A Friendly Arrangement Read online

  She nodded and grabbed his hand, squeezing his fingers.

  You’re supposed to comfort her, not the other way around. But now that he’d started, he couldn’t stop.

  “Sure, I could’ve crunched numbers to make everyone happy, but I wouldn’t have been happy. From the time we were kids, Omar excelled at the books, Jared could play any sport, and I liked to be off on my own drawing, painting, anything involving art. My family didn’t understand me, either.”

  “And you’ve done amazing things with your talent.”

  It would have been nice to hear those words from his father. Omar even. “Thank you. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I wish my father would’ve acknowledged some part of my effort. I don’t think he ever forgave me for not following in his footsteps.”

  “But what about your mother? Brothers?”

  “Jared’s always been a big supporter. My mother came around eventually, after she tried to get me to work a traditional job for a few years.” He rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb. “As for Omar, I have no clue what he thinks. Doesn’t matter, really. I did things my way. Sound familiar?”

  “Shockingly.” She grinned.

  “I thought it would.” He winked. “All I wanted from my family was their love and support. I never felt like I had either from my father. Nowhere near the adoration he showered on Omar. Some of that even trickled over to Jared. Sometimes I think there is something to that middle child theory.” He tried to laugh off his remark. Things were getting too serious, and now that he’d spilled his guts, he felt a little naked.

  “Oh, Roth, I’m sure he loved you.”

  “Hmm.”

  She clasped her free hand over their entwined one, the hairs from her wig tickling his forearm. “I’m sorry that your relationship with your father was so…”

  “Tense?” He shrugged off her words. “I’m sorry, too, but it’s nothing that can be fixed now.”

  They walked in silence for several steps.

  “One of my biggest regrets is that I never really got to know him.” Toward the end, when Roth had achieved so much, he wondered if his father had finally respected him for his achievements. Had part of him been proud at what he’d accomplished on his own? He’d never know now. Part of Roth died right alongside his father. So much wasted.

  “Life can be unfair,” she whispered. The pain in her voice returned, only this time it was for him.

  He brushed his free hand across his head and gripped the crown slightly before letting go. “Like me, you’re the black sheep.”

  “I guess I am.” She released his hand and locked her arm around his back, hugging him to her side as they walked. “When you think about it, even our family pictures tell the story.”

  He frowned down at her. “What?”

  “Not that I was snooping, but I noticed your family picture on your bookshelf. The one in your den.”

  “That’s probably ten years old.” What was she getting at?

  “You’ve seen the one in my house. Above the fireplace? I know after I got it framed you commented on how much Hailey and I really didn’t look alike.”

  He nodded, a smile pulling at his lips. “I remember.”

  “If you think about it, both of those pictures prove how much we try to stand out from family to be our own persons. For instance, in your picture everyone is standing in front of what I’m assuming is your family home—which is quite impressive by the way—and you’re standing in the thick of things but dressed in your famous jeans and tee compared to their sea of tailored suits.”

  A smile played along his lips. “Let’s just say I made it a point to do it my own way that day. If you look close enough, I’m sure you can see my mom’s annoyance in her thin-lipped smile. We fought right up until the photographer snapped a few pictures. She hated what I wore, my hair, and we won’t even mention the unveiling of my tat.”

  “The one on your back?”

  He nodded, his laughter low and full of amusement. “She’d never have been the wiser except she insisted I change shirts, and she walked in as I slid out of one tee and into another.”

  “You’re a black sheep after my own heart.” She squeezed him around the waist.

  “Your picture says the same thing.”

  “I didn’t unveil a tattoo right before the picture, but I did have my nose pierced the week before.”

  “You did?” He leaned forward to study her face, and she tweaked his nose.

  “The excitement wore off pretty quickly, and I took out the piercing. I think I just wanted the shock factor. And I got it.”

  “You’re a bad girl.”

  “In so many ways,” she teased. She cleared her throat, a smile still lingering in her tone. “I thought my dad would have a coronary. If I’d dared to get a tattoo that would have thrown him over the edge.”

  “He’s not a fan?” The idea that her dad would disapprove of him punched him in the gut. Almost as much as his own father’s disapproval. He’d want Holly’s family to like him.

  “He’d be a hypocrite if he was, because he has a couple of tattoos from when he served in the Marines. I think he’s okay with them on others, just not on one of his little girls.”

  Relief washed through him. As odd as it sounded, Roth understood.

  “As for looking different than Hailey, I like my blond hair with a few platinum highlights.”

  “Highlights?” He scoffed.

  “Okay, pretty much a complete platinum blond dye job.” She bobbed her head as her eyes brightened with mischief. “If I didn’t go to that extreme, the fact that Hailey and I walk alike, talk alike, and look alike would be more than obvious. That you think we look different in our pictures proves my point. All the dye jobs I’ve gone through make it worth it.”

  They strolled in silence for several feet. “Thanks for listening, Roth. I really do feel better. Hopeful.”

  Not only had their talk made her feel better, but Roth felt better, too. Holly always had that effect on him, and he liked repaying the favor.

