Free Loving My Neighbor by C.M. Steele

but there’s a storm coming so we can’t head out anywhere like we planned. I’ve got to get some work done today, but you can sit in my office while I do it if you’d like.” He looks like he’s worried I’m going to be disappointed.
    “I need to call my father back.”
    “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he suggests.
    I find his comment strange, but maybe my lack of enthusiasm is a giveaway to my real feelings. It’s not as if my sentiments toward him and his brood have ever been hidden. I know my brothers aren’t to blame, but I can’t get past my hatred for her. “What makes you say that?”
    “Babe, you don’t sound happy about talking to him.” So my feelings are visible. I don’t want to tell Trent about my father’s intentions for him and me. If I do, I’m afraid he’ll think I’m playing him, but I need to do it.
    “Trent, do you think this would’ve happened between us if my place didn’t blow up?”
    “I don’t think, Bunny; I know.”
    “But…”
    “No buts. The only thing that could have changed what’s happening with us was if you hadn’t gone outside yesterday, and that’s something I don’t even want to consider. I wanted you from the first moment I saw you in the street. There wasn’t anything I wasn’t willing to do to make you mine.”
    “I’m just so confused right now, Trent.”
    “Look, Lily, I get that your whole damn world has been upended in the last day, but so has mine. I’ve been living a life of solitude and loving every minute of it. The moment I met you made that life seem empty and lonely. I finally understand my uncle.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He told me I was wasting my life. It took him forty-five years to find the love of his life. Had he been looking, he may have found her sooner, but once he met her, everything else didn’t matter. Work felt less important. Making her happy became his mission.” He takes a bite of his eggs while I just sit there looking at how his mouth moves. Thoughts of it moving in other places has me hot and bothered. Losing myself to my dirty thoughts, I almost miss what he’s saying. “I want you like that. Before I first noticed you, I worked six days even on occasion seven and never less than ten hours. I left, for the first time, after two hours because of my little snow bunny.”
    “Thank you, Trent.”
    “No, thank you, Lily.”
    “There’s something I need to tell you. I don’t want you to be mad at me, but I need to get this out.” His face changes and instead of anger, I see hurt and fear.”
    “Go on,” he urges.
    “The night I came over, I was doing it on my father’s behalf. I thought it was to being friendly but when I came back so soon, he was angry with me.”
    “Why?” Suddenly his hurt face changes into a scowl.     
    “Because he hoped that you’d be interested in me and maybe he could get you to do business with him if I was a bonus.”
    “What? Are you telling me that he sent you to seduce me?” She shook her head.
    “But I didn’t know that when I came here…” His fury is scaring me and I scoot my chair back.
    “Don’t you dare get up. I’m not mad at you. It’s him I’d like to deck. He sent his daughter over like a prostitute for a business deal. His behavior sickens me. Now I’m glad I didn’t drag you in here that night. I’d hate to have any doubt that you gave yourself to me for business.”
    “I wouldn’t do something like that and I told him so. He threatened me. When they left me yesterday, I had just told him unequivocally that I wouldn’t sleep with you for him.”
    “That’s good to know, Bunny. I’ve been a target for greedy people.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “I’m pissed, but not at you. I’d be angry at you if you’d kept that from me. When I spoke to him earlier, I didn’t like him, but I would’ve been civil for you. Not anymore. I can’t believe he sent you just to land a business deal. Did he