Ben growled against her lips, his tongue darted inside her mouth, deepening the kiss. She shivered beneath his touch. Her arms tightened around him not wanting to ever let go as she tangled her tongue with his. Breathing heavy, they drew back from each other, their eyes met and she smiled.
"Then I hope you brought your parka because I'm never letting you go."
About Lauren Fraser
Lauren Fraser resides in British Columbia, Canada with husband and two children.
When she's not busy writing, Lauren loves to spend time with her family outside: camping, hiking and kayaking.
Lauren writes about love and relationships in many different forms, but in the end she's a sucker for a happy ending. She is multi-published and loves to hear from her readers. For the latest updates, visit her website: http://www.laurenfraser.com
If you want to stop by and chat please visit her on Facebook or twitter (handle is @lauren_fraser). For all the latest updates, contests and other fun little goodies sign up for the newsletter.
Reviews help other readers find books. If you could please take a moment to review this book I'd really appreciate it.
Titles by Lauren Fraser
Letting Go
Undercover Attraction
Dani's Duo
Longing for Kayla
Yielding for Him
Too Hot
Rode Hard Book 1 Cowboy Code Series
Rough Stock Book 2 Cowboy Code Series
Aged to Perfection
Sharing the Billionaire
The Geek Next Door
The Geek Next Door
When the woman of your dreams only sees you as her geeky neighbor, sometimes you have to go to extremes.
Computer nerd Dylan Crane has been in love with Erin since she moved next door two years ago. Unfortunately, she's never seen him as anything other than her best friend--until one afternoon when her world flips upside down and everything changes.
Erin Sharp learns firsthand just how sexy a man with a brain can be. She already loved Dylan, her friend, but as their relationship evolves, she wonders if she could finally have it all.
When her career ambitions get in the way of their relationship, Erin has to decide
what matters most to her – getting the job she always wanted, or the man she needs and desires.
Excerpt
Man, I am pathetic. Dylan Crane pushed his Buddy Holly glasses up his nose, took a
sip of his beer and turned away from the window. The last thing he needed to do was
watch his neighbor leaving for another date. In the two years he had lived in the
townhouse complex, Erin hadn't noticed him as a man. He was the geeky neighbor. The
guy who watered her plants and fed her cat. Not the object of her lust.
The purring of a sports car pulling away from the curb let Dylan know that Erin and
her date had left for the evening. A typical Saturday night, Erin was out on a date with a
poster boy for up–and-coming-corporate-exec.com and he sat at home with his Star Trek
reruns. How had he let things come to this?
He had plenty of money and he was a reasonably good-looking guy, or so he'd been
told. He could get a date. The problem was the more time he spent with Erin as friends,
the more he wanted her to be his alone. Other women just didn't hold the same appeal.
The idea of suffering through a mind numbing date just to say he did seemed ridiculous.
The steady clicking of the clock on the mantel mocked him with its constant
reminder of how long Erin had been on her date. What was she doing? Was the suit
enjoying her curves in that sinful dress?
Dylan growled. God, I need to get a life. Slipping his feet into his sneakers, he
grabbed his ID and house key. A nice long run ought to take his mind off Erin and her
date. He slammed the door shut behind him.
His feet pounded on the pavement. The heat from the Las Vegas desert instantly
made him sweat. In minutes his shirt would be soaked. For the first couple of miles
thoughts of Erin plagued him, but by mile three his mind emptied and he hit the zone. An
hour later, he rounded the corner of his block, tired, relaxed and feeling completely less
pathetic. Until he saw Erin slamming the door of the BMW roadster she had left in only a
couple of hours ago. Her date scrambled out of the car and chased her up the walkway.
Dylan pushed himself harder, racing to get to his house. When he reached the driveway,
he could hear their conversation.
"I told you to leave," Erin told her date.
"Come on, you know you were sending out the vibe."
"Yeah, 'cause I'm just stupid enough to think a five star meal is worth a roll in your
bed." She placed her hands on her hips, outlining her curvy body in the spectacular blue
dress. "I'm worth a hell of a lot more than that."
The smarmy suit stepped toward her, his jaw clenched. Anger emanated off his body.
"Hey, Erin," Dylan called, making his presence known. She visibly relaxed when she
saw him and a fist clenched in his chest. She was magnificent, strong and confident.
"Hi Dyl. My date was just leaving."
"Whatever." The suit waved his hand in the air and turned on his heel to storm back
to his fancy car.
Dylan didn't take his eyes off the man until his car peeled away from the curb. With
the loser gone, he turned his attention back to Erin. "Looks like your date went well."
