by Alexa Riley
Lovely Neighbor
Alexa Riley
Contents
Lovely Neighbor
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Epilogue
Bonus… Lovely Proposal
Lovely Baker
Chapter 1
Read Me Romance
Stalk the Author
Copyright © 2020 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to [email protected]
http://alexariley.com/
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Edited by Aquila Editing
Lovely Neighbor
by Alexa Riley
Erin needs a place to hide out for a few days after her apartment gets broken into. But when she shows up at her grandmother's and the spare room is under construction, she’s sent across the hall to the mysterious billionaire neighbor's apartment. One night in luxury and she doesn’t want to leave.
Devin works like crazy and that takes him away from home far more than he likes. But after one business trip too many, he discovers someone has been in his house…in his bed. His sheets have never smelled so good and suddenly the empty space feels like home. Is there such a thing as love at first sight…without the sight?
Warning: This hot hero with a heart of gold is ready to rescue his damsel in distress. A knight in shining armor? You bet your happily ever after he is!
Chapter One
Erin
“This is so stupid,” I tell myself as I grab my purse and put it on my shoulder.
I should be able to leave my apartment whenever I want because that’s the point of having my own place. I should be able to come and go as I please and not have to worry about answering to anyone. Instead I keep having to face someone who is looking for a reason to complain.
Gah, he’s making this so awkward. Why can’t I be a jerk and tell him to leave me alone and that he’s making me uncomfortable?
I walk over to my peephole and look out, hoping he’s not home. I bite my thumbnail as I stare across the hall at my new neighbor’s door. I thought I could be a little strange, but he takes it to another level. I curse my politeness with taking him cookies that first day he moved in. Now this weird dance has started and anytime I open my front door he’s opening his. How is that even possible? Is he doing the same thing I am and staring out his peephole waiting for me to leave?
I lean back from the door and sigh. I need my sugar fix and he’s standing in the way of that. Forget it. I’m leaving. I will not be held prisoner in my own home.
I grab the door handle and pull it open, and for once his door doesn't open. I turn around and lock my door as fast as I can so I can get out of here.
“Ahh!” I scream as I almost run right into Peter. He’s right in my space when I turn around and my heart jumps into my throat. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Where are you off to tonight?”
Peter is in his usual polo and khaki shorts with his short blond hair perfectly in place. Everything about him is always so put together. He works from home for some kind of internet security company or something, and he’s got the vibe of someone who thinks he knows it all.
He doesn't say sorry for almost giving me a heart attack and just stands there waiting for me to answer him.
“Coffee.” And maybe also to see if the coffee shop has any treats left because my sweet tooth is killer.
“I’ll come with you,” he says, inviting himself.
“Okay,” I agree, because what else can I say? No, you’re not allowed to go to the coffee shop?
He places his hand on the small of my back and I walk faster, trying to get away from his touch. He only walks faster to keep up with me and I wonder why this man who seems so smart can’t read body language.
“How is your grandma?”
Some of my resolve fades because I always enjoy talking about my grandma. I miss her something fierce.
“She's good. That woman has more energy than I do.”
She’s always planning some new group or having a party. Even her dating card stays full. At least that’s what she calls it.
Peter reaches for the door of the coffee shop and opens it for me. “You should work out.” I stop walking and look over at him. “It gives you energy. You can come running with me in the mornings.”
I make a mental note that mornings would be a good time to sneak out of my place unnoticed.
“I’ll think about it,” I say, but it’s a total lie. I hate running and I’ve tried it more than once. I have two left feet and the last time I only made it a block before I tripped over my shoelaces and sprained my ankle. I took it as a sign that I should never run again.
“Erin!” Jenna waves and calls to me from behind the counter. “The regular?”
“Yes please.” I walk up to the counter and keep my eyes on the cake pops. “This is always the hard part,” I sigh, unsure what flavor I should get.
“I think you should get one of each. I mean, there are only four types,” Jenna laughs, and I nod.
“I have to say I like your style. Hit me with all of them and I can save whatever I don’t eat.” We both burst out laughing knowing that’s not going to happen. There will be nothing left to save.
“What’s so funny?” Peter asks, looking back and forth between Jenna and me.
“Is this your cousin?” Jenna asks, nodding at Peter.
Thankfully I’m still laughing about the cake pops, so Peter doesn’t realize I’m now laughing at her question. She knows he’s not my cousin.
