Lovely Neighbor Read online

  “Never mind.” I tuck them close to me.

  “I didn't get your name.”

  “Right.” Thank god, I think to myself before I turn to leave. Now no one will ever know I was here. I hear the security guard call after me, but I keep on going.

  There’s no way I could give him the files when I thought about it. Devin is a lawyer, so who knows what's inside of them? There’s a strong possibility that some of it is private and he might not even like that I touched them.

  I grab another cab and go back to the apartment building. I can put the files back and no one will ever be the wiser. I feel like a nut case by the time I make it there and as I’m getting out of the cab I’m not paying attention to where I’m going and I run right into someone. They try and grab me, but it’s too late and I hit the ground. The files spill out next to me and I’m reaching for the papers before they can blow away.

  “I’m so sorry, Erin. Are you okay?”

  No. There is no way. I turn my head slowly to look up and see Peter standing there above me.

  “Let me help you.” He starts to reach for me, and I jerk back.

  “I got it.” I hurriedly get the files together, but when I try to stand on my own my knees buckle. Peter grabs me by the arm before I can fall again, and when I get my footing I jerk away from his hold. “I said I got it.”

  “Sorry,” he mumbles, holding his hands up.

  “Miss Erin, are you okay?” Carol rushes out of the building and over to me. “Your knee is bleeding.”

  I look down to see that he’s right and my favorite dress is ruined on top of it. “It doesn't really hurt.” I think it’s only a small scratch.

  “What are you doing here?” Peter asks me.

  “I was going to ask you the same thing,” I say, unable to hide the accusation in my voice.

  “The company I work for has their corporate office here. I come here once a month.” He points down the street. “Are you sure you're okay? I heard about your place and I’ve been worried about you.” He looks genuine as his eyes soften.

  “Yeah, I gotta go, Peter. I’ll see you around.” Before he can say anything else, Carol is guiding me into the building.

  “Ex?” Carol asks when we get inside.

  “What?”

  “Was he an ex-boyfriend or something? You look like you saw a ghost.”

  “No.” I shake my head, glancing back at the glass doors, but Peter is gone.

  “I think we have a first-aid kit behind my desk.”

  “Thanks, Carol, but I think I’ll just take a shower and patch it up afterwards.”

  “All right.” He nods. “If you change your mind, I can send something up.”

  “Thanks again.” I get on the elevator and all I want to do is go back to Devin’s place and put the folders back where I found them.

  I look down at them and cringe. I never should have left to begin with. I’ve not only made a mess out of myself but out of Devin’s work too.

  I’ve gone from being excited for Devin to come back tonight to dreading it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Devin

  “We’ve got to meet with the judge tomorrow morning, but it could mean that we have to go to Milan. It’s your turn.”

  I groan as I lean back in my chair and scowl at my sister. “I just went to Paris.”

  “Yes, but I was in Italy for a month last year.” She scowls back. “And do I need to remind you it was on Danielle’s birthday?”

  I lean forward and dig deeper. “And if I recall, I flew her out to you as a surprise and you fucked her in a gondola.”

  She goes from looking like she ate a lemon to blissful peace in a flash. “God, that was fun.” She closes her eyes as if remembering it and I’m done.

  “I’m not going.” I stand up and stack my papers, but she doesn’t move.

  “Yes you are.”

  “Nee.”

  “Don’t you Nee me.” She crosses her arms and cocks her head to the side.

  “Why don’t you take her there and propose?”

  “What’s wrong with you going?”

  “Are we just going to ask questions back and forth now?”

  “Are we?”

  “I hate arguing with a lawyer,” I grumble, and she laughs.

  “If it comes down to it, we can talk about it. But I don’t want the assumption it’s my turn.” She gives a little, so I do too.

  “Deal.” I sit back down and sort through the rest of the mess on my desk.

  “Let’s do housekeeping, shall we?” Renee opens her briefcase and pulls out a notepad.

  It’s the end of the day and I don’t really want to go over this stuff, but it’s part of the job. We’re both ready to go home, but neither of us likes stuff hanging over to the next day. Her shoes are off and she’s curled up in my oversized office chair. We usually do our meetings here because her office only has furniture that looks nice but isn’t practical.

  “I have a few prospects for partners,” I say, and Renee snaps her head up.

  “You really want to go through with it?”

  “We either stop taking on cases or we have to add a person. Those are the facts.”

  She grumbles as she flips some papers in her notebook. “I’ve talked to human resources and they’ve got Oscar’s position in IT filled.”

  “We’re just going to ignore my statement?”

  “Samantha in marketing is going out on maternity leave early due to her blood pressure. So we’ll need to hire a temp for that position now too.”

  “Do you think this is the best use of our time?”

  This time she snaps her notebook up and sighs. “I agree with you, but I don’t know the best solution.”

  “I’m thinking about the two of us, Nee. Why are we building this if this is how we’re spending our time?”

