“Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”—Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
Sunlight flooded the space through the wall of newly installed windows, casting an ethereal glow reminiscent of a church at sundown. It bounced off the shiny hardwood flooring and sleek built-in cabinetry in the living area. Everything sparkled and shone like a shiny penny. Well, not everything. The cans of paint stacked beside the tower of scaffolding where the ceiling’s peak was at its highest ruined the illusion. Or maybe it was the death metal blasting through the speakers.
Nah, music was life. It brought depth and character to this otherwise blank canvas and made it feel a little more like home.
My home. My first ever actual house. I’d bought this place myself with my own hard-earned rock and roll money. No outside assistance and no roommate needed to help pay the mortgage. This was all me and damn, it felt good. A reason to celebrate for sure.
I played air guitar as I danced around a ladder, adding a screechy soundtrack for effect. When the song climaxed with a wicked crescendo, I fell to my knees, raising my phantom instrument above my head like a true rock god performing in front of twenty thousand fans. I held my pose, then collapsed theatrically with my arms and legs spread wide and a big, stupid grin on my face. My cell buzzed in my pocket before I could jump to my feet and take a bow to my party of none.
I sat up and answered my phone with a self-satisfied grin. “Marry me, Ann. I’m in love.”
The woman on the line chuckled softly. “I’ll pass along the proposal. This is Fiona, her business partner. She’s in Aspen at the moment, but I promised to check in on her famous client.”
I snorted. “I don’t know about famous, but thanks for checking in. Wyatt’s doing an amazing job.”
“And what do you know? I’m sitting here with Wyatt now, chatting about a few of our upcoming design projects. I’ll put you on speakerphone.”
“Hey, Johnny. What do you think?” a masculine voice inquired.
“I think it’s fucking amazing. I love it,” I gushed.
My contractor chuckled. “Which part? We still have a ways to go, you know. What do you think of the paneling in the entry?”
“Awesome.”
“And the tile in the master bathroom?”
“Freaking beautiful,” I replied, lying flat on my back to stare up at the ceiling.
I had no intention of darting from room to room to give them my report card, which I assumed was what this phone call was all about. Ann Berenson’s interior design firm was a well-respected entity, and Wyatt was a newbie.
Wyatt Pearson might have been new to the West Coast, but he’d been in the construction industry for decades and had an impressive résumé. He knew what he was doing. I’d trusted him to turn my mid-century ranch-style home into a modern retreat, and he’d delivered. He’d been diligent, timely, and thorough. It wasn’t quite finished, but I had no doubt that the end result would be spectacular.
Wyatt snorted. “Why do I have a feeling your eyes are closed?”
“They are,” I admitted. “But I took a quick peek when I got home from the studio. It’s really coming along. What’s left to do?”
“The guest bathroom, the closet installation, and we’re waiting on a few light fixtures. I wanted to start painting on Monday, but Ann wants to approve the colors first and—”
“Oh, shoot,” Fiona groaned. “She needs that color wheel.”
I heard them chatter amongst themselves. The gist was that Wyatt had left that very specific color wheel with a client or at Fiona’s ex’s house…I lost track. Ann was flying directly to Orange County to meet with a real estate agent who wanted them to handle staging and blah, blah, blah. They were kind of killing my buzz. I was about to excuse myself from their conversation when I realized the real estate agent in question was my friend’s mom.
“Look, if it’s important, I can deliver it. I’m going to see Dec’s mom at a barbecue tomorrow,” I interjected. “Get it to me before noon, and I’ll hand it over.”
“Oh wow, that would be a huge help,” Fiona said. “I’m going to call Ann from another line. Keep talking. I’ll ask Sean to get it to you. Thanks, Johnny.”
“Uh, sure.” The line clicked. “Who’s Sean?”
“Her ex. I just redid his home office,” Wyatt replied. “He lives a couple of blocks away from you.”
