by Jessa Russo
I rinsed my face and brushed my teeth, trying to splash some life into my tired eyes, then headed back out to the living room—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I groaned, then turned to face him. “Look, Ted, if this is going to work, we have to agree to a few things first.”
“Oh?” Ted asked, rolling the magazine in his hands and bringing his gaze to mine. He watched me with clear blue eyes, calculating. “Please, do tell.”
“If you want me to get inside the house, you have to let me do things my way. And my way means not wasting any time. Girls like a chase, but you have to actually let them see the prize first.”
“Aha,” Ted said, his lips curving into a smile. “This one isn’t like my girl, Tobias. I truly don’t think your usual pretty boy charm will work on her.”
Again, I got the impression he knew more than he let on, but I rolled my eyes and walked out the door. It was time I introduced myself to the new neighbor.
Eleanor. Who named their kids Eleanor these days anyway? I had a great-Aunt named Eleanor, and she was a bit on the crazy side. I hoped this Eleanor wouldn’t be a total psycho.
I walked across our two yards, not bothering with the sidewalk, and made myself at home leaning back against a giant tree, arms crossed over my chest. Then I waited. I knew she’d come out. Hell, with the way she’d been gawking at me earlier, I was surprised she wasn’t outside already.
And then she was.
Bingo. That must be a new record. Only two minutes passed before she stood in front of me, eyes wide and—
Holy shit.
I tensed, every muscle in my body becoming rigid as recognition hit me.
No way. She looked just like . . . what the hell? I tilted my head to the side, analyzing her. The resemblance was uncanny. Her hair was hanging down her back, but some of it hung forward, long and black . . . and silky smooth over her chest. So much like Ariadne’s jet-black hair. But her eyes were nothing like the calculating yellow eyes I’d grown to despise during these past two years. This girl’s eyes were wide and brown, the color of milk chocolate; gentle orbs that reminded me of a baby deer—but in a good way. Innocent, naïve . . . there was nothing of Ariadne in those big brown eyes.
I fought to get my heart rate back down to a normal level.
Damn, Ari had really screwed me up something fierce.
Eleanor couldn’t keep her fingers out of her hair, and I loved it. She was nervous around me, and that was sexy. This assignment would be a piece of cake. As I looked her up and down, I realized it would also be fun. She was curvy in all the places Ariadne was firm. Soft in all the places Ariadne was lean. Again, I reminded myself she wasn’t Ariadne. The black hair had thrown me off. That was all.
And frankly, I needed to stop comparing everyone to Ariadne. That chick needed to get out of my head.
As my latest assignment looked me up and down, her cheeks flushed crimson, as if they had a mind of their own and knew she should be embarrassed. But her eyes . . . she couldn’t pull her gaze away. She began to reach out for me, tentatively, slowly . . . then she stopped, her hand extended in front of her. I leaned forward, my body acting of its own accord, as if—
As if I wanted her to touch me.
Shit.
Her eyes widened even more, and she dropped her hand to her side. I wanted to run my fingertips over her cheeks, see if they felt as hot as they looked. Or as soft.
Double shit.
“Hey,” I said, trying to halt my train of thought. What the hell is wrong with me
“Hey.” Her voice was soft, sweet—so innocent—and I grinned at the sound. Or maybe I just grinned at her. It was anyone’s guess. I wasn’t thinking very clearly all of the sudden.
“I’m Toby. I just moved in next door,” I said, gesturing to the house behind me.
“Yeah, cool.”
Yeah, cool? That’s it? I was pretty sure she’d been about to touch me a few seconds ago, and frankly, I wanted a little more enthusiasm from her. I smirked at the thought. What was she supposed to say? Can I jump your bones right here on my lawn? Doubtful.
But I couldn’t say I would have refused the request.
I cleared my throat. “And you are . . . ?” Not like I didn’t know. Though how anyone that looked like her could have a name like Eleanor, I had no idea. She should have a name like—
“Oh. Sorry. I’m Ever.”
