Page 2 of Neighbor DADDY

This guy, my new helper? Maybe some modifications to my no-dating lifestyle can be made for someone like that.

I've been standing on the ramp like a total idiot, and Cam turns and looks at me, raising his eyebrows. "Everything okay?"

"Yes!" I say, quickly picking up another box and hurrying after him.

I can't deny that having him here is a huge help. It means that my whole kitchen is unloaded within the next twenty minutes, and my bedroom furniture is in the bedroom without much effort at all. He's quiet while we work, and I try not to stare at him or ogle him, but I fail pretty miserably. I keep getting caught, and Cam keeps flashing me a grin, which is equal parts disarming and devastating.

Once the truck is empty, I snag us both bottles of water from the fridge and find Cam on the porch. He's leaning against the wooden railing, taking a breather, and when he lifts the hem of his shirt up to mop his forehead, revealing a tan six-pack lightly dusted with dark hair, I think I'm going to need several breathers to recover.

"Thanks," he says when I hand him a bottle, and he twists the cap off and drains it. He's not wearing a wedding ring, so it seems safe to assume he's single. "It's nice to see someone has bought this place with the intent to live here and not just to flip and sell, and I don't mean to assume, but are you living in this big old place alone?"

I nod and open my water bottle. It's a little embarrassing, and I'm afraid he's going to judge me, but I tell the truth. "Yeah. It's my first house."

"And your first time living on your own?"

"Yep."

He raises an eyebrow. "No starter apartment for you, I see. Jumping right into home ownership."

"It's a lot," I admit. "But I've always wanted to have my own place, and it was now or never. My mom thinks I'm being stupid, and she's notwrong. This house is a little bit of a fixer-upper, but the price was right, and it's got a nice yard. Plus, it's close to where I'll be working in the fall."

"Ah, so you've got a job lined up and everything, huh?"

"I've got a job lined up at the local elementary school as a kindergarten teacher."

"Impressive," he says, sounding surprised. Cam looks me over slowly, and I have to take another drink of my water to hide how much his gaze affects me. "I think you're going to make a fine neighbor, Ms. Davidson. Don't hesitate to come ask if there's anything you need. I only work part-time these days, and I've always done all my own repairs, so I'm good with my hands."

His words, spoken in that husky voice, send my mind straight into the gutter. "Oh, uh," I stammer. "That would be great. Thank you. I don't want to impose, though."

"Not at all. That's what neighbors are for. It can be tough to do it all by yourself." He grins, and this time it's a little wolfish.

A little naughty. A little like he knows exactly where my mind has wandered.

With that, Cam finishes his water and makes his way back to his house, stopping to close the moving truck for me on the way. I'm frozen to the spot, watching him walk away, admiring the muscles of his back, the curve of his ass, and the length of his legs. He turns and waves at me, and I can't help the big, goofy smile that crosses my face as I wave back.

Wow.

This is one neighborly gesture I didn't expect, but I'm so, so glad that it happened. Something tells me I'm going to be seeing a lot more of my neighbor than I anticipated.

Well,actually, I see Cam again a lot sooner than anticipated, too.

I'm thrilled to have the moving company come pick up their truck, and finally, it's time for me to relax. Most of my possessions are still in boxes, but I'm truly home. The doors are shut, but the windows are open as the sun starts to set, and the sweet-smelling summer air is blowing in through the screens. It's peaceful in a way student housing had never been, and it's enough to put a lump in my throat.

The grocery will have to wait until tomorrow, so tonight I plan to just order a pizza. It's a Friday, so the wait time is over an hour, and I decide a hot bath in the antique, claw-foot tub is exactly what I need to ease my sore muscles. I've brought my toiletries, favorite scented candles, and bubble bath, and while the water runs, I light a few and start some music playing on my phone.

I strip out of my sweaty clothes, leaving them on the bathroom floor, and sink into the hot water with a groan. My body has definitely taken a beating, but it's a good one. I feel accomplished and excited. Tomorrow I can do all the boring stuff like washing my sheets and putting dishes away. Tonight is about relaxing.

As the music plays, and the candlelight flickers, and the scent of honeysuckle and jasmine wafts through the air, I can't help the sigh of satisfaction that escapes me. The bath is the perfect end to the day.

When the water starts to cool, I pull the drain plug, step out of the bathtub, slide on my silk robe, and towel my hair dry. It's when I lift my head back up that I notice the level of water in the bathtub hasn't gone down at all.

Frowning, I reach down to see if the plug slipped back into place, but no, it’s clogged. Dread settles in my stomach, even if the issue is relatively small. I was so sure I wouldn't have to deal with my first homeowner catastrophe for at least a few weeks.

There's a brand-new plunger under the sink, so I yank it out and get to work, trying to unclog the drain. I can call a plumber tomorrow. I just need the water to go away for the night, even if it goes slowly.

Ten minutes later, the water is still at the same level, and the plunger is absolutely useless. I plunge it down a few more times, but when I go to pull back up, the stick separates from the rubber and I go flying backward, landing on my ass.

Shit.

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