Page 7 of Crave Thy Neighbor

“A whiskey sour for the lady, top shelf.” He slides my glass toward me, then sets the other in front of the stranger. “And neat scotch for Brooks.”

Brooks.

The name fits him and doesn’t all at the same time.

“Let me know when you’re ready for refills,” Donny says.

Brooks nods, picking his glass up and taking a sip. He doesn’t grimace, doesn’t shake his head after the burn like my ex-husband always did when he tried to drink hard liquor.

I like that he doesn’t do that.

“I’m not some guy drowning his sorrows at a bar, all down on relationships because he’s been broken up with, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

It wasn’t.

“Duly noted,” I chirp back at him.

Another grin pulls at his lips. It’s not a full smile, just a soft tug at his lips that’s more mischievous than amused. Though I don’t know him, I like it when he does it.

It’s…cute.

Which isn’t a fitting word for a guy as big as him.

“So, what hasyouhere drowning your sorrows? Get broken up with?”

I snort. “Something like that.”

I wasn’t dumped in the traditional sense, but my landlord did basically break up with me.

It was just via an eviction notice.

“That bad, huh?”

“That bad.” I gulp down a drink of my whiskey sour, grimacing as the liquor hits the back of my throat. Donny made up for ignoring me by adding extra alcohol.

Guess I can let Donny off the hook this time.

“I got an eviction notice.”

I’m not sure why I tell him.

He’s nobody to me. Has no business being privy to this embarrassing information.

But maybe that’s why I say it.

“It’s not a surprise. I’ve known about it for weeks. Just can’t seem to get my crap together. But it hit me today that I’m going to be homeless in about three weeks if I can’t find something between now and then. Saying it was a punch to the gut would be an understatement.”

“Fuck. Thatisbad.” He lifts his hand, signaling at Donny for a refill. He peeks back over at me. “You need another drink.”

“Gentle reminder that my statement from before stands,” I tell him, narrowing my eyes.

Those startling blue irises of his sparkle, and it’s not only the grin lining his lips that’s mischievous.

“That so?”

“That’s so.” I push my shoulders back, though I’m not sure even I believe it.

His eyes darken with a promise, and my breath is caught in my throat as he leans into me for the second time tonight. His lips are a short distance away. I’ve never had the urge to kiss a total stranger before, but right now?

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