A New Estate - Crimson Peak

The Neighbour - Modern AU - Part Two

"So, have you met the new man on the block yet?"

I looked at Mrs Harris who was smiling widely whilst cutting into a mouth wateringly gorgeous chocolate cake, my stomach grumbled at the sight and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the sugary sweet.

We had started a regular routine of having a gossip over some tea at least once a month since I had moved in, I believed it was because she liked having company who wasn't her miserable husband to talk to.

So inviting me over had become the perfect excuse for her to bake her delectable cakes and tell me stories of people I had never met in my life, but I could guarantee that were I to meet them I would know more about them than their own family.

Our next treat session just so happened to be three weeks after the new guy moved in and there was something refreshing about talking about him as opposed to what the woman running the salon did that weekend that was so scandalous.

"Oh, no not yet," I laughed softly, taking the offered plate.

"You simply must, he is such an angel," she gushed, "so sweet and soft spoken."

"I'll talk to him eventually."

"I think you two will get on swimmingly and he's single too."

My fork froze halfway towards my mouth as I shoot her a look of confusion, my eyebrow rising towards my hairline.

"Um, okay?" I laughed, finally putting the eagerly awaited sponge into my mouth and using the time it took to chew and swallow to come up with an apt response. "I don't think Mr Harris would appreciate you picking up a toy boy whilst you're still married."

She let out her loud cackle of a laugh and banged her hand on the table, she was a jolly woman and laughed at almost everything.

It wasn't an issue that she had a loud laugh, even if it made me wince as it pierced my ears, my main concern was for the surface of whatever she habitually slammed her hand onto when she started as the many rings decorated her fingers was sure to pack quite a punch and cause a lot of damage.

"Good heavens girl, no!" Her tone made it sound like this should have been the most obvious thing in the world, "I was talking about you."

"Me?"

"Yes, oh you would be such a perfect match," she hummed merrily, "you're a pretty girl and he is a handsome lad, he has a cute dog too."

"I really don't think tha-"

"I think it would do you some good, rather than sitting around in that dusty old house you could go on jogs with him."

"He jogs? That sounds like far too much effort."

"You should see his legs, his thighs are surprisingly thick for such a slim man."

"Oh my god! Mrs Harris!"

"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, call me Maggie."

I covered my face as my cheeks burned and an uncontrollable grin of embarrassment broke across my face, so wide that it made my facial muscle ache.

It went without saying that I'd noticed him as he went about his day, sometimes I'd spot him on the street or tending to his front garden that had gone unseen to for months whilst the place was vacant.

I'd also seen the beautiful German shepherd he looked after as it ran up and down the closed off gate, greeting everyone who walked past her new territory with a warning bark that she was there to protect her master at all costs.

To say that I hadn't noticed that the new guy was decently handsome would have been a total lie, of course I had, I just never had a reason to speak to him beyond a friendly smile, wave or nod in passing.

"His name is Robert."

"Hm?" I looked up at her as she broke the silence after my initial embarrassment had faded and we both went back to our cake.

"His name is Robert, I believe his dog is called China."

"Oh," I nodded with a small smile, "she is a gorgeous dog."

"To go with a gorgeous owner," Mrs Harris sniggered, "you love dogs, don't you? It's the perfect opportunity."

I let out a drawn sigh and shook my head a little, turning my attention back towards my depleting food.

What with her and Thomas both being convinced that I should befriend this guy, I was beginning to think that perhaps it was time to bite the bullet and see what made him so interesting.

With the way that Mrs Harris was gushing about him, he had to be something pretty special.