Page 14 of New Neighbor

Chapter Three

Dinner wasn’t as bad as Benji had expected. Of course, Adam and Clay went between glaring or ignoring one another. Jesse did his level best to toss out sarcastic comments meant for Hayden, who barely seemed to register them. Hay was too interested in eating his date’s face. So from other points of view, the night was likely hell on earth.

Luckily, Benji had Mac to talk to.

And that was a blessing. He pushed out all the drama and spent the evening talking about the school district, the school Mac would be working at, and sharing a few trade secrets. Mac made conversation easy, which usually was a chore when it came to a date.

Not that it was a date.

Not officially.

But the more the night progressed, it felt more and more right.

Mac was comfortable. Smart. Funny. Andsovery good looking. Benji could stare into that golden gaze all night.

All night.

As soon as their food arrived, Mac snuck a sample of his pork—so, of course, Benji had to do the same. He nearly burned his taste buds off and had to guzzle the rest of his beer and half of Mac’s to stop the burning.

“I warned ya,” Mac murmured, trying to hide his wicked grin.

“Remind me… to follow… your warnings… in the future,” Benji said, panting and trying to cool his mouth off between words.

Mac flagged down the waitress and asked for a glass of milk.

Benji drained it once it arrived and finally found some relief. “Oh lord… never again.” He turned to Mac. “How can you eat that?” Benji asked as Mac ate another forkful.

“I like things hot.” He smiled, taking another forkful.

My god, that man is gorgeous. I am so out of his league.Benji’s smile faded some.But… I’mnothot.

Mild Benji went back to his own plate of mild food and was mildly happy with it. Not long after, he overheard Jesse asking for the check. Benji peeked at Jesse, who sat with his arms crossing his chest, fuming.

Hayden’s actions were a bit inappropriate, but Jesse’s reaction was way off the scale.

He eyed Adam and Clay, and sensed something off there, too.

His friends weren’t themselves… not by a long shot.

The waitress returned a short time later, leaving the check and a pile of fortune cookies on the table. She grinned and glanced around the table. “Have a great night, gentlemen! Thanks for dining with us tonight.”

Jesse reached into the pile of fortune cookies and tossed one to each person at the table. “Let’s see what our future holds.”

“You know the rule about fortune cookies, right?” Hayden’s date said as she opened one. “You have to addin bedto the end of your fortune.”

Benji reached for his fortune cookie and cracked it open.The man or woman you desire feels the same about you.

In bed.

His stare drifted to Mac a moment, heat filling his cheeks.

Is he? Could he really be interested?

Mac read his and chuckled slightly before he pulled out his wallet. He tucked the little scrap of paper inside before pulling out a few bills.

“What’s yours say?” Benji asked.

Mac just grinned. “For my eyes only.”

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