“Can I come in?” I asked as I slipped my phone out of my pocket.
“What? You’re accusing me of breaking and entering. Why would I invite you in?”
“I’m calling the police chief to sort this out.”
Madison’s expression was mutinous, but she stepped back from the door and gestured for me to enter. Walking through, I closed the door behind me. Madison crossed her arms tightly and waited under the archway that led from the entry area into the living room. She tapped her foot on the floor, although the effect was ruined by the fact she wore fluffy socks, pink with dogs on them, an incongruent touch to the princess vibe she gave off.
A second after I called, Rex answered, “What’s up?”
“There’s a woman here, Madison Glen. She claims Harold was her grandfather. I told her I didn’t think that was the case because he said he didn’t have any family.”
Rex’s sigh filtered through the line. “Janet would know, so let me keep trying to reach her.”
“What do you want me to do about Madison?”
“Do you mind waiting?” Rex asked.
“Well, she clearly doesn’t want me here.”
Rex chuckled. “Well, I guess if she takes off after you leave, then we’ve solved our problem.”
“True story. After you get ahold of Janet, give me a call and let me know what she says.”
Hanging up, I lifted my eyes to Madison’s again. “That was the police chief. He’s going to ask the woman who checked on the place periodically. She’s out of town, so he’s waiting to hear back.”
Madison rolled her eyes. Without a word, she turned and stalked away, disappearing down the hallway to one side. Wilbur followed her. Unsure what to do, I waited. They returned a few moments later, and Madison thrust some paperwork at me.
Glancing down, I skimmed it. It appeared to be a will and the deed to this house. I brought my eyes to hers again. “None of us knew Harold had any family. Alaska is an easy place for people to disappear, and I already know you’re from out of town.”
Madison’s lips pressed in a line. She snatched the paperwork back from me, her fingers brushing mine and sending heat sizzling in the wake of her glancing touch.
“Fine. Could you please leave?”
Sweet Jesus. Her haughty tone and the icy look in her eyes set every cell in my body on fire. I didn’t know what it was about this woman, but holy freaking hell, she turned me on.
“I’ll leave, but I’m sure the police chief will be following up.”
“Whatever.” She waved airily as if she were dismissing me. “Just go.”
I took a last look at her and turned on my heel. When the door clicked shut behind me, I hesitated for a beat before forcing my feet to walk down the stairs and to my truck.
A few minutes after I returned home, my phone rang. “It’s Rex!” Allie called.
“I’ll take it.”
I’d filled her in when I got back from my brief visit with Madison. Allie was excited about the potential for a new neighbor, and she’d been waiting for Rex to call.
I answered, “What’s the scoop?”
“Madison Glen is Harold’s granddaughter. He wasn’t on good terms with her mother, but he left everything to Madison,” Rex explained. “You officially have a new neighbor.”
A few hours later, I laid in bed, fiery hot memories of that kiss with Madison spinning through my thoughts on repeat. She lived next door. This was going to be interesting.
Chapter Five
Graham
“Allie, come on!”
“I’m coming!” she called in return.
My daughter pounded down the stairs, practically skidding to a stop in the kitchen as she came around the corner.
“Can we get coffee?” she asked.
I arched a brow. “Coffee?”
Allie shrugged, her blue eyes twinkling. “Yes.” I waited. She rolled her eyes. “Okay. Not coffee. Hot chocolate,” she amended because she knew coffee for her wasn’t on the menu.
When she saw the look on my face, she added, “I just want to stop by Firehouse Café. I’d like one of those cranberry orange scones too. Please.”
Aw, hell. I couldn’t say no, even if I wanted to, so I nodded. “Can do.”
“Yay!”
Glancing at my watch, I added, “We need to roll. You only have a half an hour before school starts.”
Allie’s curls bounced on her shoulders as she spun away and hurried toward the entryway. I heard the rustle of her backpack as she yanked it out of the closet. I grabbed my keys and wallet off the counter and followed her outside.
As we began the drive into town, she commented, “Do you think our new neighbor will be nice?”
I’d kept it vague last night, but she must’ve seen the smile teasing at the corners of my mouth.
“What else do you know?” she chirped.
“I told you it was Harold’s granddaughter last night,” I replied, briefly sliding my gaze to hers before looking at the road again. I shook my head, almost to myself. “I didn’t even know he had a granddaughter.”
“I knew he had a granddaughter.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you serious? I talked to him every year when he came, and he never mentioned a granddaughter. In fact, he made a point of making it clear that he didn’t have any family.”
Allie looked awfully pleased with herself when I glanced over as I came to a stop before turning onto the highway. She pursed her lips and shrugged. “You talked to him about guy things, hunting and stuff. He told me about the rest. He doesn’t stay in touch with his family, or he didn’t.” A shadow passed through her eyes, and she looked away.
My daughter bonded tightly to people. Harold had doted on her, and she’d loved it. When she looked out the window, I turned onto the highway that would lead us into Willow Brook.
“His granddaughter, Maddie, is the only one he kept in touch with. He hoped she wouldn’t turn out like his daughter. He didn’t like his daughter,” Allie offered.
“No?”
I didn’t like how curious I was about Madison or Maddie, as Harold apparently referred to her. I hoped for once my usually chatty fourteen-year-old would offer up whatever she knew. She didn’t need to know that I’d crossed paths with Madison before. She certainly didn’t need to know the woman had nearly set me on fire. I was still feeling the occasional reverberation from that kiss. It felt as if cinders had settled inside me in its aftermath, and the embers of the fire still burned.
Allie kept on talking. “I don’t know all the details. All I know is he thought his daughter was a money-grubber, and she married an asshole. He told me he planned to leave his place to his granddaughter. We haven’t seen her since he passed away, so I thought maybe she didn’t want it.”
“She does,” I offered.
Allie snorted. “I bet that was funny, you showing up and checking on the place, and it’s actually hers. Did you do your whole firefighter-take-care-of-the world thing?”
“What are you talking about?” I countered.