After a few minutes of my shallow breathing, Brody moved. The part of the roof we sat on wasn't very wide, and if Brody stretched out his legs, they would hang in the guttering.
"I'm going to look for a way down," he whispered, so close to me I felt his breath on my neck.
If I wasn't so scared, I might have found that a bit erotic. I gave a sharp intake of breath though when he reached over and placed his hand on my opposite side to slowly climb over me. Even though fear ran through me at a speed Usain Bolt would have been proud of, I felt my skin tingle in every single spot Brody touched. Sweat dripped down my neck, and goose bumps broke out all over me as my palpitations kicked up a notch.
"Are you okay? You're breathing really quickly," he asked, worry marring his perfect face.
"Yes," I breathed. "Just don't like heights. Nothing else." Honestly, all I could think about were his lips and the fact that they were only about an inch away.
"Really?" he whispered, slipping his leg between mine as he worked his way over me.
"Yep, that's all!" I squeaked. I watched as a slow smile danced its way across those lips.
Finally, he removed his leg and placed his body on my opposite side. As I sat there trying my hardest to control my breathing, I watched him quietly creep across the roof and disappear around the corner.
It was at that moment I heard a door open, and Lucy appeared in the backyard.
"Shit," I whispered. My heart couldn't take much more of this. I quietly lay down and pressed my body as close to the roof tiles as I possibly could, hoping two things wouldn't happen. I hoped that Lucy wouldn't look up and that Brody wouldn't choose that moment to reappear.
Thankfully, neither did. Instead, I watched Lucy check her surroundings as she walked to the end of the garden. It was slightly overgrown, a large tree overhanging the area where she stopped. This blocked my view slightly, so I wriggled around a bit to see what she did. As she leaned down, I could see a large timber box and then retrieve a shovel from the nearby shed. She started to dig, and I wondered what she was up to. She removed something from the ground, pushed the dirt back into the hole, and moved the wooden box back into place. Then she reentered the house, a small, metal box in her hand. She had been so engrossed in what she was carrying, she hadn't even noticed me. Thank God.
I let out a very big sigh and wondered what had happened to Brody. Sitting up, I looked over the edge of the gutter, feeling the world sway as I did so. I managed to get back into a sitting position and shuffled my backside so I was once again pressed against the house. I closed my eyes and hoped when I opened them I would be back at home, safely snuggled up to Theo. Or Brody. Or both.
As tears pricked the back of my eyelids, I heard the scraping sound of metal on metal and opened my eyes to find the top of a ladder leaning against the metal gutter. I really hoped Lucy hadn't decided to do a bit of last minute gutter cleaning.
Thankfully, it was Brody's beautiful face that popped into view.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" I squeaked, dropping to my knees the second my feet touched the ground. That was the single most harrowing incident of my life, and I blamed Brody for every second of it.
"Come on," he said, extending his hand to help me back onto my feet. "Lucy's gone next door, and I don't know how long she'll be. We have to go before she comes back." I heard the urgency in his voice and got back to my feet as quickly as I could. My knees were knocking so badly, I wasn't sure how I would manage getting back to the car. I didn't have time to think about it though, as Brody grabbed my hand and ran for the back fence.
"Aren't we out the front?" I asked, struggling to keep up with him, almost being dragged along.
Tightening my grip on Brody's hand, I managed to do the impossible and sprint towards the back fence. We didn't stop running until we'd jumped it,(once again my backside was shoved in Brody's face as he hoisted me over) made it through the adjoining neighbor's yard, and into the street on the next block over. When Brody finally slowed his pace, I bent double at the waist and sucked in some air.
"You might want to pull your skirt back down. The old guy standing by the gate over there looks like he needs his medication." Brody smiled.
Tugging my skirt back into place, I glared at Brody. There I was, skirt around my hips, my hair clinging to me as sweat dripped down the back of my legs, struggling to control my breathing, and there was Brody looking cool, calm, and in control…and still as sexy as hell. If he hadn't had this stupid, hare-brained idea to snoop in Lucy's house, I too would be looking that cool.
