Meeting Arlo Reeves

A quick, impatient beep of the horn cut through her thoughts, snapping her back to the present.

“Do you enjoy standing there?”

Biting back the caustic retort that had sprung to her lips, she said evenly, “I appear to have locked myself out. I don’t suppose you’ve got anything in the car I could force the door with?”

She swung the torch in the direction of his face as she spoke and saw him flinch as the bright light caught his eyes. “Sorry.” She lowered it immediately, but the brief glimpse had been enough, dark hair, sharp jaw, olive skin.

He sat quietly for a moment, then said, “You want me to commit a crime? Breaking down a stranger’s door?” There was a hint of laughter in his voice. Nora had to take a deep breath before she could say sweetly, “I mean, yeah? Can you help?” She was shivering from head to foot and this clown found the situation funny.

The absolute nerve of him.

“You’re cold.”

She hoped it was her shaking he had noticed and not the way her nipples were standing out like she had just got fresh piercings. “A bit,” she said steadily. “Which is why I’d like to get back inside as soon as possible.”

The engine cut out. The driver’s door swung open and he stepped out. Before she could say anything a heavy jacket was being held out toward her.

“Here, put this on,” he said easily.

Glancing down at Lilly, who had begun to silently hiss at him, Nora did not bother to stop her. In fact she felt this was a good turn of events. The man was tall, very tall, and intimidatingly broad-shouldered, and she was feeling distinctly nervous being so scantily clad.

The stranger crouched down to Lilly’s level and offered a hand for the cat to sniff. There was a brief pause. And Lilly turned, went back to sit at the gate like nothing happened. Nora wondered, not for the first time, whether getting a cat had ever really been the right decision.

“Pretty cat.” The man stood, returned with a powerful torch and switched it on. “Why are you standing there gawking? Put the coat on.”

Nora didn’t see any point in arguing. If he was going to hit her over the head with something and have his wicked way with her, it might as well be the torch as anything else. Clearly Lilly was not the right pet for this kind of situation.

He pushed past her and walked to the cottage door as she slipped the jacket on. It drowned her, but right at this moment that was very welcome. She followed and watched as he tried the door, then walked the full perimeter of the building. When he re-emerged she said testily, “Any luck?”

“Why didn’t you have the key with you?”

She murmured, “ Skipped my mind and forgot it.”

He didn’t comment on this. What he did say was, “What’s that terrible smell? Raw sewage?”

“I slipped over there,” she said, pointing at the trench. “There was a trench with animal dung in it.”

He made no attempt to hide his amusement, chuckling deeply. “Mmm. I see.”

She wasn’t about to stand in the cold discussing how she smelled. “So, can you get me in? It’s freezing out here.”

“Probably, but I don’t intend to. There’s no point causing damage when you can contact the agent in the morning. This place is listed through Siam Stays, isn’t it? I know Somchai — I’ll call him myself. You’ll be back in, in no time.”

She didn’t want to be back in by morning, she wanted to be back in now. “But — I lit a candle. I can’t leave it.”

“You already have,” he pointed out silkily. “The house is automated to suppress anything producing smoke when left unattended, so it’s probably dying out already.”

How did he even know the house could do that.

“If you know Somchai, can’t you phone him now?”

He turned and rolled his eyes. “Did your phone work out here, ma’am?”

Nora looked down at the phone she’d been clutching tightly.

“I suggest you come back to my place, get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll sort it in the morning.”

This was absolutely ridiculous. “I couldn’t possibly go home with you, Mr…?”

“Reeves. Arlo Reeves,” he said, his pearly whites shining in the dark. “And why couldn’t you come home with me, Miss…?”

“My name is Nora,” she said tightly, “and I’m not in the habit of accepting overnight accommodation with complete strangers.” She refused to acknowledge Lilly, who had already planted herself at his feet.

Traitor.

“We’re not strangers, we’ve introduced ourselves,” he said, amusement back tenfold. “And rest assured I’m not so desperate for female company that I’ve seized on your unfortunate predicament with pillage in mind. It’s a genuine offer. You’ll sleep alone.” He paused. “Especially in view of that unusual scent you’re wearing.” He put his hands halfway up his face while staring her down.

Swine.

Dignity was hellishly difficult given the smell, but Nora made a stab at it. “Thank you for the offer, but I couldn’t, Mr Reeves.”

“Okay.” He turned, beginning to walk back toward his car.

“Where are you going?”

She knew the panic had crept into her voice and couldn’t quite stop it. He wasn’t going to just leave her here, was he?

“Home.” He didn’t bother to turn around. “It’s late, I’m hungry and tired. You can come with me or stay here — it’s up to you.”

She didn’t move until he had actually seated himself in the car. She still couldn’t quite believe he was going to drive off.