Naughty Neighbor - Lauren Runow Page 0,11
me with an expression on her face that’s so smug, like she just found the Christmas stash of toys. We reach our floor and let Jake exit first since he’s the one doing the heavy lifting.
While he walks out, she turns to me and whisper-yells, “Now, I am not the distressed female in need of a hunky hero type, but a man who takes the initiative to help you carry your shit is a keeper.”
“He’s not mine,” I whisper-yell right back.
“He should be,” she says with a shit-eating grin.
I shake my head and push her out of the elevator.
When we finally enter the hallway, Jake is waiting outside my apartment door with a tilt of a smile he’s trying to fight on his lips, which makes me think he heard every word from us.
I unlock it quickly and hold it open, so he can come inside and place the box and crate near the table. Charisse puts the smaller box that’s still in her hands on the counter.
“Thanks for doing that,” I say to Jake as he walks out of my apartment and into the hallway, stopping right outside my door.
“No problem. Just happened to work out perfectly that I ended my evening early and caught you at a good time. What is all this stuff for anyway?”
“Lacey had a book signing, and she was awesome! Sold-out attendance, and everyone was dying to meet our girl.”
I flush at Charisse’s words.
“Tonight’s signing was fun, just a small group of authors at a local bookstore. We each did a reading from one of our books, and then signed for the next two hours.”
I’m lucky to have her. She’s one of the reasons I have the life I do. Her encouragement was a huge push for me to hit the Submit button to publish my first book on my own. I wouldn’t be living the life I do if it wasn’t for her.
“That’s awesome.” Jake sounds genuinely impressed.
“It was all Charisse. She makes me look much cooler than I am, both at signings and on social media. I like to think of her as my guru.” I beam.
“Hell yeah.” She high-fives me, and we laugh.
“Do you want to stay for a drink?” I offer to Charisse.
She was kind enough to sit with me today after work. The least I can do is pour a glass of wine.
“Sorry, babe. I have to get home to put Aubrey to bed. She’s been giving Melody a horrible time, and she has a deposition to prepare.” She turns to Jake and explains, “I have a wife and kid at home. Are you the wife and kids type?”
I could kick her for the way she asked that question, like she’s ready to play matchmaker for me.
Jake answers her coolly, “Yeah. I would be the perfect husband.”
I snort a laugh, wondering if he realizes how cocky he sounds.
Charisse turns to me with that stupid smile still on her face. “Perfect.”
“Get out of here, crazy,” I say as I hug her. “You were a godsend, like always. Give that baby a kiss for me. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She waves to Jake and heads down the hallway. Jake and I are standing here, watching her disappear into the elevator. When she’s gone, I turn to him.
“Thanks again for helping me bring that stuff up.”
He looks like he’s going to say something, but I’m already turning back to my place. If there’s one thing that was confirmed today, it’s that I need to get my notes straightened out and finalize a plot for The Artist.
I’m closing the door when I feel resistance and realize Jake is keeping me from closing it fully.
“Lacey,” he says.
I pop the door open.
“Don’t forget to have fun.” I look at him curiously when he adds, “With your work. If you don’t love what you do, it’s not worth doing.”
I watch as he turns and walks to his apartment. He goes inside, and so do I, walking to my room to change. I grab my notebook to jot down notes. I’m scribbling thoughts down when music pours through the walls.
This time, instead of it being loud and raucous, it’s a lyrical love song. The kind you can relax to. Think to.
I smile as I settle into the corner of my sofa and work. Good thing I do love what I do for a living.
That must be why I’m smiling.
Chapter Five
I’m searching through photos of hot guys reading because, well, there are some perks to writing romance. One of