Who was I kidding? I'd never looked that cool.
By the time we'd walked around the block, Brody had charmed me with his smile and bribed me with the promise of Starbucks, and I had totally forgiven him for his bad judgment. Not only that, he told me he'd found something.
"Well, what was it?" I asked impatiently.
"I'll show you in a minute."
"Show me? Brody, there is no way I am going back into Lucy's house. Nuh-uh, no way," I stated, hoping I sounded as determined as I felt. I didn't care how sexy Brody was.
I sighed as Brody gave me his adorable, crooked smile. I was going back in, wasn't I?
"Just get in the car," he said, unlocking the doors with the remote.
Thankfully, he started the motor, and it didn't take long for the air conditioning to pump out freezing cold air. Once we were safely away from Lucy's street, Brody pulled something from his jeans pocket and handed it to me.
"What's this?" I asked, taking it from him. It was an old newspaper clipping.
"I borrowed it from Lucy."
"You borrowed it?" I frowned. "Well, you're on your own returning it." Brody chuckled low in his throat.
Opening the paper, I read the story. It was about the death of a very wealthy, elderly gentleman, over forty years ago in a town I'd never heard of. The cause of death was a mystery as an autopsy proved inconclusive, but the real mystery was the disappearance of some very valuable stamps. Apparently, the police at the time thought it was a robbery gone wrong, but never had the evidence to prove it. The mystery to me was why Lucy had kept this clipping.
"Brody, I've seen this before," I said, turning slightly in my seat to get a better look at him.
"Where?"
"It is the same clipping I picked up for Mr. Wilks one day when I was in his shop." Brody pulled the car to a stop at a red light and turned his head to look at me.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm positive. I mean, I didn't read the article, but this was definitely the headline. Why would Lucy have it?" I wondered.
"It was on her coffee table with a bunch of old books about stamp collecting." Alarm bells rang in my ears, but I didn't know why. Was it just coincidence that both Lucy and Mr. Wilks had the same clipping?
"Have you read this yet?" I asked, holding it up.
"Only briefly."
"Do you think this has anything to do with Lucy being in your house?"
"Not sure."
I groaned. There was that phrase again. "Well, when you're sure, will you let me know?"
"Sure." He smiled, moving the car once again. "You know, the highlight of my day was your nicely rounded bottom in my face," said Brody, a wicked glint in his eye.
The blood rushed to my nether regions as tingling broke out all over me. I was so busy fighting my hormones that I forgot to tell him about Lucy's archaeological dig.
* * *
By the time Brody and I reached our street, I had drained my Mocha Frappuccino and felt a lot less shaky. One day this story would be funny. Not really sure how long I would have to wait for that, but I was sure it would happen one day. Anyway, stop bitching, Chloe, you got to spend the whole afternoon with Brody, and not only that, you managed to get up close and personal on more than one occasion. Isaac was going to have a fit when I told him.
With this thought in mind, I gave a contented sigh and opened my car door. Brody did the same.
"Sorry, got another date tonight," he shrugged. I felt like the Frappuccino had been poured over my head.
"Oh!" I mumbled. "Okay. Well, have fun."
I watched him turn and cross the road towards his house. His first date with Becky had obviously been good enough for him to go back for seconds. Maybe it wasn't the date he was getting seconds of.
That thought stuck in my throat as I turned towards my house and bumped straight into my neighbor Rick. It took everything I had not to scream, and as I recoiled, I saw a darkness in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," he said as he stepped around me, his annoyance simmering.
I was still too shocked to answer and stood very still as I watched him walk up his path and through his front door, the smell of Brut following him. The smell triggered a memory.
"Hey, baby doll."
I turned quickly, and there was Isaac standing behind me, Theo in his arms. Now that was a welcome sight. Theo wriggled his little body as he tried to get out of Isaac's grip.