“Oh. Well, I’m going to run errands later. If you give me his address and ask him to leave the book on his doorstep, I can swing by his house tonight on my way home.”
“I hate to ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask, I offered. It’s not a problem at all.”
“Thank you. That should solve some interior designer drama. Geez, and I thought Atlanta was rough,” he said with a laugh. “Did your bed get delivered?”
“Yep. It’s the only furniture I brought from my apartment, so I might as well spend my first night here.”
I knew I sounded like an overgrown kid, but I couldn’t help it. This was cool shit. I couldn’t wait to go to the market and buy eggs to put in my fridge in my kitchen. I was even excited at the idea of meeting a neighbor in my neighborhood. The thrill would probably fade soon enough, but I was determined to ride this high for as long as possible.
“Good for you. You should be set. You’ve got running water, electricity, and a fully functional kitchen. We’ll take care of the details, and I’ll be out of your hair in a couple of weeks. I’ll call Sean now and text you his address. Have a good night, Johnny.”
“Thanks. You too.”
I disconnected the call and let out a self-satisfied sigh, allowing myself the luxury of basking in hard-won success. The kid who used to hide in the closet to avoid his mom’s crack dealer had come a long fucking way. I hadn’t reached the top by any means, but I was confident that I was on the right path.
I was the guitarist for Zero, a rock band on the rise, and part owner of the record label we’d formed in an effort to control our messaging and our artistic vision. After a couple of groundbreaking tours and the successful addition of a few acts to our label, I had money in the bank. Real money, no debt, and a family of friends who were closer to me than any blood relative ever had been. It didn’t seem possible that this was my life. I wanted to savor a moment alone and let myself—
Buzz. Buzz.
I glanced at the caller ID, dusting my knees as I stood. “Yo, Jus.”
“For fuck’s sake, we’re waiting for you. What kind of pizza do you want? Gray’s ordering now. Speak up or eat anchovies,” Justin griped playfully.
“The usual. I’m on my way.”
Yep, life was good.
After three slices of pepperoni and an impromptu jam session with Justin and Gray, I swung by the market to pick up a few necessities. My brain was cluttered with happy thoughts as I cruised the cereal aisle, like how freaking cool it was to live in the same general neighborhood as some of my closest friends and what kind of riff I needed to add to the bridge of the song we’d played around with tonight. I wanted to run some ideas by Tegan at his barbecue tomorrow and—shit. The barbecue. I almost forgot the color wheel Wyatt had asked me to grab from my neighbor’s porch.
Was it important? I didn’t really care if all the walls were white. It wasn’t like I’d notice, I mused as I tossed my grocery bags into the back seat of my Chevy Tahoe. On the other hand, it wouldn’t kill me to drive two blocks out of my way. In fact, it might save me from a future headache. Ann was cool but kind of scary, and Declan’s mom was even scarier.
I sighed and checked my cell for messages.
2525 Morning Star. I asked Sean to leave it on his doorstep. Thanks!
One more stop. I plugged the address into my navigation system and adjusted the volume on a Muddy Waters classic before turning left out of the parking lot.
The road twisted and got narrower as I traversed the incline to a dimly lit cul-de-sac. This section of town was close to my new place, but it was definitely in a higher-rent area. Tall, neatly-trimmed hedges and a few iron gates provided privacy and lent an aura of exclusivity. I had a feeling the owners paid for canyon views. That wasn’t something I could afford, and I hadn’t been interested in dealing with coyotes in my backyard anyway.
I parked in front of a two-story modern farmhouse-style residence partially hidden from view by a row of olive trees—apparently, the only one without a gate or intimidating hedge. The lantern above the grand arched entry cast long shadows over the lawn. The contrast of mist on the fringes of the darkness made the overhead light seem like a beacon…or a friendly outpost. Not that I was here to make friends. Just grab the book and go.
Except the book wasn’t there.
My brow creased as I scanned the area. There was nothing behind the potted junipers flanking the entry, nothing on the doormat, and nothing on or under the bench at the far end of the porch. Great. Guess I was meeting the neighbor after all.
