"Daddy! We have new neighbors!" Cheyenne yelled out. She was looking out the window when she saw a moving van and a redheaded women bringing boxes into the house next to them.
"That's nice sweetie." Brock didn't even bother looking at his nine year old daughter. He shifted through the bills in front of him and sighed. Buisness had been down the toilet lately and he was barely making ends meet. He needed to clear his mind. "Cheyenne honey i'm gonna step outside. Don't go anywhere."
"I won't." she said without looking up from the barbie doll she was playing with.
Brock stepped outside and leaned against the railing. He took a deep breathe and closed his eyes trying to relax. He stood there for a moment enjoying the peace and quiet.
"Kyra Elanor McKinney knock it off right now!" A voice yelling and what sounded like a small child crying brought Brock out of his thoughts and he turned around to face what must be the new neighbors house. He saw a little girl with red hair, and a toddler with brown hair crying on the ground being comforted by a woman with big red hair who he assumed was the kids mother. He couldn't see her face, just her back side. Which was quite nice. He couldn't help but check her out, he was a man after all. Wonder where she's from? He thought.
"How many times have i told you, NO hitting!" Brock was pulled out of his thoughts once again by the sound of the woman's voice. He watched them with amusement.
"He deserved it! He was making stupid noises and wouldn't stop!" The little girl tried to defend herself.
"Wether he did or not, you don't hit your little brother! Or anyone for that matter. Now go stand in the corner." The little boy had stopped crying and lifted his arms up signaling he wanted to be picked up. The lady picked him up and balanced him on her hip before scolding her daughter.
"I don't wanna go in the corner!" The little girl whined.
"To bad. Next time you won't hit your brother will ya?" The little girl grumbled before going into the new house to find a corner. If she was lucky she'd only be in it for about 5 minutes. "You ok Jakey?" She turned to the toddler who had his thumb in his mouth.
He laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. "Tiawed." He mumbled.
She set him down on the grass and gave him a nearby toy. "Can you play with this for a couple minutes while mommy gets the boxes out of the car?" The boy nodded and she smiled ruffling his hair.
Brock had just gotten a good look at her face and his breathe caught in his throat. She was beautiful. He stared at the redhead while she pulled out boxes from her truck. He watched as she struggled to lift the heavy box and try to stumble her way towards the house. "Oh!" She tripped on the curb and crashed to the ground, dropping the box.
Brock practically jumped off the porch and ran over to help her. "Are you ok?"
She groaned and pushed herself up into a sitting position. "Yeah. Just me bein a klutz." She wiped the dust off of her knees and looked up at the stranger. "Great first day in the neighbor hood!" She sarcastically muttered.
"Well you certainly know how to make an entrance!" They both laughed and Brock stuck out his hand. "Brock Hart."
She took his hand and smiled at him. "Reba McKinney."
They stared at eachother and held hands untill the little boy ran up to them. "Mommy ok?"
Reba tore her eyes away from him and focused on her son. "Yeah, mommy's ok. I just fell baby." She stood up and attempted to pick up the box again.
"Here I got it." He took the box from her with ease and waited for her to grab a smaller box before heading to the house. "So what brings you to the neighborhood?"
"Oh just business, I got a really good job offer." She said quickly, hoping the subject would be dropped.
"Where ya from?"
"Oklahoma."
"Ah, you're an okie." Reba nodded as he set the box down on the porch. "Your husband home?"
Reba tensed and folded her arms. "No, there is no husband."
"I'm sorry, I didn't me.."
She cut him off and gave him a forced smile. "It's fine. Thanks for helpin me, I think i got it from here."
"Are you sure?" She seemed so much more tense then she was a minute ago, and paranoid? Was that it? Something was off. "I don't mind helping."
"I'm fine. Thanks though." she said coldly.
"Alright...well i'm next door if you need anything." Reba nodded as he awkwardly walked away. She called Jake in and shut the door."Kyra you can come out now." she said while flopping down on the couch.
Kyra came out from her spot in the corner and sat down next to Reba while Jake played with his toys on the floor. "Mommy i'm hungry."