  They walked along the sidewalk, both staring at the reflection of the moon spread across the surface of the river. Holly pulled him to a stop and turned to face him head on, greeting him with a strong, determined smile.

  “Right now I have two choices. I can either wallow in self-pity while I freeze my ass off, or I can throw out this craptastic day and get cracking on making a plan to save my business.”

  “Now there’s the Holly I know.” He liked that she had always been strong and resilient, and her quick recovery lightened his mood. He whipped off his cape and wrapped it around her shoulders, gathering it beneath her chin. “My father wasn’t around much and definitely wasn’t a perfect parent, but I did walk away with one piece of knowledge that has served me well over the years.”

  “What’s that?” Her eyes sparkled with the reflection of the moon coming off the water. She looked beautiful.

  “Anything can be fixed if you put your mind to it. In this case, Wonderful Woman, we’ll put our minds to it.”

  “Sounds like good advice. Even though I’m scared, I’m excited at the possibilities. Everything happens for a reason. Right?”

  He nodded.

  “Maybe losing Alan as a client will mean something better is coming my way. I refuse to think about having to work a nine-to-five, or having to give up my work for the shelter. Even if it means eating tuna sandwiches for a month straight”—she scrunched her nose and pursed her lips—“I’ll get this figured out.”

  “No, we’ll get this figured out.”

  She closed her eyes, and that perfect Holly trademark smile—the one that filled her face from ear to ear and could outshine the moon, hell, the sun—filled her face as she bounced slightly on the balls of her feet. She chewed her bottom lip as she took hold of the cape beneath her chin, and his hands fell to his sides. “You ready to brainstorm, Hot Neighbor Guy?”

  “My mind is already working. Let’s keep walking.”

  “I�
�ll write up an ad tonight. I’ll scour LinkedIn, the paper, a few other job sites I know about.” Her pace quickened along with the excitement in her voice. “It feels good to have direction.”

  Warmth shot up his arm when she grabbed his hand, practically tugging him toward their building. “I can make a few phone calls Monday morning to some existing clients. See if they have a special project, or maybe a recommendation.”

  Her voice droned on in the background as an idea slowly took shape in his head. He liked the work Holly did for the shelter, and all night, at the back of his mind, he’d been contemplating how he could help out. The volunteer work he did for the Big Brothers Foundation had always made him feel good. He understood what the boys went through. He might have had a flesh and blood father, but only in symbol. Even though he couldn’t devote a lot of time, he gave generously when it came to contributions. He’d helped with the center’s renovations, contributed to several overnight trips by helping raise money and giving donations, and had even pledged a percentage of one of his jewelry lines’ profits to the cause. Why couldn’t he do more? The shelter might be the perfect outlet for him to help his community on another level. He could design a special piece of jewelry, solely for the purpose of helping to raise awareness and money for the women’s shelter. In order to do that, he’d need a little help in other areas to free up some time.

  She tugged at his arm, drawing him back to the moment as she rolled her eyes. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “I was making a plan.” He cleared his throat. “I could use a little help. Nothing long-term, but I have some research that needs finishing up, some travel arrangements, and a few other odds and ends.”

  Her smile wavered. “Roth, I don’t want your pit—”

  “Not pity. I really could use the help. These are a few things I’ve kept pushing off because I don’t like doing them, and I have a new project I’d like to take on.”

  “A new project?”

  He nodded. “I don’t want to go into it until I have it better formulated. But if you could help me out, it’d give me time to do just that. Are you game?”

  She scoured his face. “When am I not game?”

  Strands of her hair whipped around her cheek and forehead. He caught several tendrils in the hook of his finger and pulled them behind her ear. “Good. Like I said, nothing long-term, but enough to keep you in good standing with the pizza delivery guy and away from the canned tuna.”

  She laughed that bubbly sound that told him in an instant all was right in the world. “I can’t argue with that logic. I really was worried about what the pizza guy would think when I stopped calling. Thank you, Roth.”

  He admired her pride but respected her for taking him up on his offer.

  They walked the last several feet to their building serenaded by the soothing sounds of the water lapping against the shore. The light bounce in her step settled the ache in his chest from earlier. Before they reached the awning of the entrance, Holly tugged him to a stop and looked up at him with the most solemn expression he’d ever seen her wear.

  She pressed her palms to each side of his cheeks. The wig she held in one hand tickled his chin. “What would I do without you, Roth? Thank you again for listening, helping…”

  “Stop thanking me. I’m only doing what any friend would.”

  He tweaked her chin and then leaned in to plant a reassuring kiss on her forehead, like he had a hundred times before, but this time he stopped short at the brightness in her eyes. The way her mouth parted softly. She had the most amazing mouth when she smiled. The fullest lips. A crack of electricity bit the air between them, and she tugged at her bottom lip with her front tooth.

  Something unspoken hung in the air between them as they locked gazes.

  He didn’t want to give her a comforting kiss on the forehead, or even the cheek. He wanted to kiss her. Full on the mouth. He wanted to take possession of her beautiful lips and feel her response as she sank into his arms, hear her response as she moaned into his mouth.

