Page 6 of Teasing

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Call me when you know, okay?”

“Yeah. Talk soon.”

“Love you,” I tell him before I end the call and toss my phone to the passenger seat, utterly and completely emotionally exhausted.

The air has finally kicked in ten minutes later when I pull into my driveway and park. I look up at the big, old, empty house in front of me and drop my head to my hands and finally cry. Today started with such hope, but the emotional rollercoaster that followed had a few too many drops and loops for my liking.

A light knock on my window makes me jump like a skittish cartoon cat until I look over and find my pint-sized, new neighbor.

“Hi, Emmie.” Her smile is infectious and impossible to ignore. It’s also contagious and before I know it, I’m smiling back.

“Hi, Rosie.” I wipe my eyes and crack the door open, waiting as Rosie takes a step back, so I can get out. “What are you doing out here?” I ask her as I look around for her father. If he didn’t like her in the back yard, I doubt he’d be thrilled to know she’s alone in my driveway.

“Rosie . . .” a deep baritone booms.

A different one from this morning. I look up to find the big man that big voice belongs to, and this man certainly isn’t her father.

“Over here, Uncle Jamie.” She smiles, and my shoulders shake with laughter.This kid. Uncle Jamie, who’s better known as Jameson Murphy, the Philadelphia Kings’ newest linebacker, jogs over. His strawberry-blond hair practically flows in the wind like a shampoo commercial. Women would die for that hair. He stops next to Rosie and gives me the cockiest grin I’ve seen in years.

Good lord, these men are gorgeous trouble.

And apparently, my new neighbors.

“Rosie posie. What did we say?” he asks as he squats down next to her, and my ovaries might actually throb a little.

Can ovaries throb?

“That I was supposed to wait for you. But I saw her stop her car, and she was waiting here for me to come over.” Rosie turns her big, brown eyes on me. “Weren’t you, Emmie?”

She tilts her little head to the side, and I swear she bats her lashes.

Where the heck did this kid learn to lay on the charm like this?

I giggle silently but agree—because how could I not?

“You know what? Maybe I was waiting for you, Rosie.” I reach into the car, grab my purse, and shut the door. “What are you guys up to this afternoon?”

“We’re having a party,” Rosie announces, bouncing on her toes with delight.

“Oh yeah?” I ask and look between her and her uncle. “Sounds like fun.”

“Not really a party,” Jamie interjects. “More like a get-to-know-your-neighbors dinner.”

“Oh?” It’s my turn to tilt my head and cock a brow. I’m their only neighbor.

“Well, that’s what we’re hoping, right, squirt?” He palms Rosie’s head like he’s palming a football.

The little girl nods, and her eyes dance with delight. “Right. Want to come have dinner with us?”

“Umm...” I bite down on my lower lip. I was just heartbroken over the thought of walking into an empty house, but I’ve got to say, dinner with strangers, even strangers on my favorite football team, wasn’t exactly at the top of my to-do list.I try to soften my voice. “I’m not so sure I’m in the mood to be around a ton of people at a party tonight.”

“Not a ton.” Jamie’s cocky grin grows, and I can absolutely imagine most women dropping their panties right about now. Shame it’s tall, dark, and grumpy that got me going earlier. Why can’t I ever be attracted to the goofy hot guys? Why is it always the broody jerks who catch my eye? “Just us and you and whoever you live with.”

Oh. . . this man is fishing.

Vivi would love him.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s just me,” I break the news, and you’d think the words wouldn’t sting the way they do, but man... they still do.

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