I knocked on the door before stepping aside to wait, craning my head to take in a few details like the Range Rover in the driveway and the faint hum of music coming from inside. Someone was home. And what was this guy’s name again? I knocked again, then pulled out my cell to read Wyatt’s last message, glancing up when the door opened.
“Daddy’s finally ho—oh. Shit. Who are you?” the naked man in the doorway asked.
I repeat…naked man. No clothes. Not a stitch.
He looked to be about my age and height—thirty and six feet tall. But that was where the similarities ended. This guy was built like a brick house. He was tattooed, muscular, and other than the sexy mop on his head, he was completely hairless. Yeah, I checked him out. Hey, I was a hot-blooded, perpetually horny, single gay dude. When a perfect male specimen greeted me with a winning smile and a semi-erect dick, I was bound to notice.
My gaze toured the elaborate web of ink across his chest and the contours of his defined abs before drifting to his thick cock. It hung in that ideal “at the ready” state where one touch from the right partner was all it would take to stoke an inferno. That wasn’t me, I reminded myself, checking the corner of my mouth for drool. I was here on a mission.
Unless…maybe this was a setup. Maybe this was Wyatt’s idea of a housewarming gift. Maybe he’d sent me on a silly errand to lure me to this sexy beast and told him to call me Daddy and—screech.
No way.
Quick reality check. Wyatt was a professional. He didn’t strike me as the type to sweeten a business deal with a congratulatory hunk. He was relatively new to So Cal and was in the process of building his clientele. He didn’t have time for sideshow shenanigans. The guy was all about work and his boyfriend, Jamie. Wyatt wouldn’t hire a neighborhood escort and tell him to call me Daddy. I was no one’s idea of a daddy. Not even my cat’s.
Then there was the issue of timing. I hadn’t said when I’d come by. This naked hottie surely wouldn’t have waited all night for my arrival. And was this Fiona’s ex?
As I completed my third trip visually scanning the stranger’s impressive physique, I met his gaze and saw a medley of emotions cross his face. Surprise, embarrassment, and oddly…a spark of recognition.
“Uh, sorry. I forgot your name. No, wait. It’s Sean, right? I’m here to pick up the color wheel book,” I reported in a steady voice as if nude hotties opened doors for me all the damn time. “It was supposed to be on the porch.”
The naked hottie narrowed his eyes inquisitively. “Hey, I know you. I love Zero. You guys are awesome.”
“Thanks,” I replied lamely before fielding a couple of fan-style questions from a naked man on a cool February evening…as one does.
When was the next album coming out? Any plans to tour? What was it like to work with Justin Cuevas? I nodded pleasantly and responded, “Later this year, yes, great,” noting that his dick hadn’t lost steam. Unreal. I wondered if it was Viagra or if music literally gave him wood. I also couldn’t help thinking Fiona would lose her shit if she knew her ex answered his door naked. Personally, I was more amused than anything, but Ann wouldn’t be and—
Headlights broke through the mist and a moment later, a sleek sports car pulled into the driveway. I turned instinctively, but I couldn’t see the new arrival yet. I pinpointed background noises the way I did when I was working on a guitar lick. Real-life sounds were the ultimate inspiration. Sirens, alarm clocks, crickets…I could make out the lyrics to a Jay-Z remix and what sounded like a dog barking from somewhere in the distance. It sounded chaotic. What the hell had I walked into?
“Oh, fuck. I’m out,” the naked man yelped.
The front door and the car door shut in unison. Now what?
Oh, maybe this was his daddy. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and waited for the figure heading up the pathway to come into view. I’d give this endeavor two more minutes of my life. Rescuing the melting pint of ice cream in my SUV seemed like a safer bet than meeting my kinky neighbors. Although…if I could grab a seat and a spoon and watch the nude dude and his daddy in action, that’d be cool too.
