Whenever she had her backpack with her, she kept her phone inside. For quicker, less remote walks like this one, she carried her phone and car key in a band strapped to her upper arm. After a time, her phone’s male Irish voice spoke from that arm band, notifying her that 1248 was coming up on the right.

Male Irish voice was rarely wrong. Which was one of the things she valued about him. She reached over and turned off the GPS.

At first, Sebastian’s house played hide-and-seek between the trees. Leah continued forward until a luxurious modern-day cabin slid into view. Dark wood siding. Stone chimneys. A short central hallway connected the two main wings, the narrow front sides of which faced forward. The wings were of equal width and both had identical obtuse rooflines. However, the one on the left was one story. The one on the right, two stories. Porches spread forward from the bases of the wings, and a balcony jutted from the second-story sliding glass doors.

Manicured grass and planting beds curved between stands of pines. No driveway to be seen, so that must wrap around from a different point to the rear of the building.

It was a fantastic house.

Unfortunately, though, for her purposes, it sat dark and empty.

However, when she walked by his house again, one week later . . .

He was home.

CHAPTER NINE

Even before Leah arrived at Sebastian’s house for the second time, she could see through the foliage that some of his interior lights were illuminated.

Anticipation floated upward within her.

Glass covered much of the front of his house, so chances were good that she’d be able to see him inside as she passed. If so, she planned to knock, explain that she’d been walking by, noticed him, and wanted to say hello.

And he likely wouldn’t mind the intrusion because they were friends. . . . Or friendly, at least.

When she reached the edge of his property, she saw him standing on his lawn, attempting to start a push lawnmower.

“Sometimes I amaze . . . even . . . myself.” The Han Solo quote stumbled like a drunk person through her head.

Sebastian was just yards away. Wearing basketball shorts. And no shirt.

Leah resettled her attention respectfully forward. She hadn’t prepared a plan for this particular scenario! She wasn’t experienced at carrying on conversations with shirtless men.

He didn’t have the self-indulgent, puffed-up body of someone who lifted heavy weights at the gym. Nonetheless, he clearly did spend time exercising. His frame was imposing. His chest and abdomen, firm and smooth.

“Leah?”

At the sound of his voice, she turned, her motion halting.

He’d straightened to his full height, his face a portrait of surprise.

“Oh! Hello.” She approached him.