Page 48 of Average Joe

Thanks to the money I’d put aside while working for dear ol’ dad, there was no rush, but I wasn’t a man to sit idle. I needed to make an honest living. Earn my way.

When Frank’s pedicure was finished, I took his place in Ly’s chair. We slipped into a comfortable conversation, Trudy going silent once again. After my feet were scrubbed and my nails buffed, Ly asked, “So, same time next week?”

“Yep,” Con said without hesitation.

“Please, ma’am.” Frank pulled a stack of bills out of his wallet and handed it to Ly without another word.

“Thanks, ladies. See you next week.” I laid my cash on the counter and followed my buddies into the cool morning air.

Joe

“Morning, beautiful.” With a groan, I rolled to my side, body aching something fierce thanks to the new hiking trail Ginger and I braved the day before.

I reached over and gave her butt a pat. “Breakfast?”

Sleepy brown eyes lifted to mine before the beauty stretched, then snuggled into her nest of bedding.

Sharing my bed was a novelty, but I had no complaints as far as my new sleeping partner went. Ginger kept to her side of the mattress, snored, but the sound was fucking adorable, and she wasn’t a blanket hog.

The bonus? My new girl didn’t talk back, and there wasn’t a judgmental bone in her body. The exact opposite of my neighbor, whom I hadn’t seen in days.

“Get your beauty sleep. I’ll be downstairs.” Despite the heat, I wrapped a blanket over her tiny body, then stumbled to the restroom.

By the time I reached the kitchen, my muscles had loosened.

A soft rap hit my door. I peeked around the corner. Marley’s form filled the window, and good goddamn morning, my weary bones sparked to life.

I considered my mostly naked state, contemplated jogging upstairs for some pants, then thought, fuck it. I’d never get enough of the way she blushed or struggled to keep her eyes from roaming the stretch of my skin. A man could jet to Saturn from that ego boost.

Another knock, then the doorbell chimed.

I waited for the coffee machine to finish filling my cup, hooked my finger through the handle, and sauntered her way.

Our eyes met through the glass, and her gaze heated my skin like a third-degree sunburn.

I pulled the door open and waited while she made her appraisal, those cheeks growing rosier by the second. No better way to start the day.

“Do you ever wear clothes to answer the door?”

“Nah.” I smirked, lifted the cup to my lips, and drew a slow sip. “That bother you?”

“Respectable neighborhood.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “Remember?”

“No one can see me but you.”

We shared a weighty glare. My boxers failed to disguise the swelling bulge.

“What can I do for you, neighbor?”

Her long hair fell over her shoulders, wavy, the ends wetting her pale yellow shirt. Baggy shorts hung low on her hips, the denim frayed at the hems. She held a key between her thumb and forefinger. “This isn’t my spare.”

“It’s not?”

“I tried it last night. Doesn’t fit my lock.”

“Hmm.” I opened the door wider and gestured for her to enter.

Like she owned the place, Marley headed to the kitchen, opened the cupboard containing Alice’s teacup collection, rose on her toes, and reached into the far corner.

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