by L. P. Maxa
She stuck out her hand. “Hi. I’m Amelia Brent. Do you live up here? I guess we’ll be neighbors for a few weeks while I’m here.”
He stared at her hand. A few seconds passed before he shook it. “I’m Roman.”
She waited for something else, but he said nothing. “Uh, the place or the name?”
His brows drew together. “What?”
“Roman. Are you from Rome or is that your name?”
An amber light in his eyes glinted for a moment, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “Name.”
Got him. “Pleased to meet you, Roman. And this is Chaos?” Amelia scratched the dog’s head.
“Yup.”
Amelia peered up at him. “Well, I’m glad he was easy to find. Does he run away often?”
“Don’t know. I’ve had him only two weeks.”
She gathered the dog’s snout into her hands and in a baby voice said, “You may not even know your name yet, huh, Chaos?”
“That’s the name they gave him at the rescue. I decided it fit.” Roman belied the sardonic tone of his comment by scratching the dog’s ears.
“Aww, he doesn’t seem so bad.” Amelia couldn’t help but smile at the dog’s happy face.
“That’s because you haven’t had to re-varnish a table because of dog hair.” But again, his hand stroked the dog’s head.
Amelia stared at him. “Wait. You’re not Roman Innis, are you? The furniture maker?”
“I am.”
“Holy crap. I have a famous neighbor.”
He shook his head. “I’m not famous.”
“Right. Because every furniture maker gets pieces put in museums. I read an article on you in Architectural Digest. Mind you, I was at the dentist. I don’t subscribe or anything.” She winced at her blathering.
A reluctant smile gave life to his expression. “I’m not famous, though I will admit to some success.”
“Modest too.” Amelia smiled back. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. I should, uh, move in now.”
He pointed at the house. “Did Chaos break anything?”
“Oh no. I haven’t even got the door open yet. Most of my things are still in the car.”
“Can we help?” Roman pulled a leash from his pocket and clipped it onto Chaos’s collar.
“Actually, I have a couple of heavy boxes, so yeah.” She led the way down the driveway. Roman grabbed her large suitcase from the back of her car and lifted it as if it were little heavier than a pillow. It took her two hands and a knee bend to heft that thing. She picked up the handle of her other suitcase at the entrance. The keypad at the side of the door blinked red. She looked up the number on her phone and punched in the code. “I don’t know if these locks are more secure, but they sure make a key transfer unnecessary.” The light changed green and a click came from inside the heavy wood. She turned the knob with ease and opened the door.
Roman looped the leash on a low-hanging branch. “Sit.”
To her surprise, Chaos did.
“Stay.” Roman showed his palm to Chaos. “Okay, Let me get this inside before he goes nuts. Where do you want it?”
“I don’t know. Put it in the middle of the room, I guess. Oh wow.”
The room featured a wall of glass that looked onto the woods that surrounded the house. The trees blocked the view into the valley, but the glass expanse allowed the light of late afternoon to set the room aglow. The hardwood floors melded into the wooden walls in an amber heat. The plump cushions of the leather sofa promised a cozy spot for reading, and the fireplace, now cold, held a stack of logs ready for flame.
A long, natural-edged table stood beside the kitchen that housed modern appliances, stone countertops, and bright overhead lights.
Roman placed the large suitcase by a wall. “It’s pretty impressive.”
She squinted at him and pointed at the table. “Is that one of yours?”
“Yup.” He pivoted and headed for the door. “I’ll get some more of your stuff.”
Amelia couldn’t believe her luck. The places closer to town were charming, but older. Her last stay was in a cottage overrun with doilies and Victorian-esque furniture. This was modern, sleek, and open. She was going to enjoy her stay here.
She headed back toward her car to grab something else and nearly ran into Roman. He carried a box under one arm, and two satchels in the other hand. He looked as if they had no weight whatsoever, and she knew the box held books and other heavy things. She stayed out of his way.
