5|Good Neighbours-Part 1

Cadence Youngblood's steel-grey eyes lit up as she watched the unusually tall man jump out of the red pickup truck and swiftly run up the front steps, the steady wind blowing through his jet-black hair.

Just as he was about to reach the door, as if he could sense her watching him, he paused, turned and stared straight at her.

Cadence gasped and ducked out of view, crawling on all fours as she drew the curtains to block out his sharp gaze.

She waited and slowly counted to ten, before she rose from the floor and opened the curtains again, just in time to see him retrieve a large, blue cooler box from the truck's bed. His movements were smooth and fluid as he crouched down to place it on the ground. The muscles on his broad shoulders flexed underneath the white T-shirt, and his black jeans moulded his firm butt to perfection.

Cadence wondered about the contents of the cooler box. It was way too chilly to stock up on beers. But on second thought, she didn't care. Surely, whatever was in there couldn't be more interesting than the vision of perfection in front of her.

A wave of joy washed over her as she watched the man, and she wanted to screech with glee and sing at the top of her lungs. The heavens had finally heard her prayers. For years, she'd daydreamed about a gorgeous stranger—who later became her boyfriend—moving into the abandoned manor across the creek. 

The tall, dark-haired, drool-worthy stranger looked just like the guy from her daydreams. If this wasn't fate, Cadence didn't know what else was! The universe had listened and sent him to her doorstep. Well, close enough.

"Yowzah!" She smiled and broke into a happy dance, celebrating her amazing find. Her new neighbour had brought the WIN back to Shadowbrooke! And she couldn't wait to share the news with Rachel, her best friend.

"Not bad at all!" Cadence swooned as her eyes travelled up and down his mountainous frame.

"What's not bad, dear?" Sonja asked as she walked into her room, intruding on her unruly thoughts.

"Our new neighbour," Cadence replied, her eyes refusing to look away from the gorgeous view across the marsh.

Sonja joined her in front of the window, and they watched the scene playing out across the creek as a petite redhead sprung out of the majestic house and glided down the crumbly steps.

Cadence felt sorry for the handsome stranger as she watched the short but intense exchange between the two.

The girl, Cadence guessed was her age, twenty going on twenty-one—she could have been older though—screamed and stomped her feet. The guy with the perfect ass kept kicking the cooler box with his heel as he crossed his arms over his chest, his bulging biceps daring Cadence to come and touch them. She was ready, eager and willing.

"Do you think we should go over and welcome them to the bayou?" She smiled innocently at her mom. 

"No!" Sonja retorted sharply.

Cadence frowned, startled by the sharp tone. 

"Let's give them time to settle in," Sonja added as she pulled her close in a warm embrace. Cadence nodded, but she was still confused. It wasn't like her mom to be so snippy. She held on to her, unable to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Not just with her mom, but with everything around her. A shift had occurred, a slight disturbance in the atmosphere. Unseen, but definitely felt. And it worried her. Terribly.

"Is everything okay with the coven? I thought we're only meeting in two weeks?" Cadence asked over her mom's shoulder. 

"Something came up, and it can't wait," Sonja replied as she gently pulled away from their hug and made her way to the living room.

Cadence followed her and watched her grab her witch's hat from the coat rack and place it on her head, careful not to disturb the luscious brunette curls they'd worked so hard to get to their perfect state.

"How do I look?" Sonja asked.

"Just like a witch!" Cadence's eyes sparkled mischievously, and they both roared with laughter at their secret joke, relieving some of the tension.

They headed to the altar room and held hands as they chanted their family's protection spell.

"Angels above, wrap your guiding arms around me, keep all evil intent at bay and smite those who wish to harm me. Spirit of Isis, Goddess of Magic, shine your light on me. I call upon you now to keep me safe at all times. So mote it be!"

"I love you, mom," Cadence told her at the front door.

"I love you most," Sonja replied, tapping Cadence's button nose with her index finger, like she used to when she was still a little girl. The memory brought a smile to Cadence's face, and her sigh was filled with a yearning for things long gone.

"Don't forget the gathering may go on longer than usual, so don't wait for me," Sonja reminded her as she dashed to the old Toyota Corolla parked in the driveway.

Still watching her from the door, Cadence blew her a kiss, and Sonja caught it and placed her hand over her heart.

"Always in my heart." Cadence mouthed at her.

"Mine too." Sonja smiled back. With a loud blast of the car hooter, she was off.

As soon as her mom was out of sight, Cadence rushed back inside the house, all thoughts of not going over to the neighbours' house forgotten. She had to welcome them to the bayou and, of course, get a closer look at the new guy.

In the kitchen, she took out the jar of cookies they'd baked that morning from the cupboard and dumped a few in the cake tin.

She wondered if the new neighbours would like the carrot and pecan nut flavour, or if they'd prefer bran, as she added muffins to the cake tin.

"I'll give them both," she decided, dumping more inside the container.

With the baked goods packed away in a wicker basket, ready to be delivered, Cadence was suddenly anxious. She wasn't used to meeting new people. Shadowbrooke was so small no one left or moved in. So, Mr Hotness and his lady friend moving in so close was the highlight of her day and an exciting adventure begging to be explored.

She practised her introduction in front of the mirror in the entrance hall. When she was sure she had it down to perfection, she set out with the basket hanging loosely at her side.

As she locked up the house, she was a little taken aback to see the weather had changed. A sandstorm was brewing in the west, and judging by the fierce winds blowing around her, it was going to be bad a one. She quickened her pace as she made her way across the bayou. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in the torrid weather.