Willow pushed the door shut with a wry grimace. Keeping an eye on the handsome man next door was not going to be a problem. Keeping her eyes and mind off him was what Willow knew she was going to struggle with.
CHAPTER TWO
“She really left you in the middle of the night? That’s callous, man.”
“Nah, that’s Meghan,” Matt said with a shake of his head. He cracked the top off his beer and sipped it thoughtfully. “We’ve been basically separated for six months. Our marriage was falling apart a year before that. You know we hardly spent any time together. Honestly, I don’t know why she didn’t leave me sooner.”
Ike kicked his foot on the ground, watching the trail of ants that were beetling along the porch in a haphazard line. “Why are you shouldering the blame for this, man? She’s been cheating on you.”
“Yeah, but would she have cheated if I hadn’t left her to her own devices so much?”
“How can you be so forgiving? You guys were married. Didn’t those vows mean anything to her? She hooked up with one of your best friends.”
“Ex-best friends,” Matt amended with a wry smile. “And while I wish she’d told me sooner that she wanted out of our marriage, I take the full blame for it. If I’d been here, she wouldn’t have been looking for love with someone else.”
“Come on, that’s not fair. It’s not like you were off sunning yourself on a tropical paradise. You were at war. She married you knowing you were about to do your tour.”
“True, but I did three. And I don’t remember asking her what she thought. I was selfish. I was really begging her to leave me, you know.” He shrugged, and spun around to face Ike. “I know it’s hard for you to comprehend, given that you’re living out some kind of Brady Bunch-cum-Stepford Wives fantasy, but I hated being married. Especially to Meghan.”
Ike grinned, and unconsciously his eyes were drawn to the screen door. Anna was sitting at the other end of the house, but he could see her down the hallway. She’d changed into a tracksuit and was busy marking assignments. “She works so hard, Matt. She loves those kids.”
“She’s a great teacher. Gonna be a great mom some day, too.”
Ike’s face flashed white for a moment, before he quickly smothered the involuntary reaction with a half-smile. But Matt had known Isaac a long time. He didn’t miss the betraying gesture. “How’s that going anyway?” He sipped his beer, appearing nonchalant, while every fibre of his being was focussed on Isaac.
The red head looked away, staring off in the distance. And he was quiet for so long that Matt wasn’t sure he was going to say anything. Finally, though, he let out a sigh. “We’ve been trying to fall pregnant for over a year. Doc’s not sure what’s going on so we’ve got a whole truck load of tests in our future.”
“I’m sorry. How’s Anna taking it?”
“She doesn’t talk about it. She refuses to believe there might be a problem. Something that we can’t overcome.”
“You like your doctor?” Matt shifted his weight from one leg to the other. He’d taken a bullet a year ago. Despite a pretty good recovery, standing for too long made it stiff.
“Haven’t met the specialist yet. But a doctor’s a doctor.”
Matt nodded. Ike was a proud man, who’d done well for himself. Still, Mattias felt compelled to say, “If you need anything, man, I’m here. I mean, you know, if you feel like there are better doctors and your health insurance doesn’t cover it…”
“Thanks,” Ike sipped his beer, and willed the conversation to drop. They’d never let the disparity in their finances intrude on their friendship, and Isaac wasn’t about to start. While Mattias McCain could have bought half of California with what he had in the bank, he was the least materialistic man Ike had ever known. That was part of what he’d always liked about him.
Matt’s eyes drifted to the pretty cottage across the fence and he inwardly groaned. He’d put it off as long as he could. “I met your next door neighbour today.”
“Willow?” Isaac eyed his friend curiously. “How so?”
“I was locked out, remember? I saw her at her window and wondered if she might have a key.”
“She does.”
“I gathered as much.”
Ike’s grin was laced with amusement. “She didn’t let you in? Good for her.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. You weren’t the one sweating like a pig on this here porch.”
Isaac’s laugh was rich. “Come on, you’ve had it harder than that. You live for the summer, anyways.” He looked towards Willow’s house. “She’s tight with Anna.”
