It was a decent walk to the Lockwoods’ house, and the kitten fussed the whole time. As she strode down the drive to the shabby porch, everything was dark except for the light filtering out from the building, which cast an eerie silvery sheen over her surroundings. She knocked promptly on the door, keen to get out of the dark as soon as possible. She plastered a grin on her face, worrying again about how she’d be received. Was she being too intrusive? Her friends would say yes. They’d tell her to mind her own business. Perhaps. Or... Maybe they’d encourage her to rock on up to his door and add some chaos to his orderly life.

Teri opened the door. Her eyes were blotchy—she’d been crying, and her mascara was smeared. When she saw Aria, she sniffed and lifted her chin. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to see Eli,” Aria replied.

The box meowed. Teri stared at it, uncomprehending. Then, slowly, a smile appeared on her face, morphing her features from sullen to eager.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Yep.” Aria grinned. Whether or not Eli agreed to her crazy scheme, there was no harm in letting Teri hug the kitten. She opened the box. “Go on, give him a cuddle.”

Teri lifted out the mewling ball of fur. She kissed his little nose, then cradled him to her chest and stroked his head lightly, as if she was afraid she might break him. “He’s gorgeous.”

But Aria wasn’t looking at the kitten. A movement down the hall had drawn her attention to Eli, and her heart thudded painfully at the sight of his tall form. Teri fled into another room, taking the kitten with her.

“Hi,” Eli said, leaning against the doorway and taking up entirely too much of the porch. In jeans and a tight-fitting T-shirt, he looked so casually sexy, he stole her breath. His gaze swept over her from head to toe, and then, as if he liked what he saw, the corners of his mouth crept upwards.

“Hey,” Aria replied. “I know how you can teach Teri about responsibility.”

“Oh?” His expression became bemused. Wary. “And how’s that?”

“Hear me out,” she said, rubbing her upper arms and peeking past him, wondering how she could finagle her way into the house. Even though his steady presence made the dark porch seem less ominous, she’d rather be inside. “Can I come in?”

His lips quirked. “You’re asking for an invitation this time?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “Are you going to hold that against me?”

He shrugged, stepping aside. “I haven’t made up my mind. Come in.”

She shuffled through the doorway into the hall with the faded floral wallpaper and closed the door behind her with a click.

His eyebrows squeezed together. “Now, tell me what you’re on about.”