Close Encounters

Prologue

Xander's POV

Xander cursed under his breath, pressing his forehead against the cool windowpane.

This wasn't going to end well. No way in hell.

All these years, the house next door had remained empty, and now they had neighbours. A teenage girl. Great. Phoebe was going to be all over her.

And no one could resist Phoebe. She was such a damn ball of sunshine.

Forcing himself away from the window, Xander yawned as he rubbed his palm along his jaw. Could be worse, the new neighbor could've been a dude. Then he would've had to lock Phoebe in her bedroom.

With a wave of his hand he turned on the T.V. and sat down to watch a repeat of UFO Hunters. He lounged on the couch trying to forget about the girl with tan legs and a killer ass.

He'd seen her three times before today, on the day they moved in. She'd been carrying boxes that looked heavier than she was. Boxes of junk as far as Xander could tell. The kind of junk GhostHunters used.

Man it was hot in here. Leaning forward, Xander grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head. He tossed it aside and idly rubbed his chest. He'd been walking around shirtless more than ever since she'd moved in.

Before he knew it, he stalked across the room and ended up in front of the window. Again. He didn't even want to examine why too closely.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and turning slightly he saw the screen door on the house next door swing shut. Shit.

Xander shifted his gaze and watched her hurry off the porch, curious as to where she was going. There wasn't much to do around here.

The girl stopped in front of her car, smoothing her hands down her jeans. Nice legs. His lips curved up at the corners.

All of a sudden she veered towards the left. Xander's hand fisted around the curtain and his breath got stuck somewhere in his chest. She was not coming over here. She had no reason to. Phoebe didn't even know there was a girl here yet. No reason...

Oh hell she was coming over here. Letting go of the curtain, Xander backed away from the window and turned towards the front door.

Humans were dangerous to people like them. Being around them was a risk for humans and them. And since Phoebe was obsessed with finding a "normal" friend, it would be especially dangerous for this girl. She lived next door and there was no way for Xander to control how much time Phoebe spent with her.

And then there was the fact that he'd been standing at the window watching her for two days. That could be an issue.

Xander refused to let anyone put Phoebe or Cassandra in danger however. Unknowingly or not.

Xander knew what he had to do. He might feel bad about it later. But he was doing that girl a favour.

A soft tentative knock rapped against their front door and Xander opened the door to meet the human.