Her eyes widen in horror when she realizes the truth of my words. She got me banished to the other side of the diner whenever she’s working, but now I have unfettered access to my beauty. And I’m going to take advantage of every moment.
“No. Just no. You just walk back over to your house and stay away from mine, and then we won’t have any problems.” She points to my house, practically tapping her foot in annoyance.
“Now that wouldn’t be very neighborly of me, would it?” I smirk. “I like to befriend my neighbors. Never know when you’ll need a cup of sugar.”
“Mr. Beatie across the street can give you all the sugar you need.”
“But what if I need a different kind of sugar?” I say suggestively, taking a step closer to her.
She snorts a laugh. “I’m sure Mr. Beatie could still help you out.”
“My tastes run,” I look her up and down, licking my lips, “to sweeter things.”
“You’re incorrigible! You don’t even like me. Quit messing with my head. You’re a jerk one minute, and then next you’re flirting. Just stop!” she shouts the last bit, her breaths coming in panting gusts making her breasts rise and fall in a way that has my cock standing at attention.
She’s a fucking knockout, and she doesn’t even know it. Maybe that’s part of what draws me in… she’s so unassuming and sweet. She’s all smiles and sweet words for everyone. Which is why I have to step in and show my asshole side. Men look at her hungrily—even the married ones. It’s enough to drive me to insanity.
I don’t mean to shame her for her clothes… like the short shorts she’s wearing now, but I hate that other men are admiring what’s mine. I’ve staked my claim, and her body should be for my eyes only.
Ana huffs and turns away to storm off into her house. A house that I worked for weeks to remodel just for her. Wonder what she would say to that? I carefully painted her door bright red, just like the pictures her grandma Ruth showed me. Making her dreams come true is the only thing I want in life. I want Ana to be happy. It’s instinctual to want to make sure she’s not only safe but happy too.
The door slams shut behind her so hard the windows rattle. I love how fiery she is. To everyone else, she’s sweet and docile. To me, she’s a feral tigress ready to take a swipe at me. That’s okay, she can take her swipes, I’ll be here to stroke her until she purrs.
3 Ana
“Prue! Are you even listening to me? Carson Moore is my new neighbor!”
She just laughs. “Oh, heaven forbid you have one of the sexiest men in all of Sugarhill living right next to you. Cry me a river.”
“Margo, you understand, right?”
She chews on her bottom lip. “I mean, he is hot. Amos says he likes you…”
I shake my head. “No, the man hates me! He’s a big asshole to me. He makes me insane. I hate him.”
Lani shrugs, “You know what they say about love and hate. A fine line between the two.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “You guys are supposed to be on my side.”
“Honey, we are on your side,” Margo says, giving me a consoling look. “We just think you might not be seeing things in the same unbiased way we do.”
“It should be a biased opinion! If you’re on my side, you should hate him too.”
“He’s Amos’ friend, I kind of have to like him. He’s a good guy. I really think you’ve just gotten off on the wrong foot with him. I know he comes off as a jerk sometimes, but he’s really a great guy. I mean, look at all the work he did on your house.”
My eyes narrow. “What do you mean work on my house?”
Margo covers her mouth with her hand, realizing she just revealed something that was apparently a secret. “Well… you see… he owned the house before your grandma bought it. It needed a little work, so he volunteered to help.”
“What do you mean by a little work?” I ask, feeling a little hysterical.
“Well…”
“Jesus, Margo, just tell her already. You opened your mouth, finish the job,” Prue demands.
“Your grandma showed him your vision board, and he… well, he made it all happen.”
My jaw drops. I would’ve never in a million years thought that he would do something like that for me. It takes a whole lot of convincing to get my anger back at having him for a neighbor. In fact, my anger feels suspiciously like gratitude and other warm feelings. Knowing that he spent so much time making my dream house come to life really does change my perception of him.
Well, partially.
He’s still an asshole—just an asshole with a nice side.
“Let’s give Ana a break. Pour her another glass of wine, and let’s talk about these cupcakes,” Lani says, taking a massive bite of Margo’s newest cupcake creation: triple chocolate, strawberry cream-filled, topped with fudge icing. It’s basically sin and heaven all mixed together in one perfect little cake. “I’m going to gain a million pounds at this rate.”
Lani rubs her very pregnant belly between bites. Prue snatches the rest of her cupcake right out of her hands and shoves it in her mouth, then mumbles something about fixing that for her.
“You jerk! I was enjoying that.”
Prue licks her fingers clean. “I just helped. Now you can’t put my niece in a diabetic coma.”
I hand Lani the rest of my cupcake, and she takes a bite, practically dancing in her seat. “Thanks, Ana.”
The rest of our book club turned to drink wine and eat desserts club ends in another bottle of wine and lots of laughing. By the time Lani brings me home, I’m feeling pretty happy. That is until I see
