Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
I glance at the card in her hand, taking a few steps closer before snatching it from her hold. It’s a five-hundred-dollar gift card to Finn’s café.
“He must have slid it under our door before I got home. Here’s the note.” She hands it to me.
Anna,
Thanks for hosting the book club. It was the most donnish experience I have enjoyed in a long time. Think of this as a hostess gift. Regards, Eric
“He’s hot and generous.” Freya fans herself.
“He’s obnoxious.”
And sweet.
And funny.
And sexy.
And a bunch of other annoying things.
“No. You don’t get to be pouty because he was critical of your book pick. He’s one person. Everyone hated my book pick, and you didn’t see me unfriending anyone because of it. I think you’re pissed because you’re attracted to him. And now that he doesn’t share your taste in books, you can’t imagine riding his enormous cock. Your disappointment is understandable, but don’t let it impede a good thing.”
I laugh and shake my head while she animatedly makes her case by stroking her imaginary dick.
“You don’t know that his cock is big. And my attraction to him doesn’t matter because I’m not getting involved with someone who lives in my building. And … I don’t care that he has terrible taste in books. I don’t. Really … whatever. I’m over it.”
“Good idea. Get over it and then get under him.”
I scrunch my nose. “You get under him.”
“I’m engaged.”
I grab a bag of popcorn from the cabinet next to the fridge and toss it into the microwave. “You’re engaged to a man you’ve never met. And he keeps making excuses for not moving here. Seriously … will you have an online wedding and consummate your marriage with a string of dirty texts or via video chatting?”
“I’m so disappointed in you.” She tips up her chin. “I thought you were more of a romantic than that. A cheerleader for the underdogs.”
I hand her the gift card. “I’m your biggest cheerleader. When your Latino lover arrives … coffee is on me.”
She smirks, picking up the gift card and sliding it into her pocket. “I did provide the wine.”
CHAPTER FOUR
I make it a week without seeing my new neighbor. Granted … I’ve had to find a new place to get coffee, and avoiding him near the bike racks has been total luck.
“Hot guy alert.” Kenzie pops her head into the back office of the bouldering gym as I work on the employee newsletter.
I crane to see past her before jerking back into a hunched position. My luck just ran out. “He’s my new neighbor, and don’t tell him I’m here.”
She laughs. “Too late. He already asked for you.”
“I’m busy.”
“He wants to hire you to spot him.”
“What?” My nose wrinkles while I focus on the computer screen.
“You know … make sure he doesn’t get injured if he falls.”
“I know what it means. We don’t do that. You only spot when you’re outdoor climbing.”
“Fine. I’ll tell him that you don’t want to do it. Is that what you want me to tell the hot guy?”
“Um … yes.” I squint at her. What’s her deal?
She grumbles and pivots. A few seconds later, she returns. “Dude! He’s offered to pay a thousand dollars an hour for you to spot him.”
“The answer is still no.” I continue typing.
“If I tell Linda you said no to the gym making a thousand dollars an hour to spot him, she will fire you.”
My gaze slides to the side, burning a massive hole into Kenzie’s forehead. Linda would not fire me. She knows the safety concerns and his ridiculousness in asking for that service. He could crush me, and it’s not like he’s bouldering outside where he can miss the crash pad and crack open his head on a jagged piece of granite.
“You heard her say we fell short of our membership renewal goal last month.”
The answer is still no, but Kenzie’s having a brain fart and can’t see she’s being played.
“Spoiled…” I shut my computer “…little…” I shove the desk chair back “…rich kid.” I stand, balling my hands.
Kenzie bites her lips together. “He seems nice. And hot. Did you not focus on his body or that smile? Or the hair?”
He hates my favorite book, and I bet he hates kittens and puppies, too—a total monster.
“Eric.” I don’t offer so much as a twitch of my lips that could be mistaken for a smile.
“Hey, neighbor.” He glances up from the waiver form on the tablet before him.
“Hi, neighbor,” I say through my teeth. “Spotters aren’t used for indoor climbing. Your assumption that we would do that is sophomoric at best.”
His finger continues to tap the tablet screen. “I have a thousand dollars … maybe even two … that says you’re spotting me today.”
Kenzie’s gaze ping-pongs between us, and I give her a nod to do something else.