“It’s nice to meet my only neighbor.” She laughed, and the sound irked me while turning me on at the same time.Annoying.
“Yeah, it’s quiet around here. Just the way I like it.” I said with a tense nod. “Have a good day.”
I didn’t wait around to hear what she had to say. Grabbing my mug and laptop, I went inside, sliding the patio door closed behind me. It better stay quiet around here.
Or there was going to be one pissed off grumpy mountain man.
I stayedinside the rest of the day, working on my financial clients’ portfolios and setting up meetings to go over findings. It was late afternoon when I finally settled down on the couch and turned on Sports Center. I sipped my beer while catching up on the latest sports news.
As I focused on the news, voices drifted in through my open living room window. I sighed, all of my hope from the day gone. I hadn’t heard her since this morning and thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Guess I was wrong there.
Laughter and more voices sounded in the distance. Did the damn woman multiply?
With a grumble, I pushed myself off the couch, set my beer down on the table, and ambled over to the window.
What I saw made my mouth drop open. At least four other women followed behind her as they walked into her backyard, the yard fully decked out in decorations. Party banners, balloons, and twinkly lights up the night sky all throughout her backyard, elegant yet fancy and over the top.
What is going on back there?
Curiosity had me shuffling to my back patio, but this time I kept to the back, out of their view, but still able to see most of her backyard. I guess I hadn’t noticed all afternoon of the transformation she had performed onto her yard, the once dull drag looking place now alive and full of energy.
Her friends laughed and chatted, her right in the middle of them, and I watch in awe at how bubbly and social she was. Notthat I wanted to be, but it was so different from who I was, a grumpy loner with far too much loss in his life.
Yet here she was, young and vibrant and enjoying life. Part of me was envious.
More people drifted in and I headed back inside, fetching my phone from the counter and openingGoogle. I typed in, how to soundproof your home, as I sat back on the couch and picked up my beer.
An hour later, the party was in full swing. I kept tabs through the window.
Ding!
My doorbell pinged throughout my cabin.
Who the hell could that be?
I looked through the peephole.
Sure enough, it was my new neighbor.
CHAPTER TWO
Shyla
I didn’t carethat I might’ve had one too many margaritas or that I nearly fell into a bush on the short walk over to my next-door neighbor’s house.
The guy looked like he needed some fun in his life and lucky for him, I was just the right person to supply it. It was my job after all, as an event planner, I planned fun all the time.
What a perfect time to invite him over while having my housewarming party, and then he’d see where the real fun was at.
Since seeing him on his back porch, he sparked my interest. The grumpy face, the less than two words grumble, the hard stance with tight arms across his chest, and the sexiest body a man could have. How could I not be intrigued?
Besides, I loved being around people. Whether for my job, or my social life, the more people vibing around me, the better. I could crack a shy person and bring them out of their shell. His standoffish demeanor only pulled me in deeper.
I stepped onto his porch and swayed slightly to the right, catching myself with one hand on his cabin.Shoot, how many margaritas did I have?
Pressing the doorbell, I did my best to hold steady in place though the cabin swam in front of me and I still clutched on for dear life.
