Midnight Valentine

18

His eyes search my face. His gaze is filled with unspeakable loneliness, and that naked antipathy that I don’t understand but that raises all the tiny hairs on the back of my neck and sends a charge like electricity over my skin. It’s the same feeling I had at the diner and in the backyard at the party. That sense of unwilling recognition.

Of being seen by someone who doesn’t want to see.

Without responding, Theo turns abruptly and leaves. The sound of his boots heading toward the front door and disappearing through it are quickly followed by Coop’s farewell shout.

“Thanks, Megan! See you soon!”

The front door slams, and I’m left alone in my ruined kitchen, wondering what the hell Theo Valentine’s problem is.

And why I’m becoming so eager to find out.

6

I call Suzanne, who I figure is the best source of information in Seaside, considering she seems to know everyone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Suzanne, it’s Megan Dunn.”

“Megan! How are you?”

She sounds overly excited to hear from me, which makes me suspicious. “I’m good, thanks. How are you?”

“Fantastic! I just closed escrow on a place up in the hills that has an incredible ocean view and an even more incredible price tag. This cute young gay couple bought it and they’re going to sink a ton into renovations. I was just about to send Theo an email to let him know they’ll be contacting him.”

“Speak of the devil. That’s why I’m calling.”

She sounds confused. “About the gay couple?”

“No, Suzanne, about Theo. He came out this morning to give me a quote on the house. It was less than half the price of the other guys’, and he brought me these really incredible renderings that blew me away.”

“Oh, great!”

“No, not great. Because Theo was being Theo, and I’m not sure I can deal with that for the next few months while this project gets done. I already negotiated an agreement with Craig from Capstone, and I’m leaning toward keeping it because Theo is so strange.”

“Believe me, you’ll get used to his silence real quick as soon as you see the quality of work he does.”

“It’s not his silence that’s the problem. It’s his weirdness. Every time he looks at me, I get the feeling he’s either going to hit something or cry.”

Her matchmaker instincts kick in. “Maybe he has the hots for you!”

I snort. “Believe me, this isn’t the hots. This is more like the freezing colds. The guy can barely stand to be around me.”

Suzanne is thoughtful for a moment. “I mean, he’s odd, definitely, but I know for a fact he’s harmless, Megan. He’s a big guy, but he’s gentle as a lamb.”

“I’ve never met a lamb who goes around with a hurricane brewing over its head.”

After a pause, she says gingerly, “Okay, I’m going to say something now.”

I know that means it’s going to be something I don’t like. I wait for it, exhaling in annoyance.

“Maybe—and I’m only saying maybe—you’re just sensitive.”

I frown. “Sensitive? About what?”

“About men.”

“About men?” I repeat, puzzled.

“You know, because of your husband.”

“Oh. You think I’ve lost my ability to judge a person’s character because my husband died, is that it?”

“It’s just that nobody else has ever had a problem with Theo, sweetie,” says Suzanne in a placating tone. “Except you.”

Frustrated, I blow out a hard breath. “So I’m told. But I’m not imagining it, Suzanne. Even Coop said he’s never seen Theo act the way he acts around me. He said I ‘agitate’ him.”

“Coop said that? Huh. Well, that’s weird.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you!”

“Maybe he’s jealous of your tan?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Maybe you remind him of someone he hates?”

“It’s possible, but I doubt it. His problem seems very Megan specific.”

“Maybe he thinks you should put on a little lipstick and a shirt that doesn’t have a band logo on it to make it seem like you give an actual f**k before you go out in public?”

That makes me smile. “Inside thought, Suzanne.”

“Hmm. And you’re positive he doesn’t have the hots for you?”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure he gets an expression like he just took a dump in his pants every time he sees me because he’s so attracted to me. It’s definitely true love.”

She laughs. “Okay, I’m fresh out of smart ideas, then. Chalk it up to one of those things and stay out of his way while he works on the Buttercup. Maybe he’ll warm up to you after a while.”

“Or maybe he’ll leave random tools on the floor for me to trip over and break my face on.”

“Don’t be silly, he’ll do no such thing. If you don’t like Theo, just deal directly with Coop. From the sound of things, that would suit both of you. I’m telling you, he’s the best there is. I’ve got a list a mile long of people you could call for a reference if you don’t want to take my word for it. And why flush money down the toilet if you don’t have to? Just my two cents, but I think it’s worth it to put up with him in the short run for what you’ll get out of it in the long run.”