Hooking Him (How to Catch an Alpha #3)(9)
“It must be,” I agree.
Her smile seems to grow, and she touches my arm again. “It was nice meeting you, Anna, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
I’m not sure I agree, especially if her son is going to be there. “Is there anything you want me to bring?”
“Nope, I’ve got it covered.” She waves her hand over the cart she’s still holding on to with one hand. “Just bring yourself and your appetite.” Her phone rings in her hand, and she looks at the screen, then me. “Sorry, I need to take this, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” I get one more smile from her before she walks away, putting her phone to her ear. I shake my head; then, with nothing else to do, I finish shopping and head home, not sure how I feel about what’s just happened.
Following the directions on my phone, I turn left and then start to look for somewhere to park when the automated voice tells me I’ve reached my destination. The entire street is packed with cars, which makes me wonder if everyone parked on the street is going to the same barbecue I am. I finally find an empty space down the block, shut down the engine, and pull down the visor to look at myself in the mirror. I knew I would be coming here right after work, so I brought a change of clothes to the bakery and am now wearing a pair of cute black linen shorts, a white tank, and my favorite wedge espadrilles.
Frowning at my tired-looking reflection, I grab my purse from the passenger seat and dig through it for my travel makeup bag. I carefully add a couple of swipes of mascara to my lashes, a little blush to my cheeks, and my favorite berry-tinted lip gloss. Once I’m done, I pull in a breath and let it out slowly, then get out of my car and grab a box of cookies and bars from my trunk.
As I walk down the block, taking in the moderate-size homes and the trees lining the streets, I wonder if Calvin grew up here. Or if he rode his bike down this street. Or parked on the block when he was in high school, away from his parents’ house, so he could have a few more minutes to make out with whatever girl he was dating at the time—something that I imagine changed frequently. I scan the house numbers until I reach a white house with dark-blue shutters, flowers lining the walkway, and a huge hot-pink summer-themed wreath on the door with a large flamingo drinking from a martini glass in the center. I walk toward the front door, picturing Elsie outside wearing a big floppy hat and gloves, playing in the dirt each spring and fall, tending to the yard. It’s a task my mother wouldn’t be caught dead doing. Not when she could pay someone to do it for her.
“Let me help you with that,” a man says, and I turn to find a good-looking guy who appears about my age with blond hair and brown eyes coming up the steps behind me.
“It’s okay. I’ve got it.” I smile, and he shakes his head while taking the box from me before opening the door to the house like he’s been here before.
“Are you coming?” He stops to look over his shoulder, and I step into the house and close the door while looking around. The living room and kitchen are open, and the space looks welcoming, with paintings and quotes on the walls and knickknacks along with framed photos on every available surface. “Everyone is out back. Come on.”
I start to follow him, then stop when Elsie appears from around the corner, spotting him first. “Todd.” She leans up, kissing his cheek. “I thought you said you’d be here two hours ago.”
“Sorry, Mom. I got caught up at work.”
“You’re always getting caught up at work.” She frowns at the box he’s holding.
“She brought them.” He tips his head my way, and I wave when her head turns in my direction.
“Anna.” Her frown slips away as she smiles. “You’re here, and I see you met my youngest, Todd.”
“I did.” I smile, and he returns it before he goes to a butcher-block island just inside the kitchen and sets down the box.
“Is Dad out back?” he asks.
“He’s at the grill,” Elsie tells him, and he shakes his head, then lifts his chin toward me.
“Nice meeting you, Anna.”
“Nice meeting you too.” I watch him walk away, trying to find even a small similarity between him and his brother, but there doesn’t seem to be one—at least not in the looks department.
“Are you hungry?” Elsie asks.
“I’m always hungry.”
“Then you’re in the right place.” She heads into the kitchen, and I follow, stopping when she peeks into the box I brought with me. “Did you bake these?”
“My boss made the cookies, but I made the bars.”
“They look delicious.” She takes out one of the caramel-cream bars and smells it before taking a bite. “This is very good. I’ll have to get the recipe.” She closes the lid on the box, then nods toward a door. “You can put your purse in there while I grab some stuff from the fridge.”
“Sure.” I place my hand on the door handle and push before jumping back when a huge brown dog rushes toward me.
“Bane!” she shouts as the dog knocks me to my bottom and proceeds to lick my face, making me laugh.
“Bane, stop! Oh God, Anna, I’m so sorry,” Elsie says, finally pulling Bane off me. “Calvin has some big case he’s been working on this past week and hasn’t been home, so Bane has been staying with us. He must have gotten locked in the room the last time someone went in there.”