Natalie Stenzel - Forget Prince Charming

Haley was scribbling away furiously. “Computer store.” She looked up. “Bingo. That’s first. I’ll try that new Computer Nation around the corner.”

“Okay. But, Haley…”

“What?”

“Suppose you find a guy…like this. What will you do? How on earth are you going to approach him?”

“Well. Subtly, I suppose.” Haley frowned. “I guess I need to adjust my attitude, huh? Take extra care choosing the guy…and then seem approachable?”

“Couldn’t hurt.”

“Right. Approachable. Maybe even tone down…”

“What?” Jen sounded alarmed.

“Just a sec.” Haley, lost in thought, tapped her pen on the clipboard. She knew she tended to go overboard with her clothes sometimes. She hung out with kids and a friend most of the day, and bright colors were suitable for that. But this was different. She didn’t want to scare guys away by dressing in neon colors or zebra stripes. She paused, then jotted Dress down. Neutral classics. Nothing trendy.

The guy could be shy, too. Shy guys would slip right past her usual radar unless…She scribbled some more. Big smiles. Unthreatening but obvious approach. Now, how to relax him so she could get to know him as he really was…maybe appeal to his strengths? Yes. Stroke ego liberally. She considered but refrained from underlining liberally. A girl had her limits.

Scanning her list and visualizing possibilities, Haley gave a decisive nod. “This could just work, Jen. And I think Computer Nation will make a perfect testing ground.”

FLIPPING DOWN THE KICKSTAND of her bike, Haley propped it by her apartment door and turned to fiddle with the doorknob. She glanced distractedly at her new neighbor’s door, and was surprised to find the hallway deserted for a change. Usually, she had to dodge several borderline hostile women, apparently lying in wait for her new neighbor, to get to her door. That was odd—and getting old. What sort of business was her neighbor in, anyway? It boggled the mind to wonder.

Grimacing, she gently worked at her key then turned the knob, but as usual, the lock refused to give. Haley grumbled and persisted, gritting her teeth and hoping her key wouldn’t break off. “Come on you stubborn piece of—”

“Excuse me?”

Haley whipped around at the sound of a vaguely familiar voice, bumping her arm against the seat of her bike. The bike toppled, sending her purse and clipboard flying out of the basket attached to her handlebars. The clipboard caught the man in the shins. He winced.

Seeing his face contort, Haley grimaced herself. “Sorry. Are you okay?” After quickly righting her bike, she stepped forward, wanting to offer aid but not sure how to do it without touching the man’s leg. Feeling a stranger’s leg definitely overstepped a few boundaries.

The man looked up, a wary grin on his face.

Uh-oh. Oh, wow. The man had killer eyes. She stared into them. An incredible sapphire-blue. Not flat and cold like a stone, but deep and alive, almost liquid. She felt herself getting drawn in, feeling that pull of a too-good-looking-for-her-own-good man.

Then as she recognized the owner of those killer eyes, Haley froze. “You.”

The amusement faded. “Me?”

“That’s why you looked so familiar. You were at the store today and—”

“And I’m also your new neighbor. Right next door. Small world, huh?” He grinned uneasily.

From the look on his face, Haley could only surmise he wished it weren’t quite this small. Shake it off, Hale. The man’s not for you and you’re scaring him.

She cleared her throat. “I—Hi. Look, I’m really sorry if that scene at the store today made you uncomfortable.” She laughed. “The last thing I want to do is chase away new Toy Boxx customers.” She shifted self-consciously. “Wow. You catch me freaking out on the job, arguing out loud with my door lock, and then I clobber you. I’m really sorry.” Haley attempted a harmless neighbor grin. “Can I get you some ice for that?”

The man laughed, visibly relaxing. “I think I’ll survive.” He shifted the clipboard he’d retrieved from his shoes and tucked it under his arm. “I’m Ma—” He paused, coughing a little. “Sorry.” He smiled and gestured apologetically. “Name’s Rick. Rick Samuels.” He offered his hand.

Haley took it, hoping her hand wasn’t clammy with nerves and awakening hormones. “Haley Watson. Welcome to the building.”

“It’s good to finally meet my neighbor. I’ve been curious about you. The noises—”

Haley made a face. “My dog. Puppy actually. We’re still working on housebreaking. Or rather, I’m working on it and Sherlock’s trying his best to defeat me.”

“So you’re Watson and he’s Sherlock?” Those blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

Haley grinned reluctantly. “I didn’t name him. My ex-boyfriend did.” She paused, her smile fading a little as she remembered the desk-bopping incident. “The dog used to be his.”

“The detestable Prince Charming?”

Haley’s regard cooled considerably. “You overheard.”

He shrugged. “Not much. Just that it looked like you were pretty upset. I’m sorry things didn’t work out.” He shifted awkwardly, as if at a loss for an appropriate response.

Haley relaxed. “Oh, it’s okay, really. I’ve already had my revenge. I’m ready to move on now.”

His eyes widened. “Your revenge?”

She waved a hand, smiling ruefully. “Don’t ask. I had a psycho moment.” A bark sounded from within, followed by a hopeful whine. Now, there was love and loyalty a girl could count on. Haley gazed at her closed door, smiling slightly as she pictured the puppy’s sweet face.

“Revenge. Okay.” Eyeing her with caution in between glances at her closed door, Rick started inching toward his own door.

Haley wondered at his reaction. Sure, she was babbling a bit, but—Her thoughts were distracted by the sight of her clipboard still tucked under his arm. Remembering the nature of the list on the front page, she gasped and lurched forward, arm outstretched.

Rick’s eyes widened at the sudden movement. Yanking open his door, he swiftly ducked inside.

“Wait! You’ve got my—” the door slammed “—clipboard.” Her words ended on a note of dread. Leaning her forehead against his door, she stabbed repeatedly at the doorbell. Silence. Great. Now her hunky new neighbour would know all about her plans to catch herself a frog.

Inside, Rick stared at the closed door, his thoughts a contradictory jumble. He couldn’t decide whether he’d just experienced a narrow escape or an intriguing first encounter with his sexy neighbor. Earlier today, she’d stormed her way into the toy shop like a woman bent on violence. Now, he was left to wonder if filing a custody suit for a dog—or even all-out stealing the poor beast—was her idea of revenge. Talk about malicious.

And disillusioning. He’d caught sight of his new neighbor the day he’d moved into the building. Ever since then, he’d found himself anticipating the occasional glimpse of her. All that bustling energy, the lightning-flash smiles and expressive eyes. She was fascinating to watch. And he really had a weakness for freckled noses.

When the landlady mentioned this morning that Haley worked at The Toy Boxx, very near where he worked himself, he’d decided to shop there for a birthday gift for his nephew. Part owner of a toy shop, he’d decided, was a perfect occupation for Haley.

Too bad she was turning out to be such a head case. A smart man would be resisting the temptation, he knew. At least for right now. The town’s population of single females had wigged out on him since a gossipy local celebrity listed him as one of the most eligible bachelors in the metro area.

Now, the scent of money was attracting desperate women faster than he could shoo them off. They didn’t seem to care who he was or what he was about, just that he had a bank account that could support extravagant shopping sprees. For all he knew, this Haley was just another woman anxious to get her hands on a fat wallet.