Page 9 of Howling Night

Ew. No.

I pulled into a parking space at the grocery store, my mind still stuck on Ryder. As much as I wanted to dismiss him as just another small-town jerk with a chip on his shoulder, I couldn’t deny there was something kind of magnetic about him.

His beautiful blue eyes had an intelligence behind them, set perfectly on a face that could have been sculpted — all sharp angles and strong lines. There was no denying he was strong with his broad shoulders and those muscular biceps. Construction work clearly had its benefits.

But good looks only went so far, and whatever appeal his physical appearance held was seriously undermined by what I’d witnessed in the woods. A man who was that angry, that intimidating, clearly had issues I didn’t need in my life.

Though, oddly enough, in the office, he’d been almost civil — gruff and suspicious, but not the menacing figure I’d seen that night. It was like meeting two different people wearing the same face, which only made him more unsettling.

Attractive? Unfortunately, yes. Worth the trouble that seemed to follow him like a shadow? Absolutely not.

Not that I was even thinking about anything like that. Ryder was another man I would never have any interest in. He was just like the city guys, only he was dressed differently and ruggedly handsome instead of that manicured, groomed look.

Ugh.

My goal now was simple. I’d stock up on enough supplies to minimize future trips into town. I had enough savings that I didn’t need to find a job immediately. Maybe I’d be able to find something I could do from home, and I’d never have to run into him again.

The market was quaint — just ten long aisles with worn linoleum floors and a perpetual smell of cinnamon that seemed to originate from nowhere in particular. I pushed my cart methodically down each aisle, grabbing essentials: coffee, pasta, canned goods, fresh produce, toilet paper, and enough chocolate to get me through at least two weeks of unpacking, arranging, and decorating.

“You must be the new girl,” the elderly cashier said as she slowly rang up my items.

“That would be me,” I said, forcing a weak smile. “Unless you get a lot of people moving here.”

“Oh, no,” she said with a laugh. “More people leave this town than they settle here.”

I glanced at the young bagger, whose eyes widened. “That’s hard to believe.”

“Yes, yes,” the woman said, her head bobbing along with the beeping scanner. “Not sure why anyone would want to leave. It’s just so peaceful here.”

“It’s because there’s nothing to do here, grandma,” the young man said, rolling his eyes.

She pressed her lips together. “One-Seventy-Nine and twenty-three cents. But that’s what makes this place so wonderful.” I paid with my card, and she patted my hand. “You’ll love it here. You’ll see. Everyone is kind, and nothing to worry about here.”

“Good to hear,” I said, putting the last bag in my cart.

“Have a good day, sweetie,” she said, handing me a receipt.

“You too.”

Back at home, I unloaded the groceries, organizing everything in the small kitchen. Once finished, I pulled the folded job application from my purse, staring at it for a moment before crumpling it up and tossing it into the trash can with perhaps more force than necessary.

Working for Ryder Black was absolutely the last thing I needed right now, especially after witnessing whatever shady business he was involved in. It wasn’t like I needed to find a job immediately, since I had enough savings to last at least a year, especially if I was frugal. Maybe I’d be able to find a work-from-home position, so I’d never have to bump into that guy again.

With a deep breath, I turned my attention back to the half-dozen boxes still waiting to be unpacked in the living room. As I opened the boxes, I pushed away thoughts of those dark eyes fixed on me. I came to this remote little town to escape complications, not to find new ones. Whatever Ryder was mixed up in, it had nothing to do with me, and that’s exactly how it was going to stay.

I was putting away a stack of dishes when a sharp knock at the door made me jolt… the plates clicking together loudly. I froze, listening. The sound had felt jarring in the quiet house.

I walked across the floor and peered out through the curtained window beside the door. The porch appeared empty — just the wooden railing and steps leading down to the gravel driveway, no car in sight.

Twilight was settling in, painting the trees with long shadows. Strange. I let the curtain fall back into place, wondering if I’d imagined it.

Then it came again, three distinct raps, unmistakable this time. My pulse quickened as I glanced around for something I could use as a weapon, settling on an umbrella propped by the coat rack. So much for the cashier’s promise about this town being perfectly safe.

Nothing was ever really safe.

ChapterFive

“Hello?” a sweet, soft voice called out like a bird chirping in the morning. “Anyone home?”

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