“Are you coming tonight?” Ace asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Good. Try and keep your bad attitude at the door. You know, she’s our neighbor, so we want to make a good impression.”
Brett grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and moved back toward the sitting room where Ace was flicking through one of the fitness magazines they had delivered. “Be straight with me right now. Are you trying to fuck the neighbor?”
“That’s just so … crude. What’s wrong with just wanting to be nice?”
“Cut the crap, Ace. Be honest. You want to bang the neighbor?”
“I wouldn’t be averse to, you know, getting to know her. She has got some rockin’ curves, and fuck, she is so hot!”
“So that’s a yes.”
“Yeah, fine. Sue me. I like the neighbor. She’s different, and you know what, we came to this neighborhood for different. What’s the deal?”
“I just need to know what you were hoping to achieve tonight so I don’t throw up in my mouth over dinner.”
Ace stood up and laughed. “Please, you can’t tell me you weren’t affected by her. I know you saw the ink that was on her thighs, just peeking out of the dress. Don’t tell me you didn’t imagine slowly pulling the straps of that dress down, watching her tits appear, and having a little taste.”
Brett wasn’t about to deny it. For the past three months, where Ace had been completely blatant in his watching and stalking of their neighbor, he’d been subtler. Instead of standing at the window, he would watch her from his bedroom, completely out of line of sight. She liked to garden, and she wore shorts that molded to the curves of her ass. Watching her, seeing her, he knew she was confident in her body, and it was refreshing to see. Being in the gym, around so many different personalities, he knew insecurity when he saw it.
Meredith didn’t have that at all.
She was who she was. She knew herself, and he found that sexy as fuck. With the heat of summer fast approaching, her clothing had gotten less. He had even seen her in just a bikini top and shorts the other day. Ace hadn’t been home, but Brett had seen the ink that trailed up her hips, across her stomach, and along the base of her back. Roses, thorns that seemed to have a wildness like the woman herself.
“You know, there’s nothing wrong with us sharing her,” Ace said. “I can take her Monday to Wednesday, you have her Thursday through Saturday, and we can let her rest Sunday.”
“Some days I wonder how you’re not a virgin, Ace. You sound like a total dick.”
“But a dick that you love, and you always have my back.”
Yes, he did. For all of Ace’s faults, he was loyal, determined, and an amazing friend. He just wasn’t the brightest man around, but that was fine.
“I’m going to go and get ready. Figure out what color you want your bedroom. We’re painting this weekend,” Brett said.
“You sound like a wife, Brett.”
“Whatever.”
Chapter Two
“It’s too nice to eat indoors. I hope you guys don’t mind. I love being outside, especially now that it’s so warm. I miss it,” Meredith said.
There were lights hanging around the back porch, even the steps which led to the lawn. Her garden was also beautiful, flowers, roses, all in different stages of bloom looking stunning. Ace hadn’t even realized the changes to her garden, but it worked.
The table had several Chinese cartons on the top. He loved Chinese food so much. Of course, he was used to cooking it himself. Part of being a personal trainer, for him, was also telling his clients how best to eat, and what alternatives to take. Chinese food, at least takeout anyway, wasn’t a good idea. One night, however, wouldn’t hurt.
“You know, I was worried that you guys would want, like, quinoa or something like that. I don’t do that, I’m afraid. I think it tastes so bland,” she said. “I love Chinese food, and it has been way too long since I ordered all my favorites.”
“I make a mean quinoa salad. You just got to know what flavors to add to it. That’s only if you want to know, though,” Ace said.
“Thanks, sweetie. Some people were born to eat healthily. I don’t think I’m one of those people, I’m afraid.” She shrugged.
He didn’t have a problem with that, not at all. In fact, he rather liked not having to constantly be a good boy when it came to his diet, but that was for another day.
His mouth watered at the scents coming from the food.
Beers were in a bucket with ice, and he saw plates with chopsticks on the side.
It looked … different.
“Please, have a seat.”
She touched his arm before heading back inside. He didn’t know what she was doing, but he caught Brett checking out her ass.