Free Loving My Neighbor by C.M. Steele Page A

have something he needed backing on?”
    “I don’t know; I can’t tell you what he even does for a living. I don’t know what you do either.”
    “I own an investment company. I spend all day crunching numbers and overseeing my several managers. I’ve only been doing this since my uncle brought me in six years ago.”
    “What were you doing before this? Going to college?”
    “Ha. No. I was lucky to find a job. I finished high school then started working as a carpenter. I didn’t always have money. Bunny, tell me more about you.”
    “More? All you know about me is how I like to come.” He has a shit-eating grin and gives me a shrug, so I just shake my head at him. “I grew up with money. For the first twelve years of my life, I was treated like a princess. Then my father changed everything. He’d been having an affair with our maid. My mother found out and was heartbroken. The last time I saw her, she had dropped me off at school and was on her way to meet her lawyer. They were getting a divorce. She never made it to pick me up that day. My father was called to come get me up when she didn’t come. Then we learned that she’d been robbed and killed on her way to meet with her lawyer. They never found the man who did it.” My tears begin to fall. Trent’s up on his feet and around the table before I know it and pulls me up and into his arms.
    “I’m sorry, Lily.” As he consoles me, a bit of the pain that’s been haunting me starts easing. Something about him makes me feel loved. It may be wishful thinking because we hardly know each other, but I think he loves me. I shake off that crazy notion and lightly push it away because I don’t want to think about the fact that my feelings for him are stronger than his for me.
    “Thanks, Trent. I’m okay. Just talking about it gets to me, but you listening helps.”
    “It’s fine. I don’t like to see you cry, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll hold you when you do.” His words only solidify that crazy notion again. “Do you go to see her grave?”
    “I go on her birthday and mine,” I admit.
    “Your birthday?” I see his confusion in his eyes because birthdays are supposed to be happy days.
    “Yes, that’s the day she died.”
    ~~~~
    Fuck. I didn’t mean to upset her. The moment she said her mom died on her way to her lawyer, I knew her bastard father had something to do with it. I’m going to look into it because I want to give my woman some closure. I tip her chin and kiss her lightly. “I’m sorry, Bunny. We’ll make your birthday special.”
    “You already did,” she whispers. Is her birthday today? What a coincidence.
    “Is your birthday today?” I’m grinning like a fool. I get to spend the day loving and worshipping her.
    “No, it was yesterday.” Her words strike me and, immediately, hatred fills me up. He had to be involved. I don’t want to upset her so I just hug her; meanwhile, my mind is sorting out the details. Duke and I are going to have a talk. I think I may have to fly up to Seattle.
    “Happy belated birthday, Lily. I wish you would’ve told me yesterday, though. We’re going to have to celebrate.”
    “I don’t like to bring it up. I haven’t celebrated it since that day.”
    “Well, that’s changing. I get that you’re sad about her death, but we can celebrate your life and hers.”
    “Trent, what do you have in mind?” she asks with a sincere smile.
    “I don’t really know. For today, I’m going to make you a wonderful dinner. My maid just stocked up the fridge the other day. Then tomorrow, we can go out and make a day of it. There’s a movie that we can go see after shopping.”
    Her attitude and expression changed abruptly. Then she drolly says, “That sounds nice. I still have money in my bank accounts. I just need to get…” I put my hand to her mouth. There’s no need for her to spend a dime on herself. That’s my job, but I’m curious what changed her smile to a look of sadness.
    “I