The Great Bedroom War by Laurie Kellogg Read Free Book Online Page B

loony.”
    Nick looked down at the ankle high grass. After being cooped up in a stuffy apartment for over a year, he’d been looking forward to some yard work in the fresh air. Nonetheless, his neighbor needed the money, and there was no way Keith would take a handout. The house sat on an oversized lot and had numerous large trees to maneuver around, so a fair price for the job would provide a hefty chunk of change for his neighbor’s family—although it would leave Nick’s pockets a lot lighter.
    Even so, Jen and Keith had been there for his family when Dani became ill. They’d donated dozens of hours organizing a marrow donor registry drive, signing up half the town with the hope of finding a suitable match for his daughter. Just because the search had been unsuccessful, it didn’t diminish the huge sacrifice they’d made.
    “If you’re that bored, how’d you like to pick up some extra cash mowing my lawn and getting rid of the leaves this fall?”
    “Hell, yeah. I’ll get right on after the twins leave for school tomorrow. But how’s your brother going to feel about me stealing his job?”
    Nick’s stomach clenched. When he’d moved out the previous summer, Sam and Dani had shared that chore. “Justin’s been cutting the grass?”
    “Since last spring. He also hauls the garbage to the road twice a week.”
    He could understand his brother helping Sam with the lawn, but they had an extra large trash can on wheels that even Dani was capable of moving without breaking a sweat.
    “At first, Jenny and I thought maybe Justin had something going on with your ex, but then she started dating Dani’s doctor.”
    “Yeah. So I’ve heard.”
    “Do I detect a note of displeasure in your voice?” Keith grinned at him.
    Not just a note—an entire symphony. Nick changed the subject, jerking his head toward the new house on the right. “What do you know about the McMansion?”
    “Oh, that’s right. You haven’t met Steve and Tim yet, have you?”
    “Should I assume Steve isn’t short for Stephanie?”
    “Yup.”
    The neighboring town of New Hope had a large gay and lesbian population, so the news that a homosexual couple had built the house next door wasn’t out of the ordinary. What did surprise him, however, was his ex-wife’s failure to mention their new neighbors had already moved in or that Justin might be attempting to rekindle the romance that had ended fifteen years ago after Nick got his brother’s girlfriend pregnant.
    Evidently, a lot more had changed in the last year than simply the color of their house.
    ~*~
    Dani unloaded her locker, shoving books into her backpack, and smiled at Haley. “Do you think, if I accidentally leave my Spanish book here tonight, I could convince my teacher to excuse me from taking the quiz tomorrow?”
    “More likely your mom will drag you back here at midnight and talk the janitor into letting you pick it up.” Her friend laughed.
    “True.” Dani bent to stuff the heavy textbook into the purple backpack at her feet.
    As she straightened, hands covered her eyes while their undeniably male owner plastered his muscular body against her back and whispered, “Guess who?”
    A violent shiver shot through her. Mitts that big could only belong to one guy. “Hey, Ryan.” She spun to face him. “What’s up?”
    “I wanted to tell you I got a set of wheels.”
    “Cool. What kind?” Haley asked.
    “Well, the car’s kinda old,” he admitted, clearly embarrassed by his vehicle’s age. He stared at the floor and mumbled, “It’s a ’91 Toyota Celica.”
    “That’s great!” Dani smiled. “Pretty soon it’ll be a classic and worth a bundle.”
    Ryan’s neon blue gaze shot up to meet hers, making her stomach do a little flip-flop. “What do you know about classic cars?”
    “Plenty. My dad and I used to go to a lot of antique car shows.” As well as baseball games and concerts. She flinched at the bang of a nearby locker slamming shut. “He used to work