Naughty Neighbor - Lauren Runow Page 0,20
pleasure to meet you. I love meeting Jake’s friends.” She walks around with open arms. “I’m Bobbi.”
Even though it startles me, I welcome the embrace from a woman who smells like lavender.
One of her arms is still around me as she turns to Jake. “Is this the girl who lives next door? The romance author?”
He nods his head as I tilt mine to him.
Bobbi looks at me, excited. “I could use your help. We can’t get this one to settle down for anything. He has girls come through here all the time, batting their lashes, and not one has piqued his interest.”
“I’m holding out for the right woman,” he states, and his mother pats his cheek.
“You’re thirty years old. Being the coolest guy in the room only holds its luster for so long. It’s nice to have a family to come home to, but I’m afraid you’ll always be my indecisive Libra.” She motions to me as she walks toward the back. “Come, Lacey. You can help us carry these flowers to the front while I tell you about the kind of woman Jake needs.”
“Ma, she’s not a matchmaker.”
“No. She’s even better. She’s a romantic.” Her brows rise as she grins at me for confirmation.
I lift my shoulders as I pass him with a smile.
“For the record, I don’t need help with meeting women,” he calls as he follows us to the back, acting like a child trying to prove a point.
Bobbi points to the vases she needs moved. “Oh, I’m sure you don’t have trouble with getting laid. I’d just like someone to call a daughter-in-law.”
My mouth falls at her brazen conversation of sex. I know he’s a grown man, but my mother and I would never have such a talk. She said it all fun and casual, as conversations between adults should be.
We’re halfway through bringing the flowers up to the front when the driver arrives. Loading everything into the cooler truck is harder than I thought it would be. Jake and Bobbi are constantly making sure every petal is perfect and that the vases are secure in their transport boxes.
While we load, Bobbi tells me all about the type of woman she thinks Jake needs to date. A strong-willed woman who will put up with his antics. A career gal with a big social life of her own, who won’t eat up too much of his time because Jake is a social butterfly and the man likes his freedom. Someone from a big family is a bonus because she’ll understand how to handle the Moreau clan. And the woman most definitely needs to know how to cook.
As she rattles off her version of the perfect woman, Jake ignores her, tending to the delivery.
The truck drives away, and we head back inside. Bobbi goes to the back, and Jake and I are left in the front of the shop.
“Your mom is great,” I say with a grin.
“She’s a spitfire; that’s for sure.” His tone oozes sarcasm.
“She’s also very beautiful. You look just like her. The eyes are captivating.”
He smiles. “My eyes are quite nice.”
I hit him in the arm. “I meant, your mom’s. Man, you’re vain.”
He rubs his arm as he laughs. “No, you specifically gave away that you check me out. What other things do you notice about me?”
I start to walk away, but he grabs my arm.
“I’m only teasing.” He twirls me back to face him, and I glance at his handsome face. “Besides, I notice things about you too. Like how pretty you look in this dress.”
I bite my lip and turn away. “Thanks.”
He places his knuckle to my chin and brings my gaze back to him. “Don’t get bashful like that. You’re a gorgeous girl when you stop hiding behind those big sweats. Your hair looks nice too.”
“Are you implying I need makeup and nice clothes to be pretty?”
He doesn’t smile, nor does he flinch. “I’m saying, you should show off your beauty more often. It’s striking.”
I inhale a deep breath and take in the magnitude of his compliment. I’m often complimented on my wit and prowess but never my looks. I’ve always found pride in the fact that my mind is my best feature. But if I’m being honest, hearing these words from this man makes my stomach flutter.
“Now, forgive me if I’m wrong, but I think you came here for a reason.”
His words have me staring up at him, confused.
“And what do you think that is?”
“I don’t know, but I might have