“Okay, that makes more sense.”
I pick up the phone and turn the speaker off, putting it to my ear as I let Reginald out the door to take care of business. The actsparking a memory from last week I’d forgotten to share with my sister.
“Oh my god. Did I tell you I met my neighbor last week?”
“No! Are they nice?”
“It’s a man, and he’s definitely solo in that large house.”
“Oh, wow,” Kodi says, shocked.
“I didn’t catch his name because he was kind of rude. And let me tell you, I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I don’t think Nan is actually his Nan. I can’t figure out who she belongs to yet.”
“Maybe she’s one of those meddling town folk.” Kodi laughs. “You know, the wanderers who are always in everyone’s business, but keep theirs private.”
“Not sure. But I kind of love her.”
“She sounds fantastic. But can we get back to your hot and single male neighbor?”
All I heard was the wordhotcome out of her mouth.
But I don’t tell her she’s right.
My nerves were on high alert when I saw Reginald sitting on his step waiting for me and Nan waving me down with a grin on her face. I almost turned around to go back home, telling myself she could bring my dog back when she’s done. Except, my neighbor walked onto the porch with the sameI can’t stand youlook etched all over his face. The closer I got, the more the hairs on my neck perked up. He is totally one of those burly mountain men. Born and raised in the dirt and woods. Scruff dusting his jawline. The one clenched so tight as he stared at me while standing on his property, I thought he was going to snap a tooth.
His hair remained tucked under a baseball cap, but from what I saw when I finally got close, it’s dark. Matching the color of his facial hair and dark brown flannel shirt. A stark contrast to the stormy blue color of his eyes. It should actually be illegal for a man who comes acrossthatmean, to have such pretty eyes.
“Did you not hear me when I said he was rude?” I ask her.
“No. All I heard was he’s hot.”
“Those words never left my lips.”
“But you thought it,” she says in a playful tone.
I groan out loud. “He’s okay. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s ugly on the inside.”
“Well, what did he actually say to you?”
“Nothing at first. I even extended a hand to shake in a very friendly manner, and he looked at it like touching it would poison him. Then he told me to stop letting Reginald pee in his rosebush.”
She gasps. “Oh no, not the rosebush. Let me play Switzerland for a second. Maybe dog pee isn’t good for them. Maybe he takes pride in his gardening abilities and likes to keep things looking nice.”
I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “It’s not what he said, it’s how he said it. His tone was just mean. Demanding. Ugly.”
“Okay, whatever you say, Blair.” She laughs.
Looking at the clock on my microwave, I realize I’m about to be late. “I have to head to work. I’ll text you later.”
“Wait, before you go. Did you get the clothes I mailed?”
“No! I could knit my clothes faster than the postal service around here.”
“Jesus. Okay. Well, have the best first day at the bakery. Proud of you. Go set the world on fire, just not the bakery.”
I snort at that. “Thank you, Kodi. Love you.”
And I hang up the phone, tossing it to the couch before letting Reginald back inside.
