Guilt & Redemption (EBOOK)

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Chapter One

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Allison planted her hands on her hips and glared at the man leaning over the noisy contraption. She’d finally drifted off to sleep as dawn streaked across the sky, only to be jarred awake by the horrendous noise next door.

He straightened and flicked a switch. The saw stopped its incessant squeal and trailed off to silence, leaving a slight ringing in her ears.

“It’s not even eight o’clock in the morning, and some people are trying to sleep. This is the third morning in a row that you’ve woken me. I’d appreciate it if you would wait till a more reasonable time to make such a god-awful racket!”

Sleep was a precious commodity these days, and she couldn’t afford to have it interrupted by inconsiderate construction workers.

He lifted the safety goggles covering his eyes and rested them on top of his head. His gaze flicked over her, and he grinned. “Good morning, ma’am. I apologize about the noise and if I woke you.”

His eyes were brown, milk chocolate brown. Flecks of wood chips dotted his dark hair and black T-shirt, the material stretching taut over an impressively well-defined chest and shoulders.

Allison blinked and raised her chin. Snap out of it! Who cares how attractive he is? He woke you up. He called you ma’am, damn it!

Heat burned her cheeks. She stared at a spot about two inches to the left of his right ear. “Thank you. I realize you have a job to do, but I would appreciate it if you would please pass on my request to your employer. Good day.”
She nodded and turned to go.

“Don’t have one.”

Allison stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “I beg your pardon?”

His smile dimmed but remained in place. “An employer. I don’t have one. I’m Jim McGregor, your new neighbor.”
He wiped his hand on his faded blue jeans and extended it towards her. Allison automatically stepped forward and accepted his handshake.

“You bought this house? You’re going to live here?” She glanced at the brown Victorian behind him. The house had been vacant for years and was quite the eyesore with peeling paint, broken or sagging pieces, and an overgrown yard. Alan used to complain about it lowering the value of the neighborhood. A pang spread across her chest.

He chuckled and replied, “Afraid so.”

“I…um…see. Welcome to the neighborhood. Excuse me.”
Great, she could now add screeching like a shrew at her neighbor to her list of sins.

“You didn’t tell me your name.”

The rich timbre of his voice sent a tingle down her spine. Her sleep-deprived brain must be going haywire. It’s the only logical assumption for her reaction.

“It’s Allison. Allison Delaney.”

“Nice to meet you, Allison Delaney.”

Silence stretched behind her as she strode back to her house. The saw didn’t resume. Was his gaze pinned on her? Her steps quickened. The cold, damp spring grass slapped at her ankles and bare feet. It was way overdue for a mow.

How ridiculous would she look if she broke into a run? Only a few hundred feet separated the two houses, but it felt like a mile before she reached the back porch.

The screen door snapped shut behind her. Allison winced and wiped her wet feet on the blue rug inside the screened porch and walked to the back door.

Once in her kitchen, she closed the door and leaned back against it, taking a deep breath. She stared down at her ten-year-old white, worn nightgown and groaned.

Gripping the thin material in her fists, Allison dropped her head back against the door and closed her eyes.

Quite the impression she must have made on her new neighbor. He probably thinks he moved into next to a crazy person.

Another tidbit for the town gossips to add to her notorious rap sheet.

When had she become a person who berated her neighbors in her nightgown? She opened her eyes and stared at the empty kitchen. “I’ve finally gone and lost my mind!”

Only silence echoed back.

“And now I’m talking to myself too.”

Her lips twitched as she trudged down the hall to the stairs. Maybe she should embrace the crazy and become an eccentric shut-in who mutters to herself. It might be better than the stories circulating about her now.