Inevitable Read online

  “Nothing bad ever happens in Harmony.” I snickered. “Besides, my grandpa left me more than just his house. He also taught me how to shoot a gun.” I tilted my head toward her and bent my knee forward; my lips pursed, giving my best Charlie’s Angel gun-toting impression.

  She laughed at me and took a long swig from her water bottle. “You’re telling me—living out here in your grandparents’ creepy old house—you don’t ever get freaked out?” Hilary stopped walking and stared at me in disbelief. “The thought of you with a gun just makes me laugh, Cassandra. Sorry, but I mean come on, you weigh what? A hundred pounds?”

  I raised my chin proudly. “One-twenty, not that it matters.”

  Honestly, she was right. I always felt like a child when holding my grandfather’s pistol during target practice. But still, it was registered and locked away in a safe under my bed, in case I ever needed it.

  “The only thing that actually scares me is where am I going to go swimming now.”

  “You still swim in the Miller’s pool?” She shot me a disgusted glance.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I help keep it clean and in exchange I get full access to use it whenever I want.”

  “Don’t expect a chance to say good-bye to it now,” she teased.

  I bit my bottom lip, annoyed I had another month of heat to endure with no place to cool off. At least I started my first year teaching in a couple weeks and that would hopefully keep me distracted from the temperature.

  Hilary and I were thrilled to both land jobs our first year out of college, and at the same elementary school. She quickly snatched up the second grade position which I’m sure had nothing to do with her godfather’s position as principal. I, on the other hand, was about to give up finding a teaching job in town when, Ashley Morgan—the newly married kindergarten teacher—announced her pregnancy and requested a year’s leave of absence.

  Three more weeks and we would officially be putting our higher education to use.

  We climbed the last hill and rounded the final corner to find the moving truck parked at the top of the overgrown grass hill in front of the massive estate. The giant black wrought iron gates separating it from the road remained open.

  “We should go introduce ourselves,” Hilary said, grabbing my arm to stop me from passing the estate.

  “Please, tell me you are kidding?” My eyes grew wide, tugging my arm free.

  “What? It’s rude not to.”

  “No, what’s rude is allowing their first impression of us to be like this.” My eyes shifted between our bodies, soaked in sweat and undoubtedly lingering with an unpleasant odor.

  “Good point.” She laughed, her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Let’s get out of here.”

  The moment we began walking away my eye caught the sight of someone stepping out the front door and walking down the porch. The man was tall, lean with broad shoulders dressed in faded blue jeans and a black T-shirt clinging to his chest. My feet halted giving my brain time to memorize the unexpected image.

  The morning sun highlighted his dark-wavy hair and the slight scruff over his jaw. My stomach clenched and my breath hitched.

  “Oh my God! Is that your new neighbor?” Hilary’s shrill voice rang out and the man’s head snapped to the side, eyes staring straight down the driveway and landing on us.

  His brows rose and a seductive smirk crept over his lips.

  I couldn’t put two thoughts together if my life depended on it, but my feet made me proud and somehow carried me at full speed away from the gate and to my own driveway next door. For the first time since I moved in the previous year, I was thankful I never got around to trimming the hedges that concealed most of the Miller’s front yard. Although to my surprisingly curious satisfaction, I could still catch glimpses of him staring at us through the thin shrubs spaced too far apart for complete privacy.

  The man was gorgeous. Unlike any man I’d ever seen. Since Mark, no guy had caught my eye…not like that. For some reason I couldn’t understand, it terrified me.

  Once I reached the end of my stone driveway, I pulled open the screen door, relieved Hilary hadn’t changed her mind and tried to go talk to him. I felt disgusting, not the way I wanted to do neighborly introduction. Hilary was laughing hysterically behind me and I turned to give her a piece of my mind the moment we stepped inside.

  She choked back her remaining giggles and held up her hands to stop me before I got a chance to speak. “Relax, you look fine. Besides, he was all the way up the driveway. I’m sure he barely saw us.”

