Page 12 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Nancy

After a very interesting meal, where several people stopped to say hi or stared longer than necessary, we walked out of The Crazy Fox and crashed smack-dab into another person.

Just great!

Before I could think to apologize, the woman was talking.

"Nancy? Is that you?"

It took me a second to place the face and voice. "Shirley?"

There were very few people I missed in Willow Creek, but Shirley Bronson was at the top of the list. We went to school together since we were young kids.

Although Shirley was a year younger than me, we used to babysit some of the local kids together.

Our parents were good friends. If there was anyone I should've stayed in touch with, it was her.

"Yes!" Shirley didn't hesitate to wrap me up in a hug, and unlike when Bee hugged me, I returned the gesture with enthusiasm. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too. It's been a long time."

"It has." Shirley pulled away with a smile. "What have you been up to? Where have you been living? Sorry I'm rambling, but I'm just so happy to see you."

"No, it's okay. I'm happy to see you too. I moved just a few towns over. I'm actually an office manager for a security company. How about you?" I pointed at her. "What have you been doing since I left?"

I asked because I genuinely wanted to know, not because I felt obligated to return the sentiment.

The last time I spoke to Shirley, she was considering starting her own business, she just didn't know what kind she wanted to run or where. I’d half expected her to skip town at some point and go to a bigger city.

"You're looking at it." She pointed to a shop behind her. "I opened up an antique shop right here on Main Street." The smile took up her whole face.

The name on the building read Until the End of Time.

It was a cute red stucco building with big display windows on either side of the large front door.

The second floor looked to house some apartments.

I remembered the building from when I was a kid, but for the life of me couldn't say what used to be there before it became the antique shop. Either way, it was gorgeous now.

"That's awesome. I'm so happy for you," I told her honestly.

Shirley looked over my shoulder at where Lex stood guarding my back. "Is he why you're back in town?"

For a second there I had almost forgotten why I was back in town. My face heated up at the insinuation. "He is." I was quick to continue on when I saw the excitement on Shirley's face. "But not for the reasons you might think. Lex is friends with my boss and he's helping out with a problem."

"Bummer." Shirley frowned. "I was hoping it was something more exciting than that. Ever since his friends have come to town, it's been nothing but excitement here for a change."

I turned to look at Lex with a brow raised. I nearly laughed when he held up his hands and shook his head as if to say “not me.”

"Well, I can promise you there's nothing exciting happening in my life." Even if I wished there definitely was something exciting going on. And by that, I meant with a man. That was the kind of excitement I could handle.

Lex cleared his throat behind me. "We need to get going."

I took that as my cue that he was trying to get me out of another awkward conversation with someone in town. "It was nice seeing you, Shirley."

"You too. Maybe we can catch up some more when you have time."

I smiled. "Yeah, absolutely."

I waved goodbye and headed straight for Lex's Jeep. I didn't say anything when he opened the net and offered his hand to help me in. I appreciated the gesture, even if it meant the whole town would be talking about it in a matter of minutes.

We rode in silence for the short drive from the diner. When we entered the same driveway as earlier, I had to ask, "Is this where you live?" Lex didn't seem like the kind of guy who would have something as permanent as a house when he insisted he didn't like the town either.

"No, it's a friend of mine's."

I was even more confused when we walked toward the garage instead of the house. "Oh, so you rent." That made more sense when I saw there was an apartment on top of the garage.

"Not exactly."

I threw my hands up in frustration. "Do you know the meaning of having a conversation with someone?"

Everything felt like pulling teeth when it came to talking to this man. How he socialized in the world was beyond me. Unless he just didn't socialize. That would actually make the most sense.

"I do," was his only response.

I gave up and decided to check out the place instead.

It could barely be considered a studio apartment.

There was a bed in one corner with a dresser next to it, a sofa against one wall, and a door that I assumed led to the bathroom.

The place barely had a kitchen. Maybe the area with a small fridge, sink, and tiny stove could be called a kitchenette, but personally, I wouldn't agree.

"This used to be Easton's apartment before he moved in with his girl. I was using it before I decided to leave town. I don't have any place I would consider mine."

That was a little sad.

"Is Easton one of the guys you work with?"

Lex nodded and I looked back around the tiny space. A thought occurred to me. "Where exactly do you plan for me to sleep?"

The couch didn't look comfortable. In fact, it looked old and lumpy.

"In the bed," Lex finally answered after a few moments of silence.

I turned to look at him, but his gaze was far off. I doubted he was even seeing the room. "And how about you?"

If last night was any indication, I already had an idea what the answer would be. I wasn't sure if the nightmares were a daily thing, but I doubted Lex would sleep anywhere near me knowing they could happen.

"On the couch."

He didn't sound happy about that plan, so I continued to push. "You could always share the bed with me. I promise to move away if you start having a nightmare."

Lex was shaking his head before I even finished my sentence. "Absolutely not."

Stubborn, stubborn man.

"That"—I pointed to the couch—"can't be comfortable.”

He merely shrugged his shoulders. "I've slept on it before."

I noticed he did that. Rather than lie, he just evaded the question asked. It was annoying, to say the least.

"Fine, have it your way." I was done arguing. "I'm tired and ready for bed."

It wasn't until I was ready to open the bathroom door that I remembered I didn't have my suitcase. Dropping my head to my chest, I prepared myself to ask Lex for something to wear.

It was obvious he was two steps ahead of me, because the next second, a pair of shorts and a shirt were being thrust into my hands. "There's also a new toothbrush in the bottom drawer."

"Thank you," I whispered before rushing into the bathroom and slamming the door. I was absolutely done with this day and needed to crawl into bed and sleep before I did or said something I would regret.

Like kiss the handsome man who’d had my stomach in knots in one way or another since the moment I met him.