He placed the box on the kitchen counter and the satchels beside the suitcase. “Is this okay?”
“Sure.” She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He really was remarkable. “How’s Chaos holding out?”
As if he understood, Chaos barked and lunged to the end of his leash by the doorway. The leash unwrapped from the branch and the dog came bounding in, his toenails clicking on the wooden floor.
“We’re still working on stay,” Roman said with a sigh. “He’s doing better though.”
“I’d say.” She couldn’t resist mussing up the hair on Chaos’s head. “He’s such a cutie.”
“He’s something all right.” Roman jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “You have only one box left. Do you mind if he stays in here while I get it?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. You’ve done all the heavy lifting already. I’ll get it. Thanks for your help.”
“Sure. Come, Chaos. Let’s leave Amelia to her unpacking.”
The dog happily bounced to his master, leash trailing behind him. That dog didn’t walk anywhere, did he? Roman gathered the leash from the floor and turned back to her. “They probably stocked the fridge for you, but I’ve got a couple of steaks ready to grill. Why don’t you come over in about an hour? That way you don’t have to worry about unpacking and cooking.”
“I’d love that, but I can’t even bring over a bottle of wine. Actually, maybe I can. I have no idea what’s in this kitchen.”
“I’ve got wine. Just bring yourself. It’s the next house up the road.”
She smiled. “Thanks again. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Great.” He strode out the door with Chaos strutting beside him.
Amelia bit her lip. Not a bad way to end her first day back in Mystic.
###
What the hell had he just done? He directed his gaze at Chaos. “I blame you for this.”
The dog gazed back at him, tongue lolling out of his mouth, smiling and bouncing with every step.
“You’re pleased with yourself.” Roman rubbed his forehead. “I should have known you’d be trouble.” But he patted the dog’s head anyway and allowed the smile to grow on his own face.
Then his fingertips began to tingle, and the smile evaporated.
He hadn’t had a dinner guest in, well, years. Parents didn’t count. But Amelia seemed nice. Hell, nice didn’t start to describe her. She hadn’t flinched when he tried to maintain his aloof air and instead had pushed back even harder. And she didn’t look half-bad.
Now his mouth really betrayed him because the smile reappeared. It was as much from laughing at himself for the understatement as for remembering her appearance. Serious curves wrapped in blue jeans. She wore a T-shirt that was tight in all the right places, and she had a face that could grace a cosmetics ad.
She had beautifully smooth skin that wasn’t pale so much as creamy. In stark contrast was her black hair, long with just enough of a wave to curl her ponytail into a fancy apostrophe. Or did he mean comma? Didn’t matter. Neither would make a good compliment, but he knew what he meant.
And those eyes. They were the clearest blue he had ever seen. They looked fake.
Wordsmith he was not.
His fingers tingled again, and he counted as he drew in ten deep long breaths. Focus on the cooking, idiot. You’re only doing a nice thing for someone who moved in and was nice to your dog.
When had he started thinking of Chaos as his dog?
Mal had asked him to take th
e dog as a favor to a friend. Their local rescue organization was over-full, and the dog needed someone strong to handle him. Chaos was big. Part Irish wolfhound, part Newfie. They believed, anyway. Of course, with his size came the gentlest, dopiest personality with a tongue to prove it.
Roman pushed open his door and unhooked the leash. “No more wandering, okay?”
Chaos spun in a circle, trying to keep his gaze on Roman the whole while.
“Crazy mutt.” Roman placed both hands on the side of Chaos’s neck to stop him and massaged the dog’s scruff. “I may be starting to get used to you.”
Chaos leaned into him, urging more touches.
“Can’t, buddy. I’ve got to cook dinner. Remember. That’s your fault.” And when had he started talking to the dog?
Roman straightened, and Chaos gave him one last adoring look before making a final circle and flopping onto the ground. But his head faced Roman so he could watch every move.
