Loving My Neighbor by C.M. Steele Read Free Book Online Page B

Marriot.”
    “Okay, I’ll let her know of your concern.” I hang up the phone and dread telling her he called. I won’t lie to her, so I’m not looking forward to this talk. His concern sounded fake as hell, and I know that sound so well. I’ve heard it so often over the years. Mason doesn’t care about her the way he should. It makes me wonder all the more about how that explosion happened.
    She comes into the room two minutes later with a curious look on her face. I think I’m busted.
    “Who were you talking too?” she asks suspiciously.
    “I thought you were going to take a shower?” My reaction gives me away. She arches her brow and gives me a look like I need to fess up or I’m in deep shit. How the fuck has this happened so fast? I’m a slave to my woman. She’s got me wrapped so tight around her finger it’s pathetic. “Babe, your dad just called. He was checking on you.”
    “Okay, but you didn’t tell him we were intimate, did you?”
    I’m trying to keep cool, but I’m a bit offended. “No, I didn’t. It’s not something you tell a girl’s father. ‘Hey Sir, I’m fucking your daughter.’”
    “I’m going to shower.” I look at her longingly and that turns that grumpy frown into a smiling blush. 
    “Good, dinner will be done in a few minutes. So hurry your ass up. By the way, just grab some clothes out of the drawers to put on. I don’t think I can take it if you come to dinner in just a towel.”
    The moment I hear the shower, I make a call. I know Duke can get any information I need, and I want everything on Mason.
    Duke answers before I can say anything, “I was just about to email you a list.”
    “Don’t bother. I found her. She’s my new neighbor or was, rather. Now she’s mine. But she’s the reason I’m calling.”
    “What’s up? Background check?”
    “No, not for her. It’s her father that’s got me thinking some shit ain’t right. She was nearly killed in a home explosion today. I don’t know if it was just an accident or it was intentional.”
    I hear the gasp of surprise, then he says, “Damn, that’s fucked, man. After what I’ve seen with Jackson’s wife’s family, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t put past people. What’s his name?”
    “Ted Mason.”
    He pauses, then remarks, “Hey, there’s no Mason on this list. Is she from a different state?”
    “I think so; I didn’t ask where she came from,” I reply. It’s something I have to find out tonight.
    “Well, I’ll look into it and get back to you tomorrow at the earliest.”
    I finish making dinner just as she walks back into the kitchen wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers. They mold to her skin, highlighting her ample curves. I’m looking at her like she’s the meal, and she blushes and her nipples peak.
    “Dinner’s ready. I know you’ve got to be hungry.”
    “Starving…” she says with a wicked grin.
    I don’t respond to her baiting because all the blood has left my brain again. Pulling out a chair for her, she goes to sit down and I slyly give her a little grope. I feel her body shiver and I saunter away with a smirk on my face. Payback’s a bitch. I bring the plates I premade into the kitchen, hoping she likes steak. The moment I put it down in front of her, I get my answer.
    “This looks delicious. I’m so hungry,” she says, licking her lips. We haven’t eaten all day. Well, I did…fuck she’s done it again. My dick is going to be sore as fuck before I actually use it.
    “Thanks, babe. How are you feeling?”
    “Much better, actually. The hot shower was exactly what I needed.” Her lack of enthusiasm contradicts her words.
    “You look like something’s on your mind.”
    “I’m just thinking about how close I came to dying today.” The sadness etched on her face breaks my heart and freaks me out. I don’t want to consider what would’ve happened if she’d been too slow or too fast. It’s an alternate reality that I can’t deal