Reba looked at Kyra and gave her a small smile. "How bout I order pizza, that sound good?" Both the kids cheered and Reba laughed as she picked up the phone and called the pizza place. After the clerk confirmed her order she put the phone down and watched her kids playing together with a box of legos. She thought about wether or not it was a good idea to move out here. She did get a really good job offer, and a very nice home, and they were safe. That was the main thing. Nobody knew where they were but her mama and daddy. She thought about the day she decided to leave...
"Mama, daddy, were here." Reba said while walking through the door putting Jakes diaper bag and Jake himself down on the couch, Kyra following close behind. Kyra quickly ran off into the kitchen to find her grandparents. Reba sat down on the couch nervously and looked over her shoulder.
"Hey baby." her parents came in the room and Reba stood up quickly putting a smile on her face.
"Hi mama, hi daddy."
Helen went to hug her daughter but stopped in front of her and gasped. "Reba Nell what happened to your face?" She stared at the giant bruise on her daughters cheek and cut on her lip.
"It's nothing. I tripped over one of the kid's toys and landed on my face."
Helen looked over her shoulder at J.V and they gave each other a knowing look. "J.V why don't you take Kyra out to the lake and show her the fish." J.V nodded and hugged Reba on his way out. As soon as he left the room Helen stared at Reba and put her hands on her hips. " ?" she demanded an answer.
Reba felt her eyes well up with tears and tried her best to keep the tears down. "I already told you, I fell."
"Just like you fell the last time? And the time before that?"
Reba's lip quivered and she clenched her hands closed, trying her hardest not to break down.
"Reba what happened?"
Reba looked at her mother but couldn't find the words to say. Her mother gave her a knowing look and she broke down crying. Helen quickly pulled her daughter into a hug. Reba cried and clung to her mother like a child. "Baby you have got to get out of their."
Reba pulled away from her mother and shook her head, wiping her nose with her sleeve and wiping away the tears on her face. "I can't."
Helen put her hands on her hips and glared at her. "And why the hell not?" Reba opened her mouth and Helen put her hand up before she could say a word. "And don't you dare say it's because you love him."
"He's the father of my children, they need their dad."
Helen scoffed. "He's not a father Reba! What has he ever done for those kids!" She yelled and then lowered her voice. "How long before he starts taking his anger out on them too."
"He would never hurt them."
"Reba you have got to leave him."
Reba shook her head as more tears began to fall. "I can't."
"And why not!"
"Because he could take away the kids mama! His family practically runs the town!" She sighed and looked down at her year and a half year old son who had fallen asleep on the couch, then back at her mother. "I can't lose them mama. I can't." Her voice cracked and tears fell down her face.
Helen pulled Reba down to sit on the couch, careful not to disrupt Jake in the corner. "Your daddy and I are not going to let that happen. We will get you out of this. I promise ok?" Reba nodded while crying and Helen pulled her into a hug, pressing Reba's head to her chest. Reba wrapped her arms around her mothers waist and cried harder as her mother rocked her back and forth. Helen kissed the top of her head and held back her tears as she tried to soothe her baby girl...
"Mommy…..mommy..MOMMY!" Reba jumped and looked at Kyra. "What?"
"The door bell rang."
"Sorry babe I wasn't payin attention." she patted Kyra's head and got up to answer the door. She smiled seeing the pizza man and paid for it before sending him off and getting the table set up. She watched her kids eat and crossed her arms. She had to do this ,anything to keep her kids safe.
...
Brock lay in bed starring at the ceiling thinking about his new neighbor. Reba McKinney. She seemed nice, a little protective. Very, very cute. He grinned as he thought of her blushing when he helped her up. He'd definitely have to get to know her better. He turned to his side and closed his eyes, falling asleep with a smile on his face.
Reba lay in her bed starring at the ceiling thinking about her new neighbor. He seemed really sweet. He was nice for helping her with the box and seeing if she was ok. Not to mention he was very hot. She couldn't help it. She nearly lost focus when he introduced himself. She felt bad for being rude to him, he didn't know anything. Reba shook her head. The last thing she needed to be doing was thinking of how great this guy was. She turned to her side and closed her eyes. Tossing and turning the entire night.
