“Go inside,” I demand.

She smiles up at me all sexy-like, and damn it, I just want to kiss her.

“Go inside right now, Juliet,” I growl as I struggle with the last inch of control. “And shut your fucking dog up.”

She shrugs. “Okay.” She turns and walks into her house and gives me a wave with her fingertips before closing the door.

I stare at the door. My cock is rock hard, and fuck’s sake, I do not need this temptation living right next fucking door.

I march into my house and up to the bedroom. I open my side drawer and take out the lube.

A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.

Juliet

The sun is shining, and I am weeding the garden next to my front steps. The perfect Saturday afternoon.

Time to focus.

No more thinking about the world’s biggest prick. I’ve been overanalyzing everything. He’s been so rude this week, hasn’t even waved in the mornings when he drove past. In fact, he glares at me as if I am his mortal enemy.

I’m living in a world of regret for possibly being flirty last weekend, although I’m not entirely sure. I think I told him I haven’t had sex for a long time, or maybe it was a nightmare. Either way, I’m never drinking again.

He hates me, which is fine with me, because I hate him more.

I’m going to concentrate on the important things, like renovating my house.

First stop, this garden.

I hear Carol’s voice. “Hello, Juliet.”

I glance up. “Hi.”

I keep weeding. Go away, Carol, I am so not in the mood.

“Did you hear that Ethel’s daughter is coming to live with her?”

“Is she?” I reply, but my mind is off on a tangent.

“She’s coming to seduce Henley, if you ask me.”

“Wait, what?” I look up at her. “Who is coming to seduce Henley?” I ask, suddenly interested in the conversation.

“Oh, Ethel’s daughter, Taryn. She’s always had her eye on him, that one. And now that her marriage has broken up, of course this is the first place she comes.”

“What’s she like?”

“Gorgeous.” She widens her eyes. “Real supermodel material.”

Fucking great.

I begin to dig with vigor. I don’t care. He’s nothing to me, I think as Carol walks off.

Poof to him.

He’s the gift that keeps on giving. Dreaming about having sex with him is bad enough; watching him actually do it with everybody else is going to be a frigging nightmare.

I need to get a boyfriend, and I need to get one quick.

A procession of cars pulls up and parks out front. And I look up to see all my work friends. A heap of them.

Oh no.

“What are you all doing here?” I gasp.

“Surprise!” they all call. Some are carrying plants; others are carrying platters of food or bottles of wine. “It’s a surprise housewarming.”

“What?”

Oh god, no.

“Great,” I lie. This is the very last thing I want to do today.

Chloe told me she was bringing over her mother to visit this afternoon. I had no idea that they planned this.

“Come in, come in.” I stand. “I look a wreck.”

Chloe kisses my cheek. “Happy housewarming, babe.”

I put my arm around her as we walk inside. “I’m going to kill you—you know that, don’t you?” I mutter under my breath.

“Totally.”

Henley

I rub the chamois over the trunk of my car as I finish drying the last of it off.

A loud burst of laughter comes from the front porch of Juliet’s house, and I glance over.

What’s going on over there?

She better not think I’ll be putting up with another Saturday night of her noisy-dog shenanigans.

My mind goes back to last weekend and her little white dress.

It’s the only thing I can think about.

I rub the car trunk so hard the paint nearly peels off.

She’s nothing but a pain in my ass. Why she would have the audacity to move here is beyond me. I mean, what’s she playing at? Who does she think she is?

I keep drying my car at double speed.

Kingston Lane is ruined forever.

Unbelievable.

I rub the trunk harder.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and the number comes up.

Vanessa.

Hmm. “Hi.” I smirk.

“Hey, you,” a seductive voice purrs down the line.

“Whatcha doin’?” I smile.

I love hearing from this woman. She never demands a relationship. Uncomplicated, hot, and doesn’t have an annoying dog or live next door.

“I’m working until nine, but maybe I’ll swing by tonight on my way home? I haven’t seen you in a while,” she replies.

If anyone can fix my mood, Vanessa can. “Sounds good.” I smile. “See you then.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

I stuff my phone back in my pocket and get back to work.

“Hi,” a man’s voice sounds from my driveway.

“Hello,” I say. “Can I help you?”

“Yes.” He smiles and holds his hand out to shake mine. “I’m Warren.”

“Henley.” I frown. Do I know this guy?

“I’m Juliet’s friend,” he says. He’s a good-looking blond guy, around my age, early thirties. “I’m just visiting her next door and wanted to come over and meet you.”

Why?

“Okay.”

“I know that you and her are together now,” he continues.

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“She told me all about you and how her boyfriend lives next door.”

“She did?” I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Did she?” I rub my car as I think of something to say. “So she told you this because . . . I’m guessing you asked her out?”

“I was going to.” He shrugs sadly. “But she told me about you and her first.”

I inwardly roll my eyes. Of course she did. Uses me as a scapegoat for rejecting this poor pathetic bastard.

This woman is the living end.

“I just want to make sure you know how special she is.” He shrugs.