Page 97 of Neighbors With Benefits

“Do what?”

“Be friends,” he said bluntly. “I’ll help you on the greenhouse, but we don’t need to make small talk or other bullshit. All right?”

“Okay,” I said. “I was just being nice.”

“Sure.” His dark gaze remained locked onto mine, holding me in place. “I won’t need your help for about twenty minutes. You can go change out of your lingerie. Unless you did that just for me.”

I looked down at myself and gasped. Last night I had sent Bash and Aiden photos in red-and-black lingerie, and I had fallenasleep with it still on. And although I was wearing a robe over it, the middle had come open.

“I…” I said, tightening the robe. “I was…”

“I don’t care,” he said, turning back to his work. “But I’ll take a coffee when you come back out.”

Blushing like a teenager, I rushed inside to change.

35

Jazz

I changed out of my lingerie and into a pair of shorts and the least flattering pair of shorts I had. I was still cringing with embarrassment as I walked outside with two cups of steaming hot coffee.

Dante didn’t tease me about my wardrobe anymore, though. If anything, he seemed bored by my presence as I stood nearby and handed him tools whenever he requested them.

That was the extent of our day. Dante worked, and I stood there. We didn’t speak.

The next day, I put my AirPods in and listened to a podcast while Dante continued his repairs. That made the time go by quicker, but I still felt vaguely awkward that this guy was doing all this work for me and we were totally silent the entire time. I felt like I should have been friendly with him, thanking him several more times for what he was doing. But I knew that would probably just piss him off.

So we worked in silence.

That evening, Aiden and Bash were free at the same time for once. I stretched out on my couch and texted with them.

Me: I miss you guys! Especially since you’ve been working late.

Aiden: I miss you too. I’d rather be home right now.

Bash: I don’t want to play the game of who has the worst situation right now, but it’s definitely me. I’ve been putting out fires and mending relationships since I got here. It sucks.

Bash: And that’s on TOP of not getting to see Jazzy Wazzy.

Aiden: Jazzy Wazzy? Have I missed out on exciting new pet names?

Me: NO. That’s what Cat sometimes calls me, and I guess Bash overheard. I’m not a fan of it.

Aiden: Got it, Jazzy Wazzy.

Bash: What I’m hearing is that you love it when we come up with adorable pet names.

Aiden: Oh! What about Snazzy Jazzy?

Bash: Yes. Love it.

Me: Please stop.

Aiden: Teasing is one of our love languages ;-)

Me: Apparently!

Bash: If I were there, I’d be teasing you in a different way.

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