"Hey, beautiful boy." I smiled as I felt my body relax. Holding out my arms, I took Theo and accepted his lovely, little Theo kisses. "How was your day? Did you have a good one?" I asked, rubbing my nose against his soft, furry ear.
"Yes, thanks, it was great," replied Isaac.
I looked up. "Sorry. It's been a strange one. How are you, Isaac? Did Adam get home yet?"
"He's landed, but won't get home for about an hour," replied Isaac, following me through my gate and toward my front door. Unlocking it, I placed Theo on the floor.
"Who does the smell of Brut remind you of?"
"Mr. Grumpy from the corner shop. He almost drowns himself in it. Why?"
"I just bumped into the man next door, and he smelled of Brut. It's stirring a memory of the day we broke into Brody's house," I said. "You don't think Rick was the one who hit me, do you?"
"I don't know, Chloe. Brut is a popular scent. And Rick hadn't lived here very long at that time. He would hardly even have known Brody."
"Yeah, you're right," I replied. "I'm sure it's just a coincidence."
* * *
Later that night, I sat curled up in my armchair quietly watching television. I had my pajamas on, found an old rerun of Castle, and allowed it to play as I sat staring at the screen, not really taking any of it in. I'd left my book at a very good part, but tonight I didn't have it in me to read about other people being in love and especially not about other people having sex.
My thoughts strayed to Brody. That man was so damned sexy I couldn't stop thinking about him. Maybe he affected me so much because it had been so long since anybody had touched me. I closed my eyes and remembered the way it had felt on Lucy's roof when he climbed over me, the way his hand felt holding mine as we raced across her backyard. The butterflies I'd felt when he lifted me over the fence, knowing my backside was only inches from his face, and gratefulness I'd worn my good underwear.
Sometimes I felt an intimacy with him, but then he went and dated Becky. Well, I hoped that's all they were doing tonight. Thoughts of him kissing her with those soft, full lips of his made me feel sick.
"Stop it, Chloe," I said out loud, opening my eyes. Theo looked up from his spot in my lap and cocked his head. He was wondering what I was talking about. I could almost hear his thoughts. Did you say treat?
I smiled and smoothed his head. "Do you want a treat?" I asked.
That was all it took. Theo leaped off my lap and ran towards the kitchen at lightning speed. I got up and followed him. He beat me to the kitchen, of course, and waited by the pantry door. He knew where his treats were kept.
"Alright, you can have one."
Smiling, I passed him one of his favorite treats—a pig's ears. It was almost the size of his head, but off he trotted, completely undeterred. Shutting the pantry door behind me, I looked up as I heard a noise coming from the backyard.
I stepped over to the door, switched the back light on, and looked out through the glass panel into the night.
My light was pretty crappy, but it cast enough glow for me to see my gate was open and banging against the catch. That was really weird. I knew I'd closed it this afternoon.
As much as I didn't want to, I had to go out and close it since Theo could escape otherwise. I opened the door, but before I had the chance to close it behind me, Theo ran past, growling low in his throat.
"Theo! Stay!" I yelled.
Now, in case I haven't mentioned it before, Theo has a mind of his own and can be particularly stubborn when he wants to be. This was one of those moments when he chose to listen to his own command.
I hurried after him, but he was much quicker in the dark than I was. The streetlight was broken, and as I followed Theo into the alley, I really wished I had a torch with me.
"Theo! Stop," I yelled, but he just kept running.
Whatever it was he was following had him pretty wound up. I'd never seen him like that before. He barked as he ran, and as I heard footsteps in the alley ahead of him, it definitely sounded like he was chasing someone.
The hair on my arms rose as I ran after him in the darkness. Once he reached the end of the alley, he turned and ran down the next one. I must have only travelled about a hundred yards, but the creepy feeling running up my spine told me to go home. I couldn't do that without Theo though, and as he had now stopped barking, I panicked.
"Theo! Where are you?" I called, reaching the end of the alley.
