Love Your Entity by Cat Devon Read Free Book Online Page A

her favorite brew from one of her few remaining mugs, she ran a mental review of her to-do list for today. Number one was returning the rental U-Haul.
    It looked cold outside, so Sierra was wearing a warm yellow cashmere sweater and jeans. She checked her smartphone to make sure there were no e-mails from her editor or agent. Nothing. Good. That meant all was well and she could focus on the errands that needed doing before she had to hunker down and focus on her writing.
    Grabbing her navy wool winter coat, she headed outside.
    She was still on the front porch when she looked to her right and saw a woman on the porch of the house next door.
    “Hi, my name is Zoe Adams,” the dark-haired young woman said with a wave and a big smile. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
    “Thanks. You’re the second person to welcome me.” Sierra wasn’t including Ronan or Ruby.
    “Let me guess,” Zoe said. “Was the first one Daniella?”
    “Yes.”
    “She was one of the first to welcome me too. I bet she brought cupcakes, right?”
    “Yes, she did and they were delicious.” Sierra looked over her shoulder nervously. She was uncertain about leaving Ronan in the house. She’d heard him moving around upstairs just as she was leaving. What if he changed the locks and she couldn’t get back in? Sure, he’d signed that agreement but would he stick to it?
    “Is something wrong?” Zoe asked.
    “I’m just a little jumpy about leaving the house.”
    “Why?”
    “Do you know Ronan?” Sierra asked.
    Zoe moved closer so she was standing on the sidewalk near Sierra. Zoe was wearing a red down jacket with a black scarf artfully wrapped around her neck. “I’ve met him,” she said.
    “He thinks he has a claim to my house.”
    “Damon told me.”
    “So you know Damon too?”
    Zoe grinned. “I know him very well. We live together.”
    So that’s why Damon had showed up so fast yesterday. He lived right next door.
    “I heard you and Ronan signed an agreement to share the house,” Zoe said.
    “A temporary agreement,” Sierra said.
    “Well then, you don’t have anything to worry about. Where are you off to?”
    “I have to return the U-Haul van this morning,” Sierra said.
    “Do you need a ride back?” Zoe asked.
    “I can take a taxi.”
    “Save your money. Unless you’re independently wealthy?” Zoe teased her.
    Sierra laughed. “No, I’m not.”
    “Then I’ll give you a ride back. My car is already out front.” She pointed to a red Mini Cooper.
    “I’ve been thinking of getting one of those,” Sierra admitted. “I sold my used Ford Fiesta back in Cleveland. It was on its last legs anyway.”
    “At least we’ve got sunny weather,” Zoe said. “February in Chicago means temperatures can go either way. Fifty degrees like it was yesterday or barely thirty like it is today.”
    “So you’ve been in Chicago a long time?”
    “Almost a year,” Zoe said. “We moved from Boston.”
    “You and Damon?”
    “No. My grandmother and me. She’s out with a friend this morning. Let me grab my keys and we can be off. I’ll follow you.”
    “At least let me treat you to breakfast as a thank-you,” Sierra said an hour later as they returned to the neighborhood.
    “Deal.” Zoe pulled in front of Heavenly Cupcakes a few minutes later. “They have great coffee here too.”
    “Daniella makes great cupcakes and great coffee?”
    “Yes, she does. She’s also a really nice person.”
    “She gave me a good reference for Ronan.”
    “Hi, Zoe. How are you doing? Who’s your friend?” the young woman behind the counter said as they entered the shop. Her dark blond hair had attention-grabbing streaks of purple that matched the neon-purple earrings she wore. The tag on her navy blue Heavenly Cupcakes T-shirt said her name was Xandra.
    Zoe made the introductions, then she and Sierra placed their orders. Sierra went for a latte and a mocha cupcake while Zoe went for an espresso and a devil’s food cupcake.
    Then they