She was trying to make conversation. Whether she was just being polite or trying to start a relationship thing, Sam didnt know. He couldnt let himself care.
He stared hard at his dog. Leo glowed with happiness. He obviously liked Kirby. That was one check mark in her favor, that she was kind to animals, but he wasnt going to let it change his resolve.
He stood slowly, careful of his stiff left leg. Thanks for bringing him back.
It was my pleasure. Hes a good dog. A little energetic.
Hes got a lot of puppy in him still. Sam kept his focus on his dogs broad head. Guess Ill be right over to fix that fence. Im sorry he jumped into your yard. Cmon, Leo, inside. Now.
The dog followed him, happily tossing their pretty neighbor his most charming dog grin.
It was embarrassing, thats what, a tough guard dog with his tongue lolling like that. That kind of affection would lead a guy to heartache. Didnt the dog know that?
Leo? Thats his name?
That was Kirbys voice, dulcet with amusement, calling him back, making his shoes pivot so that he turned toward her, as if he had no say in it. As if his feet were in charge.
Whats wrong with the name Leo?
Nothing, exactly.
Leo danced at the tinkling warmth of Kirbys laughter. Sam had to admit he liked the sound of it, too. Soft, not grating. Gentle, not earsplitting.
It wasnt what I expected from a big dangerous-looking dog like that. She held out one hand and Leo dashed straight for her, gazing adoringly at her while she scratched his chin. Is he purebred?
She was captivating. He couldnt seem to figure out a way to answer. He was a big tough guy. He knew how to speak. What was wrong with him?
Youre in trouble, man. His game plan was going to be blown to bits if he didnt thank her and exit stage left. All he had to do was haul Leo through that door, close it, and hed be safe. Unattached. Distant.
But did he do that? No. Did he summon up his best drill-sergeant impressions and sound harsh and mean so that shed never look at him again with those sparkling eyes full of hope? Its what he should have done.
But did he? No. He wanted to hear her laugh again. Against every instinct he had, he advanced when he should have retreated. So what would you have named him? Wait, I know. Something fancy. Like Prince or Duke, maybe.
Now youre mocking me. She thrust her gently rounded chin just high enough for the wind to sneak beneath the fall of her silken hair and ruffle it.
The wispy locks caressed the side of her face and made him wonder if her hair was as soft as it looked.
No, I like people names for dogs, she added. They have feelings, too.
Let me guess. Youve got one of those pampered little dogs. With carefully brushed hair tied up with a pink ribbon. Im right, arent I?
Im not telling you.
A cocker spaniel, right? Hed recognized the note and type of bark earlier, when shed been unlocking her front door.
How did you know?
I just do. Im gifted. Oh, that made her laugh. What? You dont think so?
Gifted isnt the word Id use. Irritating. Annoying. Arrogant.
Ouch. Calling me names already? That doesnt bode well for our future together as next-door neighbors. He liked the way a little wrinkle furrowed between her brows right at the bridge of her nose. Youre mad because Im right.
Im not mad, and theres nothing wrong with having a polite dog.
My dog doesnt have to be well mannered. Not with his good looks. Hes naturally adored no matter what.
Was Sam Gardner talking about himself, too? Yes, but good looks can only take a guy so far.
Thats a matter of opinion. He braced his hands on his hips, a fighting stance, broadening his shoulders, drawing tight his chest muscles.
He looked as invincible as steel, but there was a tenderness in him, a kindness that shone in the chocolate warmth of his eyes, that gleamed like a promise in his deep rumbling voice. My dog is good-looking and at the top of the food chain. Look at him. Big teeth. Bred for fighting. Hes a trained guard dog.
Hes a thief. He helped himself to most of the dog biscuits.
I can get you another box. Hold on.
I dont want you to reimburse me with dog treats. I was just Okay, so Sam Gardner did meet another criterion. He could make her laugh.
But that didnt mean he was a good man. For example, he might not be a responsible pet owner. Didnt you notice Leo was gone from your yard?
One minute I looked out the window and he was fine. But the phone rang and he must have escaped while I was talking to my lady love.
You were talking with your aunt, huh?
How did you know that?
Im giftedwhat can I say?
You overheard me through the open windows when you were bringing Leo back.
