Paige le Mont

The doorbell rang.

She hurried to answer it, muttering, “What’d they forget? They need to get organized.” Finn padded behind, seeking an outdoor adventure. Blocking the cat with her foot, she opened the door to a man leaning against the architectural stone veneer, his legs crossed at the ankles.

“Oh.” Dammit. Should’ve peeked through the peephole. No clipboard, logoed clothing, or fliers. She scowled and exhaled an annoyed breath. “I’m not interested.” She started to close the door, but the way he shifted his weight and silently regarded her made her pause. Her heart trotted as if spurred on by an unseen force. Weird. She squinted, giving him a once-over. Wavy, mahogany-brown hair fell across his forehead. A close-clipped beard marched down his diamond-cut jaw and expanded into a goatee. Sunglasses rested on his straight nose. Mmmm … handsome. He removed his sunglasses in a calculated, practiced move that tilted the floor.