Neighbors (Entangled Flirts) (5 page)

“Not bad.” He wasn’t even winded. Bastard.

I, however, couldn’t suck in air fast enough.

“But you don’t need to push it,” he said with a smirk. “Let’s head home.”

We walked another block before turning back in a light jog. The pace was slow and my muscles burned. How had I gotten so out of shape? I didn’t stop, no matter how much I wanted to. The apartment was less than a block away, but it felt like a mile. Riker could’ve probably sprinted to the front door while I struggled to take one stride.

I fell onto the steps when we finally made it. Riker smiled and kept jogging in place.

“Gonna make it?” he asked, stifling a laugh.

“Bite me.” I stretched back, staring through the browning leaves of the trees. The sun was coming up and the sky had a teal hue edged in pink. It would’ve made a great mural for a little girl’s room.

Riker waited while I watched the sky fade into a lighter blue. I don’t know how long we were there, but my body began to tighten and the aching muscles groaned when I finally moved.

“Same time tomorrow?” He asked without any zip. It was almost as if he expected me to say no.

“Yeah,” I answered. The smile spread across my face faster than I ran. “That’d be great.”

Riker nodded. “Tomorrow, we walk though. One day we run, the next day we walk. Okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.” I stood, carefully keeping my face neutral. Riker stretched for his real run. “And thanks. For running with me. And for being patient.”

He grinned and took off down the street at a faster clip than I’d expected. I crawled up to my apartment and into the shower. The water helped soothe my aches, but it didn’t wash away thoughts of Riker.

Riker worked me hard. Every morning at five, we met on the steps. When I wanted to quit, he wouldn’t let me. After a week and a half, it didn’t feel so bad. Instead of feeling down about losing my biggest client, I started feeling good about myself. My arms and legs still ached, but in a good way. I remembered why I enjoyed running. And I was glad.

Monday night was unofficial laundry night. We’d meet in the hallway around seven and walk over together. I’d never been this consistent with washing my clothes. It scared me because I looked forward to it as much as I looked forward to our runs.

Riker was unusually quiet as we loaded our machines. Something bothered him. I’d learned that he would share only when he was ready, yet I pushed for answers anyway. Keeping my eye on his frowning face, I prattled on about the carpeting one of my clients wanted and how horrible it looked.

“Mom never wanted me to join the Corps,” Riker said once I ran out of useless conversation. This was the most he’d ever said about his family. He tucked his chin into his chest. “Neither did my dad.”

I waited, afraid to shatter this moment.

“When I left for boot, they told me not to come back.” He looked up, his eyes searching my face. “So I haven’t seen them in ten years. My little sister… She was only seven when I left.” His face lit up and darkened before I could blink. “She’s great. Lisa’s still at home, and she’s almost done with high school. When we were younger, she’d cling to my leg…” His eyes fell to the prosthetic. He drew a deep breath. “Anyway, I talk to her when I can, but it’s not enough. She might come to visit soon. After she graduates.” He met my eyes for a moment before dropping them again. “I’d like you to meet her. She’d love you.”

My hand reached out on its own and covered his. I didn’t think about what I was doing at all. He was my friend and I wanted to make him feel better. Riker looked down at our hands, then back up at me. He opened his mouth, but a loud bang snapped in the air and Riker fell over me, covering my body with his own. His face reddened as he pulled back. The woman who slammed her metal cart into the washer stood in front of us, staring open mouthed at his leg.

“Are you…” I reached out to touch him, but he moved away.

The confusion clouded his face as he backed toward the front door. “I’ll…”

He went outside and disappeared around the corner. Half an hour later, I’d finished drying and folding both of our clothes when he walked back in. We didn’t talk as he gathered his laundry. We didn’t talk as we strolled back to the building. When we got to our front doors, Riker didn’t say a word. He went inside and closed the door without even looking at me.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize what happened. For the rest of the night, I wondered what I would do if it happened again.

The city was under the fever of a new basketball season. Their new hero would make his debut. It didn’t matter that he played for our mortal enemies last season. Now Alonzo Hood was our superstar and, with an excessive contract, he would be ours for years to come. I decided to spend the opening game at a wine bar with my friend, Maddie. It’d been months since we’d seen one another. Either I was too busy with work or she was too busy with her three kids. And I needed to talk to someone about Riker.

