Page 47 of In Plain Sight

When he was at work, he tied it back in either a low ponytail or a messy bun, but outside of the shop he seemed to prefer to wear it down. I was a fan of both styles, and my throat went a little dry as he ran his fingers through his hair in what looked like a nervous gesture.

I’d spent more time than I’d ever admit thinking about how those silky strands would feel running through my fingers or trailing over my skin. I’d always liked it when a woman’s hair fell around her face and created a little curtain around us when she was on top, and the thought of experiencing that with Zander got me hotter than it had any business doing.

“Great!” I said, my voice way too loud again, realizing I’d been staring at his hair like a creeper. “I don’t live far. Do you know where Chamberlain is?” I named the arterial road my street intersected with.

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m not far from there.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised. Chamberlain was a long street, and depending on where he lived, we could either be neighbors or live miles apart. “I’m on Elmdale.”

He offered me a smile. “I’m on Honeybrook.”

My jaw actually dropped. He lived five minutes from me. Well, five minutes by car. I could walk to Honeybrook inless time than that, thanks to a path connecting my building’s parking lot to the subdivision behind it.

“1412,” I said. “My building number is 1412, on Elmdale,” I clarified stupidly.

He arched his eyebrow playfully. “I didn’t realize we were neighbors. I’m number seven Honeybrook. Right next to the path.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Really? I can literally see your house from my balcony.” It was probably a thirty-second walk from his front door to my building.

“Crazy, isn’t it?” He flipped his keys in his big hand again. “I’ll park at my place and walk over. No point driving home when it’ll take five times as long.”

“Yeah, good call. I’ll meet you at the back door.”

“See ya in a bit.”

I hurried over to my truck as Zander unlocked his car. This was crazy. I’d barely spoken to him in the month we’d worked together, and I’d invited him to my apartment the first time we were going to hang out alone.

What the fuck was I thinking?

7

LUKA

Twenty minuteslater I was leaning against the back of my building and trying to ignore the swarm of bees that had taken over for the butterflies in my stomach.

Before I could get too worked up, I caught sight of Zander stepping off the path, but instead of making my nerves worse, a wave of calm washed over me, quieting some of the noise in my head.

God, he looked good. His straight-legged jeans were just loose enough that they skimmed his thick thighs and shapely calves instead of clinging to them. The black zip-up hoodie he had on was plain and also loose but contrasted nicely against his golden skin and dark features, and it made him look big and solid and hella intimidating.

“Hey,” I greeted, needing to say something, as he approached.

“Hey.” He glanced up at my building. “What floor are you on?”

“Seventh.” I pointed to my balcony. “There, three down from the center.”

“You really can see my house from your balcony.” He shook his head, a smile on his full lips. “Small world.”

“It really is.” I waved for him to follow me to the door.

He waited as I punched in my key code to get us through the security door.

“Do you mind taking the stairs?” I asked when we were in the back lobby. “The elevator is a million years old and smells like death.”

He wrinkled his nose. “The stairs are fine.”

Silently, we climbed the seven flights to my floor and didn’t say a word to each other until we were inside my apartment.

“So, this is my place,” I said nervously—and unnecessarily.

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