“Cross’s sister’s family. A few of us are hanging out, but I can head over. Or I can send Cross or someone. One of the Montgomerys.”
I had heard of the Montgomerys, and had even almost gone on a blind date with the last single one, but that hadn’t happened. I was grateful because one didn’t date within one’s circle, even if that circle was sort of somewhat adjacent to ours.
“Take your time. Or do it this weekend. Or next weekend. I don’t know, I’ll think of something.”
“No, I’m sending someone right now. Do not get up on that ladder. If you do, I will know, and if you get hurt, it will not be me who hurts you more. Or even Myra. No, I’ll send the mother. Dakota will strip your hide. She’s a mom. She knows how to give you that I’m disappointed in you look that makes you feel even worse than if she’d actually yelled at you.”
That made me smile and wince at nearly the same time. “You’re right. She does do that whole I’m disappointed look, doesn’t she?”
“I hear you learn it during the birthing process, or at least during the first few months.”
“When you and Cross have a baby, you can tell me all about it.”
“Okay, slow your roll. We are not having kids anytime soon.”
“So you say. You’re the one who told me you try to jump his bones as much as you can.”
“And there are such things as condoms.”
“Condoms break. Babies are born. And I want to be an auntie again. So get on that.” I paused, grinned. “Or get on him, I should say.”
“You know I’m trying to do you a favor, and now you’re making me picture having sex with my man.” She paused. “Well, I’m going to hate you for that only because I’m surrounded by other people, but I’m going to thank you for it later.”
“Great, now I’m picturing it,” I lied.
“Stop picturing Cross naked.”
Sadly, it wasn’t Cross who came to mind all naked and hard and wanting.
No, it was his brother.
Fuck. I was so screwed.
Or rather, not screwed.
“Thank you for sending someone. And jump his bones later. Only not in public. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail.”
“You’re so sweet. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I ended the call, and then let out a breath, doing my best to slow my racing heart because I kept thinking about Prior in ways I shouldn’t.
I was losing my mind, and I didn’t know what to do about it.
I knew I could count on Hazel, so I went back to my to-do list and got started on a few other things I could do around the house while waiting to see who she sent me.
I was out on the back porch, sweeping off the old leaves and dirt that had gotten there thanks to the wind, and froze, looking over my shoulder.
Why did it feel like someone was watching me? There were trees behind my house and a large fence that nobody could see through since it was made of metal and adobe. I was grateful for where my house was located in the subdivision because I was on the end, and it was hard for anybody to see through my windows or anything like that. It was one of the main reasons for my purchase.
But it felt like somebody was watching me.
Dread rolled in my belly, and the hair on my neck stood on end, so I quickly swept the rest of the porch, trying not to let my paranoia ruin my day. Then I went back into my house, locking all the doors.
I went as far as closing the blinds on that side of the house. I let out a deep breath, telling myself that I was just overreacting.
Nobody was watching me.
It wasn’t as if anyone could be.
Then I remembered the attack, and the fact that my dad was out, and my mom.
Maybe somebody was watching.
I almost called my detective, but I didn’t want to bother him.
Before I could wrestle with that decision, someone knocked on the door, and I froze before shaking myself out of my reverie and walking towards the front of the house.
I looked through the peephole and could have cursed.
Of course.
Of course.
I unlocked the deadbolt and the other two locks before opening the door to Prior.
He stood there, his hands in his pockets, his hair looking a little windblown, and the stubble on his face looking way too sexy.
I wanted to reach out and touch that chest of his, to see if it was as hard as it looked. I wanted to go up on my tiptoes and bite at his chin, just nibble and taste and lick.
I was losing my mind.
And I needed to stop doing that.
“Hey. Hazel said you needed help?”
“Yes, I do.”
I wasn’t going to sound awkward at all, was I?
“I asked if you needed help earlier. You could have texted me.”
I narrowed my eyes and then folded my arms over my chest. I didn’t realize that I had just made my breasts look larger and more pressed together until I saw his gaze drop and then quickly move back up to my eyes.
Or maybe I imagined it.
“I didn’t know I needed help when you asked, and then I reached out to Hazel because she usually knows who to contact. Or Myra or Dakota. I’m used to talking to them.”
I shook my head and then took a step back, lowering my arms to gesture for him to come inside.
“Anyway, though, thank you. My unit is in the attic, and I can’t get to it.”
“Why do they put them in the attic?” he asked, shaking his head.
He smelled like cedar and male.
Dear God, I had it bad.
“I don’t know, but it’s very annoying. I pulled out my car earlier since the access is in the garage, so let me open the garage door and show you how to get up there.”
“No problem,” Prior said, looking around my house.
I followed his gaze. “It’s not much, and I’m still figuring out how I want to decorate, but I like it.”
“It looks great,” Prior said. “I’m not good at decorating, so I pretty much have random things that I’ve seen and liked over the years, and it’s sort of made this whole metal and wood thing.”
“My house is white and gray with splashes of wine because I like wine, and that’s the color that Myra gave me, and I went with it.”
Prior laughed. “Maybe I need to get Myra to decorate part of my house.”
I didn’t want to think of Myra and Prior together, and I didn’t know why I was so jealous right then. What was wrong with me?
We went out to the garage, and I opened the big door, and he stood under the hatch to the attic and looked up.
“How the hell do you reach this?”
“A ladder and a prayer?” I asked.
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“I don’t know. I usually just jump like a duck or something.”
“Now I’m imagining it, with your limbs all flailing about.”
“Stop it,” I said with a laugh.
He reached out, hopped a little bit, his toes barely lifting off the floor, and grabbed the cord.
“Showoff,” I said.
“Yes, it’s the height. I work hard at it. You got that filter?” he asked.
“Yes, let me get it,” I said, going to the shelving unit where it was stored in a large black bag so it wouldn’t get wet.