My cell rang an hour before I was supposed to leave my apartment. Heaving a sigh I knew she couldn’t hear, I answered, “Don’t tell me.”

“I am
so
sorry. Drew is running a fever and I can’t leave him like this.” Maddie’s voice hitched on the word “leave.” She hiccupped into the phone, something she only does when she’s upset. “I know we’ve been planning this for a month, Rena. I really am sorry.” When I didn’t say anything, she added, “What else is going on?”

“There’s this guy—“

She squealed loud enough that I pulled the phone from my ear. “I knew it! Tell me about him.”

“You remember my new neighbors?” She grunted an uh-huh. “Well, the jackass isn’t much of a jackass after all.”

For twenty uninterrupted minutes, Maddie listened while I told her everything and picked up the fabric pieces strewn across my living room. “The thing is I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

“Why isn’t it? You obviously like him. What’s the big deal?” Maddie used her indignant teacher voice.

I tossed an errant throw pillow on top of a pile of other errant throw pillows. “For one, he’s moody—“

“So are you, at least once a month.” She bit back her laugh.

I shook my head. “Plus there’s the whole Marine thing.” Once the words were out of my mouth, I realized the real issue. I have roots here. I have a business. What if Riker and I become serious and he gets shipped off somewhere else? Could I really leave my life behind? And what if he gets hurt again? Loses his other leg, or an arm? Or worse?

“Rena, you aren’t marrying the guy.” Maddie screamed at one of her kids in the background. “Sorry, but you’re overthinking this whole thing. Other than making out with the guy when you were drunk, nothing’s happened between you two.” She sighed her mom-sigh. “Honey, you haven’t even tried since Victor. You haven’t been interested in anybody. Why are you looking for every reason not to give it a shot with Riker?”

The truth sucked the wind out of my lungs. She was right about Victor. I’d dated a few guys, but never wanted anything other than a night on the town. There was something about C.J. Riker that made me want to curl up beside him on a rainy day. I wanted more. I needed more.

I ignored her question, and Maddie took the hint. She started detailing Drew’s upset stomach. Wisely, I tuned her out as I went up the stairs and picked up the clothing strewn about the room. Thank God my clients didn’t see how I lived. They’d never hire me.

I needed to focus on the moment—avoiding the basketball game. McGovern’s was out, since they’d have the game on. In fact, every bar would have the damned game on. I pondered my options. The best case scenario was to stay home and watch a movie. I looked at my black dress with red piping along the diagonal ruffle that hung on the door of the closet. Definitely not stay-at-home attire. I started to hang it back in the closet when someone pounded on my door with the urgency of a fire alarm.

Racing down the stairs, I almost tripped over my too-long joggers. I’d had them since college and wore them so often that there were places that they were worn to the point of being see through.

“Hot date?” Riker asked with the sarcasm that had disappeared from our conversations.

“No. You?” I cocked my hip, preparing for a war of words. It wasn’t like he was dressed up for night on the town. Although “hot” did apply.

He thought for a moment, more carefully than I’d ever seen. His eyebrows knitted together, making him look angry when I knew he was trying to find the right words. “I need a favor. Can I come in?”

I raised my eyebrows and stepped to the side.

Riker was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. I didn’t see the need to grant him a favor just because he asked. I wanted him to sweat it out a bit. He paced in the living room, taking it all in for the first time. When he sat on the couch, it looked like he belonged there. His head fell into his hands for a moment.

“My unit is being honored at the game tonight.” He paused as if that would be enough. It actually was, but I wanted him to beg. This was a rare opportunity. “My sister… My mother wouldn’t let Lisa drive to St. Louis alone. I should’ve known better, but…” He cleared his throat and stood up. “If you don’t have plans…”

“Nope, no plans.” I smiled, letting him off the hook.
Even if it means going to the game. What in the hell am I thinking?

His shoulders dropped as he relaxed. A grin uncurled over his lips. “Can you be ready in half an hour?”