Ever? Huh. That was . . . different. “Ever?” I asked. “Like, ‘forever and ever’?”
“Yep. Just like that. It’s a nickname.”
Her eyes widened again after she said the words, like she’d spilled some big secret and wished she could take it back. I found myself smiling again, and wanting to see how much rosier her cheeks could get. Something about that flush of crimson was seriously hot. Who knew blushing could be so sexy? I couldn’t help myself . . . I had to push her a bit further.
“Oh, yeah? That’s cool. What’s it short for?” I’m an asshole. But her cheeks did flare up brighter and I really, really liked the effect I had on her.
“My initials. E, V, V, R.”
“Four initials, huh?”
“Yeah, well, my last name is Van Ruysdael, so two for that.” She dropped her gaze to the ground, and I leaned forward to get a better view of her teeth gnawing on her full bottom lip.
“Cool . . . .” I was half tempted to tell her to calm down, and that I already knew she was named after someone’s crazy aunt—maybe she even had a crazy Aunt Eleanor—but I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t expose my cards so early in the game.
I was also half tempted to kiss her, but I didn’t do that either. Because what the hell? Frankly, I was a bit alarmed by the fact that I even wanted to. The last girl I gave two shits about had ruined my life. Literally. I had to stay focused and just get the job done. Hooking up with this chick would be a benefit to the assignment, but nothing more than a bonus. I just needed to stay focused . . . but a little fun never hurt anybody, right?
“So what do you do for fun around here, Ever?”
“Um.” Ever shrugged and looked at the ground again, clearly finding it difficult to hold my gaze. “I don’t know . . . there’s lots of stuff. The mall. The beach. Irvine Spectrum . . . .”
“Can I take you out sometime?”
With her eyes bulging out of her head, she ran her hands through her hair. Her cheeks flushed bright red again, and the color reached down her neck. I followed the trail of redness down to her chest, my gaze settling on the soft mounds spilling out of her shirt. She was far too built to be only seventeen. I wanted to see where that blushing ended. Please say yes.
“No,”—No?—”I have a boyfriend.”
I brought my gaze back up to her eyes. Well, fuck me sideways . . . that was . . . unexpected. I glanced to her window and thought I saw him there, lurking in the shadows. Yeah, I knew all about her imaginary boyfriend; I just didn’t think she’d actually turn me down. Apparently, there’s a first for everything, and dammit, Ted had been right about her being immune to me.
Well, that would have to be rectified, wouldn’t it?
“Huh. Really? Well, that’s a bummer.” That’s a bummer? Smooth.
She just stood there, staring at me and running her fingers through her hair, as if I was supposed to say something else. What? Did she want me to try to change her mind?
Sorry, sweetheart, Toby James doesn’t beg.
But I would try again tomorrow. Because I also didn’t give up that easily, and this was a job, not a dating show. It didn’t really matter how I got her to trust me, just that I did get her to trust me. I had all the time in the world. Well, not really, but I could already see she was at war with herself for turning me down. It wouldn’t take long for her to change her mind.
“See ya ‘round, Ever.”
I turned and headed back to my house, leaving her standing there dumbfounded.
Well, Eleanor, I’m a bit dumbfounded, too.
And disappointed.
Shit.
I’d slept terribly, so I barely recognized the handsome guy in my mirror the next morning. His blue eyes were ringed with gray and slightly puffy.
I’d tossed and turned all night. Was it the sting of rejection? Or the sting of rejection from her?
Adding salt to my already-wounded ego, I dreamt about her all damn night. Hot, sexy dreams, where I’d be kissing those rose-colored lips and then all of the sudden, bam! I’m kissing Ari again. Talk about being doused with ice-cold water. Not conducive to peaceful sleep. Any of it, really. Because as much as I didn’t want to see Ariadne in my dreams, I shouldn’t have been dreaming about the chick next door either. This was work. Nothing more. The fact that I wanted to kiss her so badly meant nothing but trouble.