  His breath hitched as he got lost in the warmth of her brown eyes. Uncertainty hovered around him until her eyes widened a fraction, and she licked her lips in invitation. The pound of his heart crashed against his ribs as he cupped the back of her neck and dragged her toward him. Her breath mingled with his. Moonlight from above danced in her dark eyes, and the once harsh winds blew soft and caressed their skin. Damn if he could stop himself. His mouth melded to hers. Hot, sweet, and salty from the hint of tears. She tasted just as he’d imagined.

  Better.

  A soft moan passed from her mouth to his as she opened up for him, and his tongue delved inside. His groin tightened. Her breathing grew labored, or maybe it was his. He was past caring.

  He heard the wig plop onto the cement walkway. She tangled her hands in his hair, drawing him close, stepping farther into the circle of his arms. He pressed his hand into the small of her back, molding her front to his. She felt good. He felt good.

  Frissons of heat ate up his body wherever she touched him, and she had no problem touching him. Her hands roamed freely over his shoulders, back, and down his spine to cup his rear briefly before working their way north again to tangle in his hair. He ran his thumb down the column of her neck, reveling in the pound of her pulse as he moved his mouth from her lips to nip the soft skin beneath her ear.

  Earlier he wanted to stare at her all night, but after sampling her sweet mouth, her soft skin, her warm tongue, he wanted to kiss her forever.

  She walked him backward until he came up against the side of the building and then pressed in to him. The feeling of her body against his set him on fire.

  She broke their kiss and leaned her forehead against his chin. “What are we doing, Hot Neighbor Guy?”

  “I don’t know about you, but I’ve wanted to kiss Wonderful Woman all night.”

  He claimed her mouth again and smiled into their kiss. His heart jumped when she did, too. All too soon they pulled apart a second time, as easily as they’d come together, as if they’d kissed like that a hundred times before. He’d never felt so comfortable with a first kiss. He wanted more but didn’t dare go back for seconds—or was it thirds? Not yet. He needed to digest what had just happened and why neither of them questioned it. Almost as if their kiss was long overdue.

  Maybe it was?

  Her eyes sparkled with questions. “Was that another one of your deviant ways to ease my stress?”

  “Did it work?” he teased, tracing his finger along her jaw.

  “Wonders.” She slid her hands down his neck, past his shoulders, and over his chest until they rested above his heart. “Although I liked that kiss, Roth, it wasn’t exactly what I expected.”

  “Too wet? Too much tongue? Not enough?”

  She laughed, and the tension between his shoulders melted.

  “I can’t critique the perfect first kiss.” A husky undertone clung to her voice.

  “Perfect, eh?” He liked that compliment even better than the label of hot neighbor guy.

  “Don’t go getting a big head over it.” She gave him a saucy wink as she nodded toward the obvious bulge in his suit.

  “Too late for that.” The damn material didn’t allow anything to remain hidden. He’d thought the costume uncomfortable before, but after that kiss the cramped quarters between his legs had shrunk another ninety percent.

  “At least you’re honest.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and the red creeping up her neck wasn’t from the cold.

  “No use trying to deny the obvious.”

  “If I didn’t know you better I’d have to say you were bragging.” She peeked at him through her lashes. “You know, there’s been several times through the years I’ve wanted to kiss you but never dared.”

  He nodded. “The whole friendship thing, right?”

  She nodded. “Congratulations on making the first move.”

  He loved her humor. Loved that she didn’t question their kiss, as if it were t
he most natural way to end their evening. If he’d known, maybe he’d have made the move sooner.

  The door opened, and Bob the doorman peeked his head outside. “Everything okay out here?”

  “Just saying good night, Bob,” Roth said, although his eyes never left Holly’s face.

  “Let’s head in,” she whispered.

  “You go ahead. I’m going to stargaze for a minute.” And get myself under control, especially the telltale bulge in my very revealing pants. He also didn’t trust himself to ride up in that tiny elevator car alone with Holly. He wanted so much more than that one kiss.

  She mouthed a “good night” and made her way toward the door, scooping up her wig on the way. Bob threw the door open farther, and she tossed Roth a smile over her shoulder as she disappeared inside the building.

  Roth motioned for Bob to close the door. He needed the cold air to clear his head and the effect she had on his body. What happened now? They couldn’t have a friends with benefits type of arrangement along with their friendly arrangement and their new working arrangement. Could they?

  Chapter Four

  Holly plopped a French roast K-Cup into her Keurig and rested her chin in her palm as she leaned over the counter, leafing through a cookbook with her free hand. She didn’t take in any of the words or ingredients filling the pages, but the rustling of the paper became an odd comfort. A smile fluttered across her mouth as an image of Roth filled her head. Last night their friendship had helped her feel safe, solid, and secure.

  Until he kissed you.

  She hugged herself as a shiver raced across her flesh. His hand in hers had offered warmth, his words comfort, and his presence strength, but when his lips slid over her mouth and his tongue sought the moist depths of hers, her world tilted and a flame ignited. She’d had a few daydreams about what it’d be like to kiss him, but that one taste had only increased her curiosity instead of curing it. She wanted to taste that experience again.