Thirst (The Calvettis of New York 1)

I bark out a laugh. “What?”

Sophia glances back at me from her perch on my windowsill. “I spot at least four hot men over there. Is your neighbor one of them?”

He’s the hottest. Just look for the messy brown hair, the chiseled jaw and the lips that look like they’d take you to heaven and back.

I can’t say those words to Sophia because she’d set to work baking something, anything that I could take over to Rocco.

“Aren’t you the one who is always telling your daughter that it’s rude to stare?” I dump a pouch of microwave popcorn into a large ceramic bowl. “You’ve been sitting there since you got here, Sophia.”

“There is nothing on television that will compare to this.” She motions for me to hand the bowl to her. “Come sit next to me.”

I shake my head. “Try and pull yourself away from that and join me on the couch.”

Her gaze flits back to Rocco’s apartment. “It looks like they’re going to play cards.”

It makes sense. Rocco isn’t a stranger to a deck of cards. The million dollar purses he collected wh

en he was playing professional poker are proof of that.

“We can play cards,” I offer with a laugh. “What’s that card game that you’re always playing with Nicholas?”

“Strip poker.”

I turn to look at her. “You don’t know the first thing about poker.”

“That’s why it’s my husband’s favorite game.” She slips the strap of her red tank top down her shoulder. “I’m always nude before he sheds one piece of clothing. He likes it that way.”

I laugh. “You two are relationship goals. You know that, right?”

She stretches her legs, readying to stand. “I know that if I were you, I’d be borrowing a cup of sugar from that man in the next building.”

“You don’t even know which one is my neighbor.” Reaching for the remote, I settle on the couch.

“My money is on the one in the blue shirt.” She stands, yanking up the waistband of her black yoga pants. “I caught him looking over here. I can’t say he’s as hot as Nicholas, but he’s close, Dex.”

I scroll through the channels, oblivious to what is on any of them.

I haven’t stopped thinking about Rocco since I left his office this afternoon.

When I first got home from work an hour ago, he already had company. I ducked into my bathroom, took a shower and put on a pair of white shorts and a blue T-shirt.

I tried to avoid looking at his apartment, but my willpower was no match for my curiosity.

When I did finally glance in that direction, I was met with his gaze and then a lift of his hand in a wave.

That’s when Sophia called to ask if she could drop by to show me a few new sketches for her spring collection.

I welcomed the distraction until she walked in and headed straight to the window.

“Bring your sketchpad here,” I say, patting the couch next to me. “Show me what you’re working on.”

“In a minute.” Her hands fall to her hips. “Why are you doing everything you can to avoid looking over at your neighbor? Is there something you need to tell me about the two of you?”

I’ve thought about telling her that Rocco is one of the investors who are interested in partnering with me, but I don’t want to tell Sophia any half-truths. I’m not ready to confess that I treated him to a slow striptease through the window.

“I’m doing everything I can to have some time with my best friend.” I shoot her a smile. “I’m eager to see the sketches so show me.”

Her eyes brighten. “I think you’re going to love them, Dex. I’ll use the ladies’ room while you get us some water.”