  Oh, he saw us!

  I followed her into my kitchen and pulled out two tall glasses from the cupboard. It was pretty damn evident that he not only saw us, but knew we were gawking like a couple of school girls.

  My stomach had just returned to its previous calm state, but the replay of his image sent it catapulting back through a wave of foreign emotions.

  I wondered if he looked that good up close.

  “So, how lucky are you!” She smiled as I grabbed the ice tray from the freezer, glaring at her, as I set it on the counter.

  “We know nothing about him.” I huffed.

  I rolled my eyes, listening to the ice clink in the bottom of the glasses over her incessant cackling. “For all we know, he’s married with five kids,” I added.

  “Possibly, or maybe he’s single and looking for a stubborn blonde schoolteacher to rock his world.” She wiggled her brows in my direction and stood from her chair, crossing the small room to peer out the side window. From the window there were no trees blocking the view to the Miller’s back and side yard.

  “Rock his world?” My voice dripped with repulsion at her choice of words.

  “Well, it would do you some good. Loosen you up a little.”

  “I don’t need to be…loosened up.” I winced at my use of her words.

  “When was the last time you went out with a guy? Huh?” She craned her neck, and cocked an eyebrow to look back at me.

  My mouth snapped shut, she knew as much about my love life as I did. Only thing she didn’t know was how much I missed being held. The simple touch of a man. I pushed the yearning away, refusing to dwell on it, as I always did.

  “Exactly. It’s been a year since that asshole broke your heart. Time to get back out there and show off what the good Lord gave ya.”

  “Seriously?” I chuckled dryly, shaking my head. So not my style. Not that I had a style for picking up guys but if I did that wouldn’t be it.

  Her face lit up with a bright smile that showcased her perfectly straight, pearly white teeth. It spoke volumes and I could tell she was on a roll now. Nothing I had to say would make her stop.

  “I say you go take a shower, let your unruly curls hang loose, and throw on one of those little whimsical summer dresses that you keep hidden in the back of your closet. Ooh, the one that looks like it was made from sheer vintage lace.” Her grin grew wider. “Just strut on over there to introduce yourself and you’ll have him groveling at your feet in record time.”

  “Sure thing,” I replied animatedly, “why not.” I turned pretending to follow her absurd directions and burst out laughing when I halted halfway out the kitchen and turned around. “Oh that’s right, I’m not a slut.” I threw my hand in the air giving her my best ‘oh darn’ expression.

  Hilary turned her attention back out the window. “Well, don’t say I never try to offer my assistance,” she said followed by a short giggle.

  I finished filling the glasses with water from the faucet and took a long, satisfying drink. My dry lips and scorching throat stung for a brief moment as it absorbed the liquid. I carried Hilary’s glass to her and found myself staring out the window beside her curiously.

  There wasn’t much to see besides an occasional middle-aged man wearing a blue polo and khakis lugging around boxes. There had to be at least a dozen movers filling the house with furniture.

  “Looks like you were right.”

  I shifted my gaze to follow hers and notic
ed the small curly haired boy wandering around the backyard. He was chasing after a butterfly, running around without a care in the world. The picture he painted was adorable and sweet, and I found myself smiling when he jumped up trying to capture the insect with no luck.

  Despite the young boy’s delightful traipsing around the yard there was a pang of disappointment settling through me. I had barely caught a glance of the man in the driveway. Why did I care if he had a family?

  “Good for him,” I said, pulling the curtain from Hilary’s hand and letting it fall back into place.

  She took a quick drink and walked back to the table, sitting down with her glass in hand.

  “Once Caleb opens his new place I’m sure you’ll meet a nice guy to sweep you off your feet,” she said.

  “I’m done with men.” I walked back to the sink and refilled my glass. “At least for a while anyway.” It wasn’t a lie. My plans included fixing up my house and focusing on teaching. No man would fit in that plan.