As the tall man, partially hidden in shadow approached, I decided to stick to formalities before asking inappropriate questions. “Hi, there. I’m Johnny Martin. Wyatt sent me to grab his paint color—whoa. Sean?”
“Hi, Johnny. I thought you’d come by earlier.”
“Uh…no,” I replied, blinking in confusion. “You’re—”
“Did you get the book?”
Sean cocked his head curiously as he paused at the bottom of the porch steps, giving me a moment to study him in the light.
Things to know about Sean Gruen: He was a successful businessman in his midforties and a divorced dad with two kids. He owned Vibes, a nightclub in WeHo, and another couple of bars and restaurants in Palm Springs. He was a well-respected philanthropist who raised a ton of money for LGBTQ charities, but he had a reputation for being a no-nonsense ballbuster. He wasn’t the kind of guy who took no for an answer and according to our drummer, Tegan, it was best not to get on Sean’s bad side.
T would know. Sean was Tegan’s ex too. They broke up a few years ago, shortly after we launched Zero. Tegan was happily married to Dec now, but I knew Sean and he were still friends. I didn’t get it. Not that I had any issues with Sean. He seemed cool enough, but he was super intense.
Not my kind of people. Sean was too wealthy, too self-assured, too worldly, too connected, too experienced. And he was really fucking handsome. Total DILF material.
Sean was at least two inches taller than me, with close-shaven salt-and-pepper hair, light eyes, and chiseled features. He’d rocked the bald look for a while, and it had totally worked for him. I wondered why he’d grown his hair out when I ran into him at Tegan and Dec’s surprise wedding reception at Justin and Gray’s house a few months ago. Not that it mattered. He looked hot either way…like a commanding, badass, seasoned warrior.
Like I said, total DILF.
He was the last dad I’d fuck, though. We had nothing in common. Seriously. I respected Sean’s friendship with T, but I couldn’t relate to him at all. Not to mention, I had a serious aversion to arrogant, bossy dudes with authoritarian complexes who liked being called Daddy.
Ah, that explained the naked greeting…I think. I didn’t need to know.
I shot a quick glance at the door before narrowing my gaze. “You’re that Sean. You’re my neighbor?”
“I am.”
“You’re Fiona’s ex-husband?”
“Yes.”
His deep timbre moved through me like a sound wave as he stepped onto the front porch, closing the distance between us. A whiff of his woodsy aftershave and a hint of peppermint made my dick twitch in appreciation. I had a weakness for sexy, masculine scents, but I ignored my body’s sudden flare of interest with practiced ease. Some men went directly to the “no zone,” and Sean was one of them.
I squinted at him suspiciously. “You knew who I was. Why didn’t you tell Wyatt? And why am I here, anyway? You can hand over the color wheel at Tegan and Dec’s barbecue tomorrow yourself. See ya.”
“Not so fast.” He grabbed my elbow before I turned away. “You’re here now, and I probably won’t remember. Come on in.”
“Whoa. There’s a naked man looking for his daddy in there. I’m out.” I widened my eyes and added, “Unless you’re serving popcorn.”
Sean furrowed his brow. The gesture was intimidating as fuck.
“Naked man?” he repeated.
“Your boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Your fuck-buddy, then. What do I know? You had to see him when you drove up. He’s hot. I’d do him,” I admitted with a casual shrug.
Sean gave a half chuckle. “Good to know. You’ll have to catch him another time. He’s leaving. Come in.”
I bristled at his commanding tone. I doubled down, crossing my arms. “No, thanks. I’ll wait.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s cold out here.” He fiddled with the lock, glancing over his shoulder. “Close the door behind you.”
Grr. I hated being told what to do.
I gritted my teeth and obeyed, following him through a grand foyer with a vaulted ceiling and a patterned stone floor. A huge iron chandelier floated above an ornate round table decked with expensive-looking knickknacks and a tall vase filled with seasonal branches. The elegant ambience was broken by the series of family photos hung in groups of four over a bench. I didn’t have a chance to inspect them, but they were most likely Sean’s kids.