"Yeah, it was a real hit. I should know better than to date an investment banker. In
my experience, they're all about the bottom line." She shook her head sadly. "I don't
know why guys think just because they paid a lot for your date, you owe them payment."
"Not all guys think like that, Erin. Maybe you're dating the wrong kind of guys."
She didn't answer then raised her head to look at him. "How was your run?"
He looked down at his soaked gray T-shirt. "It was good, but I need to hit the
shower." He moved to walk past her but the sadness on her face pulled him up short.
"Look, why don't you change into something more comfortable and come upstairs for a
movie? I'll leave the door unlocked while I jump in the shower."
Her eyes widened hopefully. "I won't be interfering with your plans?"
"Nah. You know me. The life of a computer guy, it's action packed."
She laughed. "If you're sure?"
"Of course. But bring some microwave popcorn, since I think we ate the last of mine
after your last dating disaster."
She touched her hand against his damp T-shirt, and he was surprised steam didn't fly
off it. "Thanks Dyl. You're a great friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Right, friend. Story of his life. He certainly didn't feel like her "friend" with her
warm touch on his body. He clenched his stomach muscles, praying she'd finally notice
him. Her hand rubbed against him and a surge of hope shot through his body. Finally.
"No problem."
She dropped her hand from his stomach. Damn, he really wished she'd kept it there.
"See you upstairs."
* * * *
When Dylan came out of the bathroom, he followed the sound of popcorn popping in
the kitchen. The sight of Erin with her hair pulled back in a pony and her flannel pj's in
his kitchen almost stopped his heart. He should be used to it by now, but every time it hit
him square in the chest.
What kind of perv was he that flannel pajamas with cows on them did it for him? He
walked into the kitchen and gave her pony a little tug. "Love the jammies."
A blush stole up her cheeks.
"Thanks." She busily grabbed some napkins and placed
them beside the soda on the counter. "Popcorn's almost ready."
"Sounds good. What movie did you want to watch tonight?"
She glanced at him. "I noticed Avatar on your coffee table. I haven't seen that yet."
Dylan's mouth dropped open. "How can you not have seen Avatar?"
Her blue eyes glittered with amusement. "Sorry, I'm not the sci-fi geek you are.
Three hours in a theatre just didn't appeal."
"But still? How could you not have rented it the second it came out?"
She laughed and raised her hands in the air. "I don't know. I just don't get the whole
thing."
"Oh." He grabbed his heart. "You're killing me. Well, you are in for a treat."
Dylan put the movie in and flopped down on the couch beside Erin. As the movie
progressed, she curled into him like she always did. Part of him loved that he got to hold
her against his body. The other part hated that she had relegated him to this friend role
where she was comfortable cuddling him as if he was asexual, while he was battling a
hard on.
When the movie finished, Erin sat upright, her eyes glazed with excitement. "That
was freakin' incredible."
He laughed. "I know. I told you."
"No seriously, Dyl. I can't believe you didn't drag me to the theatre to watch that
with you a hundred times."
"The way you lounge out when you watch movies, I don't think I could handle
seeing it in the theatre with you."
She smacked his arm. "Ha-ha. I'm so going to buy that movie, so I don't have to bug
you all the time to borrow it."
"You know, Erin, I think deep down you're a closet sci-fi junky just like me."
She pushed back to the edge of the couch. "I don't think so." Her voice sounded as if
the very idea was appalling.
"I dare you to come with me to the sci-fi convention at the end of the month."
"A sci-fi convention? Are you kidding? I can't believe they even have those."
"This is Vegas, Erin. They have everything."
She chuckled. "God, could you imagine."
His back stiffened. When Erin grimaced, he realized he must look as offended as he
felt.
"Oh God, Dyl. I'm sorry. I just meant...crap." She ran her hand over her face. "I just
have never really seen myself at something like that. I'm more of a closet Trekkie."
"Yeah, that's just it. You're a Trekkie. Whether you like to admit it or not. I know
it's just not cool to be into that kind of thing, but I think you'd have fun if you actually
went."
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "All right. I'll go to your nerd
convention, if you go with me to my office party on Friday night. I was supposed to go
with Roger but clearly that's not going to work out."
"Roger? Is that the asshole from tonight?"
"Yep."
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. "Office party? So, suits, right?"
She nodded. "Afraid so."
He hated suits and don't even get him started on ties. The things were devices of
torture. "I don't really fit in with your work crowd." He could already feel the tie
strangling him.
She clapped her hands together. "Don't worry, we'll go shopping. You'll look
perfect." She gripped his arm with both of her hands. "Come on, Dyl. After tonight's
disaster, I don't want to show up alone, but I also really don't want to have to deal with
the whole octopus thing at a work function. Please. I need you."
