The last thing I should be doing is checking him out. Sleeping with a neighbor would only cause trouble. Maybe it’d scratch an itch, but then what? There’s no way we could avoid one another after.
I’m trying not to notice how good his ass looks when he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a rectangular pack.
Is that…?
He smacks it against the heel of his hand, then pulls out…yep, it is. He pulls out a cigarette, then slips the box back into his pocket. He holds the cigarette between his fingers for a few seconds, examining it like he’s contemplating something. Eventually, he clamps his lips around one end and cups his hands around the other, lighting it.
With a sigh I can hear from here, he turns and leans against the railing, ankles crossed. He bows his head, his shoulders rounded in a way that makes him look sad, weary.
That’s when he lifts his head and his eyes meet mine.
Fuck.
I’ve been caught.
And in a bad way. It’s not like he just looked over and saw me. No, he caught me staring.
Kill me now.
A slow smile spreads across his face as he carefully pulls the cigarette from between his lips and waves.
I lift my hand in silent greeting, and when he starts down his porch steps, I curse myself. With each step hetakes across the lawn, my heart hammers, and when he steps across the space where one entire fence panel is missing, my cheeks heat.
“Hey,” he says in that deep timbre, sending a shiver down my spine.
I seriously need to get laid. It’s been months. My last encounter was the opposite of memorable, clearly, or I’d remember how long it’s been.
“I haven’t seen you around,” I blurt out like an idiot. Dammit. Now he knows I’ve been paying attention.
He takes another drag from his cigarette before tossing it to the ground and toeing it out in my grass. Before I can crack a joke about littering, he stoops and picks up the butt, then stuffs it into the pocket of his jeans.
“You wouldn’t have. I work in Boston, and I stay there when I’m particularly busy.”
“What do you do?” I point to the chair beside me. “It’s not comfortable, but you can sit.”
With a dip of his chin, he sits. As he settles, his scent washes over me. I have to hold my breath because, damn, he smells good, even with the hint of the cigarette still clinging to his white cotton shirt. His hair is damp, making me think the delicious scent is from his body wash.
“I’m an attorney.” He leans back, the chair creaking beneath his weight.
“Ah,” I breathe out. “I should’ve known.”
Chuckling, he drums his fingers on the arms of the chair. “Why is that?”
“You have that look about you. Lawyer, doctor, architect, finance. Something big and important.”
He cracks a grin, rubbing his fingers along the stubble lining his jaw. “You think I’m big and important?”
I roll my eyes. “I said you have thelook.” We’re quiet for a long moment, my cheeks heating and his attention fixed on me. Eventually, I work up the nerve to ask, “What kind of attorney are you?”
“Family law.” A haunted look crosses his face.
“Tough case?” I pick up my can of soda and take a long swallow. After the day I’ve had—my first at the coffee shop, then coming home to find the house a disaster—I probably need something stronger, but I refuse to touch alcohol. I’ve seen the worst side of it. I’ve seen how easy it is to move on to harder stuff. And I won’t risk it.
“You have no idea.” He lets out a weary sigh. One that sounds a lot like the noise my neighbor used to make. Back when he’d tell me to enjoy being a kid while I could, because adulthood sucked. He’d sit out on his stoop, sighing over everything. I never told him, but even back then, I was long past feeling like a kid. The minute I stepped into the house, I’d be responsible for taking care of my mom and my brothers. That’s why I sat outside talking to him so often. “That’s the reason for the cigarette. I only smoke when I’m feeling particularly troubled.”
“You want to talk about it?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Just a hard case is all. Reunification is typically what we hope for, but in this situation, I don’t believe that’s what’s best for the kids. It’s hard. I have a feeling they’ll be back in the system again.”