I curbed my curiosity, passing a formal living and dining area before reaching the great room, where Sean was seemingly in the midst of silently scolding the now-dressed hunk. No words were exchanged, so I might have been mistaken. However, the vibe was tense. I couldn’t begin to guess why. If anyone was getting the boot, I figured it would be me. Who in their right mind would toss a sexy sure thing out and keep me around any longer than necessary?
I stepped closer, eyeing them warily. “Color wheel?”
Twin gazes snapped my way.
Sean inhaled deeply and addressed his guest. “It was on the front porch. Any idea where it is now, Thaniel?”
“I put it in your office. I thought someone dropped it off for you and…I was trying to be helpful,” he replied with a weak smile. When Sean didn’t reply, Thaniel hooked his thumb toward the front door. “I should go. I’ll, um…I’ll talk to you later.”
Sean kept a steady gaze locked on the younger man until he disappeared from view. When the door clicked shut, he finally turned to face me.
“I’ll go find it and let the dog out. Be right back.”
I wandered to the built-in bookcase in the corner of the room behind a baby grand piano. Row after row was chock-full of well-worn hardbacks. I perused a few titles on the eye-level shelves. They were mostly classics and nonfiction tomes about the Civil War. I traced the ragged binding on an especially thick book before picking up a framed family photo of two kids with a younger-looking Sean.
Curiosity won. I squinted at the picture as if the effort might tell a story on its own. I knew next to nothing about children, but from what I could tell, they were past the toddler stage. Oh, and the boy was older than the girl. They were cute…light hair, light eyes, and sweet smiles. They looked like Sean, though I couldn’t pinpoint how. I focused on Sean and damn it, I had to admit, he’d always been a handsome motherfucker.
“Found it. What are you doing?”
“Snooping.” I returned the frame to the shelf and smiled. “How old are your kids?”
“Parker is almost thirteen and Penny’s nine. That photo is at least six years old.” Sean tapped a narrow rectangular book against his open palm.
“They’re cute.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement. “They have their moments. Want something to drink?”
He moved into the adjoining family-style kitchen, setting the color wheel on the marble island and shrugging his jacket off before opening the fridge.
“No, thanks.” I let my gaze travel over his broad shoulders and thick biceps tugging at the seams of his oxford shirt. “Are they here?”
“Who?”
“Your kids?”
“No. They’re with their mom.” He slid a water bottle across the island to me and gestured toward the barstools, issuing a silent command for me to sit.
Because I was me, I ignored him and leaned against the counter instead. “Then why’d you kick your boyfriend out?”
“I told you, I don’t have a boyfriend.” He uncapped a beer bottle and took a deep pull.
I watched his Adam’s apple slide in his throat, noting that his sexy end-of-day stubble was more like a light beard.
Okay, so I was perving on my friend’s ex. Guilty. I was a sucker for eye candy in whatever form it took. The second the sexy, naked dude opened the door, my curiosity had been piqued. And that was before I knew this was Sean’s house. There was a good story lurking here, and it was none of my business. Which of course made it more intriguing.
I pointed at his beer. “Do you have another one of those?”
Sean quirked a single brow. “You said you didn’t want anything.”
“I changed my mind.”
“All right. Sit.”
I ignored the command but thanked him when he uncapped another bottle and handed it over. He skirted the island and took a seat, raising his beer in a silent toast.
“Why did you—”
“Sit,” he repeated brusquely. “It’s been a long fucking day. My neck hurts, and my back is killing me. If you’re gonna ask twenty questions, could you please make it less painful on me?”
“Well, since you said please…” I flopped onto the seat next to me, leaving a barstool between us.
“Thank you,” he snarked.
“And thank you! You’re a real gentleman.”
His lips twisted in a reluctant smile. “Occasionally. How’s your new place coming along?”
