Neanderthal Next Door: Enemies to Lovers, Mountain Man Next-Door, Halloween Romance

by K. C. Crowne

  It made me frustrated as hell to feel that way. I should’ve hated him for what he’d done. But I couldn’t.

  But if he was going to leave, then so be it. I’d gotten used to being alone. I didn’t need him or anyone else other than my baby boy.

  As we walked, a black SUV pulled up along side of us, keeping pace.

  “What’s the deal with this?” I asked, sticking my thumb out toward the car.

  “Just some backup,” Adam said, his eyes fixed forward. “You never know who’s out there.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He gave me a forced smile. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I glanced over at the car, two thick-necked men in sunglasses and suits inside.

  “Are they dressed up like businessmen for Halloween?” Parker asked.

  “Something like that,” I said, not wanting to give him anything to worry about.

  I needed to make a move soon. I was done letting Adam attempt to control me.

  Parker came back from the porch of one of the massive houses in the neighborhood, his bag stuffed with giant candy bars.

  “This one’s big enough for Hunter!” Parker said as he took out the bar and held it up.

  “Enough about him,” Adam snapped. “I’m sick of hearing about Hunter. New rule is no more talk of Hunter. Got it? Done – closed subject.”

  “No,” I said, stopping and standing in front of him.

  “No?”

  “No. Just because you’re helping me out doesn’t mean you get to control me. I’ll live on the damn streets before I let that happen.”

  “So ungrateful,” he said, his voice low.

  I wanted to keep things peaceful for Parker’s sake. But Adam was trying my patience like nothing else.

  We stared each other down for a long while, tension in the air.

  Then, the grumbling of an engine cut through the silence between us. Adam’s glance went over my shoulder, and I turned to see where the noise was coming from.

  Parker answered the question for us.

  “That’s Mr. Anderson!” he said, his voice raising and an expression of happiness appearing on his face for the first time in days. “He’s here!”

  Sure enough, the big black truck that I recognized right away as Hunter’s came grumbling down the road. And as it drew closer, I could make out a few other figures in the cab with him.

  The SUV came to a stop, Hunter putting the brakes on his truck.

  The men in Adam’s SUV climbed out, reaching into their suit jackets.

  “Stop!” Adam called. “Nothing rash yet.”

  I kept my eyes on the truck as the driver’s-side door opened, anticipation growing in me as the man I knew inside stepped out.

  Hunter was dressed in a black, sleeveless shirt and camouflage pants with boots, his hair slicked back away from his face by a red bandana. Under his eyes were dark streaks that looked like warpaint.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Adam asked, his men forming up at his side.

  The other doors to the truck opened and out stepped Lizzie, along with the man I recognized as Hugh, Hunter’s friend. Lizzie was dressed as Dorthy from Wizard of Oz, Hugh as Clark Kent, the hint of a Superman shirt visible in his open button-up.

  “Mr. Anderson!” Parker exclaimed, running over to Hunter and wrapping his arms around his legs. “You’re here!”

  “What is this?” Adam shouted. “Other than trespassing?”

  “Thought I’d come back to town and give Mandy the choice I should’ve,” he said, those gorgeous blue eyes on me. “What do you say – you still want to spend Halloween with me?”

  “I do!” Parker said gleefully, letting go of Hunter’s legs.

  “You’re not supposed to be here,” Adam said, fear in his voice.

  It was clear he hadn’t been expecting this turn of events.

  “Well, here I am. And I’m not here to cause trouble – just wanted to fulfill a promise I made to a special kid.”

  “Yes!” Parker celebrated. “Let’s do it!”

  “You look tough as heck, buddy,” Hunter said, dropping into a squat to be eye-level with Parker. “A real Iron Man.”

  “Who are you supposed to be?” Parker asked, touching the red bandana tied around Hunter’s forehead.

  “I’m Rambo, of course,” he said with a grin.

  “Who?”

  Hunter chuckled. “You don’t know who Rambo is? Dang, sounds like we got a movie night coming up. Well, maybe when you’re a little older.”

  I turned to Adam, wanting to see how he’d react. Would he do something stupid? Something he couldn’t take back?

  Instead, he narrowed his eyes into a hard scowl, turning to his men.

  “Let’s go.”

  And that was it. He climbed into the back of his car, one of the men following him and the other getting behind the wheel. The car pulled away and moments later they were gone.

  I couldn’t help myself. As pissed as I was at Hunter, as hurt as I’d been that he’d gone, I was thrilled beyond belief to see him. I rushed over and threw my arms around him.

  Tears formed in my eyes.

  “How about this,” he said, his mouth inches from my ear. “Let’s go get the kid some candy. Then I’ll really give you something sweet.”

  Hunter

  Mandy shook her head. “This whole time, those two were together.”

  Her neck was craned to give her a view into the bar from where we sat on the back patio. The interior was darkened, Halloween lights of orange and deep purple flashing and illuminating the dancers inside. Hugh was with Lizzie, the two of them holding hands and dancing to the lively music.

  “It’s worse than that,” I said, bringing my beer to my lips. “She was feeding Hugh insider information on all the shit you were going through. Let me know you were at Adam’s.”

