“Hi,” the woman chirped, already stepping forward like she was coming into the house with or without an invite.“We live right across the street.I’m Mitzy Granville, and this is my husband, Mike.”
Hadley was reeling from their combined…blondness when it occurred to her that it was her turn to talk.“I’m Emma,” she said, silently congratulating herself on remembering her fake name for this mission.“This is my husband, Clark.”
Cole gave a stiff nod.“Hi.”
That was it.Justhi.Said like a put-upon introvert who’d just been forced to make a phone call, and just a smidge friendlier than if he’d told them to get off his lawn.
Mitzy’s smile flickered for a second, but she recovered quickly.“We just had to come over and introduce ourselves.The whole neighborhood’s beendyingof curiosity since the moving trucks showed up and delivered your furniture, and I wasn’t about to let any of them get to you first.”
She had to laugh at the woman’s willingness to call herself out as a nosy bitch.She respected the honesty.That’s when she noticed the enormous charcuterie board Mitzy was holding.“That looks like it weighs a million pounds.Is it for us?”
She brightened.“Of course!”
Hadley had to elbow Cole out of the way to usher their guests inside before taking the tray—holy fuck, it really did weigh a million pounds.How often did this chick work out?—and hustling it over to the coffee table.
“That’s my signature welcome board,” Mitzy said, helping herself to a seat on the sofa.She gestured for Mike to sit next to her.Mike, seemingly resigned to his fate and about as happy to be here as Cole was, did as he was told.“It’s prosciutto, brie, honeycomb, dried apricots—Mike, tilt it toward them.You can’t even see the salami rose from that angle.”
Mike obediently rotated the board like Vanna White revealing a vowel.Cole frowned at him, seemingly judging the other man’s life choices.
Hadley offered a polite smile.“It’s gorgeous.”
Mitzy preened.“Oh, it’s nothing.Just a little something I whipped up after Pilates.”Her gaze flickered past Hadley, sweeping the entry and living room like a laser.“I’d never know you just moved in.Your décor is fabulous.In fact, I have that same end table.”
She glanced around at theiraggressivelyneutral surroundings as she took a seat on the loveseat across from them.Cole, she noticed, didn’t sit.Just stood next to her, arms crossed over his chest like he was Kevin Costner and she was Whitney Houston inThe Bodyguard.“I wish I could take credit for it.”Like hell.“But the relocation company handled everything.Clark works for Sims Pharmaceutical.He’s taking over the pet care division.We have about two weeks to get settled in before the gig starts.”She reached for his hand.“Isn’t that right, honey?”
Without hesitation, he laced his fingers through hers.“Right,” he muttered in a strangled voice that sounded like he’d been gargling broken glass.
She could only hope she looked like a normal wife instead of an obsessed teenager who couldn’t stop noticing how strong and hot and huge Cole’s hand was compared to her own.
Mitzy beamed at Cole like he’d said something charming instead of uttering one syllable.Hadley imagined it was the confirmation of his earning potential that really did it for her, because it sure as shit wasn’t his charm.“We’re having a little barbecue tomorrow.The whole neighborhood will be there.Youmustcome.”
Well, hell’s bells.Maybe this spy thing wasn’t as hard as it seemed, because they hadn’t even been here twenty-four hours and they already had an invite to an event that’d put them in contact with all the neighbors, er, suspects.“That sounds amazing.What time?”
“Four,” Mike said.Hadley was glad to know he was in charge ofsomethingin his life.
“We’d love that.”She squeezed Cole’s hand.He made a noncommittal sound that could be mistaken for agreement if youreallywanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Mitzy, thankfully, didn’t seem to notice.“We’re keeping it low-key.Burgers, hot dogs, salad.Nothing fancy.”She paused.“Probably only one or two themed cocktails.”
Mike snorted in a way that made Hadley think Mitzy wasn’t joking.There woulddefinitelybe themed cocktails.To which Hadley could only think…yikes.
After a few more minutes of small talk that felt more like two hours, Hadley and Cole saw their new neighbors to the door.As soon as they made it past the threshold, Mitzy turned and pointed her index finger at them sternly.“Tomorrow at four.If you’re not there, I’m coming over here and dragging you both back to our place.”
Hadley held up her hands in supplication.“Yes, ma’am.Four.Can we bring anything?”
“Just yourselves.”
“Looking forward to it,” she said,almostmanaging to sound sincere.“Aren’t we, honey?”
Cole didn’t miss a beat.He slid an arm around her shoulders.“Sure.”The expression he made could pass for a smile if you squinted at him really hard.“Thanks for the invite.”
Mitzy smiled at him warmly.“Aw, you two are justadorable.”
Hadley forced a laugh, because the alternative was snorting.“See you tomorrow.”
Goodbyes and phone numbers were exchanged (by some miracle, Hadley managed to remember the number to her new burner phone) before Mike pulled Mitzy back toward their house.And the second the door closed, Cole exhaled hard.“Jesus,” he muttered.“That was exhausting.”
Hadley turned to face him, leaning her shoulder against the door.“You were a super-secret spy doing Jack Reacher stuff for years andthatwas exhausting?”
