“Becky Foster is spending the summer in California with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. He has a house on the beach. And Callie’s dad just got a whole new wife. You’re way handsomer and you have no one!”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, Dad, but it’s true. Viviana is really pretty and she’s cool too.” That’s my kid, nothing subtle about her.
* * *
“I hear you got a new neighbor.” My best friend, hell, my only friend, Zeke Riley, sat with me on the back porch while Norah ran around chasing butterflies.
“Norah?” He nodded with a mischievous smile. “Said she was real pretty too. Pretty enough to make you mad, and you know that’s a kind of pretty I’ve gotta see.”
“No, you don’t,” I growled at him, feeling possessive when I had no cause. With Norah talking about Vivi nonstop, I couldn’t forget all those curves and that silky creamy skin she didn’t seem to mind showing off. “She’s my neighbor.”
“And a saint, or a nun?”
“I’m not sure, maybe a combination of both since she never turns Norah away. Yesterday, I came out of the workshop at nine and she wasn’t home. They were having a “writing session” if you can believe it.”
The laughter shining in his brown eyes said he couldn’t believe it either. “What was Norah writing?”
“A play.” The disbelief still hadn’t left my voice because that’s what I felt. “She wants to be a playwright. Like Shakespeare. Why me?”
“To be fair, she could want to be a porn star, or something dangerous, like chase serial killers.”
“You always go so dark so fast.” I shook my head and he just shrugged.
“I call it putting things into perspective. She’s got a mentor, that’s a good thing since your dumb ass can’t help her with this kind of stuff.” As usual, Zeke made a good point, which is why I ignored the dumb ass comment.
“I just can’t figure it out, I mean why is she so cool with letting a kid hang out with her?” I’d met more than my share of women who feigned interest in Norah just to get close to me, but I didn’t get that vibe from Viviana. Nanette couldn’t be bothered to stick around, and she’d given birth to Norah. So I had a hard time understanding what motivated Vivi. “I know her. Well, I used to know her, but that was a long time ago.”
“You’re too suspicious, bro. Maybe she’s lonely and just likes having someone to talk to for a little bit.”
Maybe, but I wasn’t convinced. Not yet, anyway. She barely spoke to me when I went to pick up Norah, and she definitely hadn’t made any overtures for sex or a date. “I don’t know, Zeke.”
“What’s to know? Your daughter made a friend, who you used to be friends with, and you’re attracted to her. Big deal.”
He was right. It wasn’t a big deal. Viviana and I were friends once, and there was no reason we couldn’t be friends again. “Exactly. It was just a momentary freak out, that’s all. We can be friends, and you’re right, maybe it’ll be good for Norah to have a woman to hang out with sometimes.” She wasn’t even out of diapers yet when Nanette left me a note saying she wasn’t cut out for motherhood, so she might appreciate someone who could paint nails and play dress up. “It’ll be good.”
“Who’re you trying to convince, me or you?”
That was a good question, and one I had no answer for at the moment. All I had to do was keep things casual. Make sure not to send out any vibes of any kind, and we would be fine. We’d all be fine.
Absolutely fine.
* * *
Vivi & Nash’s story continues here!
About the Author
Piper Sullivan is an old school romantic who enjoys reading romantic stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
She spends her time day-dreaming of dashing heroes and the feisty women they love.
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Also by Piper Sullivan
Accidentally Hitched: An Accidental Marriage Romance
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games Book 1)
Sinful Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games Book 2)
Naughty Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games 3)
Fake Fiancé Next Door: A Small Town Romance
Knocked Up By My Best Friend:A Friends to Lovers Romance
Stranded: A Mountain Man Romance
Cowboy's Fake Fiancée: A Single Dad & A Virgin Romance
Cowboy's Barmaid: A Small Town Military Romance
Seal's Professor: A Military Roommate Romance
Nanny’s Fake Fiancé: A Single Dad Romance
Dr. Daddy Next Door: A Single Dad & A Virgin Romance
Dating the Doctor: A Single Dad Romance
Seal'd to Her: A Second Chance Military Romance
Safeguarded: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance
Boxsets & Collections
Single Dad Kisses: A Collection
Nanny Down Under: A Single Dad & Nanny Box Set
The Takeover Boxset
Accidentally Wed: An Accidental Marriage Romance Page 16
