I nodded. "Awesome."
It sounded as though the dog at Tori’s feet whined, but I couldn’t be sure it wasn’t her. "Thanks, Tina," she said as she pulled out her reading tablet.
"All right. Let’s get started." Chairs scooted, phones beeped, and glasses clinked as everyone got comfortable for book club.
Tori spoke first, "We read a new-to-us author. Sarah Adams. How are we feeling?"
A collective sigh filled the room. "Definitely add her future books to our TBR list."
"TBR?" I whispered to Tori.
"To-be-read," she answered with a wink.
"Oh, thanks." To-be-read, I currently had a not-to-be-read list. People recommending the next great American novel... The next great "collect dust on my shelf" book was more like it.
"Any dissent—I don’t want to hear it," Tori continued. "Because I loved it, and I don’t want any of you ruining this moment for me."
A chorus of laughs sounded through the room, and they spent the next twenty minutes talking about their favorite parts of the book and their highlighted quotes.
"Now, votes about our next book. Since we just read a regency, we have to pick a different genre."
"I vote medieval!"
"Western."
"Romantic comedy."
"We haven’t read an angsty one in a while."
The voices filled the room, offering suggestion after suggestion. "How do you ever decide?" I asked Tori.
She laughed, "Actually, my husband Ian usually picks the book the night before, and then I suggest it to the ladies. Whenever I tell them it’s an Ian suggestion, they jump all over it."
I laughed with her at that—her husband had the looks that made a person look twice. Why did people feel an innate urge to please beautiful people—even if it was just agreeing with their book choice?
The rest of book club was surprisingly enjoyable. I don’t know why I’d been so nervous. It had been a long time since I’d sat down with other women and laughed. College was the last time I’d had real friends, not just passing acquaintances. That was far too long in my opinion. The women talked about romance, and which fictional character would make a better boyfriend. I found myself hanging onto every word of the conversation even though I didn't know what they were talking about.
I even learned everyone’s names. By the end of book club, I had a list of required romance books to read. I slipped my shoes on by the door. I was the last to leave.
"Oh, and maybe if you could keep it a secret that we’re not an HOA approved meeting? Bane can just assume we’ve already been approved." Tori looked at me with a pleading look in her eye. "I think he’s still upset I suggested we let the dogs have a swimming day too."
I crossed my heart and made a serious face. "On pain of death and stepbacks, I won’t tell Mr. HOA."
Tori grinned then flung her arms around me. "I just knew I was going to love you when I first saw you and your husband at the block party."
"I’ll pretend like you have the full written permission. He is a bit of a stickler on the rules, so if he finds out someone’s breaking something, he might just give them that five-dollar fine," I teased.
"Five dollars! He really is generous. Jan liked to issue one-hundred-dollar fines to anyone and everyone. She fined Ian before he’d even moved into the house. Isn’t that crazy? The painters accidentally painted the house lime green. She fined him when he didn’t get it fixed fast enough."
"Wow! She sounds a little..."
Tori nodded knowingly. "Yes. Exactly that word."
I picked up my purse from the entryway bench. "Thank you again for inviting me tonight. I really enjoyed myself."
"I know you said you’re not much of a reader, so you’ll have to let me know if you enjoy our historical read for this week. We can text each other updates on how far we are into the book."
"That sounds like a lot of fun." I gave her a little wave then headed out the door, making my way home, the streetlamps lighting the way.
A motor hummed behind me, and I glanced back but couldn’t make out anything but bright headlights pointing at me. I walked faster.
The vehicle sped up, creeping ominously behind me. I couldn’t jog fast enough to get away. It was definitely following me, and it wasn’t an irrational fear in my head.
By the time I reached home, I was dead sprinting.
I pounded on the locked front door, screaming for Bane when the car pulled into the drive. The door yanked open, and Bane’s strong arms wrapped around me, jerking me inside and shutting the door after me.
"Are you all right? What’s going on? Are you hurt?"
I gasp, grasping my side that was burning. "That car out there followed me all the way from Tori’s into the driveway. I couldn’t see the license plate."
A knock sounded on the door. I screamed.
Bane pushed me behind him as he looked through the peephole. With a heavy sigh, he opened the door.
"Harold, what are you doing? You scared my wife half to death."
"I’m sorry about that, Mr. Fox. I just wanted to make sure she made it home safely." A man in his early forties with a soft middle stood there looking anything but apologetic. "I take my job seriously, and anytime someone is walking after dark, I make sure they reach home safely."
He straightened his shoulders and adjusted the belt around his generous middle, where he had a taser and a heavy-duty flashlight attached.
Bane groaned. "Okay, well, thank you for escorting her. Goodnight."
He slammed the door, locked it, then turned on me. His eyes sparkled dangerously. "Do I have white hair? Because I feel like I should have white hair after hearing you scream bloody murder on the front porch. I thought you were being murdered."
I planted my hands on my hips. "Hey, don’t be mad at me. I thought I was about to be murdered, too."
Bane shook his head. "I’m not mad at