  She shook her head and smiled, turning back to me as she picked up her glass of wine.

  God, I missed that smile.

  “You know, I never thought I’d be so glad that she was such a blabbermouth. But that’s what happened? Hugh talked you into coming back?”

  I nodded. “I was ready to leave it all behind, stupid asshole that I was. He talked some sense into me. That’s what friends are for, you know?”

  “That’s something I never thought I’d hear out of your mouth, Mr. Independent.”

  I chuckled. “Life isn’t life without the people you care about. I’m lucky as shit I’ve got a friend like Hugh, someone who knows when I’m spitting out bullshit, or about to make a mistake I can’t walk back.”

  “That’s good to hear,” she said. “And I know what you mean.” She took my hand and looked into my eyes. “When you lose someone, when life turns upside down in a way you weren’t expecting, it’s hard as hell. It sounds so tempting to just…give up. That’s why I came here, to live up in that cabin. Part of me felt like I’d never be able to face the world again.”

  “But you have to,” I said, picking up her sentiment. “You have to keep moving. And when you hide yourself from all the bad parts of life, you cut yourself off from the good ones, too. And damned if you sure as shit aren’t one of the good ones.”

  That smile stayed on her lips.

  “I still need to kick your ass for what you did to me,” she said, the smile fading. “That hurt, Hunter.”

  I took her hand into mine, pressing my palm against hers.

  “I know. I did you wrong. I did you wrong in such a bad way I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you decided it was unforgivable. But I swear if you give me the chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

  She said nothing at first, glancing down with a worried expression on her face. I could tell she was thinking it over, trying to figure out what she wanted.

  “You can try,” she said, finally bringing her eyes up to mine.

  Her words sent my heart soaring. It was all I’d wanted to hear. Not wanting to waste another second, I took her c
hin into my hand and leaned in, kissing her slowly, deeply.

  The taste of her lips was something never wanted to forget.

  “Alright,” she said, taking her mouth from mine. “We’ll have plenty of time for that sort of thing later.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.”

  The music thumped in the background as Mandy looked ahead distantly.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m thinking about Adam.”

  “You mean the prick who lied through his damn teeth to trick you into being his? What about him?”

  “It was too easy. I get that having a couple of guys like you and Hugh rolling up on him probably made him soil his boxers. But still, he had those goons there with him. Why didn’t he put up more of a fight?”

  I sat back, beer in hand. It was a damn good question.

  “Adam’s got money,” I said. “And he’s got influence. Maybe he’s fallen back to plan B, to run my name through the mud. Seems like the kind of cowardly bullshit a guy like him would be into.”

  “I’m not worried about that at all,” she said. “If he tries to spread word that you’re some kind of criminal thug we’ll be there with the truth. I don’t care if we have to speak to every single person in town one-on-one and let them know who you really are.”

  She meant it. And knowing she did made my heart feel twice as big.

  But what she’d said was important enough to give me pause. Not only about her sticking by me, but about what Adam had done.

  “You think he might just give up?” I asked. “Be smart enough to know that he’s been beat?”

  She shook her head. “Adam was always the kind of guy who felt like he had something to prove. When he got rich it wasn’t because he wanted to live large or travel the world – it was because he wanted enough money to not have to worry about people pushing him around. He wanted to feel powerful. And he’ll use his money to get whatever he wants.”

  “And you’re what he wants,” I said.

  Mandy nodded. “For now, I think we’re safe. But it’s only a matter of time before he tries something.”

  I wrapped my arm around Mandy and pulled her close. “We can worry about that when it happens. Right now, we’re together. And together, we can take on anything.”

  She gazed up at me, her head on my shoulder.

  “You make a hell of a princess, by the way.”

  Mandy laughed. “And you make a hell of a…what was it you said you were again?”

  “Oh, man,” I replied, a tone of disbelief in my voice. “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Rambo either!”

  “You’ll have to introduce me,” she said. “We’ve got time, now.”

  “That we do.”

  I leaned in to kiss her again, and the moment I touched her lips with mine the sky above rumbled. A glance up revealing a swirling, roiling sky of clouds.

  “Sky looks mean tonight,” I said. “Probably a storm coming.”

  “I bet you’re right. We ought to check on Parker.”

  “He’s still over with the other kids, right?” I asked.

  “As far as I know. Hopefully they’re actually getting along.”

  I planted one more kiss on her mouth and stood up, offering my hand for her to take.

  “Rambo and the princess,” I said with a grin. “Hell of a pair.”

  “It works,” she said.

  One more kiss, and we were off.

  Hugh and Lizzie tried to flag us down as we made our way through the dance floor.

  “How about this,” I asked, speaking over the music. “Why don’t you hang out here and I’ll check on Parker? You deserve some fun after what you’ve been through.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Of course. I’ll check on the little dude and be back before you know it.”

  She smiled, standing up on her tiptoes and planting a quick kiss on my lips.

  “Sounds good. Hurry back – we still need to figure out what we’re going to do tonight.”

