The Architect (Nashville Neighborhood Book 3) by Nikki Sloane (top e book reader .TXT) 📗

Something caught his attention because he climbed out of the pool and hustled over to the grill. Horrible Judy Malinger’s house was on one side of Greg’s, but his neighbor on the other side had appeared and was deep in conversation with him. I’d met her once or twice before. She was the music agent, and likely Troy’s, judging by the way she smiled at him.

A guy plopped down on the end of the lounger, nearly sitting on my feet, but I drew them back just in time. Water dripped down his toned, tan chest, and he slicked his hair back out of his eyes, slinging droplets everywhere.

“Hey, there,” he said. “I’m Colin.”

He was probably my age or a few years younger, and cute, but judging by his wide grin, he knew it.

“Hi, Colin.” I gestured to myself. “Lilith. I’m Cassidy’s friend. We work together at—”

“Oh, I know who you are.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “I asked Preston about you, like, a second after I got here.” He tucked a foot under himself, swiveling to face me, and his posture was carefree. His gaze swept over my body, taking in the white crocheted cover-up I wore, and I appreciated how he didn’t seem to be peering through the small holes to see what was beneath. “How come you’re not swimming?”

“I’m not hot enough to want to get in,” I lied.

His smile was cocksure. “Gonna have to disagree with you there.”

It was so over the top, I couldn’t help but laugh. Confidence was sexy, and this guy had it in spades. A few months ago, I probably would have eaten him up. But everything was different now. This cute boy couldn’t compare to the two men I was in a relationship with.

“Can I get you another drink?” He glanced at the can of Miller Lite beside me that I’d been nursing the last thirty minutes. Like Cassidy, I’d taken the day off from the clinic, but it was barely six o’clock on a Tuesday night, and it felt weird to be drinking so early. Plus, I assumed harder liquor was coming later tonight when we went out to the bars, so it was best to switch to water until then.

“I’m good, thanks.”

Colin wasn’t deterred. He wiped at the water dripping down his chest, and I wondered if it truly bothered him, or if he’d done it to call my attention to his muscles. “You going to Troy’s show on Saturday? He’s opening for Stella.”

“I heard, but I—”

“I’ve got an extra ticket if you want to go with me.”

I paused, lifted my eyebrows, and gave him a smile. “Straight to the point,” I said. “I appreciate that.”

He winked. “I figured you would.”

Oh, he was smooth, and I immediately began to catalogue my brain for my single friends. I wasn’t interested, but I didn’t want to see this guy go to waste. Someone could have fun with him.

I shot him a regretful look. “Thanks for the offer, but I have a boyfriend.”

He put his hand over his heart, acting like I’d mortally wounded him, and his tone was teasing. “Do you need another?”

It just came out of my mouth without thought. “No, I already have two. Three is a bit much, even for me.”

He blinked and evaluated if I was joking, and must have decided I was, because he laughed and shrugged.

There was a splash and water rained down on us. Troy had returned from his conversation and was gathering up his stuff when Preston had playfully flung water at him. Colin and I were merely bystanders caught in the crossfire.

Preston stood in the shallow end and grinned up at his friend beside the pool, who was stepping into his flipflops.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Preston demanded, but it sounded like he totally knew the answer. The only response Troy gave him was a rueful smile, and then he was off, carrying his bag and towel toward the side gate in the fence.

“Boy,” Colin said, “he’s sure in a hurry to clean Ms. Graham’s pool.”

And to make sure I didn’t miss his innuendo, he stared at me with an all-knowing look, as if he were letting me in on a big secret. I laughed softly and shook my head. It was always hilarious to me when guys gossiped. Most of them couldn’t keep a secret for shit.

Which of course, made my thoughts drift back to Clay and Travis.

This time when Preston splashed us, it was intentional, and I gasped as I was doused with cold water. It slapped me in the face and soaked my hair. “What the fuck?”

He was oblivious to me; his focus was on Colin. “Hello?” he cried to his friend. “Why am I in here all by myself?”

Fucking Preston. I was drenched, and he didn’t care. Hell, he didn’t even notice. I swung my legs off the chair and stood, wiping my fingers under my eyes, and probably smudged my makeup.

“I’m getting a new drink,” I announced to no one in particular, snatching up my half-empty, warm beer.

Greg’s house had a walkout basement, and just inside the door was a small bathroom. With the air conditioning going and my drenched cover-up, it was freezing in the house, and I marched through the kitchenette and straight into the bathroom. I flipped the light on and peered at myself in the mirror, surveying the damage.

Thankfully, it was okay. My mascara wasn’t running, and none of my eyeliner had relocated beneath my eyes.

My gaze dropped down to the soaked cover-up. Should I wring it out? Or maybe it made more sense to just change back into my regular clothes and steer clear of the pool. In hindsight, it’d been stupid to put on my bikini in the first place. I knew I was never getting in the pool.

I couldn’t, because there’d be questions.

I sighed and pulled the cover-up over my head, then grabbed a towel from the stack on the sink. As I wiped at my