Page 66 of Neighbors With Benefits

We laughed as we walked down our street. We passed in front of one house, and I saw a silhouette move in front of a lit window. The blinds were closed, but one of them moved slightly.

“That’s Karen Dermatt!” Bash whispered. “I told you she’s a snoop! She’s probably sending a text message to the HOA right now to report us for a noise violation.”

“It’s only eight-thirty!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Noise ordinances begin at nine! WE’RE FREEEEEEEEEEE!”

“Shhh,” Bash said, wrapping one arm around me and pressing a finger to my lips. That only made me buckle with laughter, which causedhimto laugh. We were a laughing, shushing, tangled mess as we reached our end of the street.

“Don’t look,” Bash whispered, “but I think Voldemort is watching us.”

I immediately swiveled my head toward his house, the one with the faded white paint.

“I said don’t look!” Bash hissed at me.

“I can’t help it! Where do you see him?”

“Front window,” he said. “Left of the door.”

I kept my head forward while using only my eyes to glance toward the house in question, hoping that wouldn’t make it look like I was staring. The blinds were in uniform rows of white…except for one in the middle. The edge of it was tilted upward, creating a triangle-shaped gap.

Suddenly, the blind dropped into place. The gap was gone.

“Shit!” I blurted out.

“Told you!” Bash said, quickening his steps. “Hopefully he’s not getting a gun.”

“I thought you said he keeps to himself, and doesn’t bother anyone unless they step onto his property.”

“So far, yes. But I don’t want to be the exception when he decides to go postal.”

Without warning, I took off at a sprint. Bash let out a surprised yelp, then chased after me until we reached our houses. I was laughing when we stopped, giddy with excitement despite the danger—whether it was real or imagined.

“Thanks for joining me today,” Bash said. “I’m glad I didn’t have to forfeit the tournament.”

“You’re just glad because we won!”

“Spending the afternoon with a woman as amazing as you is a treat all by itself,” he countered. “Winning is just the icing on the cake.”

“Great,” I said. “Now I want cake!”

“But seriously,” he reiterated. “Thanks, Jazz. I’m lucky you moved in next door.”

“I feel like the lucky one.”

He held out his arms, and I went in for a hug. Our bodies folded together like perfect puzzle pieces, and I rested my head against his shoulder. Bash’s scent was familiar to me now, a mixture of comforting and enticing. I felt my pulse quicken as he squeezed harder, not allowing the hug to end.

I didn’t want it to end, either.

And when we pulled away, we remained in each other’s arms. His breath mingled with mine, our personal space still joined. His impossibly blue eyes were unreadable as he gazed down at me, like he was searching for something. Or waiting.

My desire for him was overwhelming in that moment. I wanted to kiss him, to give in to the undeniable attraction that had been building in strength for the past few weeks. I wanted confirmation that he felt the same way, that it wasn’t all in my head.

And I was sure that he wanted all of the same things.

But I wasn’t certain. Not enough to make the move.

Bash must have been uncertain too, because his grip on me finally relented. He ran a hand through his hair, gave me a coy little smile, and then said, “Night, Jazz.”

I stood frozen in place, watching him walk into his house.

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