“No,” he scoffs and tries to put his hand on the small of my back again.
Luckily I’m quicker as I step sideways and pretend to be really interested in the coffee mug display and hand Jenna my card.
“I’ve got it.” He tries to take my card from Jenna’s hand, but she pulls it back, not letting him. I really don’t want him buying me anything because then I’d feel like I owed him something.
“I’ve got it,” I tell him as I pay for the two of us.
“That’s not right.” He shakes his head, looking confused.
“We’re friends.” I emphasize the word. “Friends buy each other coffee and I got my card out first and ordered more,” I try to reason.
“I guess.” He finally relents before he spouts off one of the longest coffee orders I’ve ever heard in my life. Jenna gives me a look when Peter turns to face me.
“I haven't seen you in a while. I thought you might have gone to visit your gran
dmother.”
“Work has been keeping me busy,” I tell her, and it’s not a lie.
There’s always more work to be done and it’s just a matter of how much I can do. I retouch pictures and some can take me a few minutes while others can take hours. It depends on each project.
Jenna puts my bag of cake pops down on the counter and I have to step around Peter to get them.
“You know those are really unhealthy.”
“Okaaay.” I drag out the word while I pick my bag up. What else am I supposed to say? I thought cake was the best thing for me? I get agitated and wish I could tell him to mind his own business. That’s what I want to say but then things would be more awkward than they already are.
“Erin,” Jenna calls, handing me my caramel-filled drink. Peter turns his nose up at my drink before taking his own.
“You want to sit?”
“No, they close soon and I need to get back to work.” That’s another lie. There’s a new Housewives starting in a few minutes. Plus, I’d rather watch paint dry than hang out with Peter a second longer. How does he get worse and worse each time I see him?
“Fine.” He grabs my arm and pulls me toward the door. I’m so surprised it takes me a moment to realize what he’s just done and I jerk from his hold.
“You’re hurting me.” I rub the spot he grabbed as I keep walking down the sidewalk back toward my place. I want to get away from him as fast as I can.
“Sorry about that.” He takes a sip from his coffee, not looking sorry at all. “Since you’re busy tonight we could go out this weekend.”
I’m so irritated now, I try to cut this off. “I have a date this weekend.”
“Wait?” He stops walking but I don’t. When he realizes I’m still going, he runs to catch up to me. “A date?”
“Yeah, I’ve been seeing someone.” I head up the stairs to our floor, cursing myself because I know I can’t break my lease. I still have a few months left, but maybe I could move units. The complex is pretty big.
He follows me to my door and I try to end it there. “I’ll see you around.”
“I've never seen anyone come to your place. How are you dating someone?” he says to my back as I try to unlock my door.
“It’s kinda new.” When I get the key to work, I open the door and he steps closer to me.
I back up into my place with my hand on the door so he can’t enter. He glares at me for a moment before he smiles like he’s trying to hide his own irritation.
“We’ll get coffee after your date.” He says it like I don’t have a choice and takes a step back.
“I’m not—”
“See you later.” He cuts me off before I can respond.
I want to tell him we won’t be having coffee but I didn't agree either. I don’t want to have more back and forth when he’s walking away from me. I decide to just leave it be for now and shut my door. I triple check the locks, though, just to be sure.
My phone rings in my purse and I pull it out to see my grandma is calling. I smile and forget all about Peter and the lies I’ve gotten myself into.
I’ll deal with that later because it’s not as though it can get any worse.
Chapter Two
Devin
“I’ve got the plane ready and waiting,” Renee says, and I can hear her clicking on the other end of the phone.
“I’m almost finished packing. I don’t plan on this taking long, but the last time we tried to negotiate with them, I was in Paris for a week.” I go into my walk-in closet and see my dry-cleaning hanging up in the corner. “Thanks for getting my shirts.”
“You’re welcome, and fingers crossed for a quick trip. Danielle and I will be in the Hamptons with her parents all weekend if you need me.”
“Are you going to finally propose?”
There’s a long sigh and I smile. My sister Renee and I have worked together for years and we’re both chained to our jobs. The problem is, she went and fell in love. She’s been dating Danielle for the past year and I know things are serious—more serious than she’s willing to admit.
“Danielle is great, Nee. Don’t stress about being able to have a life and work.”
