Free The Neighbor #2 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #2) by Claire Adams

she did not smell like booze.
    “Fantastic Mom. I wish I had time to chat but I came back this way to see Sayler. I will be
late so don’t wait up for me. Who knows, I may crash at her place,” I said.
    I retreated to my old room and rummaged through my
closet. Ryder was used to seeing me in jeans so I was going to change it up. I
pulled out a casual black dress. I had forgotten that I had it. It was simple,
classy and as comfortable as a t-shirt.
    I took a long warm shower and layered on some
lily-of-the-valley body balm and scented oil. I blew my hair dry and threw on
some silver jewelry. I was satisfied with my reflection in the mirror
    After bidding my mom good-bye, I hopped in my car
and parked it next door in Ryder’s driveway, which was behind a hedge. I didn’t
know why I continued to lie to my mother. I thought the story was long and I
didn’t have the time.
    ****
    I knocked on Ryder’s door. The butterflies in my
stomach were throwing a party. He opened the door.
    “You made it.” Ryder smiled and kissed my lips. “You
look stunning.”
    Ryder was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a
black t-shirt. I was way overdressed compared to him.
    “You look great too. Have you been working out?”
    “Yoga and meditation. It really helps with…all sorts of stuff. If you ever have the time, I will show
you what works for me. It is an individual pursuit but it helps to have someone
lead you down the path.”
    I kicked off my sandals and headed for the kitchen.
    “Make yourself at home,” Ryder
said jokingly.
    I laughed. “I will.”
    “I got pizza with green peppers, chicken and
pineapple. Did I choose okay?” Ryder cornered me in the kitchen and squeezed my
arm muscles. He wanted to check on my work-out progress I’m sure. That’s what I
told myself anyways.
    “Actually, no.”
    “No I can’t touch you or no you don’t like the
pizza?” he asked.
    “I hate green peppers. I went to Philly once and had
a cheese steak with green peppers. I drank too much and puked my guts out.
Sayler was with me and she almost took me to the ER. Since then I can’t eat
green peppers.”
    “That’s an easy fix. I will just pick them off for
you. And what about the touching?”
    “That is a yes, only if I can touch you back,” I
said and Ryder smiled.
    “I will pick out a movie,” Ryder said.
    “No you won’t. We will choose a movie.”
    “My house, my way.”
    “Ryder, I am the guest. Guests get to choose.”
    “We’ll see,” he responded.
    We ate pizza. Ryder nibbled off my green peppers.
    “I feel like we are an old married couple. We’re barefoot
in my kitchen. It feels right.”
    The word couple surprised me and the word married
shocked me.
    “Ryder, you just said a word that confuses me. Only
one of us is old here.”
    “Ouch, you know how to hit a guy where it hurts.”
    We went to the media room and we both went for the
clicker.
    “Ah, my pick, remember.” I grabbed the channel
changer from his grasp.
    “Only for you J.”
    “J?” I asked while raising an eyebrow.
    “Just trying it out. Now pick a movie.”
    I clicked through the movies and arrived at a
romantic comedy we could both enjoy. It had a holiday theme but it also had a
bit of everything. I pressed play and we started to watch Love Actually.
    We reclined on the large cushiony couch only
occupying a small portion. I curled my body into his. We moved as if we had
been in the same position before. I never would have imagined that we would
have come so far. The same hand that I pricked with my toothpick at the country
club was touching me. He ran his finger along the curve of my body. He paused
when his hand reached my breast and with a feather touch he traced my nipples.
Eventually, warmed by his body and lulled by the cadence of his breathing I
closed my eyes.
    I woke up, forgetting where I was for a moment. I
was relieved to find out that I wasn’t dreaming. I was in Ryder’s arms. I
slowly released my body from his. I lifted