Girl Next Door - The Complete Series (5 page)

Aidan was silent. Why me? Within the course of six hours I had developed a huge crush on my neighbor, kissed him like I wanted to devour him, and then thrown the R-word at him. I could write a best-seller on how to not get a guy in a week or less. I straightened my spine. Whatever. It was better to know now that he was an asshole instead of a few days, or weeks, when he decided he wanted a new toy to play with.

I took another step back. “I see we understand each other.” My hand touched the doorknob. Aidan was close behind me and laid his hand on mine, stopping me from going into the house.

I twisted my neck and looked up over my shoulder at him. It was dark and I couldn’t see his face well at all. Dammit, I just wanted to go inside, have a few shots of tequila, and figure out how to become a lesbian. I was through with men. The last few I bothered with were
so
not worth it.

“Come to my house tomorrow night.”

Say what? I gaped at him for a second, my mouth moving, but nothing coming out. “Did you not hear what I just said?” I asked. Okay, I did good. I wasn’t yelling.

“Yeah. I did. You just told me that you appreciate a man who’s honest and you want to be more than a booty call. I can deal with that. Since you were straight with me, I’m gonna be straight with you. I wanted to fuck you since that night your dickhead ex woke me up and I dragged my ass over here to tell him to shut the fuck up. I also think you’re funny as hell and too much of a smartass for your own good. I’m not interested in something long-term or serious, but we could both have some laughs and, if that kiss is any clue, some very hot sex until you or I are ready to move on.”

With that, Aidan released my hand and stepped back. “If you decide that situation is something you can handle, us spending time together in bed and some just hanging out, come over tomorrow night at six. If not, you stay home tomorrow night and we leave it at that.”

He turned and walked down my front steps, across my yard, and out of sight. I stood there, one hand on the door, for a while, before I went back inside. Cat came out of the guest room as soon as I hit the top step of the staircase.

I just held a hand up to her, palm out. “I can’t talk about it right now. I’m pissed, confused, and kinda turned on. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.”

Cat must have seen all this was true, and that wheedling, whining, and browbeating would not get me talking tonight. She nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning. Night, Natty.”

I went to my bedroom door and opened it. “Night, Catwoman. I’ll see you in a few hours.” With that, I shut my door and proceeded to spend a sleepless night remembering that day in vivid detail. Not just the bone-melting kiss on my porch, but the jokes, laughter, and fun of the party and Aidan’s smile. Shit, I was in so much trouble.

The next morning, Cat and I got up late. Over lunch, yes, we’d slept that late, she grilled me. I didn’t tell her everything, because even thinking about it freaked me out. I shared about the kiss and I told her Aidan wanted to see me again. I did not share my conversation with Aidan after the kiss or his proposal.

Cat was all for me having a fuck buddy, but what Aidan described to me last night was more than that. It was also less than full-on dating-slash-girlfriend status. Cat was definitely not fond of grey areas. Neither was I, but, after that kiss, I felt it was hopeless to resist. Hell, I didn’t want to resist.

After Cat left, I spent a lazy afternoon on my back porch and thought about how I would handle Aidan. I had never felt like I did last night on my porch, especially from a single kiss. If sex with Aidan was as hot as that kiss promised, forget resisting. I would haul ass straight to his mattress. I wanted to have sex that hot at least once in my life. With my track record with men, I doubted I’d get happily-ever-after, anyway. At least I’d have the memory for the rest of my life.

So, I spent the afternoon on my back deck, drinking a diet soda, painting my toenails, and thinking. As I soaked up the warm sun, I knew I could accept the terms Aidan laid out, but I had a few conditions of my own. My decision was made, and I wouldn’t dwell. Once I decided something, I stuck to it. My father sometimes referred to it as blind stubbornness, but I preferred to think of it as tenacity and perseverance. Unfortunately, this trait got me into trouble as often as it worked in my favor, but that was me, and that was it.

I spent the next hour and a half showering, shaving, and primping. Though I wanted to go all out, I didn’t want to send a message from the beginning that I was overeager. Yes, I wanted to look hot, but, if this quasi-relationship had an expiration date, I wasn’t going to waste the big guns on someone who probably wouldn’t be around in a few months.

At ten to six, I checked my appearance in the full-length mirror. I was wearing a cute pair of white shorts and another camisole with a built-in bra, this one a bright teal. I’d dried my streaked blond hair and left it straight, so it brushed my shoulder blades. Barely there make-up, silver hoops and a silver anklet on my right ankle were it. My hot pink toes were freshly painted and looked great with my tan.

My belly quivered as I slid on a pair of white flip flops. I was definitely nervous. If Aidan agreed to my terms, it was very likely he and I would be getting naked tonight. This thought had me alternating from terrified to extremely turned on. Not a good condition if I wanted to lay out my ground rules in a calm and concise manner.

I took a deep breath, and headed downstairs and out the front door. My nerves calmed slightly and I walked across my yard, Aidan’s yard, and up his front steps. I rang the doorbell and took one more deep breath. Aidan opened the door and my hormones whimpered. He was dressed in faded jeans, a white T-shirt, and bare feet. He gave me what I was beginning to realize was his standard smile, the half-grin.

“Glad to see you, Nat.” He opened the door wider and stepped to the side. “Come in.”

He was still very close when I walked through the door and my body brushed his. I felt like I’d been zapped with an electric shock. He smelled fantastic and his body felt at least twenty degrees warmer than mine.

“Want a beer,” he asked, “or wine?”

“I’d like red wine, if you have it.”

He looked amused. “Sure, follow me.”

He turned and headed past the stairs that led to the second story. His entryway went back to an open living area. The kitchen, dining room, and den were basically all one room. His furniture was dark grey leather and gorgeous oak wood. While the room was utilitarian, there were still a few homey touches; some framed photos on the mantel, a couple of prints hanging on the walls. He had blinds and curtains, both of which were opened.

