Free More Than Neighbors by Isabel Keats

game.”
    Frustrated old bachelor! The little minx sure knew how to hit a nerve. “I’m no singleton, much less a frustrated one!” he countered pathetically.
    “Of course you’re not, Leo. I didn’t mean to offend you, it was just an innocent comment.” She attempted to appease him, as if he were a small child.
    Angry, he pushed his chair back and stood. “You’re beginning to seriously annoy me,” he warned.
    “Ooh, I’m scared!” Cat began to clear away the chess set.
    “You should be.” He deftly grabbed one of her arms and swiveled her toward him.
    “All right, I’m terrified.” She opened her eyes wide in feigned dread.
    “You simply don’t know when to shut up, do you, Catalina?”
    “Actually,” she began, but Leopold didn’t let her finish. His eyes flashing silver, he put his arm around her waist, lifted her chin with urgent fingers, and kissed her passionately. At first, she didn’t resist because she was so surprised, but then she suddenly felt as if red-hot lava was pumping through her veins and her lips parted. The kiss deepened. After a while, Leopold, suffering an intense inner struggle, broke away panting. She was glad he was still holding her because she was certain that, had he not been, her legs would have given way and she would have fainted to the floor like a Victorian damsel.
    “I’m sorry, Catalina, I don’t know what came over me.” Leopold was doing his best to control his breathing.
    Cat only half-listened to what he was saying, still caught in a daze. “That was rather ill-mannered,” she said, also trying to bring her heart rate down.
    “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” he apologized once more, pursing his lips.
    “Glad to hear it,” she remarked, though she wasn’t sure whether he was being serious. God! It had been a long time since a kiss had affected her so much.
    “I’ll leave now.”
    “Right.” When Leopold was at the door, she added, “Leopold Sinclair. You have dared to tempt fate once again.” He looked at her, confused, but Cat continued in the same booming tone, as if she were Cassandra herself prophesying the future. “I already told you that anyone who kisses me falls in love with me.”
    “Well, nothing of the sort happened last time.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
    “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she said solemnly.
    “Oh, I won’t. Good night, Catalina. I hope this doesn’t mean you won’t play chess with me anymore.”
    “I don’t know, Leo. Maybe we should wait a while before our next game. We have a friendship of sorts now, and I’d hate to spoil that.”
    “I understand.” He tried to hide his disappointment. “Good night, Catalina.”
    “Good night, Leo.”
     
    Back in his apartment, Leo decided to take a cold shower, since he could still feel the excitement of the kiss with his neighbor. He couldn’t understand what in the blazes had happened; all he knew was that he’d ruined everything. He was convinced that Catalina was nothing more than a friend—he liked knowing that when he returned home he could pay her a visit and play a game of chess. Sometimes, while he was away on business, he found himself feeling anxious to get back home and spend time chatting with her. He’d never had that kind of relationship with a woman before; it was a bit like talking to Harry, though he’d never felt the same pleasure looking at his friend’s face as he did when he admired Catalina’s delicate features.
    He remembered with surprise how hard it had been to separate himself from her. For a few very, very long minutes, he had only been able to think of how much he would have liked to lift her and carry her to the nearest bed, to stroke her long legs and the silky skin of her neck, to run his fingers through her gleaming hair . . . He shook his head, trying to banish those thoughts, and turned down the water temperature even more.
    It wasn’t that he was attracted to his neighbor. Goodness,