Page 2 of Nyctophilia

I sounded crazy. Perfect.

He stretched out his long legs under the table. I hadn’t noticed how tall he was before. “So, Ava, what do you do on that computer of yours all the time? I’ve noticed you working here almost every day.”

Jasper had noticed me? He must have been teasing. We weren’t just on different playing fields. We were on different planets. I brushed a lock of unruly hair behind my ears. “I’m a social media consultant. I keep businesses up to date on all the popular social apps when they’re too busy to do it for themselves.”

He twisted his full lips, and took a sip of his coffee. “Don’t you need to be working out of their office for that?”

I tried my best to not roll my eyes. I had my career options planned out before I even started applying to colleges. The less personal contact the better. Less chances for me to make a fool out of myself. The fact that this conversation was flowing so well was a surprise to me. “No, I freelance for several different companies so I can work from home. The coffee shop keeps me from having only my cat as a critic…” I trailed off. I couldn’t believe I had brought up the fact that I live alone with my cat to a guy who was hot enough to model. It screamed desperate. Or crazy. Or both? Probably both.

Jasper rolled with it. “Cat person, huh? I’m not too fond of cats myself.” No wonder we weren’t getting along. Moral differences, right there. “You’re lucky though. Sometimes I wish I could work from home. Of course, it’s kind of difficult to conduct investigations from my couch.”

He didn’t elaborate, likely assuming I knew what he was in town for. Which I did. But I wasn’t about to let him know that. I put on a blank expression. “Oh? What line of work are you in?”

His gaze shot to mine. His eyes were such a bright brown. Almost rust in their colouring. And full of mischief. He knew what I was playing at, but I wasn’t sure if he would play along.

“I’m a private investigator. But you already knew that, the same as I already knew you were a social media consultant, Ava Green. This town does not mess around when it comes to telling stories.”

I blushed as Jasper flashed me another award-winning smile. There were many reasons I didn’t try to flirt, my tomato coloured giveaway being one of them. “Okay. You caught me.” I looked away from him, pretending to check out the muffin display to avoid his piercing stare. “So how long will you be in town?”

He ran one large hand over his face, looking frustrated. “I’m not too sure yet.” For the first time since Jasper approached me, he seemed uneasy. “This case I’m working seems to be tougher than I originally expected.”

My ears perked up. In a town this small, everyone knew everything. Why was a private investigator here? “What’s the case?”

And just like that, his grin was back. “Ava, you strike me as an intelligent woman. I’m sure you understand the whole idea of a private investigation is it’s, well, private.”

He was teasing me, but I would have been lying if I’d said I didn’t like it. I understood what had all the women in town talking. Jasper Knight had more than just the looks. The way he spoke to me made me feel like I was the only person in the room worth talking to. “I figured it was worth a shot.” I smiled back, confidence boosted. Adrenaline or something had to be pumping through my veins. My inner self was much less confident, and I had no idea who I was. It normally took me weeks to crack a joke with someone new -- after I had carefully planned it of course.

Jasper coughed and took a sip of his coffee. “Tell me what you do when you’re not hard at work.”

Daydream about you. I squashed the intrusive thought. “I hike. I like to be outside.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh yeah? I’m pretty outdoorsy myself. Are there any good places to hike around here?”

Of course he was outdoorsy. “I usually head over to Harvest Falls, which is about a half hour drive from here. It’s got the best views.” I couldn’t believe it. Here I was making easy, natural conversation with a guy. And not just any guy, Jasper Knight.

Jasper nodded. “What about closer in town, any good trails the locals frequent?”

His phrasing was weird, but I was sure that was me picking him apart. I chewed my lip as I considered my answer. It might have been my imagination, but I was pretty sure he was staring at my lips. “There’s an older trail I use for my morning run. It’s beautiful, but it’s in pretty rough shape if you don’t know where you’re going.”

Jasper finished his coffee and pushed his hair out of his eyes, his gaze unexpectedly serious. “Hey, Ava? Do me a favour.”

If he smiled at me again, I would do a thousand favours for him. “Okay. What’s up?”

“Stay out of the deep woods. At least until this investigation is over.”

I burst out laughing. Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t that. I had grown up in Merrillan, playing hide and go seek with all the other kids my age in the thick woods surrounding the town’s borders. This was before boys and popularity divided us. The scariest thing we ever saw out there was maybe a bear trail or two.

The laugh didn’t stop a chill from racing up my spine. I had felt things in the woods before, could’ve sworn I heard voices calling for me. But I had been a child, and those were just childish fantasies.

He reached out and gently took my wrist, staring into my eyes as he did so. I drew back at the sudden contact, but didn’t break away. “I’m serious. Promise me you’ll stay out of the woods. It’s not safe for you.”

I frowned at him, my brow creasing in displeasure. He couldn’t know what I had imagined as child, could he? I gently pulled my wrist away. “I don’t know you. I’m not going to make a promise to a stranger. But if it makes you feel any better, I haven’t been off the trails since I was sixteen.”

Jasper’s eyes flashed with annoyance and he stood. “Good. Keep it that way.”

He turned and tossed his coffee cup in the recycling bin. When he looked back at me over his shoulder, amusement danced in his eyes once again, like there was some joke I was missing. “You’re right though, you don’t know me. But you will.”

I sat in my chair wondering if that was a promise or a threat -- and which I wanted it to be. I doubted I would be able to work again after our encounter, but I pulled my laptop back out all the same. My computer had almost booted up when I realized what the confusing quality in his smile was that put me on edge. If I was being honest, it compelled me, too.

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