  “You can’t be done already. You’re only twenty-two years old! Way too young to be a man-hater.”

  I chose to ignore her, looking down at the melting ice in my glass.

  “Come on, you’ve only had one serious boyfriend your entire life, Cassandra. Consider him your test-run before meeting the perfect guy.” Hilary maneuvered her chair to face me causing a loud squeak to fill the small room as it slid across the linoleum. “Mark was a dick, but realistically high school sweethearts rarely work out. You have to put yourself back out there. Sheltering yourself in the middle of nowhere all the time is not the way to land a guy.”

  I raised my brows with a cynical look. “Since when do you know how to land a guy? You never get past the first date.” My voice was laced with amusement that I couldn’t seem to hide.

  “I’m waiting for Mr. Right.” She grinned, but her voice faltered and I caught the small glimpse of melancholy in her tone.

  “You mean you’re waiting for Caleb Townsend.” I pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. It felt good to relax after our jog. I peeled off my shoes and socks using the tips of my toes. My bare feet tingled when the warm air hit them.

  Hilary chugged down the rest of her water and stood up ignoring my comment. She placed the empty glass in the sink. “I better get going. I need a shower and then I need to pick up some groceries.”

  “Maybe you’ll run into Caleb?” I smiled, hoping to lighten her mood.

  She rolled her eyes, there was a subtle smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

  I never thought a guy with a reputation for trouble like Caleb, would catch her attention. But he did and I’ve been hearing about it from her ever since.

  “I wonder if the little boy will be in your class,” Hilary said, lingering in the doorway.

  “Who knows? He looked too young for kindergarten.” I hated to admit it, but a part of me hoped he wasn’t in my class. Living next door to his father, looking that amazing on moving day, would be hard enough.

  She scoffed. “It’s going to be interesting watching you with all those little kids considering you’re an only child and never even had a single cousin.”

  “Hey! I babysat.”

  “Mh-hm, that’s exactly the same thing.” She laughed walking toward the front screen door that filled the house with a cool breeze.

  “I’ll see you Saturday at Caleb’s grand opening, right?” I called out.

  “Try Friday. I need your help finding the perfect dress. And I expect to have the full scoop on the new neighbors by then.”

  My gaze wandered back to the window when I heard the rickety screen door slam shut.

  New neighbors. That would be a change I’d have to get used to. I wondered what the family’s name was, or more precisely what the gorgeous man’s name was. He didn’t appear to be more than thirty; maybe I was overstepping assuming the little boy was his son. He could be his nephew, or even a family friend.

  I looked down at my hands resting on the table, and shook my head laughing at my unrealistic, yet wishful thinking. What’s the matter with me?

  After a few more minutes of enjoying the peace and quiet, I stood and walked to the sink, placing my empty glass inside. I was in desperate need of a cold shower, not just from the scorching run, but also from the sweltering image forever engraved into my mind of the new mystery man.

  Chapter Two

  First Impressions

  I awoke to the echo of hammering seeping through my open window. Rolling to my stomach, I buried my head in the cluster of pillows and groaned. I already hated having neighbors.

  Slowly the noise began to fade away and my eyes slid shut. The haze of sleep was eager to claim me once more and I was more than happy to comply when an unearthly roar filled my room terrifying me wide-awake. I leapt out of my once cozy bed whipping my head to face the window, chest heaving. The sound could only be described as a jackhammer, but what the hell would anyone need that kind of machinery for first thing in the morning?

  “Ugh!” I stomped my foot, irritated, on the cold floor dragging myself out of the bedroom. My fingers ran through my disheveled hair, pulling out any knots they found as I headed down the short hall to find out what exactly was causing me to lose sleep.

  I stopped in my tracks and grimaced at the grandfather clock in the corner of my living room.

  Damn.” That couldn’t be right, it read eight fifteen.

