The Troublemaker Next Door

by Marie Harte

  “Oh shut up. He’s not my studly plumber. I mean, he is studly, but he’s not mine.”

  “She who doth protest too much, doth—”

  Maddie scowled. “Doth this.” She held up a finger and left the kitchen—and her cousin’s laughter—behind. Instead of heading back upstairs, she sat down in the living room and opened her laptop, looking once again at the competition. Staging prices, services, realtors… She made more notes and forced herself to stop thinking about Flynn McCauley.

  So of course later that night she dreamed about him wearing nothing but those damn boxer briefs and a smile.

  Chapter 5

  Thankfully, the weather held through to the weekend. Saturday afternoon, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Flynn tossed around the football with his brothers. He loved their get-togethers, when his parents grilled outside while he, his brothers, and Brody taunted and played ball with one another in the backyard. Suckers. As if any of them could out-throw him—the star quarterback.

  He glanced at the back door again, wondering when the hell Maddie would show. It was five after two already. The ball knocked him in the head.

  “Shit.” When one of the older neighbors raised a brow at him, he lowered his voice. “I mean, heck. That hurt.” He picked up the pigskin and moved to beam it back at Cam when his younger brother pointed at Brody. Flynn changed direction, aimed, and threw. Hard.

  The ball hit Brody’s chest with an audible thump.

  Brody wheezed. “Bastard.”

  “Watch your mouth, Brody,” Flynn warned, playing the good son. “We have guests present.”

  “Brody,” Beth McCauley warned in a loud voice. His mother was standing next to his father, clear across the yard. He’d always said she had ears like a bat.

  Brody scowled. Flynn and his brothers laughed.

  His mother joined them, waving at Brody to pitch her the ball. “Over here, Brody.”

  Her kid in name if not blood. Brody winced. “You sure, Bitsy? I don’t wanna hurt you.”

  Flynn jeered him. “Like you could. You throw like a girl.” He shot his mother an innocent look. “No offense, Ma.”

  “None taken, you big oaf.”

  Cam snickered.

  Brody threw the ball with a gentle push, and she caught it with no problem. She threw it to Flynn with some oomph, and he pretended to have a hard time catching it.

  “Don’t bobble it, son. Two hands, bring it in tight.”

  He frowned when the guys shook their heads at him. Could they not see he’d been teasing? “I know how to catch a ball, Ma. Gimme a break. High school, college. I started varsity for three years, woman.”

  “I’m sorry, what did you call me?”

  Only their father could get away with calling her that. “Ah, nothing, Ma.”

  Colin raced out the back door and missed bumping into Flynn by inches. Behind him followed one of the neighborhood kids. “They’re here!” He grabbed the ball from Flynn and took off.

  Maddie, Vanessa, and Abby walked out the back door into the yard. Feeling like Pavlov’s dog but unable to stop himself, Flynn took a few steps toward her before he realized what he’d done. He deliberately shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to his dad, hoping he hadn’t looked like a lovesick fool. Not that he was lovesick. Far from it. But hell, a man would have to be a eunuch not to look at Maddie Gardner.

  Then Maddie caught his gaze and blushed.

  Fuck if he could forget yesterday’s short peck on the cheek. A little kiss, and he’d thought of nothing more than her soft lips when he’d jacked off last night.

  “Ladies, glad to see you could make it.” His mother took the plate of brownies from Maddie and tugged her along. Her friends followed. “You remember James, my husband. Flynn, my son.”

  The charming one. He hoped Maddie remembered. He hadn’t really been kidding. Flynn didn’t want her talking to the other guys. Sometimes being close in age to his siblings wasn’t such a hot deal.

  To his pleasure, her smile seemed warmer when she lit on him.

  His mother shoved the brownies at him, breaking their connection. “What?”

  “Go put them on the table, but don’t eat them.” She motioned to one of the picnic tables that held a ton of food. To the girls, she said, “You know Mike and Cameron. Have you met Brody yet?”

