Page 9 of In Another Lifetime

What was wrong with me?

“Yeah, real familiar. Mrs. Johnson was basically allergic to the outdoors but liked her yard to look nice. I…um…” I knew I should invite my neighbor inside, offer her a drink, but with my rogue thoughts, that would be dangerous. My little neighbor—Vale. Her name was Vale, right?

I gestured vaguely toward my house. “Thank you for the cookies. I’d invite you in for coffee, but I just finished working out and I’m a pretty uninviting, rank ball of sweat. No one needs that.”

Was that interest that sparked in her eyes? Nah. Her expression was schooled to a friendly understanding as she nodded. Clearly, any interest was the imagination of my wayward libido.

“No worries. I just… I love to bake, and I figured I’d share the wealth. Enjoy.” With a final smile, she turned, and I stood there transfixed as she started to walk away, those white shorts molded to her pert little ass.

She stopped suddenly and pivoted back, and I averted my eyes, so she didn’t know I’d been perving on her.

“I was thinking,” she started. “Well, I know it’s a big ask. But would you and Brennan like to come over to dinner on Saturday. Burgers on the grill.”

“That doesn’t seem like that big of an ask.”

She chuckled, a husky sound from low in her throat that rasped over my skin like a lover’s caress. Fuck, I needed to get in the shower and tug one out. Maybe, do a grueling circuit of weights and more cardio first.

“It is big when I ask you to put together the grill first. I should have probably paid for installation. You know I’m crap at anything handy like that. I mean…” She blinked like a deer in the headlights. “Well, you wouldn’t know. But I am.”

Now, it was my turn to give a small huff of laughter. God, she was adorable when flustered.

“No big deal. We’d love to help you out then have dinner. Thanks for the invite.” I lifted the plate. “And the cookies.”

She nodded then half-sprinted away, slowing her jog for a moment before she crossed the street. I stayed in my doorway, watching her until she disappeared inside her house. Shaking my head at her, at me, I headed inside, peeling back the plastic on the plate.

The aroma hit me first. So sweet. Oh my God…white chocolate cranberry. I had one in my mouth before I even thought about it. My legs buckled, memories slamming through me. They were the same. Exactly the same.

My grandma’s recipe…

What were the chances?

My eyes closed as I set the plate beside me and dropped my head back against the door, memories of the past few minutes and memories of my life with Melonie assailing me. Was this a sign? I wouldn’t put it past Melonie to reach out to me from the great beyond and tell me to get my shit together—though those weren’t words she’d ever used. Didn’t make them any less true.

After a deep steadying breath, I took another bite of the cookie and deliberately thought of the woman who’d delivered them to me.

Okay. Okay… Message received.

Maybe, it was time to let go and go on. Somehow.

Seven

Vale

“Reporting for duty as ordered, sir, yes sir!” I said with a mock salute.

My brother looked up from the paperwork on his desk with a huffed scoff. “If that were the case, you’d be moving back into your suite. You had your own space—”

“—and I don’t know why you had to move out,” I finished for him.

“Yeah. Well,” was his only response, the two words saying I rest my case without him really arguing anything. He scooped up his papers and locked them away in his desk drawer before standing and coming over to me. I was glad he hid away his work. I didn’t want to know what he and the club got up to.

“You don’t have to be a smartass about coming to dinner,” he said, hooking an elbow around my neck and pulling me in for a quick hug.

“Being ordered to come to dinner?” I clarified.

“What can I say?”

“That you’re sorry for not considering I might have other plans?”

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