...
Reba yawned and refilled her coffee cup. She had gotten zero sleep last night, and when she was still up at four a.m, she got up and finished unpacking. After that she fell asleep. The door bell rang and she groaned. She looked at the clock, 11:00. She grabbed her coffee and lazily made her way to the front door. She opened the door and saw her neighbor and a little girl. "Oh, hi."
"Hi." Brock smiled. He looked her over and his smile grew bigger. She was wearing sweatpants and a big sweatshirt. She had her big curly hair pulled into a pony tail and no make up on. She looked adorable yet sexy at the same time. "I-I.."
Reba grinned as Brock stuttered. "Cat got your tongue?"
Brock laughed and Reba smiled. He shook his head. "No, no I just wanted to officially welcome you to the neighborhood." He held up a container of store bought brownies. Reba raised her eyebrows and cocked her head. "I know, pretty lame. But i've never done the new neighbor thing and if I brought you something I cooked then that'd be a death threat."
Reba laughed and shook her head and laughed. "No it's fine, I love brownies." They smiled at each other and Reba's mind ran a mile a minute. 'Oh gosh i probably look like crap. Stop that! Why do you care what he thinks of you? He's just a neighbor, you don't know this man, you need to stop!' she tried to get the thoughts to go away and cleared her throat. "So, who's this little one?" she asked smiling at Cheyenne.
"I'm not little i'm nine!" Cheyenne stated.
The adults laughed and Brock rustled her hair. "This is my daughter Cheyenne."
"Well hello Cheyenne." Reba greeted leaning down towards the girl. "I'm Reba."
"My daddy thinks you're pretty." Cheyenne innocently.
Reba blushed and Brock choked on his spit. "Umm I-I.."
"Mommy!"
Reba turned around to see Kyra running up to her. Brock sighed in relief. "Hey honey, what's up?"
"You said you'd come play with us." Kyra looked in the door way and saw two strangers. "I'm Kyra." she introduced herself to Cheyenne.
"I'm Cheyenne."
"Do you wanna come play with me? We have a tree house in the back!"
Cheyenne turned to Brock and gave him puppy dog eyes. Reba watched in amusement. "Can I daddy, paweeseee."
Brock laughed. "If it's ok with Ms. McKinney."
"Go right ahead." Reba laughed as Kyra took Cheyenne's hand and dragged her to the back yard. "Well I just made a pot of coffee if ya wanna come in and sit down."
Brock smiled. "Sure." Reba stepped aside and let him in, shutting the door. She led him to the kitchen and poured them some coffee while Brock sat down at the island.
"Sorry if I don't look presentable, I'd just woken up when you came by." She handed him a cup and leaned against the counter facing him.
"I think you look fine." Their eyes met and Reba blushed, quickly looking away. Brock awkwardly looked in his cup. "I'm sorry if I seemed nosy yesterday. I didn't mean to upset you or anything."
"Oh no,no,no! You have nothin' to apologize for. It's just..I don't have the greatest relationship with my ex and i was cranky and it was just a little hectic, and i apologize to you."
Brock laughed. "It's ok. Moving can always be stressful, especially when you have the little ones with you." Reba nodded in agreement. "How about we start all over?"
"That would be wonderful!" she laughed.
Brock stood up and walked around the counter in front of Reba. "Hi, i'm Brock Hart." he said sticking his hand out.
Reba took his hand and shook it. "Hello Brock Hart i'm Reba McKinney. Pleasure to meet ya!"
"The pleasure is all mine." They stared at each other for a moment before pulling away. Brock sat back on the stool and Reba turned away from him.
She tugged at her sweat shirt. Man was it hot in here. Ok so he was a little cute..ok a lotta cute! That didn't mean anything.
"You ok over there?"
His voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she shook her head. Glancing at him over her shoulder. He gave her a smile, and she gave him a weak smile in return. Even his smile was cute!
Crapppppp.