Really, really attractive.
I even liked his music. In fact, if he looked at my collection, he'd see not only his latest album, but a few of the old ones. Including his first.
Not that I listened to music much anymore. The sound of the ocean was the perfect backdrop to- well, anything.
But I didn't want him to see his disks in my collection. Ever. Even if they were gathering dust.
Goddamn It.
Well, I just had to get him out of here before he noticed that was all.
"Fine. Here. Take the menu. Have a cranberry scone."
I thrust the menu into his hand and handed him a pastry I’d been experimenting with.
"Thanks."
He looked utterly baffled as I hustled him toward the door.
"So you'll come? Tomorrow?"
"Uh huh. Sure. Whatever. No problem."
He was grinning at me as I shoved him out the door. The poor man seemed a little slow witted to be honest. Maybe all that loud music and partying had ruined his brain.
Or he just really liked me for some obscure reason.
"Awesome! Come by around six. Or anytime really. Stop by whenever you want. If you run out of sugar, or you want to talk.”
He grinned at me and it was like the sun came out. His teeth were perfect.
“Looks like you might need some more."
His finger brushed my cheek and he popped it into his mouth. My jaw dropped open. The sugar! This entire time I’d been coated in it.
I wanted to sink into the ground and disappear.
"See you later, neighbor. Oh, and thanks for the scone."
He smirked at me and bit into it before walking away. I stood behind the screen door, watching him. He looked back over his shoulder and shouted through a mouthful of crumbs.
"Delicious!"
I shut the door rapidly and leaned against it.
Had I just agreed to go to his stupid party? I could always bail on it, I reasoned. It was doubtful he would notice if I wasn’t there.
He'd probably make it a habit of stopping by though. I groaned. I’d just have to be firm with him. Rude even.
Lord knows I was good at that.
At least he was gone now and I could hide the damn CD's!
Chapter 6
Slade
Fucking A, that was tasty.
I licked the last of the crumbs off my fingers. I’d much rather be licking my delicious, if cantankerous neighbor though.
Head to toe.
She'd been covered in sugar and almost certainly not wearing a bra. I’d been aroused from the moment I set foot in her house.
Hell, I’d been aroused since the moment I met her.
I glanced at the menu and smirked.
Her company was called Jenny Cakes. How cute. I’d definitely like to do something with her cakes…
Lots of filthy, dirty things.
I had a feeling she had never met anyone quite as creative as me.
The best part of it was that her phone number was on the menu. It was a cell obviously. So I could text her.
I was going to break down her defenses one by one. Little miss Jenny Cakes had no clue what was coming for her. I could be very determined.
It wasn’t by accident that I was one of the highest paid musicians in the world.
I’d start with dazzling her with the food and fine wines at the party. I’d make sure the whole thing was low key. I would prove to her that I would be a good neighbor to her.
Kind. Considerate. Attentive.
And more.
Much, much more.
For a moment I paused to wonder if it was just her obvious disdain that was making me so determined. But I didn’t just want to get into my feisty neighbors jogging shorts. I wanted more.
The girl was not star struck in the least. That didn't happen to me too often. It was like going back in time to when I’d just been another guy in South Boston.
Actually, it never happened to me. This had not happened to me once, even before my first album dropped.
Oddly enough, I liked it.
But that wasn't the total reasoning for this absurd fascination. Obsession really.
I could clearly remember the shot of pure lust that had surged through me. It was an instant reaction. It started in the first moment I saw her.
That had been from a distance too. Up close she'd been far more devastating.
All before I realized what an adorable pain in the ass she was.
I laughed. Maybe that is what I liked the most about her. Jenny was real.
I waved at the crew that was unpacking and cleaning the house and headed into the office. I fired up the computer- the one thing I’d set up by myself. Then I started googling.
I wanted to know everything about Miss Delicious Cakes before I planned my attack.
And it would be an attack. A gentle one. But still.
I always played to win.
Chapter 7
Jenny
Bzzzz bzzzz
I groaned, trying to focus on the book in my lap and losing the battle. My phone buzzed for the third time. I knew who it was.
Him.
It was almost 7 pm. My new neighbor wanted to know when I was coming over.