PANDORA
Over the next couple of days, I didn’t see Austin, although I found my gaze traveling to the three-family next door more often than I wanted to admit. The following evening, my doorbell rang.
When I spotted Austin through the window, my heart did a strange little flip that I tried to ignore. I opened the front door. “Austin,” I greeted him with a smile.
“Hi Pandora.” He stared down at me from his warm brown eyes, and his brawny frame took up most of the doorway. He held a small paper bag in his hand. “I wanted to thank you for introducing me to Lucas. It was good to talk to someone like—well, in a similar situation.” Austin adjusted his stance and ran a hand through his thick brown hair.
“He’s a good guy,” I said with a nod.
Our gazes caught, and I froze. My pulse skidded up a notch, and my skin felt hot and tingly. Seconds passed, one tumbling into the next, and the awkward silence amplified.
Say something. Do something, I scolded myself.
“I wanted to say thanks,” Austin said. “It was kind of you.”
“You’re welcome.” Invite him inside. Be hospitable.
He thrust the paper bag at me. “These are for the cats.” With a sheepish grin, he added, “I figured they’d like treats. The kitten devours these.”
“Oh. Yes, they do.” I took the bag. That was sweet of him. “Thank you.” Tipping my head, I asked, “How’s your temporary fur-mate doing?”
Austin chuckled. “He’s still hogging up the bed.”
When I pictured Austin in bed curling up with a kitten was adorable, and my heart did another strange flutter. Wait, why was I picturing Austin shirtless? That would be an enticing image in a fundraising calendar, and women would scoop them up.
“Don’t worry, I left a message with a cat shelter,” he added. “So, I won’t rope you into any cat-spiracies soon.”
I laughed. Then a part of me felt bad about pushing him to give up the little kitten that Austin clearly adored.
His gaze lingered on me, and a new wave of heat shimmered down my body as if kissed by the summer sun.
“Have a good night.” Austin turned and walked away.
Ugh. I should have invited him in. Chagrin passed over me as I watched him walk next door.
What for? He was just being a good neighbor. He wasn’t interested in me in any other way.
Then what was with the flirting?I might be out of practice, but it sure seemed like something was going on.
Maybe so. It was harmless. Besides, nothing had changed. I wasn’t interested in getting extra cozy with my neighbor. It would only complicate my life, which I wanted to keep simple.
I closed the front door and headed inside before Austin could catch me ogling him.
* * *
Late the next morning,Gianna, a tall, stunning half-siren with dark hair streaked with cherry red appeared in the doorway of my office. She owned a retro rock club called the Danger Zone and volunteered at the Network on an as-needed basis. We were friends, but I hadn’t expected her today.
“Hi, Gianna. How are you doing?”
“Great. I came to meet up with Nova to go out to lunch.” She tipped her head. “Want to join us?”
I frowned. “I’d love to, but I have a call in about twenty minutes.” I had a meeting scheduled with a witch in Southern France who suspected a demon in her area.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Gianna rolled a shoulder. “How about a quick coffee break?”
That was a good idea before what was sure to be a tense call. “Sure but make it tea.”
“Tea it is,” Gianna agreed with a nod.
