“It’s OK,” I stammered. “I’ll go get him.”
I grabbed my keys off the kitchen counter.
“You sure?”
A lump had formed in my throat. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I just nodded, waved, then beelined for the door.
“Good luck,” he called after me. But I didn’t answer. Because it was too late for luck. I had already made a fool out of myself, and no amount of luck would undo that.
CHAPTER 8
* * *
LOUISA
“She’s here,” Nathan announced, as if I couldn’t see the headlights bouncing up my driveway for myself. Little blond Brando, as I presumed he was called, was curled up next to me on the sofa, and my lap was already covered with dog hair. How could such a tiny creature shed such a large volume of hair? It’s mathematically impossible.
“Shall I bring him out?” Nathan asked, indicating the fur ball glued to my leg.
I wanted a look at the woman who had ventured onto my property. “No, she can come in,” I replied. “I want to apologize for scaring her.” It was a lie; I had no intention of apologizing. I had every right to defend myself, and nothing bad had happened to her or her dog.
I heard brakes whine, then a car door closing. My porch steps creaked as she mounted them. Nathan opened the door before she had a chance to ring the bell.
I sized her up through the open door. She was smaller than she had looked on the monitor—five foot five and a trim 112 pounds. After twenty-five years as a casting director, I could tell how much a woman weighed just by looking at her, give or take what she’d had for breakfast. She had an athletic but feminine physique, with slender hips and a perky bottom—if I were still working, I could get her a lululemon commercial with one phone call. She had a well-balanced face, with full lips and a slightly turned-up nose. Her fair skin was dotted with light freckles—Irish? Scandinavian? Likely some sort of western European mutt. She had shoulder-length dark chocolate–colored hair that was screaming for hot tools, but it was wavy and well bodied. She had good posture and a slight turnout in her feet: a dead giveaway that she was or had been a dancer. I admired that she wasn’t afraid to come alone. My house was distinctly intimidating, even without gunfire to greet you.
“Hello,” Nathan said to the nymphlike figure. “Brando’s just in the other room with my aunt. Would you like to come in? I think she’d like the opportunity to apologize.” I considered what I would do if a strange man had invited me into his house in the dead of night. I was bold but not foolish. Would she dare come in?
“Oh! That’s kind of you,” she began, “but I don’t want to impose any more than I already have.” At the sound of the woman’s voice, the little dog’s ears perked up, and a moment later he was jumping all over her. She was all smiles as she fell to her knees to greet him, and I detected the hint of dimples in her porcelain cheeks.
“Brando!” she cooed as she ruffled the top of his head. “Don’t you ever wander off like that again!”
She scratched his little dog ears, then clipped a leash around his collar and stood up. “I’m so sorry to have troubled you,” she said. I thought with those words she would be on her way, but she surprised me by adding, “You have a spectacular home. I’ve never seen anything like it. An exotic orchid in a field of daisies.”
And now it was my ears that perked up.
“Thank you,” Nathan said. “But I don’t live here. The house belongs to my aunt, Louisa.”
I stood up at the mention of my name and walked to where she could see me.
“Good evening,” she said politely. “Forgive the intrusion. And my voyeurism. But I am absolutely enchanted by your house.”
Rare orchid? Voyeurism? Enchanted? Who is this Lycra-clad sophisticate standing in my foyer?
“Thank you,” I said. Nathan was looking at me sideways, so I reluctantly made good on my promise. “I realize my actions earlier this evening were a bit extreme,” I said. “I live alone, I hope you can understand?” Not exactly an apology, but Nathan seemed satisfied enough.
“I was sneaking around like a crazed assassin!” she replied. “Your reaction was completely understandable.” Sophisticated and gracious. I was liking her more and more.
“It’s such an extraordinary property,” she added. “I can understand why you would be protective.”
And then I said something that surprised even me: “Would you like a tour?”