  I gave her a wink before turning to sidle through the crowd.

  Moments later I was outside, Silver Pines downtown abuzz with activity. Families trick-or-treated at some of the businesses, groups of college-aged kids hopped the bars, and everyone was in the holiday spirit.

  It was strange, I considered as I walked, to have people for the holidays. But that’s what life was about, wasn’t it? Not being alone, having connections. I’d been by myself for too long, long enough to forget about what was important.

  I arrived at one of the local coffee shops, the place done up in a haunted house theme for the kids. Through the glass I could see Parker among the boys his age.

  And he seemed to be having fun.

  I watched him for a time, letting the minutes tick by as I did. Strange thoughts floated into my head as I watched him play with the other boys. I found myself wondering what kind of place I might have in his life.

  After a time, I caught his eye. He rushed outside and hurried up to me, the excitement in his eyes letting me know he was ready to tell me all about the fun he was having.

  “How’re you and the other boys doing?” I asked.

  “Good! I’m playing with Marcus and Josh right now, and we’re playing this really cool game where we pretend to be ghosts, and we have to hide from each other. And if you find the other person, you have to…”

  He went on like this, and I listened to every word. There was an ease to the way he played with the other boys, like he finally felt comfortable in his skin, like he didn’t have to fight anymore.

  I wondered if I had anything to do with it.

  “Where’s Mom?” he asked, exhausted from telling me about his fun.

  “She’s with Hugh and Lizzie,” I said. “What do you say you play a little more, then me, you, and your mama head back to my place? We can size up your candy haul, maybe watch a scary movie.”

  “Yeah!” he said. “You stay put now,” I said. “I’ll go talk to Mom.”

  I mussed his hair before sending him back in. When he was inside with the other boys I headed back to the bar, taking my time. A check of my watch revealed that a half-hour had gone by since I’d left to check on Parker – more time than I’d expected.

  I picked up my pace and reached the bar, stepping inside and finding Hugh and Lizzie – but not Mandy.

  “We having fun?” I asked.

  “You know it!” Hugh said. “Bout damn time we can all hang out like this!”

  “Where’s Mandy?” Lizzie asked.

  I was confused. “You haven’t seen her?”

  Lizzie shook her head.

  “She got a phone call a little after you left, haven’t seen her since.”

  Her words made my stomach drop.

  “She’s been gone for a half-hour?”

  Hugh stood up, as if realizing something was wrong.

  “Go check the back,” I said to him. “I’ll go out front and try to call her.”

  “I’ll stay here in case she comes back,” Lizzie offered.

  Hugh and I nodded to one another and split up. I rushed outside, phone in my hands as I dialed her number.

  No answer no matter how many times I called.

  My heart raced as I checked the other stores, trying to find some sign of her.

  But nothing.

  After ten minutes or so of checking, I hurried back to the bar where Hugh was waiting for me.

  “Anything?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Where’d she go?” Lizzie asked.

  I knew the answer, but I didn’t want to say it.

  “She was taken,” I said. “And I’ve got a good idea by who.”

  Mandy

  I spent the entire ride in the back of the van screaming my lungs out with every curse word in the book.

  But I was bound, my hands tied behind my back and a cloth over my eyes.

  It had all happened so fast. I’d been out back at the bar, sipping my drink and watching
the stars, thinking about my life and my future, a feeling of hopefulness in my heart for the first time in a long while.

  I’d walked to the edge of the patio, the space empty aside from me. And then I’d heard a crash in the alley, one that caught my attention. I hadn’t gone far – just a few feet away from the patio to see what the heck was going on.

  All I remembered when I’d gotten back there was a black van, and two men in suits rushing toward me, grabbing me, one of them clamping his hand over my mouth so quickly I didn’t even have time to scream.

  One ripped my purse off my arm, then I was thrown into the back of the van, driven off to God knows where.

  “Adam!” I shouted. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  I hadn’t seen him during the kidnapping, but there wasn’t the slightest doubt in my mind that it was him. Who else would do something so insane?

  The van grumbled on, no response coming from the front.

  I wanted to keep screaming. I wanted to bang my fists on the walls until they were bloody and raw.

  But I didn’t. Instead, I closed my eyes and took several deep, slow breaths. I needed to keep myself collected, to save my strength. It wouldn’t do me a damn bit of good to panic.

  The van came to a stop, and I heard a gate open.

  It had to be the gate to Adam’s neighborhood. He was taking me to his place.

  What he had in mind there, I could only guess.

  We drove on, and I knew it would only be a few more minutes until I was there.

  A few more turns and the van came to a stop. Then the engine died. I heard a pair of doors open and close, followed by heavy footfalls on gravel. The back doors opened, and two hands clamped down onto my wrists.

  I screamed. But like before, I only managed to get a few yells out before a hand covered my mouth. The men dragged me up a flight of stairs, then through a door. I was taken to a chair, tied down, the fabric pulled from my eyes.

  It was Adam’s house – no doubt. There were even still remnants of the packaging from the costumes Parker and I had put together.

  The men were behind me, looming like towering statues. I was in the study, tall bookshelves at all sides.