After he washed his hands, Roman started dinner. First, he pulled a second steak from the fridge. He’d have to figure out something else for dinner tomorrow, and that meant a trip into town. He sighed. Why had he invited her?
It was too late now. He dusted the meat with salt and laid it beside the one he’d already prepared. He pulled out two potatoes and scrubbed them clean. A few fork pricks in each, and they went into the toaster oven. Under the convection setting, they’d easily be done in an hour.
Okay. Meat, potatoes… She’d probably want something green too. Luckily, he had some asparagus he could throw onto the grill beside the steak. He should test the wine.
He descended the narrow curved stairs to the little wine cellar he’d designed with the house. Bottles lined the circular wall the whole way down. The few empty spots reassured him he wouldn’t need to stock up any time soon. If only grocery store shopping were as easy.
He pulled two bottles from their cradles and returned to the kitchen. He opened the corks on both, and poured one into a decanter. He wasn’t trying to be fancy, he liked his wine properly served. He poured himself a glass without waiting for it to aerate. He needed it.
He’d finished the glass by the time he heard the knock on the door. The wine had mellowed him. The steaks were on the grill, the asparagus ready to go on, and he’d even set the table. No eating by the sink tonight.
He opened the door, and all the effects of the wine evaporated. Amelia smiled at him.
“When you said neighbor, I thought you’d be next door, not that I’d need to take a hike.” She laughed as she came inside. Chaos jumped up and circled her feet. She bent down and nuzzled his snout. “Hi, boy. Were you good while you waited for me?”
Roman shook himself. “We live spread apart up here.”
Amelia took in the room. “This is a great house as well. Bigger than mine. Then again, mine is a guesthouse. This is your home.”
His house had the same picture window across the back wall as Amelia’s, but his had an extensive deck out back and a second story. An additional wing stretched into the woods.
She pointed to the extension. “What’s that? A pool house?”
“My office and workshop.”
She examined the dining table. A blue streak of resin ran down the length of the top. “That looks like a creek gamboling through the wood.”
“That was the intention.”
“I am in the presence of greatness. Did you make all your furniture?”
“Not the sofas. Or the TV. Or the mattress.” God, why had he mentioned a bed?
“It’s amazing.” She ran her palm along the highly polished, bar--height, concrete kitchen counter. “This is cool.”
“It’s not wood, but I like the mix of the industrial with the natural.”
“It’s fantastic. And practical. If I were a chef, I would covet this kitchen.”
His kitchen was big. Then again, everything in his house was big to fit him.
A timer went off. “Dinner is about five minutes out.” He grabbed the asparagus and the tongs. “Please tell me you don’t like your steaks well done.”
“Yuck,” she said. “Medium rare, more to the rare side.”
As if he needed another reason to like her. “Go ahead and pour yourself a glass of wine. It’s on the counter. As you can see, I’ve already started.” And I probably need another glass.
He went outside to the grill. He laid the asparagus directly on the rack and squeezed a lemon over them, which sent a cloud of scented steam over him. The steaks needed to rest before serving, so he pulled them off the fire and onto a plate. Aluminum foil lay ready to tent the meat.
“You look like you know what you’re doing.” Her voice came from beside him.
He started, and one of the steaks fell back on the grill. The flame flared up, but he reached out and grabbed the T-bone with his fingers.
“Oh my God. Don’t do that. Did you burn yourself?” She hurried to his side.
“No. I’m fine. This one will be mine since I touched it.”
“I don’t care about that. Aren’t you…Wait a minute. I forgot I was in Mystic. Fire is your thing, isn’t it?” She placed a hand on her hip.
“Sort of.” Roman adjusted the foil over the meat.
“That is so funny because—”
Chaos came darting from the house barking wildly. He stopped at the edge of the deck, but barked toward the trees. A raccoon stood at the bottom of the steps leading down and chattered back before lolloping back into the woods.
“Good dog, Chaos.” Roman patted the dog. “Happens every time I cook out here. The trash bandits think I’m going to share.”
