"Well, it sure sounded like it."
"Maybe toyou,"he said. "But I wastryingto tell you that she grew up on a farm."
I blinked. "Sorry, what?"
"Yeah, she had pigs and cows growing up.That'swhat I meant."
I felt all expression drain from my face. "Oh."
"Yeah." He rolled his eyes. "Oh."
The guy was nearly old enough to be my dad, which put him well beyond the approved age for such an epic eye-roll. Still, I gamely refrained from mentioning this as I stammered, "I, uh, guess I owe you another apology, huh?"
"Forget it," he said. "And forget the coffee, too." He made a sound of annoyance. "Merry flippin' Christmas."
And with that, he turned and stomped away, leaving the mocha sitting there like a lost puppy.
I watched as the guy stalked across the parking lot, took a left on the nearest sidewalk, and walked past three houses before turning up the walkway of a yellow two-story home that had been for sale maybe a month ago.
Huh.So hewasa new neighbor.
Welcome to the neighborhood, huh?
I was still staring after him when a new and unfamiliar male voice, asked, "So, are you gonna drink that or what?"
Chapter 2
Harper
When I whirled to look, I spotted the renter standing only a few paces away. With an easy stride, he moved forward and claimed the recently vacated spot in front of my concession window.
Hestillwore no coat. What wasthatabout?
Through the falling snow, I glanced toward my now-empty porch.I swear, he'd been standing there just a moment ago.
And now he washere, asking about the abandoned drink.Was he bucking for a freebie or something?
I felt my eyes narrow. "Why do you want to know?"
His lips twitched like I'd just said something funny. "Why don'tyouwanna tell me?"
"I never said I didn't want to. I was just asking why I should."
"I dunno." He shrugged. "Politeness?"
I'd seen this negotiating technique before. "Yeah, well, maybe it wasn't polite to ask."
"So you're what?" He laughed. "Protecting the drink's privacy?" He lowered his voice. "I won't tell ifyouwon't."
I glanced around. "But there's no one to tell."
He grinned. "Exactly."
The grin made his eyes crinkle at the corners, and I blinked in sudden confusion. From farther away, I would've put his age somewhere in the low twenties. But now, up close, those tiny laugh lines suggested that I'd been off by at least five or ten years, which meant that he was probably older than me – and not the other way around.
Regardless, it was time to cut to the chase. "Just tell me. Are you bucking for a special deal?"
"On what? The drink?" He gave it a quick glance. "I can't say. And you wanna know why?"
