Sadie's POV
"Mommy," Lily said, appearing at my side. She had mud on her cheek and dirty hands. "Is that the man we met at the grocery store?”
“No.” I said quickly. "Go inside and wash up."
"But—"
"Now, Lily."
And she did, but not before giving one last curious look over her shoulder at the man approaching us.
I met Taylor halfway up the path, crossing my arms over my chest like a shield. "What are you doing here?"
Taylor stopped three feet away from me. Close enough that I could smell him, the scent of cedar and something wilder, something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. My body remembered that scent. My brain told it to shut up.
"Property inspection," he said. His voice was calm, clipped. Businesslike. "I make it a point to personally visit all new tenants."
