9. An Awkward Encounter, To Go

Mentor Gayle Calloway had never found himself so worked up like this before. Well, at least, not in the past four years. The most he had done was get angry at some occurrence on the ranch or get worried.

But the way his heart palpitated so fast like the workings of a water turbine, and the way the thing called fear clutched his whole being in a vice-like grip, it all sprung a new one on him.

And that it was all happening because of his new neighbour was something that scared him the most. Akin to the emotions of a prepubescent school boy getting a first glance from his crush.

When the subject of his unwonted feelings smiled his way, Mentor could have sworn his heart had done a rolling somersault in his chest of its own accord. Was it because of the way that elegant smile showed the slight dimple on her left cheek and lit up the room? Or the way that same glow of a smile seemed to affect all the males around her, dazzling them into a frozen audience?

"Hi," she said softly.

He struggle