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“I’m Liam Prescott, but I guess you already knew that. I’ve got a place a few doors down.” And now he’s a neighbor. Perfect.

“Yeah,” I reply, a bit too breathless for my liking. He drops my hand, and I instantly rub it on the side of my shorts. His eyes flick to my movement before bringing his eyes back to mine.

“I thought you said you’re an author.”

The kids choose this time to conclude that the situation is now boring and retreat to their rooms.

“Yeah, I am. Part-time, I guess you can say, but no one on campus knows what I do after hours. I don’t like to advertise it because we do have uptight parents and I wouldn’t want them to have an issue with my teaching their children, you know?”

He looks confused. “I don’t get why it’s such a big deal.” Hoping that he’ll take a hint and maybe leave while the getting’s good, I start to busy myself with pulling boxes open. “Not going to answer?” His voice startles me making me turn to see he’s now standing beside me.

Making a quick look towards the hall to make sure I don’t have any eavesdroppers, I drop my voice to almost a whisper, “Because I write romance and not your hearts and rainbows type, either. Hot and heavy is more my speed, if you get my drift.” I raise my eyebrow as I wait for him to get what I’m saying.

He rocks back on his feet, doing that snap and smack of his hands thing. His eyes go wide, and I know he now understands what I’m implying. The blush hits his cheeks again, making him seem younger than what I’m sure he is. “Ah, I totally get the secrecy now.”

“Yeah, not everyone is open-minded,” I tell him as I continue to unload the box of knickknacks.

“So what do you write about? Like… um, ball gags and butt plugs?”

My head snaps to him. “What?” I shriek, making my voice a little higher than I intend. “No, definitely not that.” I laugh. “That’s considered erotica, and I’m nowhere near brave enough to travel down that road.”

“Everything okay, Mom?” Trevor questions from the hallway.

Turning my head, I see the concerned look on his face again. “Yeah, honey.”

“Well, I better get going,” Liam says.

“Oh, yeah, right,” I respond, somewhat relieved that this visit is coming to an end.

“Later,” Trevor comments before heading back towards his room.

“Thanks for the help with the box,” I tell Liam as I walk him towards the front door.

He stops and turns towards me. “I’d like to read your books if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, no, that’s okay.” I shake my head. “You don’t have to do that. Let’s forget that you know I write at all, okay?”

He laughs. “You know I can look you up online, right?”

“Well, you could if you knew my pen name, but you don’t so good luck with that.” I pat him on the shoulder.

Sighing in defeat, he continues out the front door. “I’m pretty good at finding things,” he tells me over his shoulder as he continues to retreat down the path.

“Not as good as I am at hiding them,” I call back before shutting the door, ending the conversation.

“Mom?” Jenna’s voice startles me, making me turn around. “Why are you blushing?”

“No reason, baby.”

No reason at all.