“And that’s it,” Mary said, running a hand over her belly. “You’re done for the day. Listen, it was such a pleasure to meet you, and I’m looking forward to seeing you again tomorrow. I just know you’ll do great while I’m gone.”

“Fingers crossed,” I replied and smiled at her. She was one of the first genuinely nice people I’d met in Stoneport—heck, in life. No ulterior motives, just a kind soul. “Gosh, I feel kind of bad for leaving after a half day.”

“No way. That’s the privilege of being an intern. There’s not much more for you to do today. You can stay a full day tomorrow, how about that?”

“Sounds good to me. Listen, thanks for everything today, Mary. You made the whole process so much easier.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” she said and tilted her head to one side, smiling.

I grabbed my handbag and waved goodbye, heading for the warmly lit parking lot outside. Gosh, I couldn’t wait to get home and snack on something homemade. Just being in the kitchen would soothe me after one helluva day.

I’d nearly lost it back in Mason’s office. The thought of what’d happened sent tingles through me. Given the chance, I’d have done it again, and that was scary. Mason was irresistible. Thinking of him muddied everything.

I headed out to my car and got in, grimacing at the heat that’d built up inside over the course of the morning. “Ugh,” I muttered and started the engine. Except, the engine didn’t start. “No. No, come on, are you kidding me?” I tried again, but the battery was officially dead. Had I left my lights on? Not a chance—I was religious about switching them off.

Perhaps the old gal had finally given up.

I groaned and rested my forehead against the steering wheel. This was the last thing I needed. I didn’t exactly have expendable cash right now, and VW Beetle parts were pretty hard to come by. “Goddammit,” I muttered.

Knuckles tapped against my closed window, and I jumped upright and spun around, heart leaping into my throat.

The guy who’d interrupted Mason and me earlier stood outside my car, crouching ever so slightly and smiling in at me. “Car trouble?” he asked.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. This dude gave me the fucking creeps. After being with Kieran, I’d finally honed my fuckboy radar, and this guy set the needle right in the red. “I’m fine,” I said and wiped sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand.

“Doesn’t look like it. You need me to take a look?”

“No, thank you.” I turned the key again, just for the hell of it, and still nothing. What had I expected? A miracle from above?

“Seriously, I’m good with this stuff. Let me help you.”

Clearly, Mr. Fuckboy Extraordinaire hadn’t received the message loudly or clearly. I clunked my car door open, forcing him to back up a couple paces, and clambered out into the sun. At least there was a breeze out here. “I don’t need any help,” I said clearly, holding on to the top of the car door. “The battery’s dead, which means I’ll have to get a new battery. And, unless you’ve got jumper cables for arms, I don’t see how you can help. Thank you, though. I appreciate the offer.”

Cheeseball McInterruptie Pants cocked his head to one side. “I’m always willing to help out a damsel in distress.”

I looked around. “Sorry, I’m fresh out of those,” I said. Can I offer you a kick in the groin, instead? Gosh, what was it about this guy that gave me the uber creeps?

“You’re funny,” he said, chuckling, and put out his hand. “I’m Doctor Jackson, by the way. But, you can call me Perry. I give pretty women that privilege.”

Oh god, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. “Well, how privileged am I,” I said and didn’t shake his hand. There was something about this dude that was vaguely familiar. Like I’d met him before today, but I just couldn’t place where I’d seen him.

“I didn’t catch your name.” Perry slid his hand down and into his pocket.

I hesitated. I didn’t want to tell this guy anything about myself, but being rude—ugh, I hated that, too.

“I’m only asking because it seems like we’ll be working together, right? You’re the new assistant. I saw you in Doctor Dunn’s office, serving coffee.” The way he worded it, with an emphasis on “serving,” brought on another bout of the skin prickles. “I’m going to be working at this practice too, as a doctor, of course. It would be good to get to know each other.”

“In a strictly professional sense, sure. My name is Rebecca,” I said, still reluctant about it.

“Nice. Gorgeous name. I knew a model by that name, once.” He chuckled again, this time a throaty, horrid little laugh. “So, now that we’re not strangers anymore, are you willing to let me help you?”

“You got jumper cable arms? Seriously, I don’t need help.”

“At least let me give you a ride,” Perry said, his smile faltering. “It’s the least I can do.”

“I’m good. Walking is great exercise.”

“Aw, c’mon, it’s boiling out.”

I opened my mouth, this time to give this goober a piece of my frazzled mind, but the slam of a door stalled me.

“She said no, Jackson.” Mason strode from the front of the building, his face a thundercloud. “No means no.”

Perry laughed again, but it was forced this time, and he took a couple steps back with it. “All right, all right. Looks like Doctor Dunn is marking his territory.”