“It’s almost finished. Wyatt says we’ll be wrapping up within the next couple of weeks. I can actually sleep there tonight. Good thing, ’cause the lease on my apartment was up. The bad thing is that I can’t bring my cat home until the paint is dry. And for some reason, that color wheel is supposed to help me graduate from bachelor gross to bachelor suave. I’ve been told painting the walls plain white won’t get me there.” I sighed heavily and took another sip, aware that I was babbling.
Sean chuckled. “Who’s taking care of your cat?”
“My old neighbor. She has three of her own, and Tabby kind of adopted her. Mrs. Muñoz is home more than I am and has better treats.”
“Your cat’s name is Tabby?”
“Short for Tabitha or tabby cat. This guy I went out with a couple of times helped name her. I think I’d had a bit too much to drink and everything sounded great. But she fits her name.” I set my bottle down and looked around the well-appointed great room. “Where’s your dog?”
He inclined his head toward the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows nearby. “Outside. I’m sure she’ll make an appearance soon. Brace yourself. Lullah is very friendly.”
“Cool. I love dogs. What kind?”
“Black Lab. She’s five years old and only a little less rambunctious than she used to be. And she loves everyone.”
I smiled, then narrowed my eyes thoughtfully. “Even the naked guy?”
“Was he really naked?”
“Stark nakers and hung like a horse. Which begs the question…why are you sitting here with me when you could be bangin’ him? He was obviously ready to go.”
Sean gave me a wry grin. “You got a good look, eh?”
“It was hard not to…pun intended.”
Sean snort-laughed. “He answered the door with a boner?”
“A halfie. And he was looking for his daddy. That had to be you. Did you send him to time-out?”
“Ha. Ha.”
I shifted sideways on my stool and leaned on my elbow. “Seriously. Give me details. My life is boring as fuck right now.”
“How can that be? You’re a rock star.”
“Rock star might be overstating things,” I admitted. “But we’re getting there. After our last tour, we agreed to take some time off. And time off is boring.”
“Tegan mentioned that you were working on new material,” he prodded conversationally.
“Yeah, we’re still meeting in the studio to work on new music, but we’re not in a hurry to get our third album out. Everybody wants to relax for a change…with their significant others. As the lone single dude, I’m literally waiting for paint to dry so I can chill in my new house.”
Sean chuckled. “That’s bleak.”
“I know. Maybe that’s why I’m fascinated by tonight. This feels like a lot of coincidence,” I commented idly.
“How so?”
“What are the chances that my friend’s ex is my neighbor and that his ex-wife works for my interior designer, who happened to hire the contractor who just finished a job for you?”
“Well, real estate agents, designers, and contractors have a bit of overlap. LA is a big city and a small town at the same time. We’re both queer and we have mutual friends. But that’s where the coincidence ends. It’s not like we live next door to each other.”
“Hmm. Well, now that I know you have better toys than me, I’m kinda disappointed.”
Sean huffed. “Very funny.”
“C’mon, tell me more about the naked dude,” I urged, waggling my brows. “Why’d you send him away?”
“I don’t like surprises. Especially naked ones. They usually come with strings attached,” he said matter-of-factly before taking a sip of beer. “I’m not in the habit of having gentleman callers over very often. When and if I do make an exception, it’s on my terms. I had to run to the club unexpectedly. Thaniel should have been long gone by the time I returned. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I don’t like games, and I don’t like being manipulated.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re fuckin’ nuts. If he’s doing the manipulating, I’d be all for it. Sex doesn’t have to be some mind game. It’s just supposed to be a good time.”
“If you’re on the same page…sure. If not, you wind up inviting needless trouble into your life. I have two kids. They come first.”
His steely tone brooked no argument. He was all badass and businesslike. If I worked for him or was interested in getting into his pants, I might have been intimidated. Since neither applied and I didn’t have anything interesting to go home to, I couldn’t resist teasing him a bit.
I pursed my lips and nodded. “Got it. So why did he call you Daddy? Does he want you to adopt him?”
