Neighbors (Entangled Flirts) Read Free

definitely don’t qualify as ‘hip’ in any sense of the word.”
    He raised his eyebrows and I took it as a sign that he wanted to hear more. I was happy to elaborate. Even thinking about Riker made my blood boil. I shared far more than necessary until Jack’s cell rang with a song that hadn’t left the eighties. It felt like the world was lifted off my shoulders when he excused himself with the “I’m sorry, but it’s the office” move. Whether it was or not, I didn’t care. I had a break from the disaster.
    “So, you played center field, huh?” a deep tenor said.
    I turned with my flirtatious smile in place, ready to make the evening worthwhile. And looked right into the eyes of the neighbor from hell. Riker sat at the table behind me, leaning his elbow over the back of his chair. He grinned like an extreme couponer during double coupon days at the grocery store. Why did this guy have to be such an ass?
    “Bad date? Or do you like telling other men in your life about your hot new neighbor?”
    “Not that it’s any of your business, but I was just making conversation.” I gave him my best dirty look—half a sneer with a squinty eye. The waitress sat a plate of toasted ravioli on Riker’s table. I raised my eyebrows. “Was Barbie’s casserole not good enough?”
    “Barbie?” He snorted. “Barbie’s name is Jillian, and she’s a…friend. Just a friend.” He tipped his chair back on two legs, closing the little distance between us. His breath caressed my cheek. It would’ve been too easy to close the distant and taste the rum and coke on his lips.
    Somewhere near the bar, a champagne bottle was uncorked. The loud pop froze Riker. His entire body tensed. He clenched his jaw so tight, I thought his teeth might shatter. Just as fast as it had happened, he managed to regain his swagger. “Jealous, sweetheart?”
    “You wish.” I spun back around in my chair. Besides being confused about what just happened with Riker, it pissed me off that I was slightly relieved the bimbo wasn’t his girlfriend.
    The waitress picked up the cash mysteriously laid out on my table. She gave me a pitying look that told me Jack left. Great. Absolutely perfect timing.
    “Guess he didn’t want to hear about the new neighbor.” Riker peered over my shoulder.
    I shook my head and glanced up at him. “This is all your fault. You know that, right?”
    “How is this my fault?” He dropped the chair back onto four legs and turned his body toward me. A playful glint flashed in his eye. “And, personally, I think I do qualify as ‘hip.’”
    Frustration clogged my throat. In all my life, not once have I ever been so pissed that I couldn’t come up with any type of response. The fact that my mind went blank and the lone word that I could spit out was “whatever” made it even worse.
    I stood from the table and left McGovern’s, more humiliated by Riker’s attitude than by Jack’s disappearance. That Marine had some serious nerve. The only thing I could hope for was to avoid him as much as possible.
    It couldn’t be that hard.

    The guilt hit me Monday as I drove to my office. Jeannette had gone to the trouble to arrange the date, even if it was a bad idea. For whatever reason, she was trying to help. I could’ve made more of an effort with Jack instead of walking into the situation expecting disaster.
    The office was in a new strip mall not far from my apartment. I hated driving when I could easily walk, but I had to have my car for appointments. Okay, I had to have the Tomato because CeCe could call at any minute with a panic attack. This had happened twice already. Once, she thought the shade of the curtains had changed overnight. The second time, she swore the tile in the bathroom was two different colors. CeCe was worth it, though. If this job went right, the rest of the basketball wives might call. If it went wrong, nobody ever would.
    Cecilia Hood was either going to make my career or break it.
    I unlocked the