Katherine took a deep breath in, then slowly blew it out. She was standing in her doorway, her hair a mess, her robe having seen better days, and with what she was sure was atrocious morning breath.
Her neighbor hadn't wasted any time whatsoever in knocking on her door, first thing in the morning so she could get the scoop on the hunk in the hallway the night before.
"He wasn't even drunk. He's an old friend who I haven't talked to in a very long time, and he showed up unannounced. I wasn't going to let him in, so being the stubborn fool he is, he decided to embarrass me to get his way," Katherine said.
She could see by the look in her neighbor's eye's that she didn't believe her. Katherine tried not to let it bother her, but she cared what people thought of her. She in no way wanted anyone to think she'd been at some bar picking up strange men, or worse, calling an escort service.
"Fine, keep it to yourself. Rumors will just continue to spread, though. It's better to fess up and tell us."
Katherine decided right then that it was time to move. The hassle of dealing with gossip over her sex life for the next few months just wasn't worth staying. Her neighbors had no lives, so her love-life would be their entertainment until the next big event happened to take their minds off of her.
"Look, Penny … " Katherine started to say when Penny's eyes widened as she looked over Katherine's shoulder. Katherine decided she didn't want to turn around and find out what was causing the stunned look on her neighbor's face. Joseph was probably back. He tended to have that effect on women.
"Holy mackerel, how in the heck do you get all these gods beating down your door? I'll pay you to teach me your secrets," Penny reverently muttered.
"Penny, I explained to you already that Joseph is just an old friend," Katherine snapped, losing all semblance of patience with the woman.
"Well, you may have been a lot more believable if it weren't for the fact that Zeus number two is currently walking toward us with an earth shattering smile plastered on his face. Oh my gosh, you have to give me the number."
Katherine felt a chill run down her spine. There weren't many men she knew who could inspire that kind of reaction in women. The drop to your knees, strip naked, and roll over look that had come into her neighbor's eyes. She had a really bad feeling …
She slowly turned, her eyes rising up the custom fitted slacks and button up shirt, open at the neck, showing a glimpse of his smooth chest. As she finally met his eyes, her heart pounded and rage took over her temporary shock.
George.
How dare he show up. He saddled over to her and leaned in for a hug. Without conscious thought, she raised her arm and slugged him square in the jaw.
His smile faltered as he looked at her with astonishment. It took about three seconds before Katherine felt a searing pain shoot from her knuckles all the way up her arm. His jaw felt solid as granite.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gripped her hand and jumped back.
George's eyes immediately looked down, concern radiating from their deep blue depths.
"Katherine, you should be more careful," he uttered as he reached toward her.
"Don't you dare touch me," she snarled. He seemed amused because the corners of his lips turned up. It seemed she wasn't as intimidating as she wanted to be.
"Hi," Penny said as she gained back the ability to speak. She crept up right next to George, her barely clad br**sts rubbing against his arm as she introduced herself. "I'm Penny."
Katherine looked on in shock as the woman actually batted her eyelids. She shouldn't be shocked. When she'd dated Joseph, and thought George was her friend, she'd seen countless women throw themselves at the two men. George had always shamelessly flirted back, but she'd been so impressed when Joseph had seemed to not even notice them. She guessed it had all been an act for her benefit, though.
Without even acknowledging Penny, George took Katherine's arm and pushed his way inside her apartment. He shut the door in the face of her stunned neighbor. It was almost comical enough to make Katherine laugh. Almost.
"I've missed you, Katherine. I think it's long past the time for me to explain my actions," George said as he led her to the couch. He walked away, making her wonder what he was doing. She heard some noise from her kitchen, then he was back with ice wrapped in a towel. "Put this on your hand and it will feel better soon. It doesn't look broken, you most likely just bruised it."
He acted as if her punch had done nothing to him, which wasn't fair, considering that her hand was throbbing.
"What are you doing here, George. I think you've done enough damage already."
"I've missed you, my friend. There are a lot of misunderstandings from our time five years ago, but if you give me a half-hour, I can explain … "