We left Amaya screaming and cussing in her front yard and Seth discovering his imprint.
They had delivered her furniture a little earlier than expected. It now sat in her front yard. What the crap was she going to do now?
The bar stool was easy enough and the bed frame was in pieces, waiting to be put back together so, no problem there. But the mattress? The couch?
Amaya put away the groceries and decided the mattress might be doable. Maybe.
She was wrong.
She pushed and pulled and worked up a sweat until she got it to the front door and it squashed her flat. With the wind knocked out of her she sat there a moment before wiggling free and giving it a nice kick and a variety of insults. That out of her system, she tried again. She smashed her hand in the door.
Amaya cursed the world, the house, and the god-forsaken mattress until the initial stab of pain faded. She assessed the damage quickly. Not broken, just painful.
Now hurt as well as angry, she cursed some more. She paced in irritation, trying to work it out of her system. She turned to pace up the drive and froze.
There was a man standing there, watching her. He was very tall and very well-built with dark, mesmerizing eyes that were locked on her.
She automatically reached for her pepper spray as she analyzed the threat. He started walking towards her. She backed up, trying to get into the house, but the stupid mattress was blocking the door. She searched for an exit. Then he spoke.
x
"Hi there. Need some help?" "No." Something flashed in her gray eyes before she spoke. They were alight with energy. Her face was flushed from the exertion of her tantrum. Beautiful.
Seth saw her reach for a black tube in her pocket. Her eyes were scanning the area and her muscles were tense. She was frightened and looking for a way out. He took a deep breath of the cool evening air and was hit with her scent: jasmine and honey, but there was nothing threatening in the area. Seth took a step closer. She took a step away.
She's scared of me? Great.
"My name is Seth Clearwater. Charlie's my step-dad. I'm not going to hurt you. I heard you...um...talking. Do you need help?"
x
Seth Clearwater had a voice that was deep and rich and full of laughter. Even when he was serious. Everything about him begged her to fall into his arms. He was definitely dangerous.
"Can I help you?" "No."
That sounded rude, maybe he'll take the hint and leave?
"That's an awfully big mattress to handle by yourself." "I'm fine."
x
She didn't want his help, didn't want him anywhere near her. He would have to do something about that. He took a step closer.
"Let's just get this on in the house and then I'll leave you to it. You want to hold the door open?"
If Seth had learned anything from his mother it was how not to give the option to refuse. He walked around her before he was finished talking and picked the mattress up without a care to the weight or size.
She stood there a minute. "I'll go away much faster if you just let me help you." It was almost a lie. He had no desire, and little intention, of ever being parted from her now that he'd found her. She held the door open and watched him warily, avoiding any physical contact with him.
Seth didn't push his luck. He carried the mattress through the house and dropped it against the bedroom wall. He went back out after the sofa.
He surveyed the task ahead, circling the couch, looking for the best angle. The blonde huffed out a breath and grabbed one end.
They got it into the house and she held the door open for him again. A clear dismissal.
"Goodnight." "It is a good night." He was smiling as he went into the bedroom and began putting the bed frame together. "I can manage." "I'm finished." He settled the mattress into place.
Her eyes never left him. They sparked like storm clouds, full of suspicion. Her hand moved to her pocket again.
"Don't worry, I'm leaving. Why don't you walk me out?" "If it means you'll leave..."
Seth smiled at her extremely thinly-veiled animosity. They walked to the door but he lingered in the entry, delaying the inevitable separation.
"You know, you still haven't told me your name." "Goodnight." "You haven't said my name either. I did just help you move your stuff in. Most people would say thank you." "Thank you."
She didn't say anything else. He sighed and turned to leave. His mother opened her back door and smiled when she saw them standing together.
"There you are, Seth. Come in and get washed up. Anne, why don't you join us?" "Thank you but-" "Seth, help her over here. Don't let her trip in the dark." She turned and went back in the house without another word.
Seth loved his mother.
x
Seth held his arm out to her.
In your dreams.
She rolled her eyes and walked around him. He pulled the door shut and caught up to her, matching his long stride to hers.
"So, Anne, I see you've encountered my mother before." "Charlie could have told her my name." "You've done nothing but tell me 'no' since I got here. She tells you to come in to dinner and you start walking. You know she cannot be denied and that is something that must be experienced to be understood."
He was so sure of himself. So smug. She stopped and turned to look at him. His deep chocolate eyes were a trap she almost fell for. Almost.
"What do you want?" "Nothing." She didn't believe him and his smile said he didn't mind.
Sue called from the kitchen window, "Hurry up you two! We want to eat before everything gets cold." "You heard her, let's go."