But Thor giving us the middle finger for three months was really getting on my nerves.
“You couldn’t give us one week of sunshine?” I asked as I tromped to the Jeep. “Come on, Thor. You know I’m grateful for your help in finding Cooper. I’m sorry you have to stay away from Ordinary for a year, but think of it this way. At least your power isn’t lost.”
I got in the Jeep and clicked on my seatbelt.
The rain seemed to lighten a little, the drops shrinking from nickel-sized to dime.
Maybe he was listening.
“You lay off the rain for the rest of August and most of September, and I promise we will throw you the biggest welcome home party Ordinary has ever seen when you come back.”
I started the engine and guided the Jeep south toward town. By the time I turned east, navigating the quiet neighborhoods toward the lake, the rain was down to a soft drizzle that finally, finally, stopped.
I let out a long breath. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Thor.”
I drove past the front of Ryder’s cabin, then parked across the street. Moonlight filtered silver down through the clouds. Wow, Thor was going to give us a little break. I hoped he didn’t change his mind in the morning.
Ryder’s truck was in his driveway. Next to it was a sleek sedan with an in-state license plate, but not one I recognized.
Ryder was not only back in town, he also had company.
The memory of his phone call this morning rolled through my head. He had sounded tired, worried, and maybe drunk. He had sounded like he was leaving to do something he might regret.
Kill a vampire?
No. Ryder didn’t know about the creatures who lived, or un-lived, among us.
Had he called because he was worried about returning to Ordinary? That didn’t really make much sense. He lived here.
I studied the low glow coming through the window beside the door, probably light from the living room.
Maybe he had a date.
That thought hit me like a two-ton sledgehammer. Not that there would be anything wrong with him dating. He’d dumped me. We weren’t together. So if he wanted to have a woman over, if he wanted someone else in his life, I should be happy for him.
Okay, not happy, but there were no legal grounds for me to slash his tires.
Maybe the chick’s sedan had expired tags. Maybe it had been used in a bank robbery. Maybe I should go over there and check that out. Because it was my job, not because I was jealous.
I was moments away from running the plates when the porch light flicked on, bathing the front of the house in light.
I killed the engine and ducked down, hoping the night would hide the Jeep. Why hadn’t I parked out of sight of the front door?
Stake out 101, Delaney.
The door opened and two people stepped out onto the porch: Ryder and another man.
Yes! He was with a man, not a woman.
My heart did a leap of joy, which was totally unprofessional.
Ryder stood in the doorway scowling, his arms crossed over his chest. His dog, Spud, sat attentively at his feet.
Just watching Ryder, lit by the light of the porch and shadowed by night, made my heart thump harder. His wide shoulders were muscled from the hands-on approach he took to his business. He might design buildings, but that didn’t keep him from going on-site and swinging a hammer. Those shoulders stretched the tailored lines of his dress shirt so that it was tight at the chest and biceps, but it skimmed his flat stomach.
Even at this distance, his dress slacks drew my eyes to narrow hips and long legs.
Ryder could model those business clothes, and more than one fashion magazine would take him on.
