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“Don’t you look handsome today?” She joined me on Rafe’s front lawn and peered at the cups of coffee in my hand. “I was just doing some deadheading when I spotted you. How are you, dear?”

I suppressed a sigh, glancing at Rafe’s house. I’d helped Mrs. Tupper out several times with household chores and a bit of DIY, because I was a good southern boy like that, so we were friendly. Plus, she was a sweet old lady. My momma wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t nice to the sweet old lady across the street.

“I’m good thanks, Mrs. Tupper,” I said politely. “How have you been?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but a faint sound from the direction of Rafe’s house made us both pause. It sounded like someone yelling “Fuck!” from upstairs.

From Rafe’s bedroom.

I looked over, a frown pulling at my brows. His curtains were still shut up there. My frown deepened. What was he doing?

Was he having sex?

I found myself bristling as the thought wormed its way into my brain. Who was Rafe having sex with?

“I’m doing good, honey,” Mrs. Tupper said, and I slowly dragged my gaze back to her, trying to clear the frown from my face. She was smiling up at me brightly. “Actually, while I have you… did I mention the last time we spoke that my granddaughter is coming to visit in a few weeks?”

Trying not to think about what Rafe was doing, I managed to smile as I huffed in amusement. “You did.”

She mentioned it every single time her granddaughter came to visit.

“She just got her PHD! Such a smart girl. Well, not a girl.” She laughed lightly. “A full-grown woman. Wonderfully capable and independent. And one hundred per cent succubus through and through.”

I sighed. “Mrs. Tupper, I know you—”

Another sound from Rafe’s house had me stopping mid-sentence and whipping my head back around. This time it had sounded like something crashing to the floor. I tensed, then tensed even more when I faintly heard him yell, “Fuck you!”

Okay, maybe he wasn’t having sex.

That didn’t sound good.

“Oh dear.” Mrs. Tupper chuckled. “As I was saying, Daniel, I know you enjoy your… bachelor lifestyle, but you really should consider settling down soon. And Laney is just so wonderful. And a succubus,” she reiterated brightly, as if that would sway me.

Still frowning at Rafe’s house, which had gone quiet again, I shook my head and took a step toward it. “I think I should—”

“Oh, I wouldn’t interrupt, dear.” Mrs. Tupper laughed lightly.

Nostrils flaring, I whipped my head back around to frown at her. “Interrupt what?”

“He’s…” She wiggled her fingers in the direction of Rafe’s house, then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Preoccupied. Trust me, dear. I’m a succubus. I can feel that specific energy from a mile off.” She raised her wispy brows at me meaningfully.

My jaw clenched. So he was having sex with someone? Who?

“But… it sounded like something fell over,” I said, something unpleasant wriggling through my gut as I glanced at the house again. “And he yelled—”

“Yes, it seems our quiet ghoul neighbour is a bit more adventurous in the bedroom than we realised, hmm?” She laughed and reached out to touch my arm as I stared up at Rafe’s bedroom windows. “Anyway, dear, I’d be so delighted if you came over for dinner once Laney arrives. Just to get to know her a bit better.”

Who was Rafe having angry, furniture-throwing sex with? That billy goat creep with the donkey dick?

What the fuck?

“Daniel, honey?” Mrs. Tupper patted my arm. Realising I was being rude, I forced my gaze back to her. She glanced at the two mugs in my hand again, then over at Rafe’s, a hint of suspicion filling her eyes. “Were you… heading over to see Rafe?”

A wave of humiliation made heat climb up my throat. Here I was, standing on his front lawn with a cup of coffee for him, while he was—according to Mrs. Tupper—busy having wild, animalistic sex with someone.

Potentially a guy with a donkey dick.

“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head and offering no explanation for the second cup I was holding.