This Just In.... Jennifer McKenzie

      Sabrina came around from behind the kitchen counter where she’d been unpacking utensils and cocked her head. “Yes. I think that’s the spot.”

      “You realize that was the first spot.”

      “I didn’t know that was the right spot until I saw the couch in other places.” She smiled up at him. “So thank you for hauling it around.” She went back to the kitchen, which opened onto the main room. “So tell me, Mr. Mayor. If you weren’t allowing me to appreciate the fine labor of your muscles, what would you be doing today?”

      Noah lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his brow. The day had warmed up, the sun now beating through her open windows. He could hear the hum of a nearby mower, the scent of freshly cut grass tickling his nose. What would he be doing? Working on the computer, babysitting his niece or nephews, heading into the office, answering requests from residents. “I’m not sure.”

      “Really?” She unwrapped a large plastic spoon and added it to the canister that seemed to be full of them already. “No hot date?”

      “No.” He rarely dated. Didn’t have time for it. Which was a sad statement on his life. “Why? Are you asking me out?”

      She blinked and her mouth opened slightly. Then she laughed. “Mr. Mayor, look at you flirting with me.”

      Noah’s cheeks burned. He didn’t flirt. It wasn’t appropriate for a man in his position. He knew that. And yet, his guard had slipped around her. He needed to watch out for that. “Sorry.”

      “Why would you apologize?” Sabrina plunked another spoon in the canister. “You’re a handsome guy. You must have lots of women wanting to go out with you.”

      He studied her, unsure if this was more of her casual banter or if she was fishing for information to put in her article. If he answered wrong, she could use his words against him, twist them to make him look like some sort of sex pervert, which he might become if she wore those red shorts very often. So he didn’t answer at all, simply picked up a box labeled Bathroom and carried it in there.

      When Noah came back out, he felt more in control. “How long will you be living here?”

      “Not forever. Just until I write my book. Then it’s back to the city.” She sounded a bit sad, like she wasn’t sure that was where she wanted to be.

      Noah could relate, but he didn’t ask for details. That would be inviting personal questions about his own life. “So I’ve just moved your couch four times for fun?”

      “No, that was all part of my plan to see you flex your muscles.” The sad tilt to her eyes lifted. “Actually, I just need my own space while I’m here. My parents let me have the apartment because they want me to move back permanently.”

      “Seems like a lot of work to move in all your things if you’re just turning around and leaving.” He didn’t understand why anyone would bother. Was there something more that she wasn’t sharing?

      “Okay, that’s not the only reason.” Sabrina put down yet another plastic spoon. “I also moved in because I found out you lived across the hall.”

      Noah’s chest suddenly felt heavy like someone had laid a wet blanket over it. He sucked in a breath. “Oh.”

      “No, don’t get like that.” She stepped around the counter and over to him. “I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. I just hoped that if we were neighbors and you got to know me better, you might see that I’m not so bad.”

      “And give you the interview.”

      “Well, yeah.” She stopped in front of him. She’d pulled the hoodie off some time ago and the skinny tank top showed off her curves. “I know you’re worried because of what happened with Kyle, but this isn’t the same type of interview.” She reached a hand out and laid it on his arm.

      A spark fizzed through him.

      “I haven’t always made the best decisions when it comes to my columns. If you read them, you’ll see that I wasn’t always nice.”

      And this was supposed to convince him to say yes? “I think you need to work on your pitch.” But he didn’t step back or shake off her touch.

      “Probably, but I’m being honest with you. Your interview and the article I write aren’t going to be like that. It’s not what the readers of this town want. It’s not what I want.”

      “So you and your readers want something else in Vancouver?”

      The side of her mouth lifted in an effort to smile, but ended up looking sad. “Yes. They did and I did. But this is something else.” She took her hand off his arm to run it through her hair. Noah missed the contact. “You don’t need to decide this second. I’m interviewing Pete on Tuesday and his article will run in next weekend’s paper. Wait. Read it and then make your decision.”

      “So you’re not going to push me now?” He felt off-balance. Now was the perfect time for her to push. They’d been having a good time, working as a team. Sabrina had done an excellent job of forging a bond to convince him to trust her. Only she wasn’t capitalizing on it. He studied her more closely. Was that part of her plan?

      “If you want to say yes right now, I won’t turn you down.” Her eyes stared into his. Such a bright and cheerful green, like grass in summer. “But no, I’m not going to push. You’re helping me move. Really, you’ve suffered enough.”

      Noah laughed and the weight in his lungs eased. She seemed genuine and she’d given him the freedom to confirm her sincerity by waiting for Pete’s article to run first. He couldn’t expect more. “All right then. What else do we need to move?”

      “I’m so glad you asked.”

      His muscles ached when they were done, but it was a good ache. The kind that spoke of a job well-done and a rest well earned.

      Sabrina flopped onto the couch. “I’m beat. What do you want on your pizza?”

      “Pizza?” He looked longingly at the couch, but didn’t sit. His mother had taught him too well for that. His shirt stuck to his back and his shorts looked like he’d been swimming in them. He wasn’t about to sit on her nice couch and drip sweat all over it.

      “And beer. Isn’t that the standard gift for helping someone move?”

      “You don’t have to feed me.”

      “Of course I do. You helped me move. You don’t think I know the rules of payment for moving?” She patted the couch beside her. “Sit down. You’ve worked your butt off.”

      The little shorts rode even higher as she reached over to pull her cell phone from the pocket of her hoodie, which had been left on the floor. Noah swallowed. “I should shower.” A long, cold one.

      She grinned up at him. “Mr. Mayor, are you flirting again?”

      “No. I didn’t mean it like that.”

      “Too bad.” She stood up and Noah watched the shorts shift as she moved. He shook his head to clear it of the image of Sabrina in the shower.

      She was teasing him, toying with him. The careless flirting probably meant nothing to her.

      “Why don’t we sit outside then? It’s cooler.” She walked over to the French doors that had been left open to catch any breeze that might come through. The day had been still, but the temperature was a few degrees cooler outside.

      Noah followed her out and lowered himself to the porch step where there was no worry about leaving a sweat outline behind. He leaned his elbows back and inhaled the cool air. Just as good as a shower. Well, not if the shower included Sabrina. He shoved the thought away. Clearly she’d been joking.

      He heard the fall of her steps as she headed back inside and let his eyes close. It would be nice to have a neighbor again, to know there was another warm body