Love Next Door (Lakeside 1)

Dillion rolls into me, throwing her leg over mine and nuzzling closer. Eventually I match my breathing to hers. It lulls me to sleep, but it’s not peaceful.

Dillion is gone by the time I get my ass out of bed the next morning. She left a note on my pillow saying she’ll message later, and she hopes I slept okay. I also have a call from my sister.

I listen to the message and realize right away that things are not okay. Her incoherent sobbing tells me that. Which is a shocker, because Teagan doesn’t cry very often. I call her, and she answers on the second ring. I spend the next ten minutes trying to calm her down enough to be able to understand what she’s saying.

“Can I come out and stay with you for a few days? I j-j-just need to get out of the city. I can’t handle this r-r-right now.”

I’m assuming “this” has to do with whatever is going on with the investigation into the missing money and all the society gossip. “Of course you can. Do you need me to come get you?”

“N-no. Bradley said he would drive.”

“Bradley? Our brother?” Neither of us know another Bradley, so it’s a stupid, unnecessary question. Things must be particularly bad for Bradley to agree to drive her, since he thinks Grammy Bee’s cottage is worse than camping in a tent. Which he has never, ever done.

“Y-yes.” She sniffles. “I tried to tell him I was okay to drive, but he said he needed a break from all the city drama. I guess yesterday he took a client golfing, and he treated him like a criminal. These people are a bunch of assholes.”

“I’m sorry, Teag. I wish this wasn’t such a nightmare for everyone.”

“It’s not your fault. I know it wasn’t you who took that money. It’s just such a mess here. And Dad went out and bought a freaking new Porsche. As if that’s a good idea when we’re in the middle of all this crap. Hold on.” She blows her nose. “Sorry about that. My friends haven’t been very understanding. But none of them are nearly as bad as Troy.”

“What happened with Troy?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you. I don’t want to start crying again.”

I have to guess that it’s bad if my sister is at risk of shedding even more tears. “Okay, we’ll put a pin in that conversation until you get here. When are you planning on heading this way?”

“Bradley is getting his hair cut, and then I think after that. Do you need me to bring you anything? Food? Supplies? Money?”

“No, I’m okay. Just bring yourself.”

“Not even something from Hoopla’s? I’ll pick you up a treat.”

“You don’t have to do that. It’ll be out of your way.” Hoopla’s is one of my favorite bakeries in the city. They make the fanciest decadent desserts, but they don’t hold a candle to the stuff they carry in Boones, which has become my new addiction.

“I don’t mind. I’ll see you soon. I love you, Donny.”

“Love you, too, Teag. See you soon. Tell Bradley to drive safe.”

I’m actually excited to see my sister. It’s been weeks since we’ve spent any time together.

I decide it’s a good idea to tidy up and get the guest bedrooms ready. I’ve just finished putting fresh sheets on the beds in the spare room and Grammy Bee’s room when I get a call from Dillion. “Hey, beautiful, what’s up?”

“Are you breathing heavy?”

“I was moving some stuff around.”

“Uh-huh, I’m sure that’s all you were doing. Have you even gotten out of bed yet?”

“I got up nice and early, you know, so I can make good use of daylight hours. I have this neighbor who likes to ream me out if I’m too loud past ten at night.”

“Your neighbor sounds like a problem.”

“Nothing I can’t handle. Besides, I have other things I like to do after ten that are way more fun, especially since it’s my neighbor being loud, not me.” I lean against the doorjamb, my gaze catching on the patched drywall behind the headboard.

“I’m not loud!”

“You’re not quiet, either, and that’s a good thing, Dillion. I’m a big fan of the sound of your orgasms. In fact, I can’t wait to hear them later.” I cringe when I remember that my sister and brother are going to be here tonight, sleeping down the hall from me. Which means those orgasms I’m getting all excited about aren’t going to happen. “Actually, I might have to take a raincheck on that. My sister called and asked if she can come up and visit for a couple of days.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes and no. I think something might have gone down with her boyfriend, but I’m not sure what. She said she’d tell me when she gets here. My brother is driving.”