Page 20 of Sunset Catchers

“Sorry that this was my reaction when thinking I was about to be murdered.”

“Do you often think you’re about to be murdered?”

“I’m a woman…”

“Fair point,” he relents. “I can confirm that murdering you is not part of my evening plan.”

“Super glad to hear that.”

He says nothing else. He just stands there, maintaining his focus leveled with my face.

“Why are you here then, Levi?”

“Right. I just wanted to do the neighborly thing and tell you that if you need anything, I’ll be next door.”

“What?” I say, dread pitching my voice high. “You’re staying in the other cottage?”

“Yes.”

So this is the joke I hadn’t been privy to earlier at the grocery store.

Thing is; it’s not funny.

I know Levi doesn’t live here—Kit had mentioned the contractor she hired, turning out to be this guy right here, lived in Toronto. I thought he would stay with her while we worked on the cottages. Surely, Kit had extended the same invitation to stay in her home to her own grandson.

“Why aren’t you staying with Kit?”

“I like to get the day going early. This way, it’ll be more convenient.”

My molars clamp together, unable to protest, since it’s also the exact same reason I have for staying here.

It makes perfect sense.

“Also, can I get your number?”

My brows fly up my face. And I say, “No!” instinctively, after years of declining the same requests to every guy who asked. Levi looks at me as if he’s tripped one of my wires.

“It’s just so we can text and stuff. For the project we’re working on. Together.” He swings a finger between us, back and forth. “We could always email like boomers if you’d prefer that.”

I feel the tips of my ears heat up. Of course that’s why he wants my number.

“It’s fine. I’ll give you my number.” He grabs his phone, and I watch him add me to his contacts as I recite it.

My stomach vibrates when his text comes in, my phone still being tucked there. His eyes land on the band of exposed skin where my top ends, then slide up to my chest before he glances away, wincing.

“I’ll leave you to eat your girl dinner.” Levi notices my surprise, once again. He says, “Little sister, remember.”

I tip my chin with a tight-lipped smile.

I watch him go to his car parked in front of his own cottage and take a bag out of it. He looks back toward me, where I’m momentarily frozen. He smirks.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, neighbor.”

I turn to hide in the confines of my cottage without another word, kicking the door loudly behind me, scuffing and scowling.

I let my head fall back against the door, defeated. I just went from having to deal with Levi on a work hours basis to having to deal with him on a 24/7 basis.

I eat my dinner standing up at the kitchen counter.