  She narrows her eyes on me and looks me over as if for the first time. “What’s gotten into you? Normally you’re the one I’m having to chase out of here and make sure you’ve slept more than two hours a night. Now suddenly you’re bringing up a partner or lightening our workload. This isn’t like you.” She pauses for a moment, then gasps and scoots to the edge of her seat. “Who is she?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I don’t look at her as I say it, and I hear her squeal.

  “I knew it!” Now she’s standing up and bouncing on her feet. “Tell me everything.”

  “There’s nothing to tell. Yet.”

  “Devin Michael Meade, if you don’t tell me every single detail of the woman you’ve fallen for, I’m going to come across this desk and strangle you with my bare hands.”

  “That sounds dramatic.” I smirk as I lean back in my chair and she is practically giddy.

  “Tell. Me.”

  “I don’t know what it is yet. She’s staying at my apartment.”

  “You lied to me!” She pretends to be offended but leans closer. “So it’s not being fumigated. I knew that building was too fancy to have bugs.”

  I end up explaining everything to her and I don’t think she even blinks the whole time. It’s fun telling her because I realize I’m actually really excited about Erin and what I’m feeling for her. Of course I think about her non-stop and I can’t wait to go home, but saying the words out loud kind of makes them real and I like it.

  “I just have one question,” Renee says after a long pause.

  “Just the one?”

  “Why are you sitting here?”

  “What?”

  “Get the fuck out of here and go home!” she shouts, banging on my desk. “Don’t screw this up, Devin! This could be my chance to finally be an aunt. Don’t fuck this up for me.”

  I laugh as I shake my head and bury it in my hands.

  “I’m dead serious. You know how important that is to me. Please please please have unprotected sex.”

  “Get out,” I bark, and she laughs. “I’m done.”

  I stand up and gather my things, and she claps
before she takes out her phone. “I can’t wait to tell Dani. She’s going to be so excited.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning.” I grab my bag and walk out of my office, leaving my sister screaming into the phone to Danielle.

  I sigh as I get on the elevator, but deep down it feels good to have someone else as excited as I am about this possibility. I don’t think anything can wipe the smile off my face as I get off the elevator and walk through the lobby.

  “Mr. Woods.” The security guard Gerrard waves me over and I nod.

  “How are you guys doing today? Did you get the donuts I left this morning?”

  “Yes, sir.” Gerrard pats his belly in answer and I laugh. “I just wanted to let you know a young woman came by for you today with some files but ended up not leaving them. It wasn’t too suspicious, but it stuck out to me.”

  “Really? Hmm.” I try to think of a courier we sent for, but I don’t recall needing any documents today.

  “She was about this tall with blond hair.” He holds up his hand around his shoulder, and when I hear “blond” I think of Erin.

  “You say she had files for me?”

  He nods. “She couldn’t recall your last name right away and got really flustered and darted out. We tried to get her to come back, but she hopped in a cab. There wasn’t a problem, I just wanted to let you know in case it was important and you didn’t have what you needed.”

  I’m picturing Erin in my mind trying to make the exchange and for some reason it’s adorable. “Yeah, I appreciate that. Thanks for letting me know.” I push away from the counter and nod to him. “Take the rest of those donuts home to Sharon and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Will do, boss,” he calls as I go outside and get in my waiting car.

  On the way to my apartment I’m fighting back a smile as I imagine Erin coming into the building with an armful of folders and no idea on how to get in touch with me. I laugh and shake my head, thinking I need to give her my number. I can’t believe I haven’t done it yet, but I’ve been a little preoccupied with just being with her every time we’re close. Somehow the rest of the world fades away and it’s only her that matters.

  I wave to the night doorman as I enter my building and take the elevator up to my floor. My heart is never this light and excited about coming home, but knowing Erin is there and waiting makes it so much sweeter.

  When I push open the door, I stop as I stare at Erin sitting with a giant fluffy dog on the couch surrounded by crumpled and dirty paper. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes and squares her shoulders like she’s about to deliver the worst news of her life.

  “There appears to have been a struggle,” I say, and she bursts into tears.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Erin

  Devin stands in front of me with a look of panic on his face. “I'm sorry I ruined them,” I sniffle, trying to get myself under control. He’s some high-powered attorney and I’m a blubbering mess. “I…I…I…” I’m trying to explain myself but the words won’t come out and now Moose is whimpering next to me, joining in on the tear-fest.

  “Erin. It’s fine.” Devin rushes over to the sofa and pulls me into his lap, which only makes me cry harder. His hands rub up and down my back as he makes soothing noises. “You have got to stop crying. You’re killing me here.”

  “Okay,” I hiccup, but don’t stop. “I’m trying, I swear,” I mumble into his neck.

  “If you want to cry, I’ll just hold you.”

  I suck in a deep breath and lift my face out of his neck. Now I went and ruined his super-fancy suit too. “Does anyone actually want to cry?”

  His lips twitch. I don’t know what he finds so amusing.

  “I didn't want to stop you if you are bound and determined to have a good cry. I’ve seen it do my sister some good a few times. Plus, you crawled into my lap. At this point I’ll let you do anything you want. Any request? The deed to the building? A trip to Paris? More Chinese food?”

