Fading Memories

Chapter 1

As I retrieve the grocery bags from the trunk, a sudden movement from the deserted beach house next door catches my attention. It's been vacant for some time now, and all of us locals are curious whom the new owners are.

I shield my eyes from the bright June sun as I try to get a better look at the person strolling toward me. When he gets closer, I notice the magnificent wall of muscles in a plain, gray T-shirt, torn jeans, and flip-flops.

He stands at least six feet tall to my five-foot-eight-inches as I stare up at him. His hair's a thick, shaggy brown with curls hanging down around his face, and I feel this incredible urge to reach out and run my shaky fingers through it.

While trying to gather my senses, one of the bags slides from my arms and crashes against the concrete, causing both bottles of wine to shatter, and the dark liquid to spread into a puddle.

"Shit! Real smooth, Izzie." Bending down to collect the glass, my face flushes with embarrassment. The stranger crouches next to me, his long legs folding in a way I wouldn't have thought possible for such a tall man. On our knees, gathering glass, we're the same height.

"Careful." His voice is warm and thick, laced with a Northern accent. Somehow he makes the simple word sound like music.

He holds out a hand to take the broken pieces from me. I ignore it as I continue to drop the shards of glass into the ripped bag.

He must notice the brush-off, and there's a pause of silence before he speaks. "Sorry about startling you, I'm Dakota; just moved in next door."

I'm so not in the mood to play this game of polite exchanges, especially with this handsome neighbor and his startling green eyes. I glance up and notice the strands of hair that have fallen into his face. The urge to caress him and move the lonely pieces away so I can stare into his eyes hits me again. Instead, I tighten my hands to form fists and then relax them.

"Ah ... It's okay. I'm Izzie, I live ... Well, I live right here." I point behind me to my cottage.

"Nice to meet you, Izzie." He extends his hand out for me to shake. I hesitate for a brief moment, and then give in.

Dakota's grip is firm but gentle, causing a rush of heat to course through my body. It's an unwelcome feeling that's causing my breath to quicken and my heart to stutter.

Yanking my hand out of his, I quickly look up at him.

"Thanks for the help but ... I need to get these groceries in the house and start on dinner."

"Do you have a guest coming over?"

"Yeah ... just my girls; we try to have dinner at least once a week or so." Shaking my head, I wonder, did I just tell him that?

"Your girls?"

"Yes, Kelsey and Leah. Look, I really need to get inside. It was nice meeting you Dakota. I'll see you around sometime."

"Sure, just wanted to introduce myself. See you around, then."

Grabbing the rest of my bags, I turn to head toward my safety. When I enter the cottage, the fading scent of Old Spice hits my nose and reminds me of comfort, security, and love.

En route to the kitchen, I try to shake off the emotions coursing through my body. Setting the bags down on the counter, I dart my tongue out to wet my lips and notice how dry my mouth is. I grab the pitcher of water from the refrigerator and fill my glass. I stand here, in the middle of the kitchen, and question where this feeling is coming from. I'm not sure if it's from the heat outside or Dakota's green eyes. Whatever it is has now caused me to have a fire burning from deep within. This is definitely something I've never felt before.