“Oh yes, big brother, you sure do.”
With a snort, he rested his ass against the large kitchen island, set the mug down, then motioned for her to keep talking. “Okay, what’s my type?”
“Short haired brunettes who are fit but not skinny, especially in the ass. You like some you some booty.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Oh, and glasses. You’re a sucker for a girl in glasses.”
Damn, she had him pegged, and the smug gleam in her eye said she knew it. His stomach sank.
“Not even close,” he said, though his mind had already conjured the snobby woman from last night who’d had the look but not the personality to match.
“Whatever,” Ronnie said with an inelegant snort. “Come on out and meet her.” She shoved the container of cookies at him before he had a chance to turn her down. Then she grabbed the mugs. “Come on.”
Guess he was meeting the new neighbor.
Keith trudged after his sister. Hopefully, he didn’t look too much like a hobo who hadn’t slept or showered in a week. At least he’d tugged some jeans over his boxer briefs and tossed on a shirt. Given that his little sister lived in his house, he rarely paraded around in underwear, but he forgot the shirt often enough.
After Ronnie stepped through the swinging screen door, he caught it with his ass and managed to keep the cookies and his coffee upright.
“Mickie, this is my one of my brothers—a much, much older brother, Keith. Keith, this is Mickie, our new neighbor.”
“Hey,” he said as he turned in her direction. When his gaze landed on the woman from last night before, he said, “Oh fuck.” He set the coffee down on the small table. It was either that or drop it in shock.
“I…uh…nice to meet you.” Mickie lifted a hand in a weak wave. Her eyes reflected as much surprise as he imagined his did. And not happy surprise.
Ronnie smacked his arm with a horrified gasp. “Keith! What the hell is wrong with you? I’m sorry,” she said, turning her attention toward their red-cheeked guest. “He had a late night and clearly it’s made him rude. And stupid.” Without looking at him, she punched his arm again. Damn, the woman might be small, but she had some force to her. Came from surviving five older brothers. He rubbed his shoulder. Perhaps they taught her to defend herself a little too well.
“No, uh, it’s okay,” Mickie said, gaze firmly on his sister as though avoiding him at all costs. “It’s my fault. I had a flat tire last night and he rescued me. After such a long drive, I was a little snippy, so we didn’t get off on the right foot.”
Well, now she’d made him feel like an asshole for getting on her case.
“I’d like to start over,” she said with a smile as she stepped forward and extended a perfectly manicured hand.
“Forget about it. I have.”
His statement made her face light up behind those sexy glasses. “Great. I’m Michaela, your new neighbor.”
As he slid his palm across hers, electricity popped and sizzled, sending a spark straight up his arm. Finally, years of suppressing his feelings came in handy as he kept his face neutral. Christ, those were some soft fucking hands. That shit would feel incredible sliding up and down his—
Fuck.
Hell no. Not going there. He had no problem jerking his shaft while picturing her bent over the hood of that fancy SUV of hers, but he damn well wasn’t going to daydream about her soft fucking hands running all over him.
He released her without so much as a one pump to her hand.
She stepped back with a slight frown while Ronnie screwed her face up at him. A small V formed between Michaela’s neatly shaped eyebrows. Even standing there in olive-green sweatpants and a light gray T-shirt, the woman looked like she walked off the page of a high fashion catalogue. Or out of some fancy boutique or whatever the hell those rich women shops were called. For Christ’s sake, her shirt said I can’t please everyone, I’m not an avocado. What the hell did that even mean?
Avocados were gross.
And could she stop staring at her fingers like one touch of his working man’s hands had ruined her for life.
“Feel free to use the sink inside,” he said. Though he worked to keep his voice level, annoyance bled through.
“Excuse me?” she asked at the same time Ronnie said, “Huh?”
“To wash your hands. I mean, I’m pretty sure I got all the grease off, but you never know. Wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.” That time he didn’t even bother to stem his sarcasm. Irritation grew by the second.
“Jesus,” Ronnie said with a shocked gasp as she stared with appalled eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She faced Miss Rich whose eyes had narrowed with displeasure. “Mickie, I’m so sorry. He clearly doesn’t know how to act around people.” Then she turned back to him. “You can go now. Remind me to never introduce you to another human being ever again.” Rolling her eyes, she yanked the container of cookies from him and turned back to Michaela.