I need you. Shit, there was no way he could say no to that. "Fine, I'll go, but if I have
to dress up for your work thing and do the whole makeover, you're dressing up for the
convention."
"Oh, no."
Dylan raised his eyebrows. "You need me to go with you and not stand out then I
need the same." He mirrored her pose and crossed his arms over his chest. "So, how
badly do you need me to go with you?"
"Shit," she muttered. "Fine, but I get to pick your outfit." She pinned him with her
lawyer look and he knew there would be no negotiating.
"Deal."
"Thanks, Dylan. I really appreciate you doing this for me."
She smiled at him, and he had never seen her look so vulnerable before. From
somewhere deep inside him a primal urge to protect her swept through him. He pulled her
into a hug. Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she rested her head against his chest.
How could she not feel how right this felt? He carefully shifted his hips back so they
weren't touching from the waist down. The last thing she needed was to feel his erection.
"So, maybe Wednesday night after work we could go shopping and grab some
dinner." Her head lifted off his chest to look up at him.
Everything in him wanted to kiss her. Unable to speak, he just nodded.
She squeezed him tighter. "Perfect." With one final squeeze, she stepped back. "I
should head to bed. Thanks for tonight. I can always count on you."
"No problem."
He walked Erin to the door and watched until she made it inside her place.
* * * *
Rushing home from work Wednesday, Erin quickly changed out of her business suit
and knocked on Dylan's door. When he didn't answer right away, she peeked inside.
"Hello? Dylan?"
"Hey Erin, come on in," he called from deep inside the house.
Following the sound of his voice, she stopped dead when she saw him. Dylan stood
at the kitchen sink, a bottle of water in one hand, sweat running down his glistening chest
into the band of his sweat shorts.
Who knew he had abs like those? Wow! Guys who sat at a desk all day were
supposed to have pot bellies, not six-packs. Mmmm, she wanted to lick the line between
his abs.
Where the hell had that thought come from? When she finally pulled her eyes off of
Dylan's stomach, she cringed. Judging by the redness of his face, her ogling had
embarrassed him.
"Sorry, I didn't think you'd be by already. I just finished my run."
"No...no problem," she croaked, her tongue suddenly too big for her mouth.
"Just let me grab a quick shower and then we can head out. Help yourself to a drink
or anything."
Dylan walked past her. The smell of hot male tickled her nose. God, he smelled
good. It was all she could do not to sigh. Her eyes followed him as he walked down the
hall.
"I'll be quick," he called and closed the bathroom door.
Want me to wash your back? Geez, she had to get it together. This was Dylan.
Clearly it had been too long since she'd had sex if she was lusting after him. Although, if
she'd known he looked like that under his clothes, she might have had a few impure
thoughts before now. She'd always thought he had nice arms, but she'd never imagined
he'd have that kind of definition.
It was probably for the best that she'd never allowed herself to imagine it. Dylan was
her best friend in the world. She would never want to do anything to jeopardize that.
Erin grabbed a book off the coffee-table to entertain herself while Dylan showered.
Computer programming, just a little light reading. Not. She flicked on the television and
immersed herself in reruns of America's Next Top Model.
"I can't believe you watch that crap." Dylan's voice intruded through her mindnumbing
focus on the TV.
she'd expected. His baggy cargo shorts had seen better days but his T-shirt. Where would
you even find something like that? The green monstrosity had a big bug with a nail going
through it and the caption read "bug fixed". It was horrible. And don't even get her
started on his hair. Would it kill him to use some product? This might take longer than
she'd thought.
"Dylan, I love you dearly. But man, your wardrobe needs work," she said with a
smile.
"Hmpff." He twisted his lips into a fake scowl, before he broke into a grin. "So
where are we off to?"
"Better hit the Boulevard so we have some choices. As soon as we hit the mall our
first stop is the hairdresser."
Dylan fingered his dark blonde locks. "What's wrong with my hair?"
Erin couldn't help herself. She rolled her eyes at him. "Don't even get me started."
"Ouch."
"Sorry Dylan, but..." She swept out her hand. "How can you be so successful and
dress like this?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. The people I work for know I can do the job and that's
what matters. Why would they care what I wear?"
"Because image is important. People buy image."
He flashed her a huge smile. "Exactly. I'm a computer guy. So I fit in perfectly."
"Grrr." She wrinkled up her nose at him.
He laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder to propel her out of the
townhouse. "Come on let's go play dress-up."
Buy Link
Sex, Sin and Surf Page 9
