"Want to come in?" We were both soaked. The thunder continued to rumble all around us. It was going to be awhile before it wore itself out.

My tee-shirt clung to me. From past heartbreaks, I knew it was in all the right places. "No. Thanks. I'm just going to–" I waved vacantly at the house next door knowing he would invite me again and wiped the rain from my eyes. I needed to play the good girl and be a tough sell.

"Oh, okay." He bounded up his steps and shook his head so the water flew from his hair just like a dog. A really cute dog. "Maybe we can run again tomorrow?"

The disappointment! This was not how the scene was supposed to play out. I tried to keep a straight face. I had to play the hand I called. "Sure! Sounds like a plan."

I noted that I said plan, not date, as I turned toward my porch. That may have been a miscalculation.

"I have a couple steaks in the fridge..."

Ah. Game on. I spun on one foot and cocked my head to imitate his. A lightning bolt lit up the sky the thunder rolling down the block and echoing between our houses. Play hard to get, I reminded myself. "I don't know. Just had a hotdog."

"We can put a movie on while this storm blows over? Eat after?"

"Movie sounds nice." I drew my toe in the sand to feign reluctance.

"Come on," he said. "I promise not to bite."

I glanced at the door to my own house. If this turned into a nothing burger, I'd be home in under a minute. "Okay. One movie."

"And a glass of wine," he said, but I pretended not to hear him.

Inside, the air conditioning was on full blast and I got goosebumps everywhere. I glanced down. Ugh! I crossed my arms and rubbed them vigorously to warm up. Jay kept sneaking peaks but I pretended not to notice. Instead, I looked around the room.

A couple of boxes sat by the door. I could see a picture in one of them. Dogs. Not the cute kind playing cards. To dogs in a fierce fight, their eyes angry, their jaws snapping and lips dawn back in a fierce growl. Blood was on both muzzles and between their teeth. I shuddered. Jay caught me staring at the picture and flipped the lid shut. He pushed the box out of the way of the living room and waved at the couch.

"I think I'll get going. I could use a shower and I don't want to wake your Eskimos."

"My Eskimos?" He was frowning at me. His head-tipping was a thing, not an imitation of me like I thought earlier.

"Sub-zero temp in here gave it away."

He flinched. "Oh! Sorry! I work out a lot." He picked up a tablet by the couch and swiped and tapped and ignored my comment about needing a shower. "Should warm up in a few minutes. What do you like to watch?"

I shrugged. "Psychological thrillers?"

"Like..." He tapped on the tablet again. "Basic Instinct?"

"Never seen it," I lied. "Is it good?"

"You've never seen it?"

"Huh-uh. Don't think so." I had seen it a million times. I had studied it. Memorized whole scenes.

The picture over the fireplace mantel turned on. I hadn't realized it was a television. Fancy. I shivered again. Wasn't the cold this time.

"How about this. You can take a shower here. Get warmed up on the inside. I'll start a fire in the fireplace so it will be nice and cozy in here when you get out."

"I don't know..." Hard to get was getting harder to play.

"You can trust me." No kidding?

"Um...It does sound nice." Slow. Easy.

"Right in here." He led me down the hall. I could see the kitchen at the end but he swung a door open to a white room. Everything was white. No, you dont understand. Everything. Bedspread, writing desk, dresser, curtains. Everything but a single picture on the wall that the bed faced. The picture was a swirl of blues; aqua, sapphire, navy, azure, cornflower. I loved it. I wanted it.

"The bathroom is right through the door there."

"Thanks." I stood awkwardly on one foot waiting for him to leave then pulled the door shut behind him and stood there wondering if he hovered just on the other side. The floors didn't creak in his house so it was hard to guess.

After a count of ten, I moved quickly and to the dresser and silently slid it away from the wall. Lightning lit the room and three beats later thunder shook the house. The storm was closing in. I needed to hurry.

Taped to the back of the dresser was a Maxim 9. I peeled the tape away from the gun and admired it. It looked like something from Bladerunner with its wide flat barrel and flat black finish. The built-in suppressor gave the 9 mm a distinct look. I dropped the magazine out of it. Fifteen rounds. I'd only need one.

I sprinted to the bathroom and cranked the shower on. Everything in this room was white too, including a fuzzy robe on the back of the door. I lifted it from the hook and dropped the pistol into a pocket. Ten minutes later I was walking out of the guest bedroom wrapped in the robe. It really was a shame. He is so cute.