Page 3 of Cloud Storm

“I spy with my little eye, something beginning with an H,” she sings. “Have you seen that hottie? Could he be our new neighbor?”

We see an affluent looking man in his thirties getting out of the truck, carrying some boxes.

He’s tall, with broad shoulders, and the owner of a butt to kill for.

“Have you seen his arms?” She cranes her head to get a better look.

“Yeah, he’s super-hot,” I reply, drooling so much I’m almost wetting the sidewalk.

“I think I should be a good neighbor by going over to introduce myself,” she declares as she starts heading that way.

“Hey you, freeze right there! I’m the one that should go and introduce myself as Mr. Hatz’s employee, plus, you are a married woman.”

I’m glad I went to get my hair done today. What better way to show off my new look than to impress my cute new neighbor?

“Being on a diet does not mean that I can’t enjoy the menu.”

“Let’s see what Chase thinks about that…” I smirk.

“Party pooper,” she grumbles. “I hate it that you two get along so well now, I miss the days when you hated each other.”

“Sorry that karma is such a bitch. That’s what you get for not acknowledging my new look.”

She turns and looks at me dumbfounded, while I stop to examine what I’m wearing; a clean pair of jeans even though they are torn and Chucks without holes for a change. I fix the knot on my blue and white striped shirt, fluff my hair, then I am ready to mingle. I take a couple of steps pretending I have the nerve, knowing damn well I don’t.

Eyes on the prize, I walk forward.

Until my body freezes, right there on the sidewalk.

It can’t be.

The truck guy says goodbye to the new neighbor giving him a pat on his shoulder and hands him the keys.

Hottie McPants just leaves.

Abandoning him on the sidewalk.

Him.

I don’t fucking believe it, but it has to be him. He’s the only guy I know who has perfectly ironed and starched shorts and polo T-shirts. He looks immaculate, with not a single hair from His Royal Highness’ head out of place.

“What’s wrong, Ariel?” Roselynn asks from behind me.

“Dammit, it’s him.”

“Yes, he looks even better close up, so what are you waiting for, go and say hello.”

“Roselynn, it’s him,” I insist, pointing in front of us.

“Who?” she asks, not realizing anything is wrong. “What are you talking about?”

“Him! It’s the smug suit from the bank.”

“Fucking shit!”

Exactly that. Fucking shit!

The guy who is my worst nightmare is now my new neighbor.

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