And you heard my dogs little bark.
Sam chuckled, low and deep, studying her with a gaze so intent, it was as if he could see her soul, and she shivered, feeling exposed. Way too exposed.
She took a step back, confused, not at all sure she liked this man. He definitely wasnt anything close to her ideal of Mr. Right.
What she knew for sure was that it was time to leave. Goodbye, Leo. It was nice meeting you. Come over any time to visit.
Ill be fixing that fence. Its next on my list, Sam informed her as she held out her hands and the big dog laid his face in her open palms.
Im glad. This is a quiet neighborhood, but theres always a car now and then thats driving too fast and isnt watching for kids or pets. She knelt, her hair falling all around her face and her shoulders and tumbling down over her nape, to let Leo kiss her chin. Good dog, good boy.
Sams heart stopped beating. Hed never seen such gentle hands. Slender and fine boned, with long tapered fingers. She looked like kindness personified, and it rocked him to the coreas if hed taken a direct blow from a grenade launcher.
Leo gazed at her again with adoration, and while Sam wasnt about to do the same, he could see there was something endearing about her. With her head bent forward, he could see the careful part of her hairperfect, not a strand out of place.
See? She was just what he thought. The perfect woman with a perfect life looking for the perfect man to marry.
He wanted nothing to do with that.
To make it clear, Sam stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. He kept them there as Kirby rose like a flower to the sun, straight and elegant and lovely, and smiled at him. Hers was a smile that could melt the polar ice caps with its loveliness. Then she moved away and out of his sight.
The scent of her perfume, something light and floral and sweet, remained.
He was alone. And that was good. His life was fine the way it was.
Leo nudged his knee.
Cmon, boy, lets go grab some lunch. Then weve got to get busy. Weve a lot of work ahead of us.
The dog loped up the back steps, dashed across the porch and into the house. He bounded and hopped impatiently while Sam grabbed his wallet and his keys.
The empty house echoed around him, lonely.
As his life was meant to be.
Ouch! Kirby sucked her fingernail, a casualty of trying to open the new box of tea. The wrapping remained untouched, despite her torn and bent nail.
What did they make this stuff out of? Invisible steel? Forget breaking another fingernail over this. She was going for the big guns.
She yanked open the top kitchen drawer and rummaged around in the mess. Where had the scissors gone? The ringing phone interrupted her search.
Hello, Kirby dear. I just wanted to give you a quick call and let you know that my nephew is moving in next door to you.
Hello, Ruth. Kirby tucked the cordless phone against her shoulder and spotted the scissors in the back of the drawer. Ive already met Sam.
What did you think?
Was that excitement in Ruths voice? I think hes, uh, well, it was interesting to meet him.
Oh, my. The excitement faded into distress. He wasnt rude to you, was he? He comes across rather rough sometimes. Hes had a hard life, the poor man.
She knew Ruth was dying to tell her, but Kirby wasnt about to ask. It wasnt her business and she didnt listen to gossip. She didnt want to know Sams hardships.
That wasnt true. She was curious. What was the real scoop on that man?
Instead she said, Sam told me hes repairing the house for you, too.
Thats righthes a real hard worker. Hell do a fine job. I know the kind of first impression he gives, but I promise you hell make a fine neighbor. My Sams dependable, strong, hardworking and honest. Why, hes as good as the day is long, and the stories I could tell about him
What stories? Kirby wondered, but it wasnt any of her business. Really. Im happy hell make a quiet and responsible neighbor. How are you feeling today?
Fine, now that my nephew has moved to town to help me out.
Kirby jabbed the pointed tip of the scissors into the shrink-wrap. The plastic stuff gave way. Finally. I suppose this means Ill be seeing more of you, since youll be coming to visit Sam.
Yes. Hes a great cook. Did you know that?
No. It was sweet, how much Ruth loved her nephew. Youre proud of him, I can tell. It must mean the world to have him living close.
Ill say! Hes been away, traveling the globe since he graduated from high school, but weve kept in touch over the years. I wrote him faithfully every week. And now here he is, taking care of so many troubles for me.
