Page 5 of Falling for the CEO

I laughed nervously. Taylor was aware of my one-year dry spell. "When I'm ready for it, I'll tell you, I promise. Right now, I'm going to get all the love I can from your fur babies."

"If you change your mind about joining me, I'll pay for your ticket."

"No, you won't. I have savings, and if I want to join you, I'll do that." I wouldn’t blow my nest egg over a plane ticket, but no way would I let her buy it. I felt like enough of a charity case that I was staying in this gorgeous place for free. Taylor had a big heart. I constantly worried that people might take advantage of her.

“Though moving abroad for a while doesn’t sound that bad. I could look for jobs,” I muttered to myself. “Maybe that’s the fresh start I need.”

“That would be cool, although I’d miss you. Okay, I've got to go. I’ll check in with you soon. Have fun."

After hanging up, I dashed back to the Three S’s, as I called them. I took a selfie and sent it first to Taylor and then to Mom. Mom loved cats. She had six, and they were her constant companions. As expected, she replied right away.

Mom: They look adorable. Simon resembles my Jack.

I laughed. They looked nothing alike, but I was going to send her as many pics and videos as possible while I was here. Mom insisted on living in the home where I grew up even though she was all by herself in Arizona.

I checked on the cats again.

"Okay, you guys are set. Now I'm going to go out with Becky, and then I'll come back to spoil you." Sage and Sam both stared at me when they heard Becky's name. Hmm, I sensed some jealousy. That was why Taylor told me not to let them cross paths.

I closed the door and moved to the section of the house that looked out to the backyard. It was big, and it looked directly into the neighboring yards. I moved past the picture wall, as Taylor called it. It compiled an assortment of photos of her favorite hotels.

Many people mocked influencers, but I knew how much work Taylor put into each of her videos. There was nothing easy about it. She always tried to capture each place in the best light possible. If she thought a hotel didn't deserve the credit, she politely informed them that she wouldn't review it at all. She never bashed anyone.

I had yet to see a video of hers that didn't immediately make me want to book that hotel. Maybe that was something I'd just have to do as soon as I wasn't broke anymore. I’d told Taylor I had savings, but they’d dwindled significantly during the divorce proceedings. I was going to build my nest egg back up. I could feel it in my bones. I knew that there were great things in store for me. There had to be.

"Let's go out, Becky."

Becky wiggled her tail. She was far less suspicious when it came to me than the three S’s. I put on her leash, and she immediately started tugging at it. Damn, Becky was strong. Before when I went on walks with Taylor, I’d only held Becky briefly, and it seemed easy enough. But now I was rethinking that.

"Becky, be gentle with me. It's the first day."

We crossed the living room to get to the front door, and I noticed there was a lot of ruckus outside. Three enormous vans had parked in front of the house next door. It looked like someone was moving in. I was still shocked that the two houses were so different.

Taylor's house was Colonial-style, painted completely white with columns, and the neighboring house was red brick with white windows and a flat roof.

A man stepped out of a BMW. I estimated him to be around six feet tall. He had to spend a lot of time in the gym. Even from here, I could tell he was a wall of muscle. His shirt stretched over his biceps, and his backside belonged on the cover of a swimsuit issue.

He cocked his head to one side, talking to one of the movers. His features were striking. My entire body tensed. No! Wait a second... heat spiraled through me. I swallowed hard. Holy shit.

The man looked like a movie star. I couldn't tell the color of his eyes from here, but his hair was dark, almost black, and his features were chiseled. Not harsh—just the perfect blend of masculinity and beauty.

"Becky. Let's go outside." Hopefully, the fresh air could get rid of these thoughts.

For a split second, I thought about going in his direction with Becky. It was a good excuse to take a closer look, but then I shook myself out of it. I couldn’t believe my body reacted like that to the sight of Taylor’s new neighbor.

Just my luck. At least I knew my lady parts still worked.

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