Hitman Next Door

“No, I don’t,” Nate said. “The only enemy I have is sitting right in front of me. Unlike you, I don’t leave any baggage lying around.”

Rocco shook his head.

“You and I both know that from looking at that picture. I’m the best shot you’ve got at me taking care of her, of giving her a life she deserves, and if that doesn’t convince you, she might already be pregnant with my child.”

He let that last piece of the puzzle slide into place.

Rocco acted as he expected, and Nate didn’t fight him as the blow to his face sent him falling back on his chair.

When Rocco went in for a second shot, Nate allowed that, but a third and fourth, he blocked. He wasn’t going to allow this man to pummel his face. He had some self-respect.

“I will fucking end you,” Rocco said.

“No, you won’t. You will give Lemon to me because you know out of everyone here and in your life, I’m your best chance. Do you think the cops don’t know about her? Do you think it is just your enemies that know about her? Lemon is so fucking vulnerable right now, we shouldn’t be arguing about this. Give me your fucking blessing and your word that nothing will happen to me. Lemon will be so fucking happy, she will never question my feelings for her.”

He wasn’t going to admit to Rocco that he had a hunch he might love her. Love wasn’t something he was used to, but his feelings for Lemon were not normal. He was possessive, obsessive, and downright fucking besotted with this woman.

He would do anything for her.

Even go to her father with proof that he was fucking her and make this arrangement. Anyone else would be dead right now. Maybe he did have a death wish.

What he realized quite quickly was that he didn’t want to live in a world where Lemon wasn’t part of it.

Waking up the past few mornings with her in his bed, that was the dream come true for him. Lemon was his dream, and he wanted to keep her all to himself.

Rocco sat back down, but the anger rolled off him.

Nate sat opposite.

Neither of them spoke. The silence was awkward, almost deafening.

He waited.

Patience was a virtue, after all.

Right now, it felt like more of a fucking curse.

Time ticked on by, until eventually, Rocco nodded.

“I agree to this. Lemon can never know the truth, not once. She will only know you’re a man, her neighbor who has fallen in love with her.”

They shook hands on it, and it was a done deal.

****

“Why did you wait this long to get a tree?” Lemon asked.

“I don’t know. I guess seeing yours inspired me.” Nate held up some tinsel. “What do you think? Red? Purple? Gold?”

She laughed, putting down her hot chocolate. “You didn’t think of color coordination when you got the decorations?”

“I didn’t even know you had to coordinate anything. What do you think?” He gave the tinsel a shake.

“You’re cute.” She took the tinsel and held it up. “What do you think? What is calling to you? What is screaming at you to put them on your tree?”

He pursed his lips. “I don’t have a clue.”

She laughed. “I love purple, but I think for your first year, let’s go with red and gold.”

“Do we just throw out the purple?” he asked.

“No. No. we can put it anywhere we want.” She took the purple from him, placing it on the counter. “Do not throw anything out.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Okay, let’s get to work on this thing.”

Nate had purchased an assortment of ornaments for his tree. Some baubles as well. They decorated the tree together. After the ornaments, it was the tinsel, followed by the lights.

“Are you ready?” Lemon asked, going toward the light switch.

“Hit it.”

She plunged the room into darkness, apart from the sparkle of the tree.

“Oh, wow,” she said. “It looks so beautiful.”

Nate wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her head. “I love it.”

She smiled up at him. “I better be heading home.”

He tightened his arm around her waist. “Or you could stay.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

“Yes. This is where you belong, Lemon.” His hand moved down toward her ass. She let out a gasp.

Sex hadn’t been on her mind.

As he touched her now, it was all he wanted.

“Nate?”

“You can say no, but I’d really like you to stay. To enjoy my first real Christmas with you.”

She caved even before his kiss.

The fairy lights were forgotten as Nate lifted her in his arms. No matter how many times she tried to tell him not to carry her, he seemed pretty insistent on doing exactly that. He was the one in charge as he laid her out on his bed.

His hands went to her hips, and he pulled down the leggings she wore. Not the most attractive thing she owned.