a rather handsome, dark-haired man staring at me through the screen door.
“Yes?” I asked as greeting.
“Sorry to bother you,” the man said in a rather pleasant and polite voice. “I've just moved into the neighborhood. My son was flying his kite with the other children a couple of days ago, and I'm afraid it ended up getting stuck in your backyard. He came ringing, but there had been no answer. I saw a car parked outside, so I figured I’d come check if anyone was home,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“Oh, right,” I said with an apologetic smile of my own. “I've been away for business.”
“No worries,” he said, with a look of understanding. “I know what it's like to be on the go all the time. Would it be okay for me to come in and retrieve it?”
“Wait right here. I'll get it for you,” I replied.
“I wouldn't want to trouble you—”
“Don't worry, I’ve got it,” I interrupted. “I'll be right back.”
Not waiting for him to respond, I turned on my heels and went out to the backyard through the patio door. For a moment, I had feared the kite might have fallen in my inground pool, but then realized it was much too far from the street to have reached it unless the rope had broken off. I circled around to the side of the house, wondering where it had fallen. I mentally kicked myself for not asking more questions before I left, but I was a little distracted. I wanted to be in and out of the house to run a few errands before I returned to the base. I had some naughty plans for Zain and me tonight in the real world before he snagged me into the Mist.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I turned the corner to see the tall silhouette of the man standing right in front of the gate of the fence. I’d often considered changing it into a large board wooden fence that would give complete privacy. However, the current black iron fence was vintage with some impressive detailing, and the part of the backyard where I normally hung out was hidden from view.
The man smiled and pointed at the side of the house. Only then did I finally notice the kite. It had somehow gotten tangled on the satellite dish of my TV network service. I cringed, realizing how high the damn thing was. Heights and I didn’t get along, and I doubted my ladder would be tall enough to allow me to reach the kite. I lifted a finger towards him to indicate one minute then headed back around to the shed to retrieve the ladder. When I came back and put it down, one glance sufficed to confirm it wouldn't be enough.
The intense stare of the man unnerved me. I always felt uncomfortable with people watching me work. But this was all the more irritating in that I didn't know the man and that he was exuding very strong ‘Why don't you just let a man do it?’ vibes. I didn't even bother trying to climb the ladder and headed back inside to pick up a broom. When the man saw me return with it, he gave me a condescending smirk that made me want to punch him in the throat.
“If you let me in, I could handle this for you,” he offered. “I have a greater reach.”
“I've got this,” I said in a voice that brooked no argument.
This was now a personal challenge. I would prove his sorry ass that no, a woman didn't need a man to do everything for her. Sucking it up, I climbed the ladder with the broom clutched in my hand. I silently addressed a prayer that I wouldn't make a spectacle of myself or become paralyzed with fear at the top. Leaning against the wall, I reached with the broom to try and knock the kite out of there. After a couple attempts, I nearly succeeded, but the damn thing just tilted back into the nook that kept it stuck.
I growled with frustration but refused to let myself be defeated.
“Please, welcome me in,” the man insisted. “And this will all be over in a blink.”
His persistence pissed me off. However, something in his wording rubbed me the wrong way. A sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. I turned to look at him. He held my gaze unflinchingly for a few seconds before casting