Sam did look as though he could solve any problem. After she hung up, Kirby rose on her tiptoes and could see him perfectly through her kitchen window. He was in his backyard tossing a huge orange plastic bone. His enormous black dog leaped like a puppy, knocking into shrubs and bounding over flowers as he raced after his toy. Leo loped back with the bone lodged in his powerful jaws and dropped it onto Sams waiting hand.
It wasnt the dog she noticed, but the man. How he rubbed his dogs head with a strong but kind touch. Sam looked different. With his guard down, he almost appeared good-hearted. As strong as steel, as powerful as a midnight storm, but benevolent.
Hes dependable, strong, hardworking and honest. Those were a few more of her requirements, right there. Kirby wanted a husband she could respect and look up to. Not that Sam Gardner was that man.
What else had Ruth said about him? Hes had a hard life.
What happened to him? Kirby wondered.
This is the last one. His distant rumble rose on the breeze blowing through the open window. One more throw, then weve got to fix the fence. Cant have you running loose, you big menace. Its bad manners to accost pretty ladies.
The menace barked in happy agreement, hopping and leaping in anticipation, his attention on the enormous plastic bone. Sams laughter and the warm vibration of his voice lifted and fell according to the winds whim. There was something vulnerable in him, this big strong man, playing with his dog.
A hard life, huh? She wondered about that as she watched him kneel to rub Leos ruff. Then he disappeared into the house, the dog shadowing him.
When Sam appeared again, he was wearing his tool belt and hauling a small bucket that rattled when he came around to her side gate.
Hey, Im about to trespass, he called from below the window.
She was out of his line of sight, and he hadnt looked over at her once. How did he know where she was? Did he know shed been watching him?
Im surprised youre using the gate. I thought you might just climb over the fence instead.
I would, but I dont want to set a bad example for Leo. Hey, hello there, pup.
Her spaniels bark rose in a happy greeting as Kirby hit the switch on the iced tea maker.
Thats some watchdog you got there, he called through the screen door. What does she do? Invite burglars into the yard?
Only once, and he wasnt a burglar. Kirby stared at him hard.
Hey, insult me and I wont fix the fence.
My dog isnt the one getting out. She pushed open the screen door to join him on the back deck. I almost have your tea ready. Its brewing right now.
Brewing? You dont use the mix?
From a can? Dont insult me. When I promised you tea, I meant the real thing. She led the way to the back of the property, where a few boards leaned against the fence beneath the shade of a giant maple.
The real thing? I dont know. He hefted the awkward boards as if they weighed nothing at all. I think thats too wholesome for me. I need the fake stuff with all the chemicals and artificial flavors, or I could go into shock. Then whod fix your fence?
Im a nurse practitioner. Id save your life.
Great. Youd revive me so I could go back to work.
Id revive you because I took an oath. And because youre my new quiet neighbor. The one who wont play loud music at night.
Are you hinting at something? Acting as if puzzled, he hauled the hammer from his battered leather tool belt. Ill have to remind my fellow biker gang members to keep it down when we gather at midnight to shoot off our illegal firearms.
Oh, he thought he was funny when he was no such thing. The tea was probably ready, so she headed back to the house. Can I get you anything? I have cookies.
Cookies are too sweet for me. They might ruin my sour disposition.
How about a lemon?
The little spaniel skipped after her, clearly in love with her owner and, to Sams shock, Leo took after Kirby, too, his tongue lolling, his gait snappy, that sappy loving look in his big eyes.
Hey, get back here! he commanded, and the dog gave him a sad expression. It was an embarrassment, thats what. Oh, dont complain. Come here.
He didnt see what all the fuss was about. Kirby was nice and seemed lovely, but she was a woman. Like half the people on the planet.
He shoved a bunch of climbing rose canes aside. Yep, she was a woman. Flowers and tidy weeded flower beds and those little figurine things stuck here and there. A birdbath and stepping stones with designs on them.
He was glad he was in charge of his own destiny. Being alone was a good thing. He didnt need anyone and he didnt need ceramic stepping stones.
As he dug through his bucket for the right size of galvanized nails, he heard her phone ring inside the house. He could see her kitchen through the big back window. Tidy and cozy and as ruffly and bright as a magazine cover.
It looked homey. There she was, leaning against the white counter, the phone tucked against her shoulder, talking while she poured sparkling tea into a tall glass.