Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I plucked the box she requested off the top shelf and handed it to her. When she took it, I held on just long enough to ensure our fingers brushed together. Electricity sparked between us, and her blush deepened as her eyes widened.
“Thank you.”
“Glad I could help,” I replied with a wink.
She laughed ruefully and gestured to the shelving. “I never had this much trouble growing up, but everything in New York gets taller instead of wider.”
I cocked my head to the side and tried to place her subtle accent. “Where are you from?”
“Illinois.”
I smiled and crossed my arms over my chest. “What a coincidence. I happen to be from Wisconsin. We’re basically neighbors. And neighbors should know each other’s names.” I held out my hand but turned it palm up rather than the traditional offer of a handshake. “Rigby Hunt.”
She placed her small, soft hand in mine, and another frisson of electricity shot up my arm and down my body, straight to my dick. My fingers closed around hers, and I contemplated how to prolong our time together so I didn’t have to let go.
“I’m Cleo Fox,” she told me, glancing down at our joined hands.
To my delight, she didn’t try to pull back, and I gave her a lopsided grin. “It’s nice to meet you, neighbor.”
Cleo giggled, her eyes twinkling as she bobbed her head up and down once. “Ditto.”
I didn’t want to press my luck, so I reluctantly loosened my hold and gently dropped her hand. When hesitancy flashed across her beautiful face, I fought the urge to grab her hand again and pull her against my body.
“Did you just move to the neighborhood?” I asked, trying to distract myself while learning more about her.
Cleo shook her head—then nodded before laughing. “I mean, I didn’t just move into the neighborhood, but I just moved to New York in the fall.”
She gestured in a random direction and added, “I’m a student at Tisch. I live in the dorms there, but a friend of mine is only two blocks from here. I’m visiting her for the night, and we decided we needed cookies.”
I chuckled before turning my lips down into a fake pout that made her giggle. “Damn, I was hoping to run into you more often.”
Cleo raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. “There are many ways to run into people. Like say, at a specific date, time, and place.”
I laughed again, surprised at how thoroughly I enjoyed her company. Normally, the only women I was comfortable around were my sister and my teammates’ wives, who were like family. Not that I spent much time around anyone…being surrounded by too many people tended to make me irritable.
Plus, most of the women I’d met who looked like Cleo were as fake as all the body parts they’d had nipped and tucked in order to be that way.
However, Cleo was a mesmerizing mixture of beautiful, sweet, sassy, and fun.
“You have a point, baby.” I tapped my chin in fake contemplation. “Why don’t you give me your number, and we can plan to run into each other again?”
Cleo beamed at me and nodded. “I’d love that.”
I took my cell out of my pocket and handed it to her so she could enter her information into my contacts.
“I’ll call you,” I said softly as I took the device back and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Cleo blushed again and nodded. “I hope so,” she murmured before turning to walk away.
It hit me right then that not only hadn’t she fawned all over me, but she also hadn’t made a single reference to my career or who I was.
Curious, I called out, “Are you a fan of football?”
Cleo halted and pivoted around, her lips forming a smirk. “I’ve been a Nighthawks fan all my life. My dad is originally from Long Island.”
My brow rose to my hairline. “So you know who I am?”
Cleo grinned. “Of course, you’re my new neighbor.”
She spun around, and I dropped my head back to laugh before admiring her swaying hips and sexy ass as she sauntered down the aisle.
After a few moments, I hurried to check out, then jogged out front and down the sidewalk to catch up with her.
“I know you’re a New Yorker now and all,” I teased, “but I’m still not going to let you walk back by yourself this late at night.”
Cleo ducked her head, then looked up at me with color blooming on her cheeks and a pretty smile curving her lips. “Thank you.”
“Any time.” And I meant it.
After making sure she arrived at her friend’s apartment building safely, I waited until she was inside before making the trek back to my place. This time, as I walked, I was oblivious to the cold because my body was running extremely hot. Once I was home and had put everything away, I hopped into an ice-cold shower.