Page 31 of Love Without Demands

“Mine too,” Cruz replied. “It’s cool that we’re neighbors now.”

Bumping him with my shoulder, I smiled up at him. “Thank you for helping me move.”

His responding smile was sweet and made my breath hitch a little. “Anything for you, Lehra.”

Chapter 9

I knocked on thedoor to apartment 302 with a pink box in my hand.

“Hang on,” a voice came from inside a second before the door swung open. “Lehra, hey.”

But I couldn’t respond because Cruz Estrada stood in the doorway in only a pair of sweat-stained gray shorts. Dear god in heaven! I didn’t think men like this existed in real life.

Sweat dripped down his slick tan chest, the droplets tangling with just the right amount of hair, which arrowed down over a spectacular set of abs and into the waistband of those damp shorts. Beautifully done tattoos covered his upper arms.Dammit! Why does he have to have tats?

His right bicep featured a large ornate cross with dark-red roses as the background, and on the other arm was an arrow alongside an intricate feather.

“Lehra, did you need something?”

I realized I was awkwardly gawking when he spoke, and I lifted guilty eyes to his. “Hi, I came over to…” My addled brain couldn’t quite remember why I’d come over here.To ogle? No, that couldn’t be it.Then I realized I was holding a box and held it before me in triumph as I remembered. “I brought you more cookies.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said, swiping sweat from his face with a white towel. “I just finished a workout. You want to come in?”

Yes.

“No, that’s okay. I better get back to my place.” I gestured vaguely toward my apartment which was across the hall and two doors down.

“Okay. Well, thanks for the cookies.”

I turned to walk away and then realized I was still holding the box. “Oh, sorry,” I said with a forced laugh, handing over the snacks.

Good grief! What is wrong with me?

As soon as I got back to my apartment, I checked my phone on the glass-and-chrome coffee table, and guilt instantly sank into my pores when I saw a missed call from Dwight.Ogling another man while your boyfriend is calling? Not cool, Lehra.

I immediately curled up on the couch and dialed him back. “Hi, babe,” he answered.

“Hey, I saw you called.”

“Yeahhhh.” The way he drew out the word had a sliver of dread inching down my back. “About this weekend, I’m not going to be able to make it, babe.”

My hand clenched into a fist against my thigh, and my voice thickened with sadness. “Why?”

“My mom is having a garage sale in a few weeks, and she wants me to help her price things.”

“Can’t you do that next weekend? We only get to see each other once a month. Plus, it’s Halloween, and I got us some costumes.” I thought of the Superman costume I’d rented for him and my sexy Lois Lane outfit.

“This is how long-distance relationships work, Lehra.” His tone was patronizing, and it grated on my nerves.

“Oh, I thought they worked by both parties following through and showing up when they said they would. You skipped August too.”

I heard a long sigh trek down the phone line. “I should have known you were going to be immature about this.”

Ouch.

As the anger and hurt rose, my knuckles pressed so hard into my leg I would probably have little circular bruises tomorrow. “You’re right, Dwight. I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”

“All right, babe,” he said easily, like he hadn’t just upset me. “Let me know your flight information for November, and I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

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