might shock and horrify my new neighbor. It’s pink, well flesh color really, the handle is thick, and curves up to the rim of the cup, the top looking very much like the phallic symbol that it is. “It’s um . . . it’s a penis.”
Getting a closer look, his eyes squint, and his nostrils slightly flare. “I guess I could have figured that out on my own.”
“Yeah. My dad owned a collection of the world’s most inappropriate coffee mugs.” Scratching the back of my head in a somewhat horrified wonder, I continue to try and grasp for a reason why a sane woman would be drinking coffee out of a penis-shaped mug. “Luckily for me, I inherited them when he died. I’m so used to them I don’t pay attention to which one I grab anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” His grin is gone, and he’s looking intently into my eyes, it’s slightly intimidating.
“Oh, it’s fine. The mugs really don’t bother me.”
Shaking his head and gently laughing, he continues to hold my stare. “I was talking about your dad. I’m sorry he passed away.”
All humor is gone. I’m sorry he passed away too, but after the weekend I just had, discussing the devastating loss of my father is not high on my agenda. Nodding at his genuine sympathy, I quickly change the subject.
“These are my friends, Mia Sanders and Paige Donahue. Guys, this is my new neighbor, Damian.”
Paige throws her long blonde hair over her shoulder and stands, shaking his hand. She eyes him curiously . . . slowly, up and down her eyes travel. She turns and gives me a thumbs-up. “Yep, he’s what I’m talking about.”
Kill. Me. Now.
He flashes a knowing grin as his eyes stay locked on mine. Heat begins to crawl up my neck and into my cheeks. Throwing a towel over his shoulder, he pulls a phone from the pocket in his running shorts. “Addison, give me your cell.”
“My phone?” Why would he need my phone?
Paige rolls her eyes and grabs my phone off the glass table handing it to him. I’m watching him—we’re all watching him as he begins to play with the screen on my cell. His phone starts to ring. Just as quickly, it stops, and he holds mine out to me.
Slowly, I lift my hand and begin to reach for it, our fingers connecting for a brief moment, his thumb sliding gently over mine.
But that’s all it takes for my mind to want more.
It’s a slight touch, almost an accident, but there’s no mistaking the lingering caress as his hand slips away from mine.
My breath catches for brief second and my heart slightly jumps.
Lust is the strangest emotion in the world. I don’t know this man standing in front of me, but clearly, my body wants to get to know him personally. The smallest contact, the slightest grin, and I instantly want him. All he’d have to do is ask.
“You have my number . . . in case there’s an emergency . . . or something.”
“Like maybe she needs help extinguishing the fire you just started?” Paige questions.
His eyes lower at her comment, and an amused chuckle leaves his chest.
“I’ll catch you later, Green Eyes,” he says, before turning and taking off.
“Did he just call you Green Eyes?” Mia asks.
I nod.
“That’s so sweet. I agree with Paige, he’ll wipe Matt from your memory. You should dive right into that.”
I’m sure for one night, Damian could briefly erase Matt straight from my mind, but getting him out of my heart is an entirely different story. Our relationship ended so suddenly. There was no fight, no cosmic event that clued me into the fact it was time to take a break, just a boy who wanted to fly off and become a man. I had to let him go, trusting he’d one day find me again. I never dreamed he’d cut me off . . . until he did. This wasn’t supposed to be my life.
“No way, Addison. Stop frowning.”
“I’m not frowning.”
“You have a sex god living next door who clearly likes to flirt with you. No frowning. It’s not allowed.”
“I didn’t frown.” I continue to protest.
“Um, yeah you did. What’s your problem?” Mia asks.
“Matt’s my problem.”
“Addy! Matt’s an asshole. Let it go.”
“I can’t. It was only two nights ago I was in Matt’s bed. Not like I can just move on.”
“Matt’s married,” Paige points out. “He’s moved on, it’s time you do, too.”
I’ve spent the past five years wondering what Matt was doing, if