“No way,” she returned in his own words.
Hands clenched at his sides, Cole raged across the yard, heading for the outside faucet.
“I’d advise you to stay away from that,” Lesley shouted, “or you’ll be getting a lot more than a cold trickle.”She jiggled the hose a couple of times to prove she wasn’t fooling.
“Threats, Lesley?”His voice was low and dangerous.
Goose bumps broke out across her forearms at the chill in his voice.“I’m warning you,” she said with much bravado.
“Yes?”He took a step closer.
“Don’t.”She retreated, her resolve wavering.What was the matter with her?Show some mettle, her mind shouted.Straightening her shoulders, she faced him boldly.“We could compromise,” she suggested, angry with herself for the way her voice wobbled.She wasn’t some country hick he could push around.
“The solution is simple.”
“Oh?”
“Turn off that thing, I’ll finish my shower and then you can do as you please.”
In a burst of temper, Lesley threw down the green gardenhose, stalked to the faucet and turned off the water.Hands placed challengingly on hips, she whirled around.“There.Are you happy?”
He made an indifferent sound as if what she did or didn’t do wasn’t of interest to him, and the irritating way he looked and spoke only served to fuel the temper stirring within her.Was she safe with this kind of man living next door?Paul Walker had sensed that things weren’t right with Cole Daniels, confirming her own feelings.
“Before you go in, I think there’s something you should know,” Lesley warned.
“Yes?”
Lesley assumed the defensive stance her instructor had shown her.Her hands were positioned level with her face.Baring her teeth for effect, she glared at him.“I’ve had four karate lessons.”
His robust laugh only angered her more.The man was despicable.She felt ridiculously close to tears and fluttered her lashes furiously at the smarting moistness.She never cried.
“Is that supposed to frighten me?”Cole asked.
“No!”she shouted, afraid the brightness of unshed tears might shine from her eyes.“But...I think you should know I can take care of myself.”
The humor drained from his eyes.His entire demeanor changed, and Lesley couldn’t understand why.A hard mask seemed to steal over his face.“Good.Finish those lessons.You may need them.”
Lesley paused long enough to grab her purse and sweater and lock the front door.Then she drove straight to her sister’s.
“Terry!”She burst in the front door, her voice urgent and confused.
Terry rushed out of the kitchen, the wooden door swinging after her.“What is it?”
“A man moved in next door.”
Immediately Terry’s expression relaxed.“Oh dear.For a minute you had me frightened.A man, you say.How interesting.Married?”
“I don’t know.”Her sister apparently didn’t understand the situation, and from the look in her eye, the romantic side of Terry’s nature had taken over.Lesley could almost see the little wheels in her sister’s mind whirling a hundred miles an hour.
“Is he wearing a wedding band?”
“No.”She swallowed a giant breath.“It’s not what you think.”
“He’s old.”
“No.”
“Good.Young and handsome?”