The room was warm, comfortable, and definitely not a man cave. Aidan walked to the kitchen counter and snagged an opened bottle of wine. From the cabinets, he pulled down a wineglass.

“So, you just happened to have a bottle of red open and breathing?” I asked.

He smirked. “As a matter of fact, I saw your wine collection last night and thought you might prefer wine to beer.”

I tilted my head and accepted the glass from him. So he had really expected me to show up tonight. “You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

I sipped the wine. It was dry but mellow. Yum. He gave me the full version of his smile this time, one that turned his eyes to pure gold. Speaking of yum, that smile was better than the wine. Still, he didn’t respond. I guessed he thought the smile was answer enough, so I shrugged.

“Thanks.” There I was polite.

Aidan’s smile remained. He set down his beer, came around the counter, and took my wine out of my hand. He set it on the counter.

Oh, crap. Okay, I just needed to lay it out there before this went any further. His kisses were so hot they seriously melted my brain. Aidan leaned his back against the counter and grabbed my hips, pulling me closer. I put both palms on his chest and was momentarily distracted by the feel of hard muscle and heat. I pulled myself together. My head tilted back so I could look into his face.

“I just want to clarify something. I have a couple of stipulations of my own, if we continue…” What in the hell would you call a more-than-a-fuck-buddy-but-not-a-boyfriend? “This way.”

It was kind of lame, but I didn’t know what else to say.

Aidan just cocked a brow, waiting. Okay, so it was still my turn.

“For as long as we are together…like this, it’s exclusive.” I paused to see if he would argue or say something.

“And what else?” he asked.

I blinked. “Actually, I think that covers my only concern.”

Aidan laughed and it made my head spin. God, he was gorgeous. Still chuckling, he leaned down and kissed me lightly.

“I can handle that.”

The tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying eased out of my muscles. Okay, so at least, for the time he and I were together we wouldn’t see anyone else. Well, at least if he did, I could actually kick his ass without seeming like a jealous, bitter hag. He agreed to the terms, he should abide by them.

Aidan was studying me intently again. “What exactly are you thinking about now?”

Again, I blinked. Okay, I was a shit liar anyway, so I might as well be honest. “Um, kicking your ass if you break the terms of the agreement?” It sounded more like a question than a statement, but it got my point across.

His hands tightened on my hips. “Seriously?
That’s
what you were thinkin’?”

My eyes narrowed at his tone. “Yeah. I only have one condition in this, and if you can’t stick to it, you deserve an ass kicking.”

Aidan threw his head back and roared with laughter. I just stared at him. I didn’t see the humor in the situation, but he was hot when he laughed. I would enjoy the view. Then, I might kick him in the shin for laughing at me. He stopped laughing and stared down at me, still smiling a little. His hands squeezed my hips tighter.

“What are you like when you really cut loose, Nat?”

I had a feeling he was being a smartass, so I popped off the truth, just to show him.

“I usually go wild about twice a year, and, twice a year, the cops usually show up at my house.”

“Really?”

I nodded and bit my bottom lip. Aidan shook his head. He grabbed my wineglass off the counter and placed it in my hand. Then, he led me over to the huge dark grey suede couch. He sat and pulled me down next to him. Damn, this couch was almost heaven.

We sipped our drinks, Aidan looking very relaxed, and me feeling like I was about to jump out of my skin. Screw sitting in silence. If he didn’t want me to jump my bones, then I was going to make conversation. Besides, fuck buddy or not, I wanted to know who I was going to bed with.

I leaned back into the best couch ever made and asked, “So, what do you do, Aidan?”

He took a swig of his beer. “I own my own business. I’m a general contractor.”

Okay, that explained the great tan and the very sexy muscles.

“What do you do?” he asked.

“I’m an accountant.”

Aidan almost choked on his drink. “What? You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”

I frowned at him. “No, I work for a firm in Dallas. We mostly do bookkeeping and other things for Dallas-based businesses.”

“You don’t look like any accountant I’ve ever met before.”

My frown became a scowl. He was saying that like it was a bad thing.

“What do you mean?” I snapped.

Aidan set his beer on the coffee table. No coaster, of course, and turned to face me a little more.

“You don’t look serious or boring, for one, and I’ve never had such a sexy accountant.”

I rolled my eyes and set my wineglass down with a snap. I knew I didn’t look boring, I made sure of that, but I wasn’t some flake. I certainly was serious about my job. The sexy part, well, I didn’t often feel sexy, but it was good that he thought so.

“Not all accountants wear big glasses, black suits, and carry pocket protectors,” I said.

Aidan leaned in a little more, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I know.”

“Also, I don’t need any of those things to be serious about my job and very, very good at it.” I was on a roll. “It’s insulting that you would think a woman couldn’t be both attractive and good at her job.”

Aidan looked like he wanted to laugh again.

“That’s not what I meant, but you sure are cute when you’re all fired up.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

Aidan seemed to get closer, his eyes staring deep into me, their green and gold seeming to darken. Okay, now my heart was pounding and I was struggling to breathe. Then, he was kissing me again. His lips were hot and firm. This wasn’t like the kiss last night. As last night had been familiar and intense, this kiss was the opposite.
This
was a first kiss; slow to build and searching. I heard a whimper and realized it was me. I inched closer and fisted my hands in his short hair. Suddenly, Aidan lifted me across his lap so that I straddled his hips. Here was the heat I remembered from last night.

Aidan’s hands clasped on my ass and pulled me tighter to him. I shifted closer, sliding my hands from his hair to his shoulders. Lost in the moment, I nipped his bottom lip. Aidan shuddered under me and pulled away.