Page 87 of Rockstar Next Door Neighbor

“Probably wise,” I agree, though I can’t resist stealing another kiss. “Wouldn’t want to break your family’s porch swing.”

She stands, taking my hand and pulling me up. “Come on. I’ll show you the bedroom.”

As I follow her inside, I send up a silent thank you to whatever twist of fate brought us here—to this place and to this new beginning.

We have two weeks of solitude ahead of us, and I plan to make everysecond count.

The mid-morning sun streams through the bedroom windows as I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist. Lila’s just crawled out of bed pulled on some hot pink panties, and is reaching for a t-shirt.

“Babe?” I call out. “Have you seen my—“

The sound of tires and an engine cuts me off. Through the front window, I catch sight of a truck pulling up.

“Lila?” Turning to her as three doors slam and voices drift up to the porch.

“That’s my dad’s truck.” She appears beside me, her eyes now wide open.

Before either of us can do more than sink further back into the bedroom, the screen door creaks open.

“Lila?” a woman’s voice calls out. “Honey, we brought breakfast!”

I’m standing there in nothing but a towel, my hair still wet, and Lila’s in my t-shirt from last night. Her hair is still mussed from our morning in bed, and there’s no mistaking what we’ve been up to.

“Lila? Are you—Oh!”

Mrs. Jeffers stops dead in the doorway to the bedroom, a picnic basket in her arms. Behind her, a teenage girl lets out a squeak that could probably shatter glass.

“Oh my God, you’re… you’re Luke Sterling! And you’re in the bedroom with my sister!”

“Lily Marie!” Her father’s voice booms from the main room. “What are you—“ He appears behind his wife and daughter, his face turning from confusion to thunderous in record time.

Lila moves to stand slightly in front of me, though given our respective heights, it doesn’t hide much. “Mom, Dad, Lily... this is Luke. Luke, this is... well, my family. Who we weren’t expecting.”

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I manage, trying to maintain some dignity while clutching my towel. “I’d shake hands, but...”

“Perhaps,” Mr. Jeffers says through gritted teeth, “we should give you a moment to get dressed.”

Lila gives me an apologetic look as we both hurriedly throw on some clothes and walk into the main living area.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I say, trying to ignore Mr. Jeffers’ increasingly stern expression. “Lila’s told me so much aboutyou.”

“Funny,” Mr. Jeffers says quietly. “She hasn’t mentioned you.”

“Jonas,” Mrs. Jeffers chides, but she’s looking between Lila and me with concern. “Though I have to admit, when you said you needed the cabin for a while, we didn’t expect...”

“Wait!” Lily interrupts, phone in hand. “Is this why Luke’s all over TMZ? They’re saying he broke up with Crystal Davidson because—“

“Lily Marie!” Both parents snap at once.

“Sorry,” she mumbles, but her eyes are still wide with curiosity and excitement.

Lila squeezes my hand. “Why don’t we all sit down and eat the breakfast you brought? And Luke and I will explain everything.”

The next hour is simultaneously awkward and enlightening. We gather around the small kitchen table, eating the scrambled eggs and bacon that Lila’s mother brought. We tell them about how we met, about Marcus and Crystal, and about needing somewhere quiet until the media circus dies down. Her mother listens with increasing understanding while Lily practically vibrates with questions.

Mr. Jeffers, however, remains silent throughout, watching me with the kind of intensity that would make lesser men squirm.

“Well,” Mrs. Jeffers says finally, “at least you’re not the only Wild Band celebrity we know. I take it Sam Ryder is a friend of yours?”

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