Read Online Without Any Warning (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 2) by Peggy A. Edelheit - Free Book Online Page A

snooping all those other days?
    Damn! I was blushing toward the red zone. We were both staring in a straight line at each other, separated by only a number of feet, with one exception. We were in completely separate houses. He could probably spot food on my chin from his place. I swiped it just in case.
    “I see you haven’t had your coffee yet. How about coming over for a cup?”
    I looked down at myself. My one hand reached up to my wayward clipped hair, and then to my bathrobe. I had gotten lax from living in total privacy with no one around in the North Carolina mountains. I filed a mental note to myself: As soon as it was feasible, I would ask to have lace curtains installed, for me to still see through, but would shield me from any future embarrassment.
    I had grown complacent with the house next door being vacant because it was still preseason when I arrived, so I rarely gave it a second thought. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one catching the views. He was watching me, as I was watching him.
    How convenient for us both.
    I glanced over at him again, considering his offer. His invite was a perfect opportunity to verbally poke around. I was sort of interested who this individual was and might actually learn something. What could be the downside of going over for a cup of coffee? I could think of only one right up front. Bad coffee.
    I was particular about my coffee and my men .
    My curiosity finally outweighed my fastidious taste buds. Besides, I wanted to find out how this guy knew my name in the first place. I smiled over at him across the way, speaking into the phone. “Sure, why not? Give me a few minutes and I’ll be right over.”
    I sat in his kitchen moments later, eyeing him, as I slowly sipped my coffee, sizing up what kind of person he was. Then I said, “Thanks for the invite. The coffee is superb. Score one point for the new neighbor.”
    “I’ve been meaning to ask you over,” he said, “but I’ve been sort of busy lately.”
    He didn’t have to finish the ‘as if you didn’t know,’ part of the sentence. I silently thanked him for saving me the verbal embarrassment with a smile. I was still mystified though. Why all the foot traffic coming and going? I refused to give him the satisfaction of outright asking him, waiting to hear him volunteer some info.
    I smiled slyly. “Lucky you,” I noted. “Your timing was flawless. It’s absolutely amazing what you can see when looking through glass windows.”
    He smiled back. “I thought so too. How fortunate they worked to our advantage.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 24
    Getting To Know Who?
     
     
    “Okay,” I confessed a little while later after he poured me a second cup of coffee. “So I was just a little curious about who was living next door to me. It suits me, working here, and I didn’t want anything to compromise that.”
    “Do I look like I’m a threat to your personal space?” David challenged, as he sipped his coffee.
    I set my mug down on the counter. “Honestly speaking? No. On the other hand, I don’t know anything about you.”
    “That’s a fair answer,” he said. “So, go ahead. Ask away. What would you like to know?”
    “For starters, why here? Why now? It’s off season.”
    “You jump right in, don’t you? Probing questions too. I like that,” he said.
    I took another sip, savoring not only the delicious coffee, but the conversion, too. “I wouldn’t want to sit here and waste a good cup of coffee now, would I?”
    David laughed. “I must admit, your self-confidence is quite refreshing.”
    “Thanks. But, you still haven’t answered my questions, have you?” I asked, not wanting him to veer from the subject.
    “You’re right. First, let me start with the reason for the rental. I’m a widower and I’m trying to get my life back on track. The fact that it’s still off-season is of no importance. I wanted time alone, that’s all. Let’s see. Why here? Why not?” he asked, looking around.
    “This is