2. Declan

Chapter 2

Declan

W hen I moved from New York, I thought I was getting away from the rich, entitled princesses from the city. If there was one thing I hated most, it was people who felt like the world needed to stop to accommodate their needs.

Now, I had to admit, my feisty neighbor was easy on the eyes. She was sexy as hell with her dark hair and a face that was fit for magazines, but I had no interest in self-absorbed daddy’s girls who probably never had to work a day in their lives. I had a routine, and I was going to stick by it. Fridays were my days for yard work, and I wasn’t going to change that because my diva neighbor wanted to sit by her pool and read a book .

My earplugs blocked out the roaring of the chainsaw, and I smiled, knowing very well that Miss Entitled was just on the other side of the fence. I didn’t know her name, and I didn’t care to know it. I moved to Magnolia Grove for the sole purpose of disappearing and being on my own.

A movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned my head to see the only woman I’d spent any time talking to since I arrived in town. Her name was Linda Barlowe, an eighty-two-year-old widower who lived a couple of houses down from me. I had a feeling she was going to show up; it was what she’d done every Friday since I moved in. She also didn’t come empty-handed.

The second I turned off the chainsaw, I could hear a door slam next door. It echoed so loudly that even Linda heard it and flinched as she made her way up the driveway toward me.

“Good afternoon, Miss Linda,” I called out, setting the chainsaw down on the ground.

Linda smiled and held out the cake carrier toward me. I couldn’t tell what kind of cake was inside, but I could see it had white frosting.

“What do you have for me today?” I asked, taking the cake from her.

Linda winked. “My famous red velvet cake. I have to make a few of them every year for the town’s Fourth of July celebration.” She held up her hands. “The people around here go nuts for it. There’s never a crumb left.”

As soon as the words Fourth of July left her mouth, my stomach sank. I knew the holiday was coming up, but I tried to forget about it. Unfortunately, there was no escaping it. No matter where I tried to hide, there would always be something reminding me of my past. I’ve tried drowning myself in liquor, and even that didn’t work. All I wanted was for something to dull the pain. Then again, I didn’t deserve the reprieve.

“Fourth of July celebration, huh,” I said, trying to sound excited.

Linda wasn’t buying it by the way she stared at me with pursed lips. “You need to get out more, young man. The festival will be the perfect time to meet everyone.” She nodded toward my house. “You have to be lonely staying here all by yourself. I never see anyone here.”

I snorted. “I like it that way. I prefer to be alone.”

Linda shook her head and laughed. “I thought you were a smart man, but I’m beginning to think you know nothing.”

“Oh yeah? Why does preferring to be alone make me stupid?” I countered, causing her to chuckle. Bantering back and forth with Linda always had a way of taking my mind off things.

“Hey,” she said, pointing a finger at me, “no one said you were stupid. All I’m saying is that the townsfolk around here never see you. They think you might be a spy.”

In all reality, I was one. I was an undercover FBI agent for several years until I decided to resign a few months ago.

“Why does anyone care what I do or where I go?” I asked.

That wasn’t the way it was in New York City. Not many people gave a damn what others were doing. I was always away on assignments, so I barely saw the people who lived on my apartment floor. Hell, I never even met them.

Linda folded her hands together in front of her and looked at me as if I were a child who was about to be reprimanded. She was exactly what you’d imagine a southern grandmother to be like.

“Darling,” she said, shaking her head again. “This is Magnolia Grove. We take care of each other. I don’t know why you moved here or what you’re hiding from, but this town has a lot to offer. If you give us a chance, I think you’ ll grow to love it here.” Her grin widened. “We even have some lovely young ladies who’d love to get to know you.”

That made me laugh and all I could envision was my neighbor. If the women in town were like her, I highly doubted we’d get along.

“Are they like that one over there?” I asked, hooking a thumb toward my neighbor’s house. There was no hiding the annoyance in my voice.

Linda’s eyes widened. “Why do you say it like that? Do you not like Ayla?”

Ayla . So that was her name.

Linda stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. What exactly was I supposed to say? All I could do was shrug.

“She stormed over here this morning all pissy about me doing my yard work. It was interfering with her pool and reading time.”

Linda slapped a hand over her mouth and her shoulders shook with laughter. “That’s because it’s Friday and it’s her only day off. All of us on the street have been wondering when she was going to come over here and tell you to be quiet. You have been annoyingly obnoxious when it comes to working in your yard.”

My mouth dropped; Linda was blunt. “Why didn’t you say something to me before? ”

She batted her eyelashes. “Sweetie, you haven’t been here long. We were trying to let you get settled in. But now you know.”

In New York, I never had to worry about cutting grass or having loud yard equipment while living in an apartment. Guess I was an inconsiderate ass.

“I’m sorry, Linda,” I apologized. “Being in a small town is going to take some getting used to.”

She waved me off. “No worries, darling. I have no doubt you’ll get acclimated in time.”

I glanced over at Ayla’s house and chuckled. “Yeah, if I don’t make enemies in the process. I was kind of a dick to Ayla when she came over.”

Linda shook a finger at me. “And that will not do, young man. Ayla Carington is one of the sweetest young women I’ve ever met. I’ve known her since she was born. The woman is smart, kind, and definitely not afraid to speak her mind.” Linda peered over at Ayla’s house and smiled. “When my George passed away a couple of years ago, Ayla came over every day for months to check on me. I love her so much; she’s like family to me.” When her eyes met mine, they were wet with unshed tears. “The whole town loves her. She’s our dentist.”

That surprised the hell out of me.

“A dentist? I never expected that one. I figured she stayed at home while her husband brought in all the money.”

Linda threw her head back and cackled so loud it echoed across the lake. “Heavens no. Ayla’s always been a hard worker. She took over her father’s practice and works on the weekends sometimes if someone in town needs help with their teeth. That’s why Fridays are a big deal with her. Everyone knows it’s her designated day to spend on herself. We all know she deserves it.”

The more she told me about Ayla, the more I felt like a douchebag.

“Maybe I’ll apologize to her one day,” I said.

Linda nodded. “You’ll be happy you did.” Her gaze dropped to the cake carrier in my arms. “Enjoy the cake.”

“I will. Thanks.”

She started to walk off, but then stopped and turned around. “You know what. Why don’t you come over tomorrow night and I’ll cook you dinner. You’ll love my fried chicken.”

My stomach growled at the sound of it. “I don’t want you having to do that, Linda. I appreciate it, though.”

Her stare turned demanding. “Are you saying no? ”

I had a feeling not many people said that word to her.

“Of course not. I’ll be there.”

“Good,” she announced triumphantly. “Be at my house at five. I eat early.”

“Will do.”

I watched her walk away and then went inside to set the cake in the kitchen. I could see a part of Ayla’s pool from the sink window, but I couldn’t tell if she was outside. There was still some tree trimming that needed to be done, but it could be finished another day.

For now, I was going to let Ayla have the peace and quiet she’d asked for. One day, I’d go over and apologize.