Free Dirty Neighbor (The Dirty Suburbs) by Cassie-Ann L. Miller Page A

start ovulating.” His deep, gruff laugh fills the bustling gym. It’s barely 6 a.m. but since this is one of only two gyms in Reyfield, it’s already really busy.
     
    I swat the disgusting towel away mid-air. Daniel wants to downplay the importance of the role he played in getting me out of jail and helping me get back on my feet, but I’m serious about how much I appreciate his friendship. “Look – I just want to make sure you know that I’m real grateful for you. I made a big mistake. I trusted the wrong person and she betrayed me. And I paid the price. But it’s good to know that you had my back, man. Helps me keep a little bit of faith in humanity.”
     
    Daniel nods solemnly, pounding a fist against his chest in a show of solidarity.
     
    He twists the cap of his water bottle back and forth as I do a few curls in silence. Then, he looks at me. “So, how are you liking the house, by the way? Is my sister giving you a hard time over there?”
     
    I fumble with the weight at the mention Sammie. “I’m enjoying the house. And Sammie’s been great.”
     
    He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Sammie’s been great? I thought she hated you.”
     
    I clear my throat and lean over to the rack beside me to pick up a heavier dumbbell. “Nah, she’s cool.” I hesitate before giving him this next piece of information. “Actually, she’s been helping me with my accounting.”
     
    Daniel wears an incredulous expression. “She’s been helping you? As I said, I thought she hated you.”
     
    I lift my shoulder. “She needed some extra money and I needed bookkeeping services.”
     
    I feel guilty about neglecting to give Daniel the full picture. But I know that he would smash my face in with a dumbbell if he knew about the sexy show that his sister put on for me in front of her bedroom window the other night or that she’s all I think about when I jerk off each morning.
     
    Daniel coughs out a laugh. “Well, stranger things have happened, I guess. But I’ve got to say that I’m surprised.” He looks thoughtful for a moment. “Did you tell her about your time in jail?”
     
    My insides tighten at the question. “No. It’s not something that I just broadcast to everyone. And Sammie and I aren’t actually sitting around, braiding each other’s hair and confessing our deepest secrets to each other. She’s really professional about her work.”
     
    He nods in understanding. “Right.” Amusement pops into his eyes. “Yeah – the one good thing about hanging out with my boring sister is that she’s sure to keep you out of trouble.” He chuckles to himself as his gaze moves to the clock hanging above the door. “Shit. Look at the time. I’ve gotta get going, man.”
     
    “Yeah. Me, too.” I grab my towel and follow him to the locker room, my heart pounding the whole way.
     
    Daniel has no idea that his goody-two-shoes, little sister is a world of trouble just waiting to happen.
     
     

Chapter 17

     
     
    The sodden lawn slops under my boots as I track up the back steps. I peek into the kitchen window and see Sammie at the table, hard at work. She’s wearing a floral blouse and navy blue slacks. Her hair is pinned up, away from her face and she has on those nerdy glasses that make her look super smart.
     
    She was serious about treating this gig professionally.
     
    I’m no psychologist but the girl has a serious type A personality. Organizing receipts and creating spreadsheets seem to be her aphrodisiac. The way she slides her tongue across her lips as she concentrates on the documents in front of her, it’s foreplay and she doesn’t even know it.
     
    And who am I to get in the way of her bliss? Hell, that’s why I’m here to bring her yet another box of receipts.
     
    “Knock, knock,” I say as I push the sliding door open and kick off my boots on the mat. She glances up at me and she almost smiles. Almost.
     
    We’re making progress.
     
    She holds up an index finger and glances