Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“Okay, square, how about two twosomes?”
I grunted in response. I wasn’t opposed to getting to know Elle a lot better, but it wouldn’t be tonight. I’d threatened every member of the team with bodily harm if they didn’t show up to the cookout tonight, so I sure as hell couldn’t miss it.
“Can you pick it up, granny?” I snapped at Dom. “You’re slow as shit.”
“Easy to say when you’re not the one walking backward.”
We’d reached Elle’s doorway, and Dom stepped up and inside. I followed, and we set the table top on the kitchen island.
“I’m canceling on Sadie, you cockblocker,” Dom said, typing into his phone.
“Your cock could use a day off,” I muttered.
“You know what they say—carpe diem,” he said, grinning. “That means have as much sex as you can, while you can.”
I shook my head at my idiot teammate. “It means seize the day, dumbass.”
“Right, and what better way to seize the day than a daily trip to Poundtown? You should try it sometime; it might mellow your grouchy ass out.”
I wasn’t like Dom. I couldn’t fuck women I didn’t know at all. Attraction, for me, was based on knowing someone and knowing they wanted you, too. Letting it build while you exchanged secret looks. Kissing a woman within an inch of her life, until she was desperate for more, and then letting the desire build some more.
Elle was walking toward us with a box stacked on top of another box, and she peeked around the tall stack to see where she was going. When I reached her, I took the top box.
“Hey, wh”
“You need to be able to see where you’re going,” I said.
We walked a few steps in silence before she said, “So how long have you lived here?”
“Eight months.”
“How do you like it?”
“Love it. Pretty quiet, great views.” I walked into the townhouse, remembering the box I carried was labeled “office.” “Hey, where’s the office?”
“This way,” she said, leading me toward a hallway.
“Are you new to the area?” I asked.
“No, I just wanted more space. I was living in a downtown apartment close to work, and I realized I hadn’t seen grass in a while. I’m hoping putting some space between me and the office will help me…” She shrugged. “Work a little less, I guess.”
I smiled at her as she set her box down next to mine. “You sound thrilled about that.”
She met my gaze and I felt the tug of an invisible string, urging me closer to her, but I kept my feet planted.
“I’m hoping my friends will let me count working from my home office as self-care,” she said lightly.
I could easily picture her in this room, wearing glasses with her hair pulled back, dressed in pajamas as she curled up in a chair and read something. But what did she read for work? Probably dry legal documents. I was pretty sure she was an attorney.
“And what do you”
“Hey, Elle,” Sam said, appearing in the office doorway. “I’m going to pick up some drinks; I’m dying.”
“Oh, I’ve got stuff,” I said. “Beer, water, fruit juice?”
“Water,” Sam said, wiping the back of her hand over her brow. “I’d love some water.”
“I’ll go grab it.” I looked back and forth between the women. “Anything else? I’ve got fruit, stuff for sandwiches, cheese, nuts…”
“Lies!” Dom yelled out from another room. “He does not have nuts. I’ve seen him naked! It’s freakish.”
I shook my head as both women laughed. Dom never knew when to take it down a notch.
“Just some water would be great,” Elle said. “I’m ordering pizza later. You guys are obviously invited to stay.”
“Wish we could, but we have a work thing to go to this afternoon,” I said. “And he’s kidding. I have testicles.”
Elle smiled, her blue eyes lighting up with amusement. “Good to know.”
“She’s single,” Sam blurted from the hallway. “Just FYI.”
Elle closed her eyes and shook her head, her face flushing pink.
“Good to know,” I said, grinning.
She opened her eyes, the corners of her lips tugging up into a smile. Our eyes locked and I felt that unseen string tugging me toward her again.
Yeah, I definitely wanted to get to know my new neighbor better.
CHAPTER TWO
Elle
“Can you grab the other end of this?” I asked from inside the back of the moving truck, standing at one end of a dark brown couch.
We were almost done moving everything in. Ford and Dom had just carried in my king-size bed frame and mattress, which barely fit through the doorway. Once we got the couch inside, there were just a few more boxes. Then Sam and I would take a break—probably on this very couch—before we started unpacking.
“Let me and Dom carry this,” Ford said.
I shrugged and bent to pick my end up. “If I got it into the truck with Sam, I’m pretty sure I can get it into the house with you.”