We drove on in slience, his smug, mine shocked, as the growls and yelps faded behind us. I must have dosed off (which is no surprise as I can only stay awake if I'm driving) as I suddenly realised we were pulling into the driveway of my little two bedroomed country cottage. The gravel crunching under his tires bringing me to full alertness. As soon as the car slowed I bolted out and straight around the house to my back door. Only then did I realise I had no keys, no car, no handbag, no phone and no way into the house.
Crap, crap, crap and double crap. "I think it's unlocked" he grunted as he reached around me to twist the handle. I jumped so high I bumped my head on his chin. I hadn't heard him get out of the car and yet he was right behind me. Spinning on my heel I backed up and swung the door open with my behind. I could have sworn I'd locked it but with all the other weird things that had happened today it was the last thing on my mind.
Stepping over the threshold I suddenly remembered my manners. "I'm sorry, I never asked you your name?" I ventured as I stared up into the darkness where his eyes should have been. He must have been 6' to my 5' 6" and he loomed over me with a wicked grin on his face. "It's Nathan. Don't you want to invite me in Karrie?" His smile widens and I think, sure why not. But then it hits me, how does he know my name?? Or for that matter where I live?? Pulling my eyes from his I step further into the house and the urge to let him in passes. Shaking my head I tell him, "Thank you, Nathan, for saving me from whatever that was. But I think I should just head to bed. I'm going to have to catch a very early bus back to town to get my car and I'm still shook up. Oh no, the shop, what am I going to tell them at work?? I'm so getting fired!" I realise I'm rambling as my gaze drifts up his long, demin glad legs, passed his wide shoulders and lightly stubbled chin, and back towards his eyes. "Don't you want to talk about what happened??" he murmurs and the urge to invite him in washes over me again. I open my mouth to do so but for some reason find myself shutting the door in his face. The last thing I see as the door swings shut is a look of surprise on his face and what might be hunger in his eyes.
The next morning dawns clear and cold, my alarm clock pulling me from a fitful sleep. I kept dreaming I was being chased by dark figures which was hardly a surprise considering the events of the night before. I should call animal control about the dogs that chased us but before that I should get my butt out of bed and catch the one bus that passes through the village of Ballymanon on the way to Malling so I could get my car. I just prayed it was still in the employee parking lot and unharmed. I also cursed that the bus went so early, especially on my day off. I'd have to hussle too as it was a 9km walk back to Ballymanon from my house.
I love my little fixer upper and knew I'd only been able to afford it because it was so far from everywhere. It was a pain in the winter when icy roads doubled the time it took to get to work but I'd not give up the silence, space and privacy it afford me for anything.
I stretched, slipped out from under the covers and headed down the hall for a shower. Luxuriating under the hot water I started to worry about how I'd explain all the damage at Carnes. Then I started to wonder how the night manager had forgotten I was there and turned all the lights off leaving me in darkness. Hopping out of the shower I started to panic about losing my job. By the time I'd pulled on some faded jeans, a baggy sweatshirt and an old pair of trainers, I was running late for the bus and in a complete flap. I swung open the back door and rushed out falling over a bundle left on the mat. Picking myself up and brushing dirt from what was bound to be scraped knees I realised my little red Mini was parked neatly by the back door. The bundled I'd nearly broken my neck over turned out to be my handbag, complete with keys, phone and trashy paperback I'd been reading. "I wonder did Nathan do this?" As I thought of him his wicked smile and tight jeans popped into my brain and I was suddenly in a tizzy for a completely different reason.
Choosing to see it as a gesture of kindness and not as creepy, I picked up my things and headed back into the kitchen. Having my car meant I'd not have go into work until my next shift two days from now. Checking my phone I saw I'd no calls from work either. Deciding not to worry about the chewing out I'd get, and with trashy novel in hand, I headed back to bed to make the most of my day. Guess I'd just have to worry about strange dogs, strange men and my future employment prospects after a nap and a few chapters.