his beer.
“Uh, hey,” I called, feeling totally awkward.
Ford nodded.
As awkward as I felt, I couldn’t avoid introductions. “Um, Mark, this is my…” Friend? Man making me take cold showers? Guy I met on Match? “…this is Ford.”
Mark walked over and extended his hand. Ford didn’t get up, but shook it. It was quiet, and I tried to think of something to fill the uncomfortable silence, because it didn’t seem like Ford was going to be any help.
“Ford owns the house. He’s Bella’s brother.” I looked over at Ford, who still hadn’t taken his eyes off of me. The intense look on his face made my stomach do a nervous flip. “Mark met Bella today at the art fair in town.”
“Wow. Nice house for such a young guy.” Mark was being his usual, friendly self. “I have a daughter I’d like to introduce you to,” he chided.
I closed my eyes. I hadn’t thought it could feel any more awkward, but, yup, that did the trick.
Ford’s mouth was a straight line as he brought the beer to it and continued the silent treatment.
“Bella said you had a meeting in the city today and weren’t back until tomorrow.”
“Change of plans.” His eyes darted between Mark and me. “Something came up.”
I nodded.
While I felt the tension emanating from Ford, at least Mark seemed oblivious. “Nice to meet you,” he said.
My eyes caught with Ford’s as I started up the stairs. “Have a good night.”
The antsiness I’d felt outside continued when Mark and I escaped into the house. I gave him the grand tour in record speed, showing him the inside, followed by the back deck. The moon lit the beach enough to see the ocean in the dark, and the sound of waves crashing came with a gentle breeze. He marveled over the view. It would’ve been a magnificent night to sit here, but I was too frazzled. I didn’t even do the polite thing and offer him a drink or a cup of coffee.
Taking the not-so-subtle hint, Mark said goodbye ten minutes later. I walked him to the front door, curious to see if my neighbor was still around, but Ford had disappeared.
I should have been relieved that he wasn’t hovering around anymore. But instead, his absence filled me with an overwhelming anxiety that I didn’t quite know what to do with.
***
A good, long soak in the tub with a glass of wine helped take the edge off. Though, even after that, I still felt out of sorts and not ready for bed, so I headed down to the kitchen for a refill. I poured wine and stood staring outside the kitchen window that faced Ford and Bella’s house. The lights were on, and only Ford’s car was home. I knew Bella had to work tonight, so she probably wouldn’t be home for a few hours. Maybe I should go over and clear the air?
I wasn’t dressed, and I had no idea what the hell I’d say. There wasn’t anything to discuss—because there wasn’t anything between us. So instead, I sipped my wine and stared blankly out at the night.
A set of headlights turning into the driveway next to mine brought me back from deep thought. Bella must’ve gotten off early from the restaurant. I was glad I hadn’t gone over there now. But after the car parked, I leaned closer to the window and noticed it wasn’t Bella’s car.
And the woman wearing a dress short enough to show her ass if she bent even slightly was certainly not Ford’s sister. My emotions, which had been in turmoil for the last hour, suddenly had no conflict. The burn of jealousy rose from deep within me and heated my cheeks.
I watched the woman teeter in her stilettos and walk toward the house. When she reached the stairs, the automatic security lights flashed on, and the face I hadn’t been able to see in the dark became clear.
Of course she was gorgeous.
And had a killer body.
Miles and miles of legs.
Boobs that hadn’t become acquainted with gravity yet, too.
Young.
So, so young.
She had a bottle of wine in one hand, and an overnight bag in the other.
I felt sick. Yet like watching a bad car accident, I couldn’t look away. As she got to the top of the stairs, Ford opened the door. He must have been waiting for her.
Anxious.
I looked away when he took her in his arms for an embrace. It shouldn’t have hurt so much. But that didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
***
I’d