The Guardians (The Highest Order, Book One)

CHAPTER 4

The next morning, by some sort of miracle, I find myself standing outside the closed door of my neighbours with a basket decorated with a bow hosted onto my hip holding the content of my mother's seemingly innocent blueberry muffins.

After the happenings of last night, I contemplated ringing the doorbell and leaving the basket on the doorstep but quickly brushed it away knowing that if my mother found out, I'd soon be meeting hell in the professional looking blouse she regularly wore.

After a few minutes of just standing, staring at the door, I raised my clenched fist and knocked abruptly, hoping, deep down, that nobody would answer, especially not the man from last night.

Breaking from my thoughts, the door swings open revealing a gleaming, white smile attached to a woman who didn't look a day over thirty. Do you know what they said about that woman whose smile could light up an entire room? Well, this is the one off the poster - not literally but she definitely fits the profile. She's the type who would have men on their knees simply by looking at them. Her skin glowed, no doubt from long hours spent in the North Carolina summer heat with a body that models can only dream of having.

This woman looked like she wouldn't know a bad hair day if it smacked her on the forehead.

'Can I help you' She says with a polite smile and curious eyes, looking me up and down as if to examine my level of threat. She was a few inches taller than me and looked like she couldn't take on a fly and yet I found myself cowering slightly away from her.

It took me a second to realize she'd ask me a question and I was just staring at her aimlessly, 'Sorry, yeah, my mom and I just moved in next door' I pointed to the house next door, as if she didn't know what I meant, 'And mom was baking last night and she asked me to bring these along while she was out'.

I was pointing to the basket of muffins which were now concreted to my hip from holding them so tightly, I had no doubt that would leave a mark. At this the woman's smile burned even brighter and I held them out to her.

'Well, aren't you just the sweetest' She had a slight accent to her voice, not one i was familiar with and definitely not one from around her. It seemed like a right of passage that everyone who lived here was from here until we came to town.

Handing her the basket, I don't know what to reply so I simply smile, hoping this awkward encounter would end soon, 'You know, I have a son and daughter who look about your age, hold on a sec and I'll call them down.'

'Oh no, that's...' I'm cut off by her voice echoing up the stairs of the house in front of me yelling two unfamiliar names, 'Maia, Kaleb' She'd shouted, and I stood there stunned. As her voice sounded, a brisk, chilled breeze Had my hair flying in almost every direction, constricting my view. It was a brief gust and wasn't nearly enough to cool my bare arms but had me crossing them over my chest to preserve any heat that may escape. Even though the sun still burned into my back, I was suddenly thankful for my favourite sweats.

The sound of footsteps stole my attention away from the cool air and back to the woman in front of me who was now joined by two figures looming over her stature.

The girl was equally as stunning as the woman, looking almost like sisters but the age difference told me otherwise. She had long blonde hair that I had no doubt skimmed her lower back and eyes so brightly crystal blue that they almost looked clear. She was dressed similar to me, a pair of gray sweats and a tank top. Even in that she looked ready for the runway.

What caught my eye though, was the familiar startling deep blue eyes on the left of the woman. I could pick them out from a crowd as the familiar feeling runs through my body. He seemed calmer now, more collected but he had yet to find the shirt he'd clearly lost last night as I came face to face with his naked chest. Boy, was this guy built.