Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,13

breaking through the clouds in the distance. Her shrubs and grass were thick and green, though her yard lacked the colorful array of flowers that brightened Logan’s yard. She was eager to plant her own in the spring. But right now, her favorite season was preparing to settle in, and there were already a few leaves turning colors.

As they neared Logan’s mailbox, Tabitha pulled Dexter to a stop. At a glance, there was nothing wrong with the mailbox—or the post upon which it was set. The post was straight, the box itself undented, the door was attached, and the little flag was firmly in place, a far cry from the condition the mailbox had been in the day before.

She tapped on the post with her knuckles, producing a dull, metallic clang, and frowned.

Maybe…maybe he hadn’t fixed it. Maybe he’d replaced it with a new one. Maybe everything she thought she’d seen last night had been a trick of the poor lighting and her own mental and physical exhaustion.

But the black paint on the side of the mailbox was cracked and flaked off in places, revealing dull metal beneath, and when she ran her fingers along the post, they brushed over a few spots where the metal was rougher, as though it had been scratched.

Could she have seen what she thought she’d seen?

A super strong, super sexy man with superpowers. Sure, Tabitha.

She rolled her eyes at herself as she opened the mailbox.

Dexter tugged on his leash.

“Just a sec, Dexter,” she said as she removed the envelope from her pocket, slipped it inside the mailbox, and closed the door.

“Does it meet your standards?” someone asked in a deep voice that was spiced with just a hint of an exotic, unplaceable accent.

Tabitha started, eyes snapping up to Logan, who was standing in his driveway less than ten feet away with his hands tucked in the pockets of his snug blue jeans. She hadn’t heard his door open or close, hadn’t heard him approach.

He was just as devastatingly beautiful in his red and black button-up flannel shirt as he’d been in his faded T-shirt yesterday.

Cheeks warming at being caught, Tabitha glanced back at the mailbox and flashed Logan a wide smile. “Uh…yes! I was just…admiring your new mailbox. You work fast. You must be really good with your hands.”

What the frick, Tabitha? Really?!

Logan’s brows rose slightly as he stepped toward Tabitha. She found herself tipping her head back slowly to hold his gaze; he was so big, so tall, that for once she felt…small. She took a subconscious step backward when he withdrew his hands from his pockets.

Without looking away from her, Logan set one of his large hands atop the mailbox. “It’s the same mailbox. And I am really good with my hands.”

Had she thought it was cold out here? Because right now, she was sweltering.

She stared at his hand, with its long, defined fingers, and clean, trim nails. It was a working man’s hand, and possibly the sexiest hand she’d ever seen.

“I…bet you are.” Her eyes flared, and she turned them back up to his, but he didn’t meet her gaze. He was looking at her chest.

Is he staring at my boobs?

She cleared her throat, face burning as she self-consciously raised her arm to cover herself. “Anyway, um, I just want to say again that I am so sorry about yesterday. Great way to make a first impression, huh?”

“The incident with my mailbox was not my first impression of you, Tabitha,” he said as he finally made eye contact again. “I feel as though I’m missing something. Are you the compulsive liar?”

Tabitha flinched, tightening her grip on the leash as Dexter pulled it taut. “What?”

“Yesterday you could not lie, but today you are a liar.” Logan dipped his chin, and his eyes flicked to her chest again for an instant.

She followed his gaze to her hoodie. “Oh! Ohhh.” It hadn’t clicked until he’d pointed it out. He hadn’t been looking at her breasts, he’d been reading her hoodie.

See? Not his type, Tabby.

She pinched the side of the hoodie near the end of the text, which read, Compulsive Lyer. “It’s just a pun. Lye is an ingredient in soap. I…guess you might call me a little obsessed when it comes to making soap and candles. I had a bunch of shirts and hoodies custom made to wear for my videos, and they seem to be pretty good conversation starters when I’m out and about.”

Releasing her hoodie, she looked back up at him; he