As I turned to follow him down the next alley, wishing for some light, I ran straight into a large, hard body. I think the scream I released could be heard in the city.
Panic taking over any thoughts, I kicked whoever it was in the shins and stepped backwards in an attempt to run. My heart pounded in my ears as a hand reached out and grabbed my arm. I heard a curse escape his lips, and through my panic-ridden brain, I recognized the voice that spoke it.
"Brody, is that you?" I demanded.
"Yes. What the hell was the kick for?"
"You scared me!"
"Oh, forgive me for walking home," he said, sarcastically. "Here, take your dog."
My eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough to make out figures, but I felt rather than saw Theo being shoved into my arms. Relief washed over me, and my heart rate settled.
"Theo! You are such a naughty boy," I said, snuggling into his soft fur. "I really thought someone was going to hurt you." A sob started in my throat, and for that brief moment, I was grateful for the dark.
"Why would you think that?" asked Brody.
"He was chasing someone. Whoever it was, he didn't like them very much, and Theo likes everybody." I could feel his little heart beating at a thousand miles an hour as I held him tight. He had been terrified, but he'd chased whoever it was anyway. Emotions tightened around my heart.
"Chloe, I was the only person in the alley. I would have passed someone if Theo was chasing them."
"Well, someone was definitely there," I stated. "I heard their footsteps running away from Theo. If you didn't pass anyone though, maybe they jumped a fence." Even though it was dark, I found myself looking around, the creepy feeling starting all over again. "I'm going home," I said, turning on my heels, and heading back towards safety, seriously hoping Brody was going to follow and keep me safe.
Thankfully, he did. In fact, he probably followed a little too closely as he placed his hand on my back and fell into step with me. The alleyway wasn't very wide, so Brody was tucked up nice and close all the way home.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked curiously.
"I was taking a shortcut home from the pub. If you walk past Isaac's house you can jump the fence into Mrs. White's yard and duck up her alley into the street." So Brody had figured that out already, had he?
"How was your date?" I asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Bob was very entertaining," he replied, the smile playing on his voice. "It was meant to be a meeting about his performance at work, but turned into more of a drinking fest."
Oh, so he wasn't dating Becky then? I felt my smile spread.
"That's why you're not driving."
"Yep, didn't think that one ahead, did I?"
We reached my yard, entered, and closed the gate securely behind us. Tomorrow I'd buy a padlock.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about Lucy," I said, suddenly remembering what I'd seen earlier that afternoon.
Walking through my still open back door, I placed Theo on the ground and waited for Brody to enter before closing and locking the door behind him. I triple-checked every lock to make sure it was secure. As I put a pot of coffee on—decaf, of course—and found the Baileys Irish Cream, I filled Brody in on what I'd witnessed at Lucy's.
"I have no idea what was in the box. Whenever I tried to look over the edge of the guttering, I felt dizzy." I put a very generous helping of Baileys in my cup and looked at Brody. "Want some?" I asked.
"No, thanks. I've had enough alcohol for one night."
Looking at him, standing in my kitchen, leaning against the counter, long legs stretched out in front of him, he definitely looked more relaxed than normal. If that was even possible.
"Well, I need it. That was not a good way to relax before going to bed."
"Ah, so that's what the outfit's for." He smiled. "I wondered what sort of occasion called for Mickey."
I looked down at my pajamas and saw I had chosen to wear my Mickey Mouse boxer shorts and very short camisole top to bed tonight. Unfortunately, the top had shrunk in the wash a little bit and didn't quite meet the elastic of my shorts. I tugged at the hem of it in an attempt to cover the flesh I showed.
Now that all the excitement was over, I felt a little self-conscious. Thankfully, the elastic in the shorts was a bit old and stretched, so I had no muffin top hanging over my waistband. I looked at Brody and saw he'd noticed too. I felt my temperature rise as he looked at me, took in my braless camisole, and gave me a slow, lingering smile.
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