Things were really looking up here in Shipton Harbor. Maybe the house repairs would go well, I’d write and work and go back to Philly with a book for the publisher and a renewed spirit. This was just what I’d needed.
I made it through the hardware store fairly painlessly. Even paying wasn’t as bad since I knew I’d have a little bit of extra money coming in from helping Clint.
The grocery store was another story. I had to stock up. With the list of repairs I’d made, I knew I’d end up staying in town for at least a couple of months. Longer than I’d hoped. I couldn’t really list the house until the repairs were done. Then I’d have to be here until it sold.
If I had the money, I could’ve hired someone to do the selling for me and come back to sign, but of course, I was broke. So, I’d have to see this through to the end. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to keep the old Victorian because I couldn’t pay the mortgage on my house in Philly. No, I wouldn’t think of that right now.
“Excuse me.” A deep voice made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I looked for the particular brand of canned chili they used to sell here when I was a kid. It was probably too much to hope they’d still have that brand, but I was looking. I stepped backward and looked around, trying to get out of the man’s way, even if his voice did send a shot of warmth to my soul. Or was that the hot flashes?
But of course, I moved the wrong way and instead of giving him more room, I slammed right into him. His foot hit the back of mine and my knee went wonky. I lost my balance.
And down I went.
He hooked an arm around my waist to keep me from falling. They were large, strong arms that held onto me like a lifeline. Heat from those arms and the body they held me against challenged the best of my hot flashes. And he smelled divine. Like clean mountains and spiced sage.
I closed my eyes, mortified, as he chuckled behind me, his lips much too close to my ears. I almost groaned at the sensations flooding my body. Peering upward, I discovered I was being held up by a policeman. He loosened his hold and I jerked away. Reality of what was happening, came back to me as I smoothed my rumpled clothes and met his amused, beautifully handsome face. “I am so sorry.”
I found it hard to stare into his unusual teal and blue eyes. At the same time, it was impossible to look away. He didn’t have two different colored eyes. They were a mix of teal and dark blue. Teal being the dominant color. I’d never seen eyes like those before.
The corner of his sensual mouth lifted, and his silky voice flowed around me, caressing every inch of ignited flesh. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Oh, you didn’t. I was preoccupied and not paying attention.” And I needed to not pay any more attention to the hottie in uniform standing way too close for my comfort.
Damn.
I hadn’t noticed the way a man looked this intently since way before my husband died. This policeman had a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones. His short black hair made those incredible eyes stand out all the more.
“You must be Ava,” he said.
My jaw dropped and I drew my brows together while shaking out of his spell. Even though I knew he wasn’t a witch, he had a power that surrounded him. I couldn’t place what he was. “Am I really that infamous?”
He chuckled again, and the warm sound of his voice reached out to me again. I tried like hell to push the sensations away.
“No, I’m Andrew Walker. Drew. I work closely with your friend, Sam.”
I closed my eyes briefly and sucked in a deep breath. Stop being an idiot, Ava. Why had this man thrown me off so much? Shipton Harbor had five thousand people. It wasn’t like the police department was enormous. Sam was the deputy, so it made sense that this man, Drew, who was in uniform would know him. Gods, I was slow sometimes.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m Ava, and I guess almost falling made me a dunce. Of course, you know Sam.” I stuck my hand out and when he took it into his warm ones, his arms circled my hand then twined up my arm. I pulled back quickly but not too fast, so that I didn’t seem rude. His energy seemed to cling to my skin in a sensual, non-threatening way. It was still unnerving.
As hot as this man was, my husband had been drop-dead gorgeous and had given me twenty years of wedded bliss. That was enough to last me the rest of my life. I didn’t need to start something new and complicate my life. Especially since I wasn’t staying.
“So sorry to have run you over.” I moved toward my buggy, desperate to make my escape. It was hard to think with him there.
“No problem. It was the highlight of my day if we’re being honest.” He sort of half-winked at me, making my cheeks burn again.
No. Nope. I was in town for a few months and then back to Philly. Hot sheriff was not in my plans. No man was in my plans. Not now. Not ever. “I’ll see you around Sheriff Walker.”
“Drew!” he called as I made a hasty escape.
Drew. Hell, no. He was not Drew and he was not hot. He was Sheriff Walker. Period.
Although, that might’ve been worse. I imagined myself in the situation I’d just endured, except much suaver and sexier, like I would’ve written it. Instead of yelling bye over my shoulder, I could’ve fluttered my eyelashes and told him goodbye in a sultry voice, emphasizing his title. Officer Walker.
Oh, no. No, no no. None of that.
Gods, I really needed that cold shower now.
Chapter Four
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The sound of something hitting a solid object nonstop woke me from a dead sleep. I didn’t get many nights of heavy sleep and I sure as Hades didn’t like to be woken up from one.
I cracked one eye open and quickly squeezed it shut. It was bright. I really needed to buy curtains for the windows. Especially my room. The cheap mini blinds were not cutting it.
The banging started again, followed by a whining sound.
“What is that?” I yelled. And what time was it? Better yet, what day was it? Of course no one was around to answer my questions. Not that anyone could hear me over that awful noise!
When the banging didn’t stop, my brain fog cleared, and I realized what it was. I jerked straight up in my bed, blinking several times so my eyes adjusted to the sunlight streaming in through the open window.
Letting out a mixture of a groan and growl, I swung my feet over the side of the bed and grabbed my phone. It was Wednesday. I didn’t bother paying attention to the time because I didn’t care. It was morning and I didn’t do mornings. Ever.
I’d met with the contractor, Jude Carter, two days ago about the repairs on the house, starting with the plumbing. I needed the upstairs shower working again. The downstairs bathroom was functioning, but it didn’t have a shower because it was Winnie’s oasis, as she liked to call it. I didn’t like baths. There was no particular reason why I didn’t like them, I just preferred showers.
Jude and I had planned for the construction crew to start today. I should’ve gotten up to greet them, but I’d totally forgotten they were coming today.
Grumbling under my breath, I tugged on some leggings, not paying attention to which pair I grabbed. I didn’t care. There was no one down there I wanted to impress. Once dressed, I pulled my long brown hair up in a ponytail before heading downstairs. The noise on the ground floor was louder with all the windows still open and I was glad I didn’t drink while writing last night. I’d be grumpier than normal from being woken up before I was ready.