“Says the man who works a hundred hours a week.” I can hear her eyeroll.
“Which one am I going to be today? The pot or the kettle?”
“It should be special. Maybe I’ll take her to Tokyo in the spring when we have the Bennington case.”
“You’re going to propose on a work trip? Now you do sound like me.”
She barks laughter into the phone so loud I have to pull it away from my ear. “Definitely, only minus the proposal.”
“You want some big brother advice?” I zip up my bag and carry it to the front door of my penthouse.
“No.”
“Tough shit, it’s just you and me, kiddo, so I’m gonna give it to you.”
There’s a pause and an image of our parents the last time we saw them flashes in my mind.
“Don’t let fear make your decisions.” I say the words tattooed on my ribcage and put my hand over the spot.
“The last time you told me that I knocked out my two front teeth.”
“Eh. They were baby teeth.” I hear her laugh, and I grab my keys, knowing she’ll make the right choice.
“Thanks, Devin. Be safe.”
“Later.”
On the way out I see my extra key hanging next to the door and I grab that too. I never know how long some of these negotiations will take so I usually ask my neighbor Betty to keep an eye on things for me.
When I moved into the building a few years ago, I was told the penthouse floor was split in two. One door on one side and one on the other, and the opposite side was occupied by an elderly woman.
In my mind I’d pictured my neighbor as this frail Miss Havisham type that remained behind her locked door until her death. I couldn’t have been more wrong about Mrs. Betty.
She might be older, but nothing about her is old. She’s constantly coming and going all day long with stuff to do and friends to see. The day I moved in she brought me a bottle of Scotch and told me if her music was too loud not to call the cops. She’s never met a stranger, and although I do worry about her being alone sometimes, for the most part she’s the one always looking out for me.
I knock on her door and a moment later she swings it open and smiles brightly at me.
“Hey, Betty, do you mind keeping an eye on the place for me? I’ve got to make a quick trip to Paris but will hopefully be back by Monday.”
“A quick trip to Paris, doesn't that sound fancy.” She pretends to look off in the distance wistfully and I shake my head.
“You know you’re always welcome to come with me.” I hand her my key and she’s already shaking her head.
“Who would call the Friday night bingo numbers? Do you have any idea how long it took me to get that job?” She waves a hand away at me like I’m ridiculous. “Besides, I’m having my guest room redone this weekend, so I’ll need to be here to boss around those sweaty construction workers.”
“I don’t want to know.” I shake my head as I grab my bag and hit the button for the elevator. “But I’m going to have security checking to make sure you don’t get into trouble.”
The elevator opens and I step inside. She laughs and calls out to me right before they close. “You should be the one worrying about trouble.”
I take the elevator down and my driver is waiting for me by the curb. I can feel my smile leave my face as soon as I exit my building. It’s not that I’m unhappy, I’m just not generally cheerful when it comes to my line of work.
After I became an attorney, I decided to specialize in international law. Renee is two years younger than me and it didn’t take much convincing for me to talk her into doing the same. Our parents worked for the United Nations and traveled all over the world. They made a lot of connections that helped Renee and me get started and grow our business into what it is. I take what I do very seriously and
I’m lucky that I have little glimpses of happiness in my life that give me some sense of normalcy.
Our parents died at sea when Renee and I were in high school. It changed our lives irrevocably and after that I always carried a sense of responsibility to make sure Renee was taken care of. We were raised by our aunt, and although she was kind, she wasn’t invested in the two of us like our parents were. The moment we were able to leave, we did.
Today Renee and I own one of the largest global law firms in the world, and we’re damn good at what we do. We have a team of attorneys working for us, but sometimes on jobs as important as this one, I have to be there in person.
I work on my laptop until I feel the car come to a stop and look out to see we’re on the tarmac.
“Are you ready, Mr. Woods?” the driver asks, and I nod as I grab my bag.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Chapter Three
Erin
“Here is fine,” I tell the taxi driver as he pulls up outside of my gram’s building. I pass him the cash as I open the door. “Keep it.”
It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. After my flight got canceled I got the bright idea to take a bus. It was a longer trip than it was supposed to be because we got a flat tire and they had to call for a second bus. Then my phone died. All I want to do is fall into bed and sleep for fifteen hours straight. Grams doesn't even know I’m coming, but hopefully it’ll be a happy surprise when she sees me.
