“You’re welcome.”
Now, I head back home and toward a new life.
Chapter 11
Seth
Ipullthecasseroledish from the fridge and set it aside. Then I pull down two coffee mugs and pour some hot brew into each. I stir sugar into both and add a splash of cream to my mug.
My heart skips a beat when Leo wraps his arms around me from behind and presses a kiss to my neck. I smile at the sweetness and affection. God, I really miss this.
“Morning,” he says.
“Morning.”
He reaches around me, grabs his coffee, and moves to lean against the counter, staring at the casserole. Leo looks sexily wrecked with morning hair sticking up everywhere and smelling of sleep.
“A little early for lunch, isn’t it? Unfortunately, I can’t stay.”
“It’s for my neighbor.”
Leo raises a brow at me and frowns. “For what? I thought you couldn’t stand him.”
Admittedly, when we got together again after our first date, I complained a lot about Calvin, much to Leo’s amusement. It’s not that I can’t stand him; I just find him rude and annoying. But it took only a day to see that there’s more to Calvin beyond his snark. He’s surprisingly open to vulnerability. I hadn’t expected that. And he seemed genuine when he apologized. Maybe I shouldn’t forgive so easily, especially aftermy ex walked all over me. Still, Calvin was desperate for guidance, and Braeden needed it too. He was also grateful for my help. How can I stay mad at him after all that?
“Well, the situation has changed.”
He sits up taller and puts his mug on the counter. “Oh? How so?”
Why is he frowning so hard? “Calvin’s been named the guardian of a teenager. His friends died, and they put him in their will to take care of their son. Needless to say, he’s freaking out and clueless on how to take care of kids. Since I have children, he came to me for help. Asking for help from someone with whom you don’t get along is… brave.”
“Didn’t you say he’s a slut, always bringing men home?”
I don’t know why I bristle, even though it was my fault for telling Leo that. It wasn’t my business in the first place. Sure, Calvin sleeps around, but it’s his life. It kind of annoyed me when it shouldn’t have, probably because Calvin had taunted me so much, and his activities gave me grounds to dislike him even more. It wasn’t fair of me.
“I would never call anyone such a thing. Anyway, I thought I’d help out with some food. It’s no big deal.”
“Can’t he cook for himself?”
“I’m sure he can. It’s called being a good neighbor.”
“You have enough to do. Let him figure it out. You don’t always have to be a people pleaser.”
I huff and face Leo. Is he jealous right now? “What do you care if I give my neighbor a casserole? Besides, kindness doesn’t make me a people pleaser.”
He smiles brightly and wraps his arms around me. “I don’t care. Sorry. I’m just being jealous because I want you all to myself.” Warm lips gently press against my throat, and his hands move down my ass, fingers slipping into the band of my sweats, stirring the blood in me. Embarrassing. I shouldn’t get hard so easily, but it’s nice to be touchedagain. Despite my face heating, I smile at his attention. Maybe a little jealousy isn’t so bad. I like being desired. It’s kind of nice.
I pat his bare chest and give him a brief kiss. “We barely know each other,” I tease.
Leo yanks me closer to him so I can feel his hard cock against mine, and nibbles my chin. It makes me even harder. “I’m drawn to you. I can’t help it.”
“I have to admit, it’s nice to be wanted.”
“Don’t you want me back?” he says, feigning a pout that makes me laugh.
“I do want you back.”
He lets go and chugs back the rest of his coffee. “As much as I’d like to have you again and again, I’d better run. Colby will be over soon.”
