Today's prompt is mirror. See if you can find it. We left off at an uncomfortable front yard meeting and Melody informed Levi that his manners sucked.

Today's excerpt

Levi’s eyebrows shot up and his mouth twisted as if he’d make another negative comment, then he stopped and laughed. Oliver joined in the laughter, which relieved Melody. Maybe she’d been wrong to say it, but it didn’t seem like anyone was taking it too bad.

Charmer kept pulling at the leash, anxious to get away. Wrapping the lead around her hand twice, she tugged him in the direction of the house. “I guess y’all might as well come in. I wasn’t expecting company, but no reason to hash out our personal business in public.”

Her shoulders dropped with the knowledge of what she about to do. There always seemed to be plenty of jobs for hospice nurses. Dreading going back to the apartment life, it would be harder this time since she had a taste on what it was like to live in her own house. Charmer’s unexpected balk caused her to stumble forward, catching her on the frame of the screen door.

There was a good chance she’d not be able to get the dog into an apartment either. The canine in question stood staring in Levi’s direction. Great, it looked like everything went to the man. Grabbing the door handle she swung it open. Roy’s plastic shrouded furniture still crowded the room, but there was part of her here too.

The small vase of brightly colored daisies on the end table, the black and white shot she’d taken of the lake resting on the far wall in a cheap frame she’d purchased at the dollar store. Her slippers were half-tucked under the couch. The book she started rested open faced on the couch where she abandoned it to take Charmer out.  They were tiny things that most people might not even notice.  Steps she hesitated making, knowing this day might come, and it had.

Might as well get it over with, she thought as she tugged the reluctant dog behind her into the kitchen. At least, she could be civil about the whole thing. There was no reason to be ugly about it. If foster care taught her one anything it was you never allowed your genuine feelings to show. The leash slipped from her fingers as multiple scenarios played through her mind featuring uncomfortable social workers who escorted her to the car. If felt like this moment mirrored her past.

Today's prompt is hill. See if you can find it.

The cane gave her a momentary pause. Was she wrong to want to keep the house? Who was she to keep the dwelling that belonged to the only surviving relative? Not only was Levi the heir, but a wounded veteran on top of it.  Of course, he deserved the house. She’d no choice, but to give it up.

A sense of loss settled on her like wet, heavy blanket. Disappointed, she grabbed for Charmer’s leash before he’d show another reason he ended up at the shelter. From her slightly bent position, she observed Levi using the car and his cane to push himself upright. The struggle wasn’t only between an unwilling leg and gravity, but his pride entered into it. His grey eyes grew glacial when he noticed her watching him.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m a cripple all right. Not so attractive anymore, am I?”

Blood colored her face an unbecoming red. Well, apparently, he noticed her flare of attraction that somehow made everything worse. Soon, she wouldn’t have the snug little house on the hill. It didn’t matter if she found him attractive or not.  He may have found the idea laughable. Obviously, she didn’t fit the current idea of beauty. A couple hundred years ago, she’d have had it made when a man needed a strong woman who could work beside him and give him sons. Face it; she was born in the wrong century that made her anachronism, one stuck in the middle of the current crop of anorexia females who piled on the makeup and attitude with both hands.

Her impromptu pity party almost caused her to miss his words. The glowering man leaning against the car didn’t think any woman would find him handsome because of his leg. The thought was unbelievable.  Her eyes roamed over him again affirming her initial observation. Oh my, he was very nice bum leg and all. His attitude and the fact he was taking away the only thing she’d ever had was the part that sucked.

Noticing her stare, he leaned back against the car as he adjusted his stance. “Did you get a good look? What did you see?”

 The words came out on their own without her reflecting on them. “I see a handsome, rugged man. Maybe he has a bum leg, maybe he has an artificial one, but it doesn’t stop him from being attractive. The only unattractive feature is his horrible manners.”

Charmer’s only movements at the shelter included standing to greet her with a vigorous tail wag and shuffling to the food bowl. Melody snapped on the lead expecting a leisurely walk around the lake. The dog’s sudden lunge for the open door surprised her. Scampering to grab the vanishing leash before it disappeared out the door, the sound of car doors slamming checked her speed. It must be the neighbors.

A long canine bay alerted her she might have unexpected guests. Great. She wasn’t dressed for company. A sudden tug sent her stumbling out into the yard where two men stood beside a luxury sedan. The elderly dog barked so hard that his front legs came off the ground. Melody tightened the lead to prevent Charmer from escaping.

She looked up in time to see Roy’s lawyer approaching her with a wide smile and an outstretched hand. “Afternoon Melody, I probably should have called.”

Mustering up a smile to hide her surprise, she barely noticed the other man say. “It’s her.”

