She didn’t need a keeper or another parent in her life.
“No,” she said. “I’ve known Clay most of my life.” She turned when his truck pulled in next to hers.
He was frowning when he got out.
One of his normal facial expressions.
She put her hand out as if she were presenting the prize on a game show. “Looks good,” he said.
“It does to me,” she said. “As if I could tell one way or another.”
Clay came up on the porch. She wanted a kiss but knew he wouldn’t make that move. Instead, she slid her arm around hiswaist and gave him a little squeeze. His hand landed on hers briefly, then he moved closer to the window to check it out.
She pulled her keys out to unlock the door, but he took them from her hand.
“I’ve got it,” he said.
“It was nice talking to you, Karl. Thanks for watching them do the work. I know I can always count on you.”
“Don’t forget it either,” Karl said firmly.
She shut the door. Clay walked into her living room to look at the window from that direction.
“I’m putting a camera in the window,” he said quietly. “You’re not to tell anyone. And definitely not your nosy neighbor.”
“I wouldn’t. But what kind of camera? I mean someone is going to see it.”
“Not the camera I’m putting in,” he said. “It’s going to be linked to my security system. Are you okay with that?”
At least he asked. “Sure. Will I have access to it?”
“Do you want it on your phone?”
“Yes. I’d like to know when I get packages and stuff. Most times I come home and find them here. If Karl sees the delivery truck, he’ll hide the packages.”
“Your neighbor is overly involved in your life.”
She laughed. “He does it to everyone. Not just me, but the neighbor on the other side and the building next to us too. He’s been here longer than me.”
“People don’t get pissed?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Not that I know of. I mean it’s kind of nice to know someone isn’t stealing our packages because he hides them. Or knows who is on the property and when. Just sucks he wasn’t around the day of the rock.”
“That won’t be an issue with the camera.” He pulled something out of his jacket pocket.
“Oh my God. Is that the camera? It’s so tiny.”
It was black and might be the size of a dime.
“Yep. No one will see it. I’m putting it outside on top of the shutter. Same color and shouldn’t be noticed with the way I’ll angle in there. Is your neighbor going to see me doing it?”
She sighed. “I doubt it since he’s in the house and won’t be able to see on the front porch. Do you want me to go over and thank him again and distract him? Is it really that big of a deal?”
“I want no one to know. I don’t trust anyone but my family.”
“Not even me?” she asked. She’d try not to be hurt over those words, but it was hard.
He sighed. “I trust you. I just meant aside from you.”