Ted banged on my door bright and early, chipper as a Golden Retriever puppy with a brand new squeaky toy, because his muscles probably weren’t sore like mine were from moving all day, and he’d undoubtedly not been dreaming about kissing that crazy-ass daughter of his. Or the girl next door.
Shit. What was I going to do about that?
And why was I so anxious to see her again?
I showered—cold water, because I obviously needed a wakeup call—then pulled my faded Black Keys shirt on, shaking my hair out and scattering water droplets all over the ugly blue and plaid-lined walls. I grabbed yesterday’s jeans and stepped into them, threw my chucks on, then stood to face the mirror. My hair needed a cut, but I knew chicks loved it long, so I’d leave it for this job. My skin was still tan from the two months we’d just spent in the Arizona heat, and my blue eyes looked even darker against the tanned shade. My favorite band shirt fit snugly, and I appreciated the fact that my hard work was paying off—something that was visible through the worn fabric of the t-shirt.
I smiled at myself in the mirror—I’d try again today, and this time, Ever would say yes.
I left my room right as Ted called to me from the kitchen, so I slowed my pace. He could wait a little while longer. And I had something I had to do first, anyway—he’d be waiting a while.
“Ready?” he asked as I entered the small kitchen.
“Not hardly. I could use about seven more hours of sleep.”
“Aw, poor baby. We’ve got work to do.”
“Yeah, well, I have to do something first. I need an hour.”
“Oh? And what is it you have to do that’s more important than your job?”
I felt like growling at him. “I’m going to the florist. And before you say anything, it is for my job. Our latest assignment is going to take a little extra . . . persuading.”
Ted smirked, and I clenched my fists.
“Huh,” he said. “So the cocky ‘I’m Tobias James’ bit didn’t work on her?”
I curled my lip at him, wondering if I might actually growl soon. Possibly. Either that or hit him, and I really couldn’t do either thing. He’d done me a favor by bringing me here, especially after I’d dumped his psycho daughter. I kind of owed him.
Of course, not killing his psycho daughter after what she did to me should have made any debt go the opposite way, but whatever. I’d pay my dues and be on my way. One mark at a time.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” I said, not feeling like starting a verbal sparring match with Ted Stone this early in the morning.
“I’ll be here.”
I bit back a dozen smart-ass comments and headed out the door.
I Googled the nearest florist and followed my phone’s navigation system to get there. I’d lucked out and found one that specialized in weddings, but I still didn’t think I’d find what I was looking for.
Until I did.
I was shocked when I saw them mixed in with the other, more average flowers. I grabbed a handful and brought them to the counter.
The florist’s eyebrows rose as she noticed my selection. Yeah, yeah, I know. Not your average choice. Well, this wasn’t your average girl. What the hell? Had I really just thought that? I shook my head and the florist looked back at her cash register, ringing me up without a word.
I was glad to avoid the common question that every florist asked when I bought flowers.
‘Someone special?’
Yeah, obviously. The question annoyed the hell out of me every time. I kind of liked this lady for not asking.
I drove back to my new street, a funny feeling in my gut. Like, nerves or something. The feeling reminded me of middle school—I mean, that’s the last time I could remember being nervous around a chick. Which meant only bad things now. I was actually nervous. I told myself it was just because Ariadne had burned me so bad, screwing up my life—taking it from me, really—and scaring me off chicks forever. I was just jaded now, and even more so than before. That’s why I felt like I was going to hurl. It was nothing more than bad past experiences with evil chicks.
Yeah.
I knocked on the door, then had the ridiculous inclination to turn around and run. Get a grip, James!
After a few moments, I reached up to knock again, but the door opened, revealing—
Well, hello there, Mrs. Robinson. Ever’s mom was smoking hot. I pulled my gaze down her body, then back up again, and just about cussed out loud when I came to her eyes.
Goddamn yellow eyes. This was too weird. I’d only seen eyes that pale of green one other time. The urge to run returned, coursing through my veins, and I had to push it away to force my feet to remain where they were.
