She swallowed with some difficulty. He certainly was something to look at.
Even from here, his light eyes stood out against warm, sun-kissed skin. Watching her.
…
Dominic Sorensen stood outside of his truck, well aware he was under the she-devil’s scrutiny. Other men might have lost their temper at the crazy woman’s display of road rage, but he found it…amusing.
So this was his aunt’s new neighbor. The lawyer Glenda had been trying to get him to meet since she’d moved in. His aunt was delusional if she thought for a moment the two of them were remotely compatible. Her Audi cost more than his entire income last year. He’d made the mistake once of thinking that he would be enough for a woman like that. And it had only earned him heartache when she left, claiming he lacked sufficient ambition for her taste.
Still, he’d better go introduce himself or his aunt would never let him hear the end of it.
Her door swung open as he drew near but she was hunched forward, not aware of his arrival. From what he could tell, she was searching for something near her feet. Probably the cell phone three inches from her right foot. So focused in her search, he didn’t want to interrupt.
Particularly since the top of her shirt gaped open to reveal an interesting amount of cleavage. He was human, after all.
Phone in hand, she sat up and her eyes widened when she saw him waiting outside her door. Gray eyes, maybe blue. Whatever their color, they were bright and blazing in contrast to the hot, fiery red of her hair that, even tied up, seemed to glow under the fading autumn sun.
Glenda had said she was pretty, but that was only half the story.
He delivered his most charming smile. “Never known anyone to drive so…determined.”
She stepped out of the car and stood to an impressive height. But even with her heels, he still towered over her. “I’m afraid
I was only concerned with your well-being.” Her tone was friendly enough but the sarcasm was clear. “Seeing as how you were traveling ten miles under the speed limit, I thought you might be elderly and had lost your way or perhaps were suffering the sudden onset of a stroke…”
“Gee, and I thought you were trying to get close enough to check me out.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Hardly.”
“Hey, it’s been known to happen.”
The screen door of his aunt’s house creaked open and a familiar blond head poked out. “Dominic? Is that you?”
Without taking his gaze from Kate, he smiled even wider. “In the flesh.”
For a woman just shy of seventy, Glenda Sorensen moved remarkably fast as she sprang down the steps and the steep driveway that ran parallel to her new neighbor’s.
“You’re earlier than I expected, but I sure am glad to see you,” she said and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, then stepped back. “Kate, I’d like you to meet my nephew Dominic Sorensen. Kate’s the lawyer lady I was telling you about, Dom. She works for one of those fancy law firms downtown. They usually have her working long into the night. Although, come to think of it, you’re home awfully early.” She glanced down at her wristwatch. “It’s not even close to eight o’clock.”
“Yes, well, I had some stuff I thought I could work on from home.” Kate dropped her gaze and lifted her bag up. He caught sight of a laptop and several file folders peeking from the top. “Speaking of which, I should get going.”
“Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight, Kate? I made lasagna and there’s more than enough. I even made apple strudel for dessert.” He had to give his aunt an A for effort in her obvious attempt at matchmaking. It was a like a conspiracy between her and the rest of the women in his family to see him dating again.
“That does sound delicious,” Kate said. “But I ate a late lunch and don’t think I could eat another bite. Thank you for offering.”
She’d been careful to keep her gaze from his but he couldn’t help but notice the slight pink around her lids that, at least with his two sisters, had usually been caused by tears. Maybe she had a heart, after all.
“Another time then, dear. Oh, by the way. About ten minutes after you left this morning, a guy in a truck advertising a carpentry service showed up. Were you looking for someone to do some work around your house?”
Glenda didn’t wait for a response but placed her hand on Dominic’s arm, and he repressed a groan, knowing what was coming.
“If you are, you should look no farther than this man before you. His family runs a construction company, mostly large commercial projects, but Dominic has always had an eye for restoration. He does wonderful work. I bet he could probably give you a reasonable quote.”
“I will definitely keep him in mind,” the redhead said in a tone Dominic knew meant no way in hell, even if his aunt wasn’t as perceptive. “I really have to go. It was nice meeting you, Dominic.”
He inclined his own head slightly in return. “Pleasure was all mine.”
Before Glenda could make any further interruptions, Kate turned and strode up the driveway. Her long legs made quick work of the distance and he couldn’t help but appreciate the generous curves that even her boring black skirt couldn’t hide.