“You’ve only had Chaos for two weeks. Did you teach him not to chase them?”
“No. Chaos goes to the edge of the deck but no farther unless I’m with him. Thank goodness because he’d be long gone. The first time it happened, I nearly had a heart attack.” Roman laughed. “I think this dog was destined for me.”
She smiled. “Sounds like he might be. Can I help with anything?”
“Sure. Take this into the house and put it on the counter.” He handed her the plate with the steaks. “There’s a loaf of bread on a cutting board. You could slice a few pieces. I need a couple of minutes for the asparagus.”
“That is definitely in my cooking wheelhouse.” She took the plate and went back into the house.
Roman looked down at Chaos. “You’ve scammed me into giving you a home, haven’t you?” He would ask Mal to start the process to formally adopt Chaos tomorrow when he went to town for supplies.
Bread on the table, food on the plates, wineglasses full, Roman sat across from Amelia, which was a dangerous place because he had to look at those amazing eyes all night.
“How long have you lived in Mystic?” she asked as she lifted a fork to her lips.
“About a decade. I admit I took the easy way after school. I moved here, they provided me with a house, and I started my business.” He pushed his asparagus around. “What about you?”
“I grew up in Denver. Well, on the outskirts, but I came to Mystic for my initial training. I still live in Denver. I run a gourmet ice cream shop.”
“No kidding? And you can support yourself with that?” Roman lifted his hand. “That came out wrong. Sorry.”
She laughed. “No offense taken. I’m comfortable enough. I don’t need a mansion or a fancy car. Besides, running my own shop means I can come here whenever I’m called.”
“You’re here on a mission? What’s it about?”
“Don’t know yet. I expect I’ll find out tomorrow. I haven’t even called Mal to tell him I’ve arrived.”
“Don’t you need to report to Bob? Nelson is in charge of the missions.”
Amelia smirked. “Yeah, but Mal acts like he is.” She paused. “How’s Mr. Nelson doing? He’s getting up there.”
“Yeah, but you’d be surprised at how young he seems. He’s spry, as sharp as ever, and he’s out walking in the town every day. He checks on everyone.”
>
“I know. I get a phone call once a month to see how I’m doing.” She cocked her head. “How old do you think he is?”
Roman scratched his nose. “I couldn’t say. Sixty-five, seventy?”
“At least. I hope I’m in as good a shape when I’m old.” She took a bite of the asparagus. “Mmmm, this is perfect.”
He wouldn’t tell her that it was luck he hadn’t charred it.
They finished their meal accompanied by light conversation. Roman cleared their plates. “I don’t have dessert.”
“Not a problem. I had snacks on the drive. Bad snacks. Unhealthy snacks. And chocolate.” She pushed back from the table. “Can I help with dishes?”
“Nope. There are only a few things and I have a dishwasher.”
“I haven’t even checked if my place has one or not. When I find out, I’ll pay you back for the meal.” She suppressed a yawn. “Sorry. I had an early start.”
“I didn’t even think about that. Let’s get you to bed.” His eyes widened. “I mean, let’s get you home. To your bed. On your own.”
She laughed. “I knew what you meant. Thanks for the dinner. I really appreciate not cooking tonight.” She covered her mouth as she released another yawn. “Fill my stomach with food and wine, and I’m done. You can’t take me anywhere.”
Roman grabbed Chaos’s leash and a flashlight. “Let us at least walk you home.”
“You don’t have to. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you would, but Chaos needs his stretch for the night anyway. And there have been bear sightings lately.” Roman attached the leash to Chaos’s collar, which wasn’t easy because the dog had been jumping around since he’d spotted the lead.
“Bears? I hadn’t even considered that aspect of living on the edge of Mystic.” Amelia bit her lip.
“No worries. First, they won’t come inside if your door is closed and locked. Second, we’ve got a dog. A big one. Bears will avoid us. And third, even if they do come, I can drive them back.” He showed her a tiny flame that he ignited in his palm.
