I jumped at the male voice right behind me and dropped my coffee.The plastic container hit the dock.The lid popped off.Coffee splashed all over my feet, thankfully not burning, but it definitely didn’t feel good.
I glared at the jerk who snuck up on me.He was… Well, he was hot.He was also scowling at me.His arms were crossed over his wide chest, showcasing corded forearms.His feet were set wide, a stable stance on the dock as it rocked gently.His dark hair had streaks of silver at his temples that danced their way through his short beard.
“This is private property.You can’t be here.You need to leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“That dock is not public.I own it, and you’re trespassing.I don’t know where you came from, but you don’t belong here.”
I scoffed.How dare he?He doesn’t know me.And he will not tell me where I belong.
Two
Josh
I checkedthe time as I rolled out of bed.Thirty minutes until I needed to wake Evie up.Enough time to get dressed and have my first cup of coffee.I needed it after spending half the night trying to figure out what was wrong with my damn dryer.Crunchy jeans were a pain in the ass.Literally.But thankfully it started working again late last night.With any luck, whatever was wrong was just a fluke.
I pulled on my clothes for the day, stretching to soften the jeans I left out to air-dry overnight.My knees popped.I stretched one out and noticed movement outside the window.
It was early for my neighbor to be up.She didn’t seem like a morning person.
Nope.The woman outside was definitely not my neighbor.She was brunette instead of blonde like Ashlyn.Not how I wanted to start my day.
I stormed outside, heading straight for my dock.I was a nice enough guy that I let Ashlyn use it, but it wasn’t public fucking property.On the Bay, people respected that.But this woman definitely didn’t live here.And she didn’t belong on my property.
“Who are you?”I barked as I approached the brunette on the dock.
She startled, dropping her coffee and spinning to face me.Big brown eyes stared up at me.
I felt a little bad, but I would not let a pretty face and tempting curves make me forget the most important thing in my life.I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping I looked intimidating enough for her to get the hell off my property.
She didn’t say a thing.
“This is private property.You can’t be here.You need to leave.”
That got her attention.“Excuse me?”
I pointed to where she stood, hoping she’d finally take the damn hint.“That dock is not public.I own it, and you’re trespassing.I don’t know where you came from, but you don’t belong here.”
She scoffed at me.One hand went to a wide hip.
Fucking hell, I needed to get a damn grip.This woman was testing my resolve.My dick rose at the attitude she tossed out.And the curves.And every-damn-thing about her.I liked a woman with fire.
Too bad I’d been burned.
“Please get off my dock and go back to wherever you’re staying.Don’t come back here.”
She didn’t look dangerous, but I couldn’t trust a trespasser to stop at one minor crime.Evie was sleeping.
A cold sweat ran down my back as I realized this woman could have an accomplice.Evie was in the house alone.Sleeping.Someone could sneak in and hurt her.Someone could?—
“Screw you,” the woman said.She bent to pick up her empty coffee cup, then brushed past me.She started up the hill.
“Where are you going?”
She spun on me, taking another step toward me and getting in my face.As much as she could with the four inches of height between us.“You said to leave, and now you want to know why I’m leaving?What the hell is wrong with you?I’m going to my friend’s house.I don’t know who the hell you are, but you don’t own this whole Bay.”
I stared her down for a minute, watching the golden swirls in her brown eyes.The urge to kiss her was strong, but nope.Not going there.Whoever her friend was needed to tell her she couldn’t just wander onto private property.
