She arched an eyebrow at me. “Maybe I like being a recluse. Besides, I’m enjoying the last day in my house since I have to move out tomorrow.”

“You’re moving out tomorrow?” What the hell?

“Just for a couple of weeks while they jack up the house and drive in new pilings, place the center support, and pop a new roof on.”

Relief I had no business feeling hit me all the same. “So you picked a contractor.”

She nodded. “Steve gave me some good estimates, and he had this window open up. Plus, he swears I’ll only be out for two weeks.”

“Then you definitely need a little fun. I’m having a barbecue. You don’t even have to get dressed.” I motioned my head toward the beach. “Just a few friends. Come hang out with us.”

“Just a few friends?”

“Yep, give or take a guest or two. We like to barbecue on Sundays, and looking at the forecast, this is going to be the best weekend for about a month.”

“Sunday barbecues.” She softened, her shoulders relaxed, and her lower lip found its way between her teeth.

“You’re tempted. Come on, Kitty. Take it one step further. Come down to the beach. You don’t have to stay long or even talk to me. There’s about a dozen other people you could meet. Humans. Vitamin D. Hamburgers. Maybe a beer. Live dangerously.”

A corner of her mouth lifted, and a spark flared in her eyes.

Victory.

“I guess it would be rather un-neighborly to turn you down.”

“A downright affront to southern hospitality,” I confirmed, internally swearing at the jolt of awareness that punched me in the stomach when she gifted me with a full smile.

Why couldn’t a nice, middle-aged guy buy this house? Why didn’t I get another older retired couple who I’d wave to at the odd times I saw them? Or, better, why couldn’t Morgan be ignorable? Just normal?

But hell no, she was a knockout. Stubborn, funny, nice to Fin, with a gorgeous face, soft brown hair, legs for fucking days, and a smile that might actually control the tides if it would appear twice a day—that’s who I got as a neighbor. About as ignorable as a nuclear detonation.

Not that I was doing much to keep clear of the blast radius.

“Okay. Let me throw a suit on and I’ll meet you down there.”

“Or how about I wait right here, outside, while you put one on, and then I walk you down?” I offered.

She scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “You don’t think I’ll show.”

“Would you actually?” I challenged.

“Probably not,” she admitted with a scrunched nose.

“Exactly.” I leaned back against the deck railing, feeling it burn against my T-shirt. “I’ll wait right here.”