Page 3 of Hot Neighbor Summer

I shake my head and shove his hand away. Did meeting Bailey the day we moved in ignite something in us? Yes, it did. But Bailey was in a relationship then, and therefore strictly off-limits. Just because he's single now, it doesn't mean he's ready to launch himself into a new relationship, not to mention one with two guys, because Stellan and I are a package deal.

"I don't want to be someone's rebound," I muse.

"Neither do I."

"He probably needs some time."

"We can give him all the time he needs."

"We don't even know if he'll be into…" I wave my hand between us. "This."

Stellan frowns, kicking the water until it starts to churn around our calves. I place my hand on his thigh, his skin soft as silk to the touch, such a contrast to his powerful muscles. The love I have for him is indescribable, and it's not that it's not enough, it's just that we both know on some deeper level that having someone else to share this love with would be the final piece that's missing in our puzzle.

I look into his emerald eyes. They're gleaming even more brightly than usual, reflecting the pool’s light.

"We shouldn't do anything," I say.

"Ugh." He splashes some more. "You always say that."

It's true. He's the impulsive one, I'm more measured. It's why we were such great teammates when we played for the Thunderhawks—we balanced each other out.

He turns so he's facing me and presses his palm to my heart. "But I'm not alone in this. You do feel something for Bailey." His eyes search mine. "Don't you?"

Despite only meeting our neighbor once and being instantly put off by his way too handsy boyfriend, I can't deny that the second I laid eyes on Bailey, something inside me flickered to life. His hazel eyes, flecked with dark amber and green, his lean build, his boyish charm. A gentle whisper from the deepest recesses of my subconscious told me there was something special about the guy.

"I do feel it," I admit. "But whatever we do, we have to tread carefully."

His face lights up like I've just given him the green light to march over to Bailey's house and declare our intentions.

He sees my sour expression and laughs. "Okay, okay. We'll tread carefully."

"And slowly," I add.

"Fine. And slowly."

I shake my head. "Why don't I believe you?"

He laughs again then cups my face and presses his lips to mine. "Because I have a good feeling about this. About him." He stares at me with nothing but love in his eyes. "I think we may have finally found the one, baby."

3

Stellan

After lounging by the pool, doing a weights session in our home-gym carport, and having some lunch, Duke and I are getting ready to go check in on Bailey when there's a knock on the door.

"You expecting a delivery?" Duke asks, and I shake my head.

We bound down the stairs like the gorillas we are, and when he opens the front door, my heart pitter-patters in my chest.

"Bailey," I greet with a smile, standing beside Duke in the doorway. "How are you?"

"Better than I was yesterday." He releases a deep breath, his amber and olive eyes flicking between us. "I came over to apologize."

"For what?" Duke asks.

"For the huge scene on my front lawn yesterday."

"That wasn't your fault," I say, reaching out to rub his shoulder, and just like when I held him yesterday, the physical touch ignites something within me. Something deeper than just sexual attraction. Bailey unlocks the part of me that desperately wants to care for and protect someone.

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