Page 47 of Wildly Inappropriate

Though in my mind I hear JT finish the sentence with,so it seems like the street is really on an upswing.

I smile but internally add “next-door neighbor” to both guys’ Cons lists. Living across the street from your boyfriend? Definite upsides. Living across the street from your ex? Just go ahead and sign me up for the next train leaving town.

We head into the house and all grab beers before the three men drop down on the couch to watch sports highlights.

“So what do you do for fun?” Austin asks.

“Work has been taking up a lot of my time lately, but I’m a big reader.”

“Oh, really? What do you like to read?”

“I’m a big romance fan. Well, romance, romantasy, that type of thing.”

Bobby snorts a laugh. “Wait, you’re kidding, right?”

“Nope,” I say, mentally adding another large mark to the Cons column for Bobby.

“I thought only my grandma reads that. Isn’t it unrealistic smut geared at women who have nothing better to do with their time than sit around?”

“It’s the most popular genre of books, and at all ages, not just older women.”

“Huh. Who knew?” Austin cuts in, clearly trying to stop Bobby before he says anything else.

Bobby shoots me a remorseful smile. “Sorry, that was rude. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sure there are some great romance books out there.”

I know there are a lot of people who don’t understand romance, and open-door romance in general, but I can’t help but think of how JT has never once made me feel frivolous for enjoying them. Hell, he’s read a spicyalienromance.

“I also like to golf,” I say a few beats later to dispel the awkward lull that’s fallen over the group.

“Oh, cool. I guess that makes sense, with your brother being who he is,” says Austin.

“Have you gotten to play much since you moved here?” Bobby asks.

“Yeah. I’ve played a couple times with Kelsey, Izzy, and Becca.”

“That sounds like fun,” Bobby responds.

I take a swig from my beer and feel a smirk pull at my mouth as I ask, “Did any of you ever date a Harper sister?”

Matt snorts. “No.”

“What? Not even in high school? Why not?”

“They’re pretty intimidating, if you haven’t noticed,” Bobby says.

“More so than other women?” I ask.

“We all grew up with them being good at everything. They were athletes, they were smart, and they’ll argue with you about the color of the damn sky. They dated in high school but not a ton. I think all the guys were a bit scared. I know I was. And now, I think that aura just hasn’t gone away, even though we all know how amazing they actually are.”

“Unfortunately, your brother had to go and steal one from us. I think Austin was just about to work up enough nerve to ask Bryn to coffee too,” Matt jokes.

“Really?” I ask.

“No. Not really. He never would’ve had the balls to handle Bryn.”

I laugh. “That’s crazy. Bryn is awesome.”

“Oh, trust me, we all know how awesome she is. Kelsey and Izzy too. We’re all friends with them. Dating them…it’s just the next level,” Austin says with a sigh.

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