“And how about you? How are you going to get your thrills?” Gracie asked.
“Not with the neighbor,” Zona said, as much to herself as her friend. She tried not to think about that zing she’d gotten when Alec shook her hand in his truck cab. “We’re just being neighborly.”
“It could turn into more,” Gracie suggested.
“No. No more. I’ve struck out twice and that’s enough.”
“Never say never.”
“Unless you mean it. I’m resolved.”
“Hot guys have a way of melting resolve.”
“Not mine. He’s got baggage.”
“Does he have an ex?”
“Yes, but it’s the stepsister who’s the problem.”
“Maybe that’s why he’s got an ex.”
And maybe that was why Zona wasn’t going to be getting any more neighborly with him.
EXCEPT DOG TRAININGdidn’t count as getting neighborly.
“So, what is the deal with your ex?” she asked him that night when they were working with Darling.
“The short version? She couldn’t stand my family.”
“Angela?”
“Yeah. Ariel’s not so bad. She got her life together and is doing okay.”
“Did you have kids together, you and your ex?” Zona asked.
He shook his head. “Couldn’t. Maybe that’s just as well. Things get complicated when you split and you’ve got kids. Right, buddy?” he asked, and gave Darling’s ears a rub. Darling agreed by trying to lick his hand. “Kind of wish we had, but oh, well.”
“Be glad you didn’t. You don’t have to deal with the anger,” Zona said.
“Your kid’s angry?”
“Her dad is barely in her life and her stepdad raided her college savings.”
“So, angry.”
“She hates men and she’s never getting married. Thanks to me.”
“You’re not the one who screwed up. Why do you take the blame?”
“I don’t take it. She gives it to me. She thinks I should have been psychic.”
“People are unpredictable,” he said.
“Including you?”
His only answer was a half smile and a huff, then he returned his attention to Darling. “Okay... Darling.” He shook his head. “Sorry you got such a wussy name.”
“It’s a cute name, and my mother picked it.”
