4. The sexy Neighbour
1411 Words
Chapter Four
Sloane's pov
"Mommy, can I have extra cheese?" Cade sat at the kitchen table, swinging his legs and watching me cook.
"Of course, baby." I sprinkled a generous handful of cheddar into the scrambled eggs. "You need to eat a good breakfast because Mommy has to go out for a little bit this morning."
His face fell in disappointment. "Where are you going?"
"Just to the school to get you enrolled. So you can start making friends and learning new things." I slid the eggs onto his plate along with some toast. "But I need you to be a really good boy and stay in the house while I'm gone, okay? Play with your toys. Watch some cartoons but don't go outside."
"Okay, Mommy." He picked up his fork and started eating. "Can I take Mr. Wolfie to school with me?"
"Absolutely." I sat down across from him with my own plate, though I had no appetite. "You can take him everywhere."
We ate together in comfortable silence, and I found myself studying my son. Looking for signs of whatever it was that made him different.
But all I saw was my sweet boy. A little boy who loved his stuffed wolf and cheese in his eggs and making his mama laugh.
After breakfast, I made sure all the doors were locked from the inside so Cade couldn't wander out and get lost in this strange new place. I kissed his forehead about seventeen times until he giggled and pushed me away.
"Mommy, you're squishing me!"
"I love you so much, baby. Be good. I'll be back soon."
"Love you too, Mommy."
I stepped outside into the cool morning air and took a deep breath. I boarded a cab toward the school Riley had pointed out yesterday.
The people were very warm and nice and a woman in her fifties attended to me "We have a lovely kindergarten class here.
Small, only eight children, but that means lots of individual attention."
She pulled out some paperwork. "Fill these out, and we can get him started tomorrow if you'd like."
It was almost too easy as there's no questions about his medical history or behavioral issues. After finishing the enrollment forms, I stepped back outside and realized I had no idea where to buy groceries but I had to get some. I'd seen a general store on Main Street yesterday, but I didn't know if it would have everything I needed but I got and discussed with some kind woman.
By the time I headed home with my grocery bags, I felt lighter than I had in days. Maybe this could work. Maybe Cade and I could build a real life here.
I walked up to my front door and stopped cold.
It was open and slightly ajar like someone had left in a hurry.
My heart started pounding because I knew I'd locked it. I'd specifically locked every door and window to keep Cade safe inside.
I set down the grocery bags as quietly as I could and grabbed an iron pole that was leaning against the porch wall, probably left by the previous owner. My hands shook as I pushed the door open wider and stepped inside.
I heard Cade's high-pitched giggle mixed with a deeper voice I didn't recognize.
I crept toward the living room, the pole raised and ready to swing. Someone was in my house and with my son.
When I rounded the corner, A man, broad-shouldered and tall, was crouched on the floor with his back to me. Cade was in front of him, laughing as the man tickled his sides. My son looked happy and relaxed like he was playing with someone he trusted.
But I didn't know this man and he'd broken into my house.
I raised the pole higher, ready to bring it down on his head.
Then he turned around and my entire body forgot how to function.
He looked like he'd walked straight out of a fever dream or a nightmare. I couldn't decide which. His face was all sharp angles and dangerous beauty.
Piercings lined his eyebrow and both sides of his lower lip. Dark hair fell across his forehead, and when his eyes met mine, they were the color of amber like whiskey held up to the light.
He wore a ripped black tank top that did absolutely nothing to hide the muscles underneath. More tattoos disappeared under his shirt, crawling up his neck and down his chest.
And he was smiling at me.
"Hello," he said with his voice low and rough as he stood slowly, and I realized he was even bigger than I'd thought. "I'm Rika."
The pole nearly slipped from my hands. My stomach did this weird flip that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the way he was looking at me. Like I was something fascinating he couldn't quite figure out.
"You... you broke into my house." My voice came out breathier than I intended.
"Technically, I let myself in because your door was unlocked." He gestured to the front entrance. "I heard your kid playing and wanted to check. Make sure everything is okay. It's my job as your neighbor."
"My door was locked. I locked it."
His lips quirked. "Locks around here are more suggestions than actual security. We don't really have crime in Ghost Ash, so most people don't bother." He took a step closer, and I became acutely aware of how much space he took up. "You're definitely not from around here."
"Mommy!" Cade ran over and hugged my legs. "This is Rika! He lives next door! He's so cool, Mommy. Look at his muscles!" He pointed at the tattoos covering Rika's arms. "And he's super strong like me! He said we can play together!"
I looked down at my son's excited face, then back up at Rika. "You're one of the Ghost Riders?"
"Guilty as charged." He moved past me to the kitchen and, without asking, started unpacking my grocery bags. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to just help himself in a stranger's house.
"You seem new. Riley's friend, right? She mentioned someone was moving into the old Foster place."
"That's... yes. But you can't just—" I gestured helplessly as he put my milk in the fridge. "You can't just break into people's homes."
He glanced over his shoulder, and that smile deepened. "I told you we don't have strangers in Ghost Ash. Just neighbors who I haven't met yet."
There was something about the way he moved. Too fluid and graceful for someone so big. It reminded me of something, but I couldn't place what.
"Well, I'm back now," I said, trying to regain some sense of control. "So thank you for checking on Cade, but next time maybe wait for me to be home before you let yourself in. I'm not... I'm not used to strangers."
"Not a stranger, I'm your neighbor." He finished unpacking the last bag and turned to face me fully. His eyes traveled over my face like he was memorizing every detail.
There was something knowing in the way he said it like he could see all my secrets just by looking at me.
"Rika says I can come to school tomorrow!" Cade bounced on his toes. "And he's going to teach me how to ride a bike!"
"We'll see about that," I murmured, not taking my eyes off Rika.
He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell him. "You seem tense and scared, even when you don't need to be. Whatever you're running from, it won't find you in Ashwood."
"I'm not running from anything." The lie tasted bitter.
"Sure…" His hand lifted, and before I could move, his fingers were under my chin, tilting my face up to his. His touch was warm and gentle despite the roughness of his appearance.
"You look really different and beautiful, you don't quite belong in this world."
His touch felt like fire. It spread from my chin down my neck, through my chest, settling low in my stomach. My breath caught, and I saw his eyes darken like he knew exactly what effect he was having on me.
Then he stepped back, that dangerous smile still playing on his lips. "Nice to meet you, Sloane and see you around."
He walked out, leaving my front door open behind him.
- Writer
