a total fantasy come to life. He has golden skin I’d like to run my hands all over, and he’s really tall, like we’re talking at least six and a half feet.”
“Shh,” Mia said, putting a finger to her lips. “Don’t let Josh hear you. You know how he is about his height.”
“Josh isn’t short.”
“No, but since I’m an inch taller than him, he gets all self-conscious. Anyway, continue! I want to hear more about this sexy mystery neighbor or yours.”
Warmth flooded Tabitha’s cheeks. Why was she doing this? What could ever come of it? She wasn’t looking for a one-night stand. She’d been someone’s one-night stand once, and she’d hated it. Afterwards, she’d had this icky feeling, like she’d been used—because she had been. Worse, she’d been used as joke.
No, she’d had it with men that didn’t love her for who she was, no matter her size. She wanted someone who would be her forever. Someone who didn’t want to rush things, someone who wanted to take the time to get to know each other before jumping into bed. Someone who wanted a relationship, not just a quick lay.
Yet still…
“He’s built, too. Not like a bodybuilder, but like…a sword-swinging warrior from a romance cover. And his eyes!” Tabitha propped her elbow on the table, settled her chin in her palm, and looked toward the cactus with a smile. “Oh Mia, his eyes are breathtaking. They’re so blue they nearly glow.”
Mia laughed. “I take it you really like Mr. Fuck-Me-Eyes. What’s he like?”
Tabitha turned her gaze back to Mia and arched a brow. “I just met the guy.”
“Yeah, but from your expression, you’ve had more than just the my-dog-pissed-on-your-foot encounter with him.”
Dexter barked outside, but Tabitha ignored him as she ran her fingers through her hair and leaned back in her chair. “Logan is…strange, but in an endearing way.”
“Strange how?”
“I’m not sure.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
Are you spoken for? Do you have a male?
“He says things differently,” Tabitha said. “He has an accent, too, though it’s not anything I can place. He probably just words things a little oddly sometimes because English isn’t his first language.”
Mia laughed. “Okay, you just made him one-hundred times hotter now that you said he has an accent. Accents always make men hotter.”
So true.
“Anyway, enough about my neighbor. It’s not like anything is going to happen.” Before Mia could refute that, Tabitha hurried to asked, “How’s things with Josh? He moved in, right?”
“Yeeeeeees.”
“Why are you saying it like that?”
Mia grinned, lifted her hand, and brought it closer to the camera, allowing Tabitha to see the sparkling diamond ring on her ring finger.
Tabitha gasped. “He proposed?
Dexter barked again.
“He did, just last night actually,” Mia said, lowering her hand.
“And you’re just now telling me?” Tabitha clasped her hands to her chest, feeling both a terrible ache of longing and a warm flare of excitement. “I’m so happy for you!”
Mia looked down at her ring and smiled. Her eyes softened before she looked back at Tabitha. “You’re going to be my maid of honor, right?”
Dexter’s barking continued.
“It would be my honor…as long as you don’t stick me in some ugly dress.”
Mia laughed. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“As if I’d believe you,” Tabitha said with a chuckle. “Your favorite color is orange.”
“Orange is a perfectly good color!”
“I refuse to look like a pumpkin.”
“But pumpkins are adorable, and so are you.”
Tabitha laughed, shaking her head. “I hate you. One second, let me check on Dexter.”
Capping her water, Tabitha stood up and walked to the door. She frowned as she scanned the yard for Dexter. Where was he? Sliding open the screen door, she leaned outside and called his name.
Motion caught her eye; Dexter poked his head up out of a hole in the ground next to the fence before disappearing again.
“Are you for real?” she asked, aghast. Hurrying back into the house, she moved to her phone. “Mia, I’ll have to call you back another time. I swear this dog is going to be the death of me.”
Mia laughed. “Okay. Enjoy your new home and talk to you soon!”
“Thanks. And congrats on your engagement! Love you. Bye!”
Tabitha ended the call and rushed back to the door. “Dexter, come!”
The dang dog ignored her.
Growling, she stepped outside, closed the screen behind her, and made her way toward Dexter. Though the cement patio was warm and dry, the grass was cool, soft, and still slightly damp from watering.
“Nan, I don’t know how you put up with his antics,”