Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt Read Free Book Online Page B

bill. Milk bill. Weekly neighborhood flyer. Today was her lucky day. It had been an entire week since an ivory envelope embossed in gold from the Contrails Homeowners’ Association had lurked in her mailbox. Maybe Sterling Shelton III had decided to leave her alone—or perhaps the association’s president was drafting one long list of infractions before mailing another letter to her.
    Could she stop dreading going to get her mail—holding her breath when she peered inside her numbered section, heaving a sigh of relief when all that awaited her was normal mail, or muttering to herself when yet another letter from the homeowner’s association waited inside? Maybe she should call Shelton again. Try to reason with him. But her first and only phone call had elicited nothing more than a “Read your covenants, Mrs. Ames. You signed the contract. You agreed to the covenants.”
    A black BMW sedan circled the cul-de-sac, the odor of burning oil staining the fresh winter air as the car stopped in front ofher house with a wheeze and a rattle. Unless Sam’s brother had a second car, she didn’t have to worry about facing Stephen Ames until their agreed-upon dinner tonight.
    “Mrs. Ames?” The man waited beside his car, the driver’s-side door open. A navy blazer, patterned blue shirt, and basic blue tie gave him a professional—if monochrome—look.
    Haley stumbled to a stop, Sam’s coat slipping off one shoulder. “Yes?”
    He shut the car door. “I’m Sterling Shelton, the president of the Contrails Homeowners’ Association.”
    Of course you are. Haley’s body flushed hot, then cold. A letter—even a letter every day of the week—was better than Shelton showing up at her house. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Shelton?”
    “I thought maybe a face-to-face discussion might help clear up any confusion about your responsibilities as a new homeowner.” He offered a smile that thinned his lips across crooked teeth, without ever reaching his dark eyes.
    “There’s no confusion—and you really should have called before showing up today. My schedule’s full.” He didn’t need to know that the first thing on her list was putting a load of laundry in the washing machine, followed by a midmorning snack and unpacking one box of household stuff.
    “Then perhaps you can explain why you have so many violations?” He positioned himself beside her, surveying the house. “Wrong-size house numbers. A stained driveway. Paint peeling off your shutters and porch—”
    “I bought the house in this condition.” The shrill tone of her voice shocked Haley. She scraped her hair from her face, swallowing the sharp retort that wouldn’t change anything—especially the man’s attitude. “Why didn’t you address these infractions with the previous owners?”
    “That doesn’t concern you—you are the current homeowner.” Shelton rocked back on the heels of his worn black dress shoes. “You do realize I have the authority to fine you when you’re in violation of the association codes?”
    First there were written threats. Now there were verbal ones? “I just moved in—I haven’t even unpacked all of my boxes.” If the man saw inside her garage, he’d realize she’d hardly unpacked any of her boxes.
    “I’m a compassionate man, Mrs. Ames—but to be blunt, none of those excuses are my problem.”
    Haley tugged Sam’s coat tight around her. A never-ending stream of letters and showing up unannounced didn’t even hint at compassion. The man was throwing his weight around—and wasting her time. Haley needed to see Shelton for what he was: a bully. She couldn’t deck him like her brother David had taught her to do in fifth grade, but she could keep her guard up and not let him hassle her anymore.
    “Mr. Shelton, I know you are only doing your job to the best of your ability.” Let him think what he wanted about that statement. As she talked, she put distance between them, leaving him at the foot of the