually being genuine. I like her. She’s a great kid.”
“I didn’t keep you from anything today, did I?” he asked. “I’ve been trying to catch you for a couple of days now.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. It was just a job interview.”
“I thought you already have a job,” he said.
“I do.” She didn’t say anything more and as he looked at her, he saw there was a lot more going on with Ann than he realized.
Chapter Three
Ann didn’t want to think about her current predicament or what it all meant. She certainly didn’t wish to tell Eli about her dwindling finance situation or that she may even have to sell her house.
“I don’t mean to pry, but what’s going on?”
She laughed. “Oh, you don’t want to pry but that is the first thing you’re going to do.”
“You’re clearly unhappy.”
“Nah, I’m fine, you know. Nothing to worry about. Totally fine.”
“Talk to me,” he said.
She straightened up and dropped a bottle into the trash bin she’d been carrying. “My hours have been reduced. There was a chance of a reduction. I was only hoping it wouldn’t come to that.” They’d cut her hours in half.
Half the hours.
Half the income.
She’d budgeted on a full-time income.
Right now, she wasn’t behind on her mortgage, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen. She had next to no savings. She needed another job or three to stay afloat.
“You were going to job interviews?”
“One interview at the bank in town, but it’s fine. It was a last-minute thing and to be honest, I phoned them for the last couple of days, and they really weren’t interested.”