“Excuse me?” I whipped my head around and glared at him. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing,” Perry replied, grinning like a jackal. “Nothing. See you soon, Rebecca. Hope the car troubles sort themselves out. Enjoy the walk.” He strode off then, bringing out a set of keys. The lights of a nearby Audi flashed.

Mason stepped forward but didn’t touch me, thankfully. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it right now, there was so much tension in the air. I was stewing in it.

“You all right?” Mason asked. “Ignore that jackass. He’s nothing.”

“Really? Seems like a pain in the ass to me,” I replied.

“I overheard something about car trouble?”

I patted the roof of the rusty old car and shrugged. “Seems like she’s giving up on me. It’s a battery issue, but it’s no biggie. I’ll walk home. Or call an Uber or something.” Did they have Uber in this town?

“Let me give you a ride,” Mason said and gestured to the Dodge. “I’m off the rest of the day anyway, and it’s hot as shit out here.”

I nodded my thanks and shut the car door. I’d have to call a towing company when I got home, and maybe get in contact with Peggy. Dave might be able to help out with the battery situation—if not, I was pretty much hoofin’ it until my first paycheck.

“Thanks,” I said.

Mason opened the car door for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat and buckled up. We spent the ride in utter silence, thoughts of what’d happened that morning spreading between us, thin, bubbling. God, I had to keep my mind off that.

It’d been the wrong thing to do. Not only was he a neighbor, even a friend, but he was technically my boss now, and the last thing I needed was to lose the only thing I had going for me right now—a job. Not even a job I enjoyed, but I needed it all the same.

Mason picked up on the vibe, it seemed. He dropped me in front of the house, didn’t walk me up to the door, and drove off after I’d unlocked and gotten inside.

“God,” I groaned and shut the door behind me. I leaned against it, clutching the knob. “God, this sucks. Please, if anyone up there is listening, help me out of this weirdass situation. And also, excuse the cursing.” I pushed off from the door and made my way upstairs, yawning. I’d hardly been on my feet all day, but the constant stress of being around Mason and freaking out about where the next paycheck would come from had taken its toll.

I entered my bedroom and started stripping. Shirt first, then pants, then panties. Every piece removed was a relief. I turned toward my window, stretched my arms out wide, and froze.

Just across from me—far, but close enough to see—Mason paced back and forth in a bedroom exactly level with mine. He was on the phone, his shoulders tense, and he gestured wildly.

Mason turned and halted. His eyes widened as he caught sight of me, and his mouth opened. The phone slipped from his hand.

“Shit!” I dove to the left, onto my bed and out of sight. “Shit, shit.” Could anything else go wrong today? Any other embarrassing events? The guy probably thought I was toying with him or something.

I scrambled across the bed and to my closet door, ripped a short, satin robe out of it, threw it on, then hurried back to the curtains. Mason was no longer in front of the window, thank god, but my stomach still crawled.

Why did this have to be so damn difficult?

It was like I was Superman and kryptonite lived right next door.

I tugged the drapes shut and sighed, then padded across my bedroom floor and toward the bathroom. Shower, here I come.

The doorbell buzzed downstairs, and I halted. My mouth went dry. What if it was him? Mason, here to talk to me about— The doorbell rang again, followed by thunderous knocks on the old wood.

“Shit and double shit,” I whispered, but I didn’t ignore it. I couldn’t. I hurried down the hall, the stairs, and to the front door. I took a deep breath, drew back the latch, and opened up.

“Good after—oh.” Troy, the carpenter, stood on the front porch, one fist raised and the other gripping the handle of a crutch. “Oh my, I’m sorry, dear, I didn’t know you were—” He bowed his balding head and gestured to my lack of clothing.

“Shoot, sorry,” I said and swung the door slightly closed so that it covered me up. “Hi, Troy. How are you? How’s the back?”

The old man’s cheeks were tomatoes. “Doc says I have to use the crutch for a while, but otherwise, I’m all good. I should be ready to get back to work next week. Which is why I’m here.”

“Troy, you know you’re not going to be ready to get back to work next week.” Mason strode down the path behind the old man, shaking his head.

“Darn it,” Troy growled and pursed his lips. Caught red-handed, trying to work when he needed to rest and recover.

“I believe you made a promise to me,” Mason said and laid a hand on the carpenter’s shoulder. “And that was to get well before you tried doing anything strenuous.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I think you’d better head on home, Troy. If you come around here again, or if I hear you’re trying to do any kind of work, I’ll be paying you another visit.” Mason was friendly enough about it, but his tone was serious.

“Fine,” Troy grumbled. “Fine, all right. But I don’t like it, Doctor. Man’s gotta pay the bills.”

“Moira told me she’s getting on just fine with you out of work,” Mason put in.

“All right, all right. Good afternoon, Miss Starr. I’ll see you in a few weeks if you still need me.”

I lifted a hand, but Troy had already trundled off down the front steps and the garden path.

Which left me—just me, in my threadbare robe—and Mason a foot away.