My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1) by Piper Rayne (android based ebook reader txt) 📗

love that you’re staying up in the apartment. I used to have sleepovers up there when I was little.”

Another Greene admission of how the space above the garage was used. It makes me wonder what Cade’s memories up there might be.

She follows me up the stairs, as does Cade, both loaded with bags from my car.

“I can get it all,” I say.

“Nonsense. We’re right here.” She steps in and places the bags on the counter. “Oh, you cleaned it up nice.”

I put away the groceries while Cade stands there, drinking his beer.

“I should go. I just had to stop by to talk to Cade.” Chevelle’s gaze finds his, and he manages a smile for his younger sister. They obviously share a bond. She hugs me again on my way back from the fridge to grab more items. “Welcome to Sunrise Bay.”

“Thanks.” I can’t help but smile at her, despite my mood.

“And don’t go into the main house. Fisher is in there in his boxers.”

“Consider me warned.”

She hugs Cade and he pats her back, his gaze on me the entire time. Then she’s gone and the door shuts, leaving a deafening silence in her wake.

I continue to put away the items, unsure where we stand after I gave him rent as though I was making the point that he was free to do what he wanted. If that means he wants to do Reese again, so be it. I’m fully aware of how ridiculously needy I was being. I might as well have given him an ultimatum right there.

He sets down the beer and comes up behind me when I struggle to get a box on a high shelf. His hand lands on my hip and he eases the box out of my hand, setting it up on the shelf.

“Thanks,” I say.

He doesn’t move and I don’t turn around. My breath feels heavy in my lungs.

“I feel like I need to apologize,” he says in a low voice.

I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. “You did nothing wrong.”

He slides my hair over to one side and goose bumps chase after his finger, my body betraying me again. I feel his breath before his lips touch my shoulder.

“I would have done all this with you,” he says.

“That’s not part of the agreement.”

I turn around to try to leave, but his hand winds through my hair at the back of my head. His lips fall to mine and I sink into his hold. His kisses are like a glass of wine after a long day. I’m thankful the counter is behind me because just like with wine, I want to sigh and collapse into a comfy chair with a good book. Okay, well, I actually want to sink into a comfy chair and spread my legs for him.

When his lips are on mine, there’s no fight in me to remember what this is and keep him at arm’s length.

He breaks the kiss and steps back. “You probably want to finish putting the groceries away.”

I’m about to say nah, the ice cream can melt, but I’m fairly sure I’ll be needing that ice cream in the coming weeks, based on the fact that I willingly agreed to a friends with benefits relationship with a man I don’t see as just a friend. That realization came when I found myself jealous of his ex earlier today.

“I should.”

He unpacks the bags and I put everything away, Cade helping me with the top shelves. After we’re all done, I ask him if I can use their washing machine and dryer. Then we head inside the main house, sneaking into the basement before anyone sees us.

I load the comforter and sheets I bought and I’m about to go back to my apartment when Cade picks me up by the hips and plops me down on the washer. His hands slide up my thighs, nudging them apart so he can fit between them. Grabbing my ass, he slides me forward.

“Are you offering me a ride on the spin cycle?” I say, the first joke we’ve had since Reese’s reappearance.

“I’m in charge of your spin cycles,” he says before his lips are on mine again.

There’s something domineering about this kiss, a claim of sorts that I haven’t felt from him yet. There’s no possible way he’s not still navigating his feelings about Reese’s return, but this kiss feels like a declaration. He deepens it and I cling to him as though I’m afraid he’s going to leave me.

He pulls back and rests his forehead on mine. “I like what we have going.”

And that’s enough for me. I naively agreed to this, but I’m not going to ignite a set of flares to alarm him and make him think I’ve caught feelings. I’m a grown woman and able to handle this relationship for what it is—unattached sex. So I nod slowly without saying a word.

“Let’s go to your apartment,” he whispers and picks me up, lowering me until my feet touch the floor.

“Don’t forget the condoms,” I say, walking up the stairs.

“I love the fact you put an s on the end of that sentence.”

I smile back at him and leave him in his house while I head back to my apartment.

I’m only inside for a few minutes before I hear some kind of commotion from inside the house. I look out the curtains to see what’s going on and watch as all the guys rush out of the house and get into Jed’s truck.

My phone dings as the headlights disappear down the driveway.

Cade: Sorry, our younger brother broke his leg. Rain check?

Me: Of course. Go.

Cade: I’m never going to be inside you, am I?

At least it’s something he still wants.

Me: I’m here all night.

Cade: I’ll keep you posted.

Me: Just worry about your brother.

Cade: Thanks for understanding.

I send him a smiley face and fall to the bed, sexually frustrated and messed up in the head. I thought I was trying to keep things uncomplicated.

I make myself dinner,