The half-whispered words shifted her attention to the other man still standing by the car.  The tall broad shouldered man half leaned against the car as his eyes roamed over her. Levi McDaniel. She bit her bottom lip. No, it couldn’t be. Time is what she needed, to prepare, to know how to act, to devise the right thing to say. Charmer took the opportunity to rest after his unexpected show of energy.

A slight breeze rustled tree leaves while the late afternoon sun warmed her back. Apparently, nature didn’t get the memo to stop everything. Her body did, however, as she struggled to draw a breath, wondering if she’d somehow forgotten how. In and out, that’s it, just breathe. Her mental instructions helped some.

His eyes reached her face. The grey eyes were, unfortunately, still as attractive as she remembered. Reminded her of satin spread she used to wrap around her to stay warm in her modest apartment. Not to be trusted, she told herself, especially when her pulse jumped. Just a man, that’s all he is. She’d almost convinced herself when her bad angel whispered into her ear about his rugged allure.

He was an attractive man and a young one too. When was the last time she had met a man under sixty-five? If she didn’t count her former roommate’s fiancé and jerky friend, it had been months. It could be the reason behind her over reaction to a man who was her nemesis. He’s the enemy. Overlook the nice packaging, the strong jaw, the ripped arms, and the attitude. He’s trouble with a capital T. Don’t even let him get near the front door.

Charmer’s ears went up as if hearing something and dashed in the direction of Levi. The leash slipped out of Melody’s hands as she watched her canine lope across the yard. Would he welcome the man with a lopsided doggy grin or roll over on his back for a belly rub? With her luck, Charmer would deliver the house key. Then again, maybe the lawyer already had.

Her eyes drifted over to the lawyer, hoping that Mr. Douglas would enlightened her about the nature of the visit, although she had her suspicions.

Levi’s voice had her head whipping back to the man. “Hey, what’s that stupid dog doing?”

Her dog balanced on three legs while he hiked the fourth, thoroughly drenching Levi’s leg. Worried, he might hurt her dog, she rushed forward, kneeling beside the dog and wrapping her arms protectively around his body. “Please don’t hurt him. He’s old and already has enough trouble walking with his arthritis.”

Her eyes searched Levi’s face wondering if he might take out his anger on her instead. A rueful look crossed his face. Raising one eyebrow, he asked, “What do you think I am, a monster?”

Don’t answer. She even sucked in her lips to prevent a spontaneous reply.

Levi put both hands against the car and slowly moved to a kneeling position. He placed his hand on Charmer’s head and stroked it. “I know what it’s like old fellow, not being able to move around as well as you’d like.”

Part of her resolve to hate him melted a little when he began to talk to her dog.  The lawyer stepped to where the three of them were huddled and squatted. His gaze went to Melody, then to Levi. “Well, now, seeing how well the two of you are getting along. I think it’s time to talk about setting up housekeeping together.”

Levi’s hand that had been stroking Charmer casually brushed hers, causing her to lose her balance and fall on her rear. At least she wasn’t standing, but it didn’t stop her face from coloring. Was it the words or his touch that knocked her off her feet?

The lawyer, Mr. Douglas, held out his hand to help her up. Levi, on the other side of Charmer, didn’t even hide his smile. If he were any type of gentleman, he’d at least offer to help her up. Instead of taking the proffered hand, she scrambled up on her own. She had spent most of her life doing things on her own, it certainly wasn’t the time to start depending on others.

A minivan pulled into the nearby neighbor’s driveway, spilling out what looked like an entire miniature sized soccer team and one tired father.  The man held up a hand and Melody waved back. Charmer managed a robust bark, causing the man to stop and turn. “You got a dog? When did that happen?”

Levi snorted, and stared up at her from his crouched position beside the canine in question. The last thing she wanted to confess was she rushed out to get Charmer to solidify her hold on the house. Trying to find an answer that wouldn’t incriminate her too much, her voice cracked on her reply, “Recently.”

Levi snorted again. Amazing, how the man could convey disbelief and maybe even humor at being found out in one sound.

He offered her the end of the leash. “I’m getting up. I thought you might want to hold onto this wild one, especially being so unfamiliar with him and all.”

Her fingers brushed his as she grabbed for the leash. The slight touch sent a tiny jolt of electricity through her fingers and up her arm. It means nothing. It’s more likely his sarcasm slimed me.

Keeping her eyes on Charmer, she waited for the hound to make a sudden move. There had to be a reason his family got rid of him, besides being uncaring jerks. He’d already demonstrated his lack of social graces. What else might he’d do?

Her attention was on her dog, so she missed Levi getting to his feet, but she didn’t miss the cane that suddenly appeared in his hand. Well, that explained a lot, including why he was stateside.