Page 7 of Howling Night

My shoulders involuntarily tensed as the memories of last night’s encounter flashed in my mind. “Did I move to the wrong place? I was hoping for something quiet and safe.”

“Oh, dang, sorry. Not at all,” Dean said with a gentle laugh that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “I wasn’t trying to scare you or anything. Just wanted to make sure you stay safe. The local teens can get into all sorts of rowdy trouble out by the lake.”

“Is that right?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Drinking in the woods, playing pranks… that sort of thing.”

I relaxed slightly. “I’m not too worried about wild teenager shenanigans.” I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Once upon a time, I was one myself.”

That made him laugh again, a genuine sound that made me smile in return. The waitress brought over a cup of coffee in a to-go cup.

Sheila looked from Dean to me and back to him. “I see you’ve met the young lady who moved into?—”

“Yeah,” Dean said, taking a sip and pulling his lips away from the cup. “Hot.” His cheeks turned pink. “The coffee.” He glanced at his wrist, where a watch may or may not have been. “I need to get to work. It was nice meeting you, Everly. Welcome to Birchwood Hollow.”

“Thanks.”

The bell jingled, and he was outside before I could tell him it was nice meeting him, too… or ask if he knew where I could find a job.

“He’s a sweetheart,” Sheila said, winking. “If I weren’t married, he’d be at the top of my list.” She laughed and held up her left hand. “But I am married, so I guess he’s available.”

“Oh, no,” I said, shaking my head as I waved my hands in the air. I’d seen that look before. It wasn’t that long ago Annie wore that expression when she wanted to set me up with some guy from her office. “I’m not interested. I’m here to get away from all that.”

“Away from all what?” Sheila asked, pressing her lips together as she crossed her arms.

I bit my lip. “Relationships. Dating. All of it. I’ve never been very good at that stuff.”

“I see,” Sheila said, ripping my check from the pad of paper. “I think you just haven’t met the right person.”

“That’s obviously true, but in my experience, people always want something from you, and love is just the bait they use to take it,” I said, taking the check from her. “I know that sounds horrible, but I just really need a break from all that bullshit. One too many horrible relationships. You know how it is, right?”

Sheila shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t. I’ve been married thirty years to the sweetest man. Sure, he leaves his clothes on the floor, but he takes good care of me and makes me laugh.”

“Consider yourself lucky,” I said, clearing my throat. “Where do I pay?”

“This way,” Sheila said.

I paid my check at the counter and thanked Sheila for the meal and the job lead before heading back to my SUV. The late afternoon sun was turning golden as I slid behind the wheel.

I drove slowly down the main street, scanning the storefronts for Black Construction. Sure enough, just as Sheila had mentioned, I spotted it several blocks down, near the end of the busy street.

It was a weathered building with a faded sign and dusty windows. It wasn’t exactly the picture of a thriving business, but then again, none of the businesses in town looked like they were raking in the big bucks.

The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing an empty reception area with buzzing lighting. Blueprints were scattered across the counter, and the air smelled of sawdust and coffee.

“Hello?” I called, approaching the desk with a little bell.

Before I could tap the little button, footsteps boomed from the open office just behind the desk. A man stepped out, wiping his hands on a shop rag as he looked up.

It was him. The man from the woods. Oh, fuck.

ChapterFour

His bright blue eyes widened slightly in recognition, and I felt my body tense, ready to bolt for the door. He looked different in the light, a little less menacing perhaps, dressed in a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing muscular forearms dusted with sawdust. But there was no mistaking that face, the strong jaw now set in a hard line as he stared at me.

“Um,” I stammered, my voice coming out stronger than I expected. “Hi, I’m Everly Montana, and I just moved to town. I heard you’re hiring?”

The silence between us crackled with tension, and I wondered if I’d made a terrible mistake coming here. I should have just backed out of the office without uttering a single word instead of pretending I had no idea who he was. It was painfully obvious he wasn’t fooled.

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