“If you leave now.” My lips twitched, fighting back the grin that was winning out. Thankfully, I’d already straightened my hair into compliance and had a dress ready. Sure it was too fancy for a basketball game, but Maddie was right. It was time to go for it with Riker. Showing some leg couldn’t hurt.

Thirty minutes later, I was walking down the stairs when he rapped on my door. I didn’t bother to look through the peephole as I pulled it open. Riker stood before me in his dress blues. I knew he was attractive, but now he was smoking hot. The clichés were true. The clothes can make the man.

Riker moved his eyes over my dress and smiled, offering me his arm. I grabbed my clutch off the table, shoving my keys inside. My hand slipped through his arm, resting perfectly in the crook as I closed the door behind me. He relaxed and knocked on his own door.

Josh came out, also in dress blues. Riker made his look manly, but Josh looked like that awkward kid in school playing soldier. He was more endearing than intimidating.

“Hey, Rena,” Josh said, kissing my cheek. “I’m glad you could make it. You look amazing.”

“Thanks.” I grinned and let the blush color my cheeks.

Josh locked up and led the way down the stairs. Riker and I followed. My arm was still linked with his and I didn’t want to let go. Josh opened the front door and said over his shoulder, “Car’s here.”

“Car?” I asked Riker.

“Didn’t I mention that we’re going in style?” He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and leaned down to my ear. “Josh was wrong. You look better than amazing.”

I bit my lip when his breath caressed my ear. God, I wanted to feel that again. Among other things. And definitely in other places.

The black stretch limo waited for us, blocking the narrow street. It wasn’t my first limo ride, but I was impressed that there was car sent for Riker and Josh. When I climbed inside, a blonde barely in her twenties waited for us.

“Hi, I’m Stephanie.” She held out her perfectly manicured hand. A diamond tennis bracelet dangled from her wrist. Her eyes were a familiar hazel with a spark of mischief.

“Hey, sis,” Josh said as he sat beside her. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Mom and Dad are already at the game,” Stephanie responded, eyeing Riker as he slid in next to me. That protective monster swelled in my chest. She smiled at Riker. “How’s it going, C.J.?”

“Fine,” he replied in a clipped tone.

It was weird hearing Riker called C.J. It didn’t sound right. And I didn’t like it that Josh’s little sister was being so intimate with him. Her eyes were unbuttoning each brass button one at a time. Jealousy swirled in my gut. Without really thinking, I slipped my hand into his. Stephanie glared at me, and then turned to Josh to talk about her history and biology classes.

Riker leaned in so only I could hear him. “I like you a little jealous.”

“Don’t get used to it.” I tried to pull away from him, but he held tight. And, to be honest, I didn’t really try that hard. His skin was calloused and rough, but the warmth of his fingers entwined with mine was comforting. It also helped that Stephanie was doing her best not to look at Riker.

He squeezed my hand and I turned into a cartoon princess with butterflies in her stomach.

For some reason, this made me want to over-share. “You know, part of my plans for tonight were to get slightly drunk and avoid this whole basketball game.” He raised his eyebrows and I continued, “Alonzo Hood’s wife is that huge client who fired me.”

Something dark crossed his eyes and he pulled away from me. “You didn’t have to come.”

“I know, but…”

“I would’ve been fine if you hadn’t.” He voice was hard and mean Riker was back.

I wasn’t going to put up with it. I slapped his arm. “Will you stop being such a dick for a minute?”

Josh and Stephanie’s conversation faded as they eavesdropped into our hushed argument. Well, it wasn’t like we were being that quiet to begin with.

“I thought you actually wanted me to come with you,” I snapped. “And I thought that it was worth it. If I didn’t want to come, I would’ve told you to kiss my ass.”

The limo stopped and Riker stared at me. Josh and Stephanie climbed out first, but we stayed in the car alone for a moment. My blood boiled, but it was only covering the hurt that Riker caused whenever he got defensive. I’d thought we were getting past that. I’d thought we were moving into a different direction. I’d thought we were becoming something to one another.

“I thought,” I added, fighting back a tear that edged into my eye, “that you wanted…”

He didn’t let me finish as he leaned in, brushing his lips across mine. They quivered as he hesitated before lightly kissing me again.