AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A girl could hope, even if it was unlikely to be true. Whatever had been between them was over now. Taking slow, quiet steps, she eased toward the sliding glass door. She moved one of the vertical slats aside and peeked out in time to watch his retreating back enter his house.
When he turned and looked in her direction, she quickly let the plastic fall back into place and pressed her body against the wall. She laughed at the absurdity of it all, hiding out from a guy as if she’d done something wrong. She’d talk to him, let him explain whatever he felt he needed to. But not today. Today her embarrassment over everything remained too fresh.
He could let her down easy, explain it was all just fun—just sex—at a later date. But today, she’d hide out, maybe call Monique to have a long-distance girl’s night. She pushed off the wall and headed upstairs for that Band-Aid, feeling better about her plans. Jabbering on the phone with her friend, eating greasy food, and binge-watching Netflix and not thinking about the sexy, gray-eyed neighbor across the way. A perfect Saturday night.
Chapter Ten
Ryan
Ryan’s gaze went directly to his patio door and he let out a heavy sigh when he saw the closed blinds across the greenway. The same sight had greeted him for the last four days. Those closed blinds sent a
very clear message—that and the fact she didn’t even respond to him when he’d gone over to talk to her.
He’d kicked himself for not getting her number. At least he could have texted her with the explanation. Something. Anything would be better than the in formidable wall of vertical blinds. But seeing each other nearly every day after work, living so close, it never crossed his mind, and now he was paying for it.
He ran his hands through his hair. This caring thing was new. Not that he was a total dick, but getting attached, that wasn’t him. Have fun, have some sex, move on. It’s what he did. And he was always honest and upfront about that. It’s not like this was the first time a girl had cut off communication, but those were mostly ones that thought they could change him and got pissy when he set them straight.
Like Ashley.
Motherfucking Ashley. Who went from blowing up his phone to radio silence. He’d thought she’d finally gotten the message and had cut her losses. Boy had he been wrong. Ashley wanted babies and marriage and thought they were soulmates. Well, that’s what she thought once she realized BB Construction stood for Bradley Branson, his father. Ryan suddenly became her golden ticket, or so she’d hoped. He, on the other hand, saw her as a massive, clingy headache who wasn’t even a good lay.
Not like his Peaches. His Peaches. Ryan was acutely aware that he’d thought of her as his again. The adorable, easy going Southern belle whose entire being had deflated before his eyes four nights ago.
“Fuck!” He turned and bounded up the stairs. Shit needed fixing. Going another day with her possibly thinking he was some sort of two-timing asshole was out of the question.
After a quick shower, Ryan dressed, and armed with newfound determination started out his bedroom door. The black, satin material sitting on his dresser caught his eye. With a decisive nod, he picked up the panties and shoved them into his back pocket.
When he rounded the corner to her street, relief washed over him. Her white compact car was there. She was home. Now he had to hope she’d open the door for him. Going to the front would hopefully increase her chances of doing that. She’d know it was him at the back, so depending on how fast he could talk, he might stand a chance of getting out a few words before she shut the door in his face. He took a breath before pressing the button. Time stood still as he waited for her to answer. Just as he got ready to push the bell again, the door swung open.
His gaze raked over her body. Damn she was a sight for sore eyes. A light blue plastic shower cap was secured to the top of her head, a red towel lay wrapped around her shoulders, and a low-cut yellow tank top drew his gaze down. His fingers tingled at the memories that accompanied the sight. Later. If he was lucky enough to get back into her good graces.
He gave her a smile. “You should really ask who it is before just opening the door.”
She folded her arms across her chest and popped out a hip. “No need when I know who’s on the other side.”
His grin widened. “So you were expecting me?”
She rolled her eyes and turned and walked away. “Not really, but since I don’t get many visitors it was either you or some door-to-door salesperson.”
Ryan closed the door behind him and followed her in. Already he counted this trip as a victory simply for being allowed inside.
She sat at the corner of her tan sectional, crossing her legs on top of the cushion. To keep from giving in to his urge to touch her, he sat at the opposite end to leave plenty of space between them.
Jess grabbed the remote, lowered the volume on the TV, and sat it back down before addressing him. “Why are you here?”
Ryan reached behind him and pulled her panties free. He held them up and the recognition registered on her face. She looked down, but not before he saw the making of a smile tugging at those full lips.
“I needed to return your property. And explain.”
Her head snapped up. “There’s nothing to explain. I was a quick fix during your off time from your girlfriend.”
The monotone delivery of that statement made him wonder how many times she’d rehearsed it. Not that it mattered; he remained stuck trying to process which part was the biggest kick to the nuts: her thinking he’d used her or her thinking he was a cheater. Neither option sat well with him.
He stretched back and crossed his legs at the ankle. “You’re wrong.”
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at him. “How so?”
He took a chance and inched closer to her. “You are not a quick fix. Not even close. And she is not and has never been my girlfriend. We’d been hooking up for a couple of weeks; she was extra clingy. However, the thing that really made me break it off with her was when I caught her poking holes in my condoms.”
