Page 74 of The Neighbor Wager

I let the treat melt on my tongue. It’s good chocolate. Rich and fruity, with just enough sugar to cut the bitterness.

Perfect for her, really.

“Now,” I agree.

She smiles with pride and satisfaction.

Is that how she smiles when her partner comes? Whenshecomes?

Now that’s a mental image.

Deanna, in my lap, in that sheer black cover-up, with nothing under it, head thrown back, eyes closed, lips parting with a low, deep groan.

She lets out a low, deep groan as she tastes the chocolate.

I pinch myself to make sure I’m awake. I am. She’s here, across from me, gorgeous in the sunlight.

And she’s actually groaning like she’s about to come. All right, her groan is reasonable for a woman in need. Too reasonable.

It’s my head, my desire to watch her experience every kind of pleasure, to give her every kind of pleasure.

No.

She’s here for a reason, but I have a cause, too. If she can work me, I can work her.

“Why did you start your company?” I ask.

“Shouldn’t we head back?” she asks. “Your grandma needs her tea, too.”

Probably. “You’ll still have to answer.”

“Okay.”

“After I use the bathroom.”

She nods.

I stand and move to the back of the shop. The door is locked. And my thoughts are way too eager to return to her groan.

I pull out my cell for a distraction. The comic I’m reading maybe.

Only there are two sets of texts waiting for me. One from my sisters and one from Grandma.

I look at my sisters’ first.

North:We don’t have official family meetings, River. We use chat, like normal people.

Fern:We’re glad you’re here, but we have a system in place. You know Grandma. She hates that any of us know. She won’t accept help.

North:She’s even more stubborn than you.

Fern:Me or him?

North:Who would be more stubborn than you, Fern?

Fern:Um, rude. But, yes, we do have a system, alternating weeks. Me, North, Mom, Dad, and a few of Grandma’s friends. We’re glad you’re here but we don’t need to rework the system.

North:As long as you’re here, you can pick up my weeks. I can’t always make it from LA with everything happening at home.

---