Sean leveled me with a fierce look, then shrugged. “I think he just wanted me to fuck him.”
I froze with my mouthful of beer before letting out an undignified snort that quickly morphed into laughter. “Poor you.”
“Hey, my experience with guys who want to call me Daddy has been enlightening, to say the least. They either want my money or my connections.”
“Not your sweet personality?” I asked sarcastically.
Sean grinned. “Nope. I’m all for games in the bedroom, but I don’t play that shit in real life.”
His expression changed slightly. He didn’t seem unfriendly, but he was definitely guarded. He reminded me of a battle-ready warrior with his laser-sharp gaze and the rigid set of his jaw. It was a little scary. So much for not being intimidated. When my mouth went dry and my pulse raced, I had to remind myself I wasn’t his target.
There was no reason for me to feel jumpy. In fact, there was really no reason for me to be here at all.
“Noted.” I tipped back my bottle, then set it on the island and stood. “I should get going. Thanks for the beer.”
“Anytime.”
Sean escorted me through the formal living area, making small talk about borrowing sugar or something inane that reminded us that we really didn’t know each other. We had a friend or two in common. That was it. Pointedly discussing booty call rules one second and offering a phony neighborly handshake the next was jarring as fuck. However, there was no point in pretending we’d ever be more than acquaintances. I’d see him at Tegan’s house when—
“The color wheel.” I snapped my fingers, stopping in my tracks before we reached the foyer. “I knew I was here for a reason.”
“Oh, right. Let me grab it.”
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and waited, checking out the molding on the highest part of the ceiling…just because. When Sean didn’t return right away, I moved to the archway dividing the space to see what was keeping him. He was talking to someone. No, scratch that…he was talking to a dog. I heard the distinct tap of paws on hardwood flooring and the excited panting of a happy pup who was ready to play.
My smile turned into a megawatt grin when a big black dog tore into the room and skidded on its hind legs at my feet, barking like crazy.
“Hey, there.”
“Cool it, Lullah,” Sean commanded sharply, snapping his fingers.
Lullah let out a beleaguered whine, shifting from one paw to the other as though she could barely contain her excitement. I dropped to my knees and held my hand out, utterly charmed. I freaking loved dogs.
“How ya doin’, girl?” I scratched behind her ears, chuckling softly when she licked my cheek. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Lullah,” Sean admonished.
“She’s fine. Let her be.” I pet her sleek fur at the same time Sean did. We looked at each other and smiled. “She’s got a lot of energy.”
“She does,” Sean replied, bending on one knee to pet her. “Excuse her manners. She should probably know better by now, but she gets away with murder. Dontcha, Lu?”
Okay, let’s be real…is there anything sexier than a grown-ass, hot guy cooing to his dog? Not in my book. I couldn’t stop the shit-eating grin from taking over my face. Animals had a way of leveling the playing field and encouraging even the most serious adults to act like idiots. If just for a moment or two.
“She’s a sweet pup. How old is she, again?”
“Five.” He handed me the color wheel. “Not a puppy anymore, but not quite a grown-up either.”
“Well, being a grown-up is totally overrated, Lullah. Don’t change.” I straightened at the same time as Sean and knocked my forehead against his. Then I overcorrected, thudding the back of my head on the corner of the wall behind me. “Fuck, that hurt.”
Sean acted quickly. He cupped his hand around my neck and rubbed my scalp soothingly. “Hey, are you okay? Let’s get some ice on that. Come to the kitchen and—”
“No, I’ll be fine,” I grumbled, expecting him to step aside.
He didn’t budge. He massaged the sore spot and said something about a compress. Maybe I needed ice. I was suddenly hot all over. I wished he’d move, but not really. Whatever he was doing to my head felt kind of amazing. I leaned into his touch like a cat, then set my hand on his shoulder, intending to push him away. Instead, I pulled him toward me, opening my eyes when I felt his breath on my lips.
