Her neighbor waved the letter beneath Annie’s nose, glaring at her. “I thought you said you were going to do something about this!”
It seemed like Harley Borlin had been glaring at her since she’d been sixteen and he’d been twenty, and she’d had Jake make it clear to him she wasn’t interested in anything Harley had to offer. Before that, he’d been in her face all the time. Harley thought he was actually charming.
Their relationship hadn’t exactly gotten better over time. “I’ve been a bit busy, Harley.”
“Yeah, doing what?”
“I was in the hospital. I was hurt in the storm. I just got out five days ago.” It was Izzie’s day to run the Boethe Street Community center, but Annie had taken all of Izzie’s days that she could while Izzie was recuperating. “Tornado, remember? I was hurt. Badly. I almost died. A bit too busy to worry about something that’s weeks down the road.”
Just her luck Harley had found her at the receptionist desk fifteen minutes before she’d be able to leave.
“What’s going on that can’t wait?” Harley had always made her leery, and she was basically alone with him.
Except for three tweenagers and her sons. Annie sent a look toward where her older two played with the center’s toys. Syrus was snuggled in a playpen near the desk.
“We’re losing our homes, or have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten. Has someone been in touch with the attorney while I was in the hospital? I’ve not had the time to speak to anyone about the neighborhood.”
Seventeen houses in a four-block radius had been completely destroyed. Her house was three blocks down from those. Harley lived next to the house on the left of hers. He was the main reason she’d asked Jake to install an extra deadbolt on both her house doors. Harley was just a jerk, through and through.
She’d learned years ago—she and Izzie both had—that the best way to handle Harley was to keep their eyes on him at all times. And not let him know how much they were intimidated by him. He was the typical playground bully—he enjoyed making people squirm. “Has anything new been learned since before the storm?”
“Well…no. But we were hoping you talked to the mayor since then. Since you know all those fancy people from the Barratt.”
“I never got much of a chance. The storm hit just as I was on my way there.”
“Well, don’t you think you should? I ain’t got anywhere else to go.”
“I don’t exactly have a million properties, either. I’ll call the attorney again in the morning, Harley. It’s all I can do.”
“Well, I suppose it’s better than nothin’.” He leaned closer, resting his elbows on the counter. He gave her what he no doubt thought was a charming leer. “I could go with you. You know. Just in case. Make sure Barratt doesn’t take advantage of you or nothing.”
“I think I can handle it.” Syrus fussed nearby, twisting his hand in his special blanket that went with him everywhere. “I need to take care of my children now, Harley. I’ll let the committee know at the next meeting what I’ve found out.”
“You do that. I’m serious about that dinner. You grew into a fine-looking woman, Annie. I’d like to get to know you better. Put bygones behind us. Get to know each other better. I get lonely sometimes; you have to, too. We can take care of each other.”
He had to be crazy to think she’d ever think of him that way. “I have three young children, Harley. I’m not dating anyone unless they are willing to make the boys a permanent part of their lives. You’re not exactly great stepfather material.”
His face showed his opinion on that. Annie was glad the counter was between them. “Nothing wrong with dinner or a good time now and then. Don’t have to be so high and mighty about it.”
Annie didn’t have any clue what to say now. “I’m not high and mighty, Harley. I’m just not interested. I don’t have time for a man in my life right now. Unless it’s these three right here.”