Neighbors (Entangled Flirts) Read Free Page A

door and got to work. CeCe wasn’t my only client, just my biggest. Maddie’s orthodontist demanded a paisley chair for her den and she had shot down every print I’d shown her so far. My lawyer hired me to decorate his new office on Friday. John Higgins had given me a vague idea of what he wanted. All I could see when he described his perfect workspace was a law library with soft leather and low lighting.
    The door opened, slicing humid summer air through the air conditioned office.
    “Good morning,” Jeannette announced without her usual chipper voice. She sat down at her desk and went right to work.
    I peeked over the drafting table where I’d envisioned the perfect office. “What’s wrong with you?”
    She shook her head, keeping her back toward me.
    I didn’t have time for this. There was an appointment in three hours at a small marketing firm who wanted to make their space more “worker friendly.” I had no idea what they wanted, but I’d take any business I could get.
    “Why’d you even agree to go out with Jack if you were just going to flirt with another guy?” Jeannette asked five minutes later.
    I almost fell out of my chair. “What?”
    She turned around to face me. “The guy at the table behind you? Jack said he got a business call and when he came back you were flirting with this other guy. That’s why he left.” She rolled her eyes and began her typical ramble. “I mean I can’t blame him. I would’ve left, too, if you were my date. What I don’t understand is, why bother going out with the guy in the first place? I mean, seriously Rena, you aren’t getting any younger—”
    “Stop!” I threw my pencil down and leaned back in my chair. I never yelled at Jeannette, even if she goofed up an order, but this was ridiculous. “First, I didn’t want to go out with Jack. That was your idea and the only reason I agreed was to get you off my back. Second, I was not flirting with anyone. That guy was my jerk of a neighbor and he was insulting me in any way he could. If Jack had a problem with that, he should’ve taken it up with Riker. Third, I’m only twenty-eight years old. I’m not going to die an old maid, and I don’t need to run out and get married to the first guy that proposes.”
    “If that was the case, you would’ve been married for six years already.” Jeannette smirked.
    I wasn’t going to argue with her about that. She was right. Victor Lancing proposed to me during our senior year of college. We’d dated for two years, so it surprised no one when I said yes. As soon as that ring was on my finger, I knew it was a mistake. Victor started talking about having kids right away, and how I could stay home with them while he worked. He decided I could build my business later. He decided for me that my dreams, my goals, could wait. We were engaged for a total of three weeks.
    “Jack was disappointed. He really liked you.” Jeannette spun her chair around. It was her way of ending the conversation.
    “He knew me all of twenty minutes and all he thought about was getting me naked.” I picked up my pen and started noting the variations of leather that would work for Higgins’ office. “And I don’t want to date anybody right now. There’s too much going on.”
    Jeannette scoffed but didn’t say anything else on the subject. We spent the next hour and a half working in silence that was only interrupted by an occasional phone call. It was one of the best things about working with Jeannette. She didn’t feel the need to constantly talk to fill the void.
    Work took over my life for the next week. The first day of the basketball season was approaching fast, and CeCe was insane about every little detail. Since her husband had the big new contract, she was hosting a party to welcome all the players back and do her best to make nice with the other wives. It was also her way of saying she was here to stay. Other than a few backordered items, part of the house was ready. We were