“She seemed...” He frowned. What had she seemed? Commenting on the fact that she was an absolute knock out felt somehow tacky. He shrugged. “Cold.”
“You’re just used to women tripping all over themselves for you.”
Matt threw his friend a sardonic gaze. “I’ve been married four years. Three of those I spent in the Gulf. Hardly been batting women off with a stick.”
“Don’t forget about your life pre-Meghan though. You had being a ruthless bachelor down to a fine art.” Isaac drawled with a raised brow. “You’re just surprised to meet a woman who can’t be won over with your charm.”
Matt’s laugh was rich with amusement. “I’m barely separated. You think I want to go after your neighbour?”
“No,” Isaac retorted quickly. “You wouldn’t disrespect Anna or me like that. Willow’s as off limits to you as if she were my sister.” He took another sip of his beer, missing the way Matt’s face twisted in acknowledgement of the warning. “She’s a nice girl though. Once she softens up a bit.”
“Girl?” Matt’s lips twisted into a small smile at the childish description. “How old is she?”
“Twenty five. But she’s been through a bit. I guess I’m protective of her.”
Matt drank from his beer, then stared out at the rolling waves. He resisted the impulse to probe further. What she had or hadn’t been through wasn’t his business. She was twenty five. Seven years younger than he and Isaac. Yet she’d seemed mature. Wary, somehow. He’d guess that whatever she’d been through could explain that.
About an hour later, when Matt caught himself staring at her house broodingly while Isaac took a call inside, he realised he was interested in her.
And he sure as hell couldn’t screw up his friendship with Isaac. It was the most meaningful relationship in his life. He looked back to the ocean resolutely. Willow was just his friends’ neighbour. Nothing more.
* * *
Willow padded down the hall in a daze. She’d been writing most of the night, had fallen asleep on the sofa, and woken to the sound of a persistent knock on her door. She caught sight of the microwave clock as she passed the kitchen. It was almost noon. She pulled a face and ran a hand through her hair. She’d fallen asleep with it in a plait, but the elastic had come loose somewhere in the night, leaving her with loose curls around her face. With one hand on the doorknob, she looked down at her clothes. The rumpled cream dress she’d been wearing the day before, a turquoise necklace, and mismatched socks.
She wrenched the door inwards, a politely inquisitive smile hovering on her lips. Until she saw who stood there.
“Howdy,” Matt drawled, grinning as he took in her sate of dishevelment.
Instantly, she crossed her arms across her chest. It meant releasing her hold on the door, which he took advantage of. He stepped into the hall. Not so far as to be invasive, but far enough that she couldn’t easily shut him out.
Willow narrowed her eyes. “Howdy yourself.” Her voice was remarkably clear given that her mouth felt dry like sawdust.
“I haven’t seen you in days.”
She bit down on her lip. Five days. Since he’d arrived, and she’d gone out of her way to lay low. Anna was getting annoyed with Willow’s uncharacteristic unavailability, Willow could tell, but no way did Willow feel like she could be in the same room as this man. She’d analysed the effect he had on her from top to bottom, and nothing really explained it.
She stepped backwards unconsciously, moving deeper into her home. “I didn’t realise you were still here,” she lied.
His smile was ironic. “Didn’t you?”
Damn it, was he flirting with her? Her cheeks coloured, and unconsciously she lifted a hand to her hair. She ran her fingers through the ends. Dressed in the same jeans as the other day, and a navy blue shirt, he looked good. He smelled good too, she thought. Like oranges and cloves.
“No.” She looked towards her office, then fixed him with a cool gaze. “I’m working, Mattias. I’m afraid I have to get back…”
“You must have time for lunch.”
“Lunch?” She looked at him in complete surprise. “I’m not having lunch with you.”
“Why not?” His smile tickled her senses, and made her knees weak.
“Because I hardly know…”
“Ah,” he nodded in agreement. “Because you hardly know me. You said that the other day.” He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “So come get to know me.”