The Man Next Door

“Oh. You know. Family.”

He smiled. “Even though I haven’t had a lot of dealings with family, I’ve heard enough from others to understand what you mean.”

“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t sound insensitive.”

“No, you didn’t. What’s your family like?”

She laughed shortly. “That’s a little hard to answer. Why do you ask?”

“Not having much of a family of my own, I guess I’m curious about other people’s.”

When he put it that way, it seemed churlish not to at least attempt a reply. “My grandmother is nosy, blunt-spoken, addicted to celebrity gossip and rabidly loyal when it comes to her friends and family. Mother’s sort of flaky, has an incurable addiction to cutesy country decor and has a heart as big as Georgia. Rachel’s a talented interior designer, the smart, capable, organized one in the family. She’s married to a nice, good-looking physician, Mark Brannon.

“My brother, Clay, is still figuring out who and what he is. He came close to turning into a real loser a year or so ago, but Mark’s been a good influence on him. Clay seems to be trying to make something of himself now. He’s a decent guy, really, just drifted into the wrong crowd for a while.”

“That happens.” Popping the last chip into his mouth, Teague crunched, swallowed, washed it down with a sip of tea, then asked, “How would your family describe you, if I asked them?”

She grimaced. “Let’s just say I’m working to change the way they would describe me.”

He digested that with a thoughtful nod. “So, how’d you end up in Little Rock?”

“I needed a change of scenery.” Which was all she intended to tell him about that. Her college scholarship, the money her grandmother had given her to fund the move and help her get set up in the piano-lesson business, the reasons she’d felt the need for that change of scenery—all of that was more than a casually friendly neighbor needed to know.

Something about the way he looked at her let her know he’d read a lot more than she’d intended into her nonanswer, but he let it go. He stood and carried his plate, glass and cocoa mug to the sink, where he rinsed and stacked them. “Thanks for the food,” he said. “I needed the boost before I go out again.”

“You’re going out again tonight?” She tilted her head, listening to the rain still hammering against the windows. “In this?”

“No choice,” he said with a shrug. “Working a case.”

“At the risk of sounding like Mrs. Parsons, you really shouldn’t work so hard.”

He grinned and chucked her chin lightly with his knuckles. “Trust me, you look nothing like Mrs. Parsons.”

Wondering how to take that, she followed him to the door. “So, should I advise you to be careful tonight?”

“Sure. It’s always nice to have someone express concern.”

“Okay, then I will. Be careful.”

He paused in the doorway, one foot out in the hall. “Wor ried about me?”

She waved a hand in a negligent gesture. “You’re a decent neighbor. Quiet. Handy with furniture crises. Since you never know what you’re going to get with neighbors, I’d just as soon not have to deal with a new one.”

He laughed. “Trust you to keep my ego in check.”

Because that was so close to the things she’d thought about him, she laughed, too.

He took another step out. “See you around, Dani.”

“Teague?” His name left her before she’d planned what she was going to ask.

“Yeah?”

Oh, what the heck. It was going to drive her nuts if she didn’t get this cleared up. “You aren’t going to ask me out, are you?”

His grin widened. “Nope.”

“Not your type?”

He looked rather smugly delighted that she’d asked. “Too high maintenance.”

Surprised, she lifted an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“Honey, I know so.” He turned and strode down the hall way toward his door, saying over his shoulder, “Thanks again for the cocoa and the sandwich.”

Rather bemused, Dani closed her door and turned the lock. After a moment she started to laugh.

Chapter Three

Dani met her newest neighbor a little more than a week later. They crashed into each other—literally—when Dani stepped out of her apartment just as Hannah Ross stumbled out of the elevator, her arms piled so high with books that she didn’t even see Dani coming her way.

“I’m so sorry,” Hannah said, her fair cheeks almost as red as the curly hair she’d pulled back into a low ponytail. “I wasn’t paying attention. I hope you aren’t hurt.”

“No, I’m fine. Are you?” Dani bent to gather a couple of the thick textbooks scattered on the ugly green hallway carpet.

“Sure, I’m okay. I’m Hannah Ross, by the way.”

“The medical student. I know. Mrs. Parsons told me.”

Hannah smiled, her amber eyes lighting up. “She’s a sweet woman, isn’t she? She reminds me of my great-aunt.”

“Yes, I’ve grown very fond of her. I’m Dani Madison, as she probably told you.”

“Piano teacher and music student,” Hannah murmured, proving that Mrs. Parsons had been chattering to her, too. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”

They’d nodded and exchanged greetings in the past, but this was the first time they’d bothered to introduce themselves. Dani had thought the other woman was shy, perhaps. Or maybe one of those women who took an unreasonable dislike to Dani on sight—as a few women had. Now she was back to the shy theory, since Hannah’s smile looked friendly enough.

Dani, herself, had been so absorbed with work and studying that she hadn’t really thought to make friends with her neighbors, other than Mrs. Parsons, who didn’t really give anyone a choice about being her friend. Teague hadn’t given her a lot of choice, either, she thought with a slight smile. She might as well get to know Hannah while she was at it.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Standing, she set the books she’d gathered on top of the pile in Hannah’s arms. “Looks like you’ve got a long night ahead.”

Hannah nodded gravely. “I have a gross-anatomy test next week. They’re killers.”

“I can imagine. My brother-in-law is a doctor, specializing in geriatrics. He’s talked about how hard medical school is, especially that first year.”

Hannah sighed. “They keep telling me it gets easier. I just hope I survive that long.”

“You will. So, good luck on your test.”