I did it on purpose.
Because you hurt. But she’s back. Don’t screw it up.
“Oh, Christ.” Pat shook his head. “I can’t believe you think sneaking into his garage, checking out his old GTO, and accidentally hitting the gearshift, sending it crashing into the garage door, was such a big deal. Besides, we all learned a lesson, end of story. Even old man McGiver has forgiven you. And do I need to remind you, you paid for the damages to his car and garage.”
“Fine. I was a smart-ass kid. Jake’s just acting his age. But Courtney isn’t a kid. She’s an adult. To resort to such an underhanded, manipulative method to get my attention doesn’t impress me.” It might not have impressed him, but he certainly appreciated the end result.
“I think she’s beyond trying to impress you. Right now, she’s trying to get you to acknowledge her existence.”
“Excuse me?” There were times Owen hated having Pat as a brother. Pat had the ability to see things for what they really were.
And call him on his own bullshit.
“You’ve pretty much ignored her since she came home.”
“Have not,” he said, denying the accusation. But he knew his brother had a point. While he noticed her every day, he made a point of not engaging her in any type of conversation. He didn’t call her, didn’t stop by to say hello, didn’t do any of the things he truly wanted to do. “Fine. I haven’t been the friendliest. But she still could have come out and said something instead of tricking me.”
“Maybe.” Pat chuckled again. “So, how was it?”
“You’re a pig.”
“I’m an old, married man,” Pat said as he stood and laid a hand on Owen’s shoulder. “Give it a chance. Give her a chance. What’s the worst thing that can happen?”
Yeah, Owen. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You big oaf.
When would that damn woman’s voice get out of his head?
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Owen said as he followed his brother to the door.
“At least make nice with her.”
“I’ll think about it.” Owen watched his brother hop in his family SUV and head for home. “Lucky bastard,” he heard himself say.
You could be that lucky, if you would just follow your heart.
“Shut up,” he mumbled to the voice as he slid into his patrol car.
Sitting there, staring out into nothing, he tried to understand why he couldn’t stay mad at Courtney. He wanted to. Almost talked himself into it while having dinner with his brother, but it hadn’t worked. He knew he’d end up over there tonight. Worse, he knew he’d want to take her to bed again...or maybe on the kitchen table with some of her butter frosting.
“Shit.” He had to get his mind off sex when it came to Courtney. He was supposed to be mad as hell, believing that’s all she wanted from him. But she was his neighbor, not to mention his friend, and he kept thinking about her, about how much he enjoyed watching her get all jealous of some stuffy teacher he didn’t even find attractive. Then he’d had even more fun messing with her head.
Who was playing trickery now?
She’d heard the entire conversation he had with Nicky, and he figured she’d about jumped from her skin the moment he whispered in Nicky’s ear. Of course, hearing her voice inside his head was as crazy as hearing Lilly’s, so he had ignored that concept altogether.
He smiled remembering Courtney’s expression when he’d looked up. Even though he’d completely ignored the kid’s question, and only promised him a ride in his patrol car, she’d been curious. Years on the job taught him kids loved that kind of stuff, and it certainly got him off the whole “finding the right person thing.” Owen’s first response had been, yeah, I found her all right. But that thought was just silly.
Now, who is playing childish games?
“Okay, fine you win. It was childish.” He tossed his hands wide and stared at the orange glow settling across the sky. The sun had disappeared, and soon all the goblins and ghosts would come out.
Good. Now go get the girl.
“Chief, got a call for you,” the dispatcher rang out over the radio.
“Go ahead.” Grateful for the distraction, Owen focused his attention on the dashboard.
“Courtney Nash just called in a disturbance at her house.”
“What kind of disturbance?” Owen asked, giving his head a good scratch. What the hell was Courtney up to now? She didn’t need to keep pulling all these stunts to get his attention. If this was some kind of prank again, he’d wring her pretty little neck. Sure, she never actually called in the one last night, he did, but using his job to get his attention would end up causing trouble. Trouble he didn’t need.
Yet, he couldn’t shake the thought maybe this could be his burglar.
Actually, this time it wasn’t a thought, but his gut.
Something he trusted.
No matter what feelings he might be having for the woman, he would draw the line if she was messing with him again. “I don’t have feelings,” he whispered.
Yes, you do, that female voice sang in his ears.
“Chief? You there?” he heard the dispatcher say.
“Yeah, just repeat that, please,” he said, annoyed at how easily a dead woman and a hot neighbor could make him crazy.
“She thinks someone broke into her home.”
His heart raced. “Is she there, alone?” He gripped the mic in one hand, maneuvered the gearshift with the other, glancing quickly in both directions before flipping his sirens.
“I’ve got her on the line.”
“Tell her I’ll be there in five.” Punching the gas, he peeled out into traffic and sped toward home. He hated Halloween.
Something bad always happened on Halloween.
Courtney covered the phone and ground out behind a clenched jaw, “Grandma, if this is your work, I’m going into the afterlife, and I’m gonna kill you all over again.”
Silence. Nothing.
“Talk to me, old lady.” She raised her fists to the
