Page 11 of New Neighbor

“I invited you,” Benji argued.

“Gotta be faster,” Mac said before sliding out.

Benji scrambled out and headed around the car’s rear as it pulled away. He eyed Mac in the late summer evening light. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over them. Other people were filing out of cars and heading for the entrance along with them, a buzz of excitement in the air.

Or was that coming from him?

Mac opened the door and backed up, holding it open for Benji. He paused a second, confused as to why the guy hadn’t just gone through. He passed Mac, inhaling on the sly so he could draw in more of Mac’s cologne.

He wasn’t sure what it was, but it was spicy… warm… and made his stomach clench with need. Passing in such close proximity made the fine hairs lift on the back of his neck.

Get ahold of yourself. You’ve got to make it through dinner without making a fool of yourself.

He entered the lobby of the restaurant. Huge stained-glass panels were hung all over, dividing up the restaurant into sections. A huge koi pond filled the area, and they had to step over a short bridge to get over it.

“Fancy-schmanzy,” Mac murmured. “Hopefully the food is as good as the décor.”

“It’s new… so we’re about to find out.”

They stopped before a hostess station where a beautiful Asian woman stood. She looked up from her list when it was their turn. “How many?”

“We’re with the Kingston party,” Benji said.

“We’re preparing your table now. You can join the rest of your party in the lounge,” she said with a smile, eyeing Mac approvingly.

Benji couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of the smile he gave her.

Mac soon followed him into the lounge, where he saw Jesse and Adam already there. “Hey guys.”

Jesse and Adam turned, both of their stares immediately sizing up Mac.

“Hey, Benji,” Adam said, shaking their friend’s hand and looking up at a wall of muscle. “Who’s your date?”

“Notmy date,” Benji spat, his face growing hot.Even though I want it to be.“This is Mac. He just moved across the hall—and he’s new in town,” He turned to Mac, who wore a bit of a frown. Had Adam’s comment offended him? “These are old friends—Adam and Jesse. We all went to college together.”

“Nice to meet you, Mac,” Adam said, shaking Mac’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, as well,” Mac said before offering a hand to Jesse.

“What brings you here?”

“First job out of college,” Mac said.

“Late bloomer?”

“Marines first,” Mac said. “Then college.”

“Ahh,” Jesse said. “Thank you for your service… can I buy you a beer?”

Mac chuckled. “Sure.”

“What’ll you have?” Jesse asked as the pair of them turned toward the bar.

Benji turned toward Adam. “What’s with the date shit?”

Adam shrugged. “I was joking.”

“Not funny.”

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