  My internal alarm had always awoken me first thing every morning at seven sharp for my run. Annoyed, I brushed my hands over my sleepy eyes and sighed before continuing to the kitchen at the back of my house.

  With a silent but wide yawn, I trudged to the window and pulled open the dull green kitchen curtain decorated with faded embroidered flowers that I’d been meaning to replace. My gaze instantly landed on the young woman standing near the pool in the Miller’s backyard.

  Her long light-brown hair laid stick straight down her back. A trimmed body in tiny white shorts and low-cut pink tank top told me everything I needed to know. Damn it!

  She belonged to the beautiful mystery man I spent my night dreaming about. No wonder I overslept. My internal alarm had been too busy enjoying the free show the nameless man put on for me last night. It had been months since I’d experienced any type of sexual dreams—due to the lack of stimulating men in my town—and this was by far the most memorable.

  I groaned. Some people had all the luck. I wondered if someone stole mine away or perhaps I was suffering the consequence of a past life and was doomed watching everyone around me fall in love and live happily ever after while I sat alone baking birthday cakes for their kids.

  Whoever this girl was, she must have been amazing in her past lives because she had too much going for her. Even the estate she was now living in would fall under the category of dream house for half the country.

  She appeared to be barking out orders, one hand on her hip, the other pointing to different areas around the yard. I found her surprisingly irritating. It wasn’t like me to be jealous, especially over some guy I’d not officially met, but it wasn’t just about him. I could never say it aloud, but a small piece of me envied her even with only one glance. Gorgeous husband, adorable son, and a beautiful home—it’s all I’d ever dreamed of.

  I dropped the curtains and muttered, “Well, that’s that.”

  It was official; mystery man was off the market. There was no reason to waste any more time fantasizing about him finding me sunbathing, in the backyard, wearing the tiny bikini Hilary talked me into buying the previous summer. It wouldn’t end with Mr. Hotness flirting and enticing me to join him for a dip in his pool.

  Not only was he already taken, but also from the looks of it, the pool was being destroyed. Just my luck.

  Within the hour, I found myself falling back into my morning routine—jogging in peace. Hilary would never accompany me again, that I was certain of. In all the years I’ve known her I’ve never seen her so exhausted. She worked out at the gym in the evening. The c
omplete opposite of myself.

  When I rounded the first corner, all thoughts of the Miller’s pool and the flawless new neighbors had cleared from my mind. Everything was perfect. A cluster of clouds that for once made me feel grateful shielded the morning sun.

  The fresh smell of dew and the morning air filled my nostrils with every soothing breath. Music filled my ears, blaring Adele on repeat.

  A smile crept over my face when I approached my usual turn around, the small road sign indicating ‘you are now entering city limits.’ My feet sprinted forward, quickening my pace. As I crossed the road to go back up the way I came, my entire body drained of all the serenity I felt moments earlier.

  I continued jogging, but my steps grew slower and heavier, when my eyes locked with his.

  There he was—my new neighbor. The Greek god that had filled my night with visions of endless passion, jogging with nothing but a pair of dark-grey shorts that screamed designer and a devilish smirk. My eyes locked with his sculptured abs and trailed down the perfect V disappearing into his shorts.

  Shaking my head to pull myself from the hypnotizing trance, I put on my friendliest smile and prayed it came off less awkward and contrived then I knew it was.

  The catastrophic ripple of emotions whirling inside me left me dumbfounded. It was not like me to feel a pull like that toward any man, especially one that was possibly married. I reached down and slid my finger over my iPod, ending the music.

  “Morning,” he said, his eyes lit with amusement and for some ungodly reason I closed my eyes and continued jogging past him too stunned to speak. Smooth!

  What was it about this guy that sent my body preparing for mutiny against every notion of morals I swore I had. Thankful I was past him I grew painfully aware he could possibly be turning around in the same location, which would put him directly behind me once again.

  Instantly my entire body went rigid. Damn, how long had he been behind me?