Chapter 1

If there were a time and place that nothing ever happened, September would be the time and Utah would be the place. Yes, my neighbors to the right had finally sold their house, but that didn't count. From my bedroom window I had a great view of their front yard-not that it was much to look at.I suppose it was a miracle that their house had sold at all, being as they'd been trying to sell for months and their property was basically its own junk yard. Very hazardous. I wondered who'd be crazy—or desperate—enough to buy a place like that.

I stirred as my mother returned from getting the mail and went to meet her in the kitchen. "Looks like we have a new neighbor, Mom."

"Yeah, finally. I heard the new owner is moving in tomorrow. Your dad and I wanted to help them get settled."

"Think it'll be another family? But hopefully without unplanned babies, drugs, and gangsters from the hood…"

She laughed. "We can only hope—but I'm sure whoever it is, they'll be better than the Rivers were. You should get some sleep if you want to help us tomorrow. Plus, you have school. Did you do your-"

"Mom, I'm almost twenty. Aren't I a little old for the Homework Talk?" Her eyes darkened with a hint of sadness, and I relented. "Hey, it's sweet that you care. I love you, but I'm doing okay. I'll see you in the morning." We shared a quick hug before turning in for the night.

I got home late from school the next day—around six o'clock. Curiosity kept my eyes on the neighbors' house as I pulled into our driveway. A large black pick-up truck was parked out front; the weeds choking the yard had been mown down, and the windows were black. The blinds had been removed and something like construction paper covered the panes of glass. It was obvious that no sunlight had any chance of getting through. What kind of family would want to block out the sun to that extent?

"Cam!" I couldn't repress a smile as my brother pounded up the driveway. In the light of the setting sun, his face gleamed with sweat. "We've been working for an hour," Conner said as he dragged me across the yard. "Did you come home late on purpose so you wouldn't have to do any work?"

"Shut up, you!" I punched him playfully in the arm. "I bet I'll have done waymore than you by the end of the night! Let's have a competition."

"Not right now! Mom'll kill me if I don't shower tonight."

"Coward," I joked as he raced into our house, already half-naked.

"Oh hi, honey!" I turned to see my mom padding up the walk. "We were wondering when you'd be home. Dad's next door, if you want to help out."

"Absolutely." I headed over as she followed my brother inside.

Dad was nailing some new boards onto the fence that separated our yard from the neighbor's (it had gotten awfully run down during the Rivers' time there). He looked up with a smile as I approached.

"Hi, Dad. What can I help with?"

He stepped back, admiring his work on the fence. "I think we're done, Cam. Thanks, though. You can wait a minute and meet the new neighbor if you want to."

He left. I crossed behind the truck to get a look at the house. Where was this 'new neighbor' anyway? I'm all for meeting people, but I didn't have all night! The front door was open. I padded up the front steps, neck craned for any sign of life. Gripping each side of the doorframe, I leaned inside.

"Can I help you with something?" I whipped around to face the speaker, already making a list of excuses in my head—but froze when I saw them. He was taller than me, probably in his early thirties. Muscle rippled beneath skin paler than the white tank top he wore. His eyes were a deep, rich brown that might've been beautiful—but the look he was giving me made me shiver.

"I-I'm from next door!" I gasped, still recovering from the start of his sudden appearance. "I was just looking for the new neighbor, which is…you, I guess?"

"Oh…" His expression changed immediately, the ice in his gaze melting. "Yeah, that's me." He stepped back to give me some space. "Jerry Dandridge."

I smiled—half in welcome, half in relief. "Camille Brook."

"Conner Brook's sister, who likes to come late to avoid doing any work?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's going to pay for that one."

Jerry smiled; somehow his teeth were even whiter than his skin. "Well, I appreciate the welcome either way. The last place I lived was a lot less friendly."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "Where did you move from?"

He sniffed. "Vegas."

"What? I love Las Vegas! But then, I've never actually lived there or anything…"

"Maybe I just chose the wrong neighborhood." Jerry shrugged. "These two teenagers followed me around for days—thought I wouldn't notice—until finally…" He cut off abruptly.

"Until finally what?"

He caught my eye and gave an easy chuckle. "Until finally I moved. Not quite the thrilling ending you'd expect, huh?"

"Two kids following you everywhere? I would've called the cops, personally."

"Well, I hadn't even bought the house yet. It wasn't a big deal."

I followed him as he strolled back to his truck. "You seem like a cool guy, Jerry. But can I ask you one question, since we're here?"

"Is it about the windows?" Jerry closed his eyes like he'd heard the question a thousand times before. "I work nights, doing construction. I just got hired downtown. So I can only sleep during the day."

"Oh." I flushed, feeling like an ass for touching a nerve so soon after meeting him. "That makes sense. I'm sorry to have bothered you about it."

"No, it's okay. You didn't know. And most people don't even think to ask." Jerry smiled once more, teeth glinting in the last rays of the sun. "It was nice to meet you, Camille. I'll see you around."

"Y-Yeah." We separated just as the last finger of gold disappeared behind the mountains.