Mrs. Robinson smiled brightly, and I shook my head, shock still rendering me speechless. Ariadne must have really screwed me up if I was suddenly seeing her in every woman I met. You’re losing it, bro.
“Hi, can I help you?” She looked at the flowers in my hand and a small gasp escaped her mouth. She clamped her lips shut and tilted her head to the side. “Are you looking for Ever?”
I swallowed hard and willed myself to speak. This wasn’t Ariadne. Those eyes . . . Ever’s black hair . . . they were just creepy coincidences. Horrid coincidences, yes, but nothing more than that.
“Uh, yes, hi. I’m Toby. I just moved in with my um, my dad, next door. Is Ever home?”
“Toby. Hmm. She is, but she’s still asleep. She likes to take advantage of Saturday mornings.” Her grin widened as though we’d just shared a secret.
My secret was that I now pictured Ever sleeping, and my mind wandered to what she might be wearing. Did she sleep in those pink shorts she’d worn yesterday—the soft material stretching across her perfect hips—or did she sleep in something more daring? Something sexy in a completely different way?
Ever’s mom cleared her throat. “Toby? Are those for Ever?”
“Oh, sorry. Yes ma’am”—I also cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure; this awkward shit was so unlike me—”Would you mind giving them to her when she wakes up? And, let her know I came by?”
“Sure thing, Toby.”
I started to turn around; needing another cold shower to get my mind off what my new neighbor slept in, when her mom placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Toby?”
“Yes, ma’am?” I answered as I faced her again.
“Would you and your dad like to join us for dinner later? We’d love to welcome you to the neighborhood.”
Her question startled me, causing me to focus on the job once more. How was she inviting us over to dinner with him living here? Shouldn’t she be scared he’d show up and spook us? Unless . . . maybe, like so many people, she couldn’t or wouldn’t see the ghosts right in front of her.
And wow, could it possibly be this easy? Could I get in and get out without even having to date this girl who made me suddenly want to date?
“Oh, um, thank you, Mrs—”
“Van Ruysdael. Annabelle Van Ruysdael.”
“—Mrs. Van Ruysdael. We’ve got a lot of stuff to do today with moving and unpacking and all, but I’ll run home and check with my dad, if that’s all right?”
“Sure thing, Toby. Just come on back and let me know.”
“Will do. Oh, I almost forgot. These are for you.” I handed her the pastries I’d grabbed at the grocery store on my way back from the flower shop, then turned and strode back to the house.
Ted would be pleased—I’d gotten an invite inside already, and we hadn’t even been here an entire day.
“All set?” Ted asked as I walked in the front door.
Of course he was chomping at the bit to get to our little side job. I passed him, then went to the kitchen. “Yeah. All set. I’ll grab the keys to the U-Haul. Oh, and Ted? I almost forgot . . . we’re going next door for dinner tonight.” I smiled, waiting for Ted’s praise.
“Like hell we are.”
“What?” I turned around to face him—now standing inside the doorway to the kitchen, staring me down. I tilted my head to the side, waiting for further explanation.
“I said like hell. We’re not going over there tonight. That’s not the way we work.”
I scoffed. “You’re messing with me, right? You want in, and I got us in. And it took less than twenty-four hours. I’d say a thank you is in order. Maybe a gold star for my effort?”
“No. You’re role in this is to get to the daughter. Have you done that yet?”
I shook my head—this guy never ceased to amaze me. Why the hell didn’t he want to just go in there, get the ghost, and move the hell on? I shook my head again, still stunned by this confusing turn of events. “No, I didn’t get to the daughter yet. But her mom’s a total milf.”
Ted closed the distance between us in two long strides, eyes narrowed and chest heaving with each breath he took. I jumped back, startled by his quick movement and obvious anger.
“Whoa, Ted, what the hell?”
“Don’t speak that way about—”
“What?” Is he serious? Why is he so pissed?