Warning bells chimed and a siren blared, but momentum was a powerful force. He hovered so close and I just…couldn’t…resist. I tugged at his collar and crashed my mouth over his.
So, let’s examine this situation for a second. What the fuck was I thinking? This guy was OFF-LIMITS. All caps. I wasn’t sure I liked him anyway. He was bossy and opinionated, but damn it, he was a good kisser.
He angled slightly to deepen the connection and flicked at the corner of my mouth, silently requesting entry. I moaned when his tongue glided over mine, twisting in gentle exploration as he caressed my head. No kidding, it was like the best spa treatment and my worst idea all at once. I knew I should stop him, but I was the one clinging to him.
And then the dog barked. Boom! Back to awkward reality.
Sean jolted, raking his teeth over his bottom lip as he stepped away. “Uh, how’s your head?”
“Which one?”
He chuckled softly and lowered his eyes briefly to my crotch before glancing at his dog lying between us. “That was…unexpected.”
“Yeah. Wow, I’m sorry. I don’t how that happened,” I finished clumsily. I straightened from the wall and made a beeline for the door.
“Johnny.”
I sucked in a deep gulp of the cool evening air as I turned to face him from the bottom of the stairs. “Yeah?”
“G’night.”
I gave a careless wave and smiled. It was just a kiss. It was just a kiss. “Later, neighbor.”
“Hey, quick question. Do you ever…”
Wish I could disappear? Yes.
A rogue gust of wind whistled scattered leaves across the neatly trimmed lawn. I zipped my jacket and pulled my keys from my pocket. He still hadn’t completed his sentence, though.
It wasn’t like me to press. We were done here. I got what I came for and then some. But for some reason, I didn’t let it go. My nerves were abuzz, and my brain was about to short-circuit.
I called his name before he closed the door. “Mysteries make my head spin. Spit it out. What were you gonna ask me?”
Sean smiled. “Do you ever give guitar lessons?”
Okay. I hadn’t expected that.
I gaped at him. “Seriously? After what I just did? I practically mauled you. I can’t explain why. It must have been the head wound. Fuck, I just think I hit a new low.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he glowered playfully.
“Nothing against you. I’m just…wow.” I pushed my hand through my messy hair and sighed. “What was the question again? Guitar. Right. I used to give lessons. It’s been a while, though. Why? Are you interested in learning?”
“No, not me. My son.” He waved dismissively. “Forget it. Even if you had time, I’m not sure Parker would want to do it. I’ve been told I need to get a better handle on teenage-speak. I’m pretty sure one of the rules is not to assume you know what’s going on in a thirteen-year-old’s head.”
I nodded as though I had the adolescent insight he lacked. I didn’t. I’d left the worst of my teenage angst behind years ago, thank fuck. “I thought you said he was twelve.”
“He’ll be thirteen in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, I get it. You want to give him a killer birthday gift. A guitar and lessons from a rock god. Nice touch.”
“Do you know any rock gods?” he deadpanned.
I grinned. “Fuck off.”
Sean twisted his lips in amusement and pointed to the street. “Out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, that kiss isn’t gonna make it weird between us, is it?”
“What kiss?”
“Excellent. Tell Lullah good-bye for me.” I raised the color wheel over my head like it was the neck of a guitar and strummed invisible strings as I walked backward into the shadows.
I thought I heard him laugh before he closed the door, and I liked the idea more than I should have. I took perverse pleasure in getting a chuckle out of super serious types like Sean. He had a better sense of humor than I’d thought. Truthfully, he seemed…cool. The dog alone gave him chill credit. Add the proud yet concerned paternal aura, and I had to admit I was intrigued. If he really wanted to arrange guitar lessons for his kid, I’d help him find someone trustworthy.
And maybe he’d hook me up with a hot dude who’d greet me in his birthday suit. Oh man, I couldn’t wait to tell the guys about my unexpected detour tonight…minus the kiss, of course.