  I laugh around my emotional recovery and shake my head. “I don’t need the whole building. Maybe just the bathroom. I think I could live there just fine.”

  “It’s all yours.” He brushes his thumb along my cheek and catches a tear. “It might be hard living in the bathroom since part of this deal is you have to stay in my lap. It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.”

  “Don’t make me laugh. This isn't supposed to be funny.”

  “I apologize.” He leans back, putting his hands behind his head. It’s then I realize that I'm straddling him. “Carry on.”

  My eyes drop to his mouth. Here I am a mess and he’s as handsome as ever, making me forget what I was crying about. His hands cup my cheeks as he slowly leans in. I close my eyes and feel his lips gently brush against mine. They’re so soft at first, and while he lingers there it’s a good way to keep me from crying.

  “Open for me,” he breathes against my mouth, and I part my lips before giving him what he asks for.

  When his tongue touches mine, I get lost in the kiss and all my worries melt away in the moment. It’s only the two of us and I’m having my first kiss. Our first kiss. I don’t know how any others will ever live up to this one.

  I pull back when something bumps my side hard enough to make me break the kiss. I look down to see Moose shove his head between us, wanting attention.

  “I think someone felt left out.” Devin scratches him behind the ear. “Or maybe jealous I’m kissing his girl. I’d be mad too, big guy.”

  “He can be a little bit of a brat.” Moose keeps on looking adorable, trying to make a liar out of me. “Remember when you made me carry you three blocks because you gave up walking?”

  “You carried him?” He points to Moose. “Three blocks?”

  “And up a flight of stairs.”

  “Is that true, Moose?”

  He rubs his head into Devin’s chest, getting hair all over his suit. Yeah, between Moose and me, we’ve ruined it.

  “Don’t let those puppy eyes fool you.” I give in and pet him too.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I can always eat, but maybe I should order for us. After the Chinese, I know I’ll only order half the menu instead of the whole thing.”

  When I get up, Moose jumps down from the sofa and checks his bowl for random treats I sometimes drop into it.

  “Hey.” Devin grabs my hand and looks down at my knee. He pushes my dress up a little and looks it over. “Don’t move.” He’s up and running from the living room before I can stop him, and when he comes back he’s got a small first-aid kit. “I’ll never hear the end of it if Renee finds out I used this thing.” He gets on the floor in front of me and places the kit beside him on the sofa. “When she brought it over I told her I didn't need it and shoved it in the back of my bathroom closet.”

  “I won’t tell.” He looks up at me. “Unless you steal the last crab rangoon again.”

  “I’ll make a note to order extra next time.” He opens the first-aid kit.

  “It’s really not that bad.”

  “Indulge me.” He goes to work cleaning my knee but keeps talking. “Why don’t you tell me what happened today.”

  “Isn't it clear?” My eyes drift back to the ruined folders.

  “You might need to break it down for me.”

  I let out a long sigh. “Are all lawyers so concerned with the details and facts?”

  “Yes, the facts.” He cleans my knee with some alcohol, and I wince. He lets out a curse. “Sorry.” I feel cool air on my knee and look down to see him blowing on it. “Keep talking.”

  “Right, so this is going to sound crazy.” He fights a smile. “Your folders attacked me.” Devin looks over at the folders then back to me. “I might need a lawyer.”

  “You might.” He opens a big Band-Aid and puts it over my knee. Then he knocks all the air out of my lungs when he kisses it. “I’ll get you a good one. I know a few, but I think I’ll need the whole story first and then we can work out the timeline.”
r />   He sits down on the sofa again, and I take a seat next to him. Thankfully he’s not mad about the folders, so I spill and tell him everything.

  “That was sweet of you. I didn't actually need the folders, so no harm done.”

  “Oh.” I look back over to the ruined documents.

  “In fact I could have printed them at my office but—” He shrugs.

  “But what?” I think I know the answer, but I want to hear him say it.

  “I needed a reason to see you.”

  I bite my lip as I look at him. “I wanted to see you too.” He’s so damn handsome and I can see his dimple again. “I’ve been wondering about you since that first night I stayed here.”

  “I hope I lived up to what you pictured.”

  “So far you exceeded anything I could have dreamed up,” I admit.

  “So far?” He reaches out and touches the ends of my hair. “Are there other things you’ve been dreaming about that we haven't done yet?” I swallow.

  “You have no idea.”

  His hand slides up the outside of my thighs and to my hip. “Let’s see if I can guess,” he says before he comes closer.

  I can feel my heartbeat in my throat as he closes the distance between us and kisses me again. This time the kiss isn't soft and tentative. Instead it's filled with a promise of what’s to come.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Devin

  I can’t remember the last time I kissed someone, and it was never like this. I want to feel her everywhere and touch every inch of her body, but yet I could keep only kissing her and that would be enough.

  Somehow, we ended up lying on the couch on our sides, facing each other. Her leg is up and over my waist while I’ve got my arms around her and I’m holding her close to me. It’s innocent, yet what we’re doing is anything but that. There’s so much heat between us and passion like I’ve never felt. Who is this woman and how is she doing this to me?