Chapter Two

Jeff spent a good minute or so watching Hannah Walker as she debated over various jars of tomato sauce. He had seen her the first day he arrived in town. She had been standing at the top of a ladder with her hair tied in a ponytail, trying to wrestle a clump of leaves from the gutters of an old blue and white Victorian not far from the edge of town.

He wasn't sure what intrigued him more--the fact that she seemed to have a take charge kind of attitude or that, according to the friendly town folk he'd met at Homerville's only dining establishment, she was trying to restore the old house into something that it resembled back in its heyday. Either way, he'd been scoping out Main Street for the past two days, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Because he thought his best chance was to make the meeting seem completely accidental.

Tonight, he’d hit pay dirt.

He watched her for a few moments, chuckling to himself at his wit as he selected a jar of sauce off the shelf and approached her.

"I'd suggest this one." He held it out to her. "If you like a little heat, that is."

He knew his clever wit could backfire. It was risky being so suggestive. After all, he didn't know if she was the type of woman who would consider it amusing and play along or be insulted and angry about his bold innuendo. If she was the latter, then he’d probably blown any chance to recoup.

On the other hand, he needed to move fast if he was to have any chance of his plan working.

When Hannah looked down at the label of Hot 'n Spicy, and then back up at him and grinned, he felt a moment of relief and triumph that his gamble seemed to have paid off.

"Do lines like that really work?" she said with sardonic amusement that suggested he needed to do some quick stepping. He’d caught her attention, but holding it was another matter.

He chuckled. "You tell me."

"I'm willing to give it a try. The sauce, that is." She deposited the jar into her basket and then extended her hand, but stopped halfway, turning it over and back again. "I'd shake your hand if mine weren't such a mess."

"I don't mind." He looked down at her paint-speckled pale skin before taking her hand in his. "Jeff."

"Hannah. I was named for my grandmother."

Touchy about her name. "Nice to meet you, Hannah."

She nodded, seemed to hesitate and then apparently made up her mind.

Hooked, he thought triumphantly!

"So, is this how you spend your Friday nights? Trolling around small-town grocers seeking out any damsels in distress who might be looking for a little Hot 'n Spicy?"

This is going to be easier than I thought, Jeff thought as the two of them shared a laugh at her byplay. "Just passing through, actually. But I kind of fell in love with the countryside the moment I got here so I think I'm going to hang around for a few days. Enjoy the leaves, see some of the scenery."

She let that suggestive comment go right over her head—mostly because it did. It wasn’t until later that she realized he was suggesting she was the scenery that interested him.

"I figured. Don't think I've seen you around before, although I haven't been getting out much lately." She gestured to her paint-covered overalls.

"You own that old Victorian on the edge of town, right? Saw it on my way into town a few days ago. I have to admit I was glad to see it looked like someone was taking the time to restore it to its former glory instead of gutting and modernizing it like all those annoying renovator shows on T.V."

Hannah grimaced and shrugged. "Well … actually Pop-Pop did some ‘modernizing’ on it not long after they bought it, but that was so long ago the plumbing and electric wiring is nearly as antique as the house. It belonged to my Gramma and Pop-Pop. They bought it not long after they married—somewhere around WWI. Now that they've both passed, people keep coming to me, wanting to buy it so they can renovate, but there's no way I'm going to let that happen.” She stopped, sucking in a calming breath as resentment threatened to take hold and forced a little chuckle. “But, truthfully, I’m beginning to feel like I’m in way over my head. I guess I should have thought a little longer about it. It's taken me a month just to strip the floors. Not to mention ...."

Hannah trailed off, dipping her head and uttering a soft, self-conscious laugh.

"Not to mention what?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I know it's just my imagination getting the better of me. I grew up there. You’d think I’d be used to the old place, but I guess it’s because I’m not used to …" She trailed off again as it dawned on her that she’d almost admitted, to a complete stranger, that she lived alone!

"Oh?" Alex said, propping against a shelf with the air of someone who’s ready hang and gossip for a spell.

"It's silly, really. I think it's a combination of things. Being bone tired. The changing of the seasons and the darkness this time of year. I think I've just been working too hard and my mind is starting to play tricks on me."

"How so?"

"Well, you can imagine. A creepy old house out in the country. I keep hearing weird things. I mean, I guess I’m imagining it. I can’t picture any of the locals hanging out to scare me."

