Jodi stood there, slack-jawed in disbelief as he plugged the extension cord into an outside outlet on the porch, then set up the freestanding floodlight so that it shone on her truck and mower. “Better,” he proclaimed...though Jodi looked like a ticking time bomb ready to detonate.
Easing up on the pushiness, Hunter asked, “Okay if I put this other bulb out back?”
Two deep, calming breaths later, she nodded without looking like she might rip off his head. Took her just a little longer to loosen the obvious tension that made her shoulders rigid. She even popped her neck, dragged in another long breath and managed an insincere smile. “Thank you for the snacks.”
Wow. That sounded almost civil. “You’re welcome, neighbor.” He was starting to feel like Mr. Rogers. “No problem at all.”
Cynicism narrowed her eyes. “Do neighbors really do this?” She flapped a hand at everything he’d brought. “They go to this much trouble?”
“They help when they can.” Going with the sudden inspiration, a way to make it easier on her to accept his help, he added, “That reminds me. I need to be in town tomorrow late morning. You’ll be here with window installers?”
“Yes.”
“Mind keeping an eye on my place? Now that we know intruders are around, I hate to leave it unattended. Know what I mean?”
To his surprise, instead of calling him on his BS, she nodded. “People think things only happen in the dark, but evil doesn’t pay much attention to the time of day.”
Thunderstruck by that observation, he stared at her as she scooped up the bag and headed in. “This way.”
Inviting him into her house now? That momentarily sidetracked him from what she’d said. He could tell that she’d returned the gun to her belly holster. He should have grabbed his own holster, one that fit on the waistband of his jeans, but expediency had been his priority.
He didn’t trust her enough to delay.
So odd. Both of them armed, both wary—and yet he followed her in. After all, Turbo seemed right at home.
She led him through that small, vacant main room, into the kitchen, where another door opened to the backyard. The kitchen... He looked around with interest. It was truly minuscule, without much storage space, but she’d obviously scrubbed it top to bottom. A few of the cabinet doors needed new hinges, but the white tile countertop, trimmed with black, looked chic—like a trendy vintage design instead of just...old. As she’d said, the refrigerator was ancient, but he heard it humming along.
With a peek to the left, he saw the bathroom and her bedroom. Indeed, she had only a folding cot, narrow but with a pad for a mattress, plus a pillow and quilt. She was small enough to fit on it, but no way would it be comfortable. At least those rooms had blinds covering the windows.
“I’d take you on a tour,” she said, arms folded as she leaned against the open door, “but you’ve just seen it all.”
“It has potential.”
She snorted, which seemed to be her patented answer to many things.
“Here.” He handed her the bulb to install herself so he could inspect the hinges on her cabinets. They were sturdy as only something old could be. The cabinets, too, were solid. Dated, yes, but a coat of fresh paint would help that. “These only need to be tightened.”
“Yeah, I know. I was thinking of changing out the knobs.”
“Not a bad idea, especially if you got something to match the hinges. What do you have planned for the floor?”
“Area rugs?” She grinned as she finished tightening the bulb. “There. Plenty of light now. Thanks.”
He wouldn’t say plenty, but it was better than it had been. “You have alarms?”
As she secured the back door again, she said, “That’s on the agenda for tomorrow, too.”
Exasperation overtook him. “Why didn’t you just wait until tomorrow to move in?”
“Was everything perfect at your place before you got there?”
“I had furniture, a television, dishes,” he shot back.
“I have dishes—some, anyway.” She opened a cabinet to show off four dinner plates stacked next to salad plates, bowls, saucers and mugs. “Four-piece place setting, since that was the least they had. I got utensils, too, and a few pans, though I’m not much of a cook.” Rummaging in the bag he’d brought, she put the cookies in an otherwise empty cabinet, the juice in the mostly empty fridge. “Are you a coffee drinker?”
“I usually have a cup or two in the morning.”
“I have a friend who lives off her coffee. I don’t think she’ll be visiting anytime soon, but I should probably add a coffee maker and stuff to my list.”
Hunter glanced around. “Where is this mile-long list you keep adding to?”
Tapping her forehead, she said, “I told you, I keep it up here.”
He was about to question that when they both heard Turbo snoring again. “Where is he?” Hunter looked around but didn’t see his dog.
Sauntering around him, Jodi followed the sound to the short hall that led to her bedroom. There, stretched out on her cot, with his head on her pillow, Turbo slept.
Not the least bit offended, Jodi laughed. “You big mooch.”
Yeah, Hunter worried about the dog leaving fur on her bed, but more than that, he took note of the sparse room. Other than the cot, she had a square trunk with a laptop and battery-operated lantern on it. There were two closets, one slightly open to show a meager amount of clothes, and the other secured with a sturdy iron hasp and padlock.
What the hell does she have in that closet?
“Maybe you should get him home so he can rest in his own bed instead of mine.”
Hunter met her inscrutable gaze. She practically dared him to ask her about it, but why bother when he knew she’d never give him a straight answer? He got it together with an effort. “I hope you won’t mind the fur on your pillow.”
Her lips twitched. “I’ve slept with worse things.”
Not worse people? Testing the waters, he said, “Do tell.”
“I don’t think so. You’ve pried enough for one night.” She patted Turbo. “Come on, you slug. Time to hit the road.”
The dog moaned and rolled to his back.
Jodi laughed again.
Hunter liked the sound of it. He liked her—didn’t trust her. Not at all. No way. But he liked her. “I’ll stop by tomorrow to let you know when I’m heading out. Want me to bring you a cup of coffee?”
“That’s okay. The juice will be good, though, so thanks for that.” She eyed the dog. “Tomorrow, will you be leaving him alone at the house?”