His hair was tousled like he’d just rolled out of every straight woman’s wet dream, and when my wandering gaze finally made it to his face, those hazel eyes were fixed on me.
I’d been right, the vehicle belonged to the woman from last night. She stood next to him in the same clothes she’d worn the night before. Normally, that would’ve indicated they’d had a one-night stand, but the third individual threw me off.
He was older than Garrett, maybe around his early fifties. He had what society would label a “dad bod” with a salt-and-peppered beard and matching hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. He stood with a similar air to Garrett and had his arm wrapped around the woman’s shoulders.
Had they all spent the night together? My eyes widened of their own accord. I hadn’t heard a damn thing, and the wheels of my mind were working overtime. How did one have a threesome quietly?
Ignoring Garrett’s continued stare, and the now two extra sets of eyes on us, I opened the passenger door, setting my purse and Jamie’s overnight bag on the seat.
“Are you heading to work?”
The deep, gravelly voice slid up my spine, stopping at the base of my neck. I turned to find him a few steps closer, arms crossed over his chest, glowering at my slacks and work shoes with such intensity that I subconsciously stepped back.
It was only one step, one small, singular movement, but I might as well have quaked like a leaf and waved a white flag to my observant, overprotective son. By the time I’d finished the lone step, Jamie had shoved in front of me, crossing his arms and mimicking Garrett’s stance back at him. “Who are you?”
Oh my God. Darting forward, I wrapped my hands around his shoulders, pulling him back against me. “That’s Garrett, he lives in the other half of the duplex.” Jamie’s face didn’t relax. If anything, his frown deepened.
Addressing the glowering man, I answered, “And yes, I work today.”
I sneaked a glance back at the Jeep, about to pull Jamie toward his door when the woman reached out and smacked Garrett in the back of his head. “Fix your face.”
A chuckle tried to burst out, and I hastily sucked it back in, a choked, wheezing sound escaping me. He didn’t flinch at her parental-like assault, his eyes just traveled up my body before he turned his glower on her instead.
I exhaled, feeling like I could breathe again. The woman, unfazed by his irritation, tsked at him and shook her head. Walking toward me, she waved her hand in his direction and said, “Don’t mind him.”
She extended the same hand to me as she continued, “We met yesterday. Kind of.” She laughed, like the memory from last night was a treasure she was savoring. “So, you’re the neighbor. I’m Sarah, Garrett’s sister-in-law.”
Attempting to mask my surprise, I reached past Jamie, who remained statue-still in front of me, and took her hand. “Yes, that’s me. I’m Madison Hartland, it’s nice to meet you.”
Sarah smiled, and it lit up her entire face. Sporting wrinkled clothes and smeared makeup, yet she was somehow still gorgeous. She hooked a manicured thumb over her shoulder at the man who’d had his arm around her. “That’s my husband, Harold.”
Harold let out an irritated grunt that had her erupting in giggles, and I wondered if she was maybe still a little tipsy. Unfortunate brother-in-law aside, I decided I liked her, and I knew Layla certainly would.
“He’d prefer it if you called him Harry.” Her eyes twinkled, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
Dropping her gaze to Jamie, she asked, “And who’s this strapping young man in front of you?”
I’d been prepared for the question and immediately slapped bricks down, building up my defensive wall with superhuman speed so my disappointment at her response wouldn’t show on my face. I wasn’t ashamed of Jamie, not even a little, but that didn’t mean it was always easy to stomach responses with a smile on my face.