"Like what?" He couldn’t decide whether to play it as serious or jokingly, which might drawn her out and which might make her clam up.

Hannah paused for a moment. "I can't believe I'm going to tell this to a complete stranger."

Jeff chuckled. "Oh, come on. It can't be that bad."

Hannah threw her head back and laughed. "Alright, alright. It's just -- some nights when I'm sleeping, I swear I hear a scraping noise at the back door, like the sound a cat or a dog would make. But I don't have a cat or a dog. And then there have been these strange markings in the dirt the next day that I can't explain."

"Well, that could easily just be a raccoon or a possum, scratching around, looking for a way to come in from the cold."

"You see, I thought about that. But that's not even all of it."

Jeff smirked. "You mean there's more?"

"There is. And it's the creepiest thing. I've been hearing this ... well it sounds like … panting."

"Panting?"

"Yeah, panting. Breathing. Heavy breathing outside my window at night."

"Maybe you have an admirer," Jeff said, digging his elbow into her side.

"Ha, I don't think so! The only one around my house is my handyman, Rafe, and trust me," she said, rolling her eyes, "he doesn't seem all that interested in anything other than working."

"Well, maybe he's just playing hard-to-get. After all, how could he resist a lovely lady like yourself?"

"Aww, you're such a flatterer. But seriously, I think it's just me being over-worked and being alone in that big old house all day. All my friends thought I was crazy when I told them I'd decided to renovate the old place instead of selling it to the highest bidder. But I just couldn't help myself." She tilted her head slightly and smiled at him teasingly. "I kind of have a weakness for older things."

Jeff ran his fingers through his salt & pepper hair. "There is something to be said for maturity."

"Yes, there is."

"Seems like you're not the only one who has plans on bigger and better things. There's quite a bit of revitalization going on all over town, huh?" Jeff reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a brightly colored flyer. "Saw this tucked under my windshield wiper when I went out to the car this morning."

Jeff handed her the flyer. She took it and nodded.

"Oh, you mean the old drive-in? Great, isn't it? When I was a kid, we used to go there all the time. It was such a shame when they shut it down and it fell into disrepair. I'm so glad that they decided to fix it up. And just in time for the Harvest Festival, too."

Jeff nodded at the flyer. "Hayrides, kettle corn, and a showing of The Night of the Werewolf at dusk. You going?"

"What, to the re-opening? I wouldn't miss it." Hannah didn't skip a beat. "Although it would be nice to go with a friend."

"What about your girlfriends?"

Hannah shook her head. "They've all got kids and husbands to go with. And to tell you the truth, I was hoping for something a little more ... romantic. One-on-one. I mean, half the fun of going to a drive in was the chance to get in a little necking and cuddling."

"Privacy is definitely underrated," Jeff said, drawing closer to her. She smelled faintly of lavender soap and paint, something he didn't think he would be attracted to. But he was, and she certainly didn't pull away from him.

"Is that an invitation?" she asked, arching one eyebrow.

"Would you like to have dinner with me first? And then go to the screening afterward?"

"Sounds fantastic. As long as you don't mind protecting me from the Big Bad Wolf. I get a little grabby watching scary movies."

Jeff winked. "Doesn't bother me none. Besides, you couldn’t pick a better man for the job."

Hannah smiled at him. "You know where to find me."

"I do," he said as he spun around and watched her head to the checkout. "How's 8:00 sound?"

She looked at him over her shoulder. "Make it 7:00. I have a feeling I'm going to have quite an appetite."

Jeff followed her, watching as she chatted with the checkout girl. He was surprised at how quickly he was drawn to her. There was something about her, something different, something irresistible.

Now I know why...

"Sir?" the checkout girl prompted. She had already finished with Hannah's groceries, he discovered, and was waiting to check his items. He ignored the girl, stepping aside and waving for the next customer in line to take his place.

Waiting until he saw Hannah get into her truck and pull away, Jeff ditched his basket and headed out of the store. He jogged over to where he’d parked his car and got inside, slamming the door behind him. As he started the engine, he looked over at the stack of photos he'd left there earlier. Hannah was pretty, but the pictures didn’t really do her justice. They couldn’t show the vibrancy of her personality.

It was a pity he had to use her, really.