  Flynn hurried to the table and returned, wanting to hear everything they said.

  Abby asked, “How many sons do you have?”

  Brody caught the football Colin tossed him and joined them. His eyes widened when he saw Abby, but he didn’t say anything more than, “Pleased to meet you.”

  “Thanks for inviting us over, Mrs. McCauley,” Vanessa said. A sexy, sophisticated blond, yet she didn’t hold a candle to the redhead who blushed when Flynn looked at her. God, he hoped his hard-on wasn’t too obvious in his jeans. Time for a cold drink. Definitely something alcoholic.

  Brody cleared his throat. “Nice to see you ladies finally made it. We’re starved, and the general”—he shot a thumb at their mother—“wouldn’t let us have anything to eat until you made an appearance.”

  They smiled at the bastard before his mother whisked the women away and pointed out Colin, his friend, and a few of the neighbors who’d joined them.

  After spending an hour doing his best to keep things casual by steering clear of Maddie and interacting with his brothers, Brody, and the neighbors, Flynn couldn’t stand it any longer. He approached her by the sidelines of a makeshift badminton court.

  He nodded behind him at the picnic table. “The brownies look good.” Flynn didn’t know why talking to Maddie felt so awkward. Maybe because he couldn’t stop looking at her mouth, knowing how she tasted. Like a cold beer on a perfect game day. Refreshing, addicting, and so goddamn good he wanted to get drunk on her.

  She stood with him while they watched the others play badminton. His mother and her games. He’d done his time with that tiny racket while Brody did his best to beat him down with that stupid shuttlecock.

  Cock. Not a good word to think around Maddie, because at just the mention of it, the damn thing wanted to rise and stay up. Thoughts about his mother, father, and neighbors watching him with a woody cooled him off. At least for now.

  “Mike said to bring our favorite dessert, so we did.” She smiled at Abby’s heroic attempt to return Vanessa’s volley. Brody leaned in to help her, but Flynn missed the end result because a small, unearthly tornado shoved him into Maddie.

  He wrapped his arms around her and stumbled but didn’t fall.

  “Rory Templeton, you get back here this minute,” Rory’s mother yelled at him as the kid dashed away from Colin’s squirt gun.

  Colin cried victory, then the little punk turned it on him.

  “Colin.”

  “Ha! I’m winning.” Colin laughed and raced away, but not before shooting Maddie too.

  “Sorry. He’s competitive, like Mike.”

  She squirmed in his arms, and he realized he was still holding her. Her breasts brushed against his chest, and they both froze. He slowly dropped his arms. She slowly backed away.

  He couldn’t help looking down, captivated by the hard points of her nipples showing through her pink shirt. If he looked hard enough, he could make out the subtle lace on the straps of her bra too.

  Oh man, not a good idea to look there. He wanted to take her inside and finish what they’d started last week.

  “Competitive like who? I noticed you four trying to out-throw each other earlier.”

  “Well, I didn’t want to look bad in front of company.”

  She laughed, a genuine chuckle that sounded both feminine and rich. It made him warm inside. “It’s really nice of your family to invite us over.” She subtly crossed her arms over her chest.

  Denied sight of her ample breasts, he sighed. “Yeah, we’re all about nice. Hey, you want a beer?”

  “No thanks. How about something nonalcoholic?”

  He grabbed her a lemonade, and they sat a
t a small table watching his family mingle. Property in Queen Anne cost a bundle, but they’d been living here long enough that the original house had included the half acre of land. The backyard had been party central for years. An area for badminton, football parties, and for the past twenty-five years, kid birthday parties as well.

  “Thanks.” She drank it down like a woman dying of thirst, and he wondered if he wasn’t the only one feeling awkward. “I can’t believe how warm it’s been this week.”

  “I love it. Makes work a lot easier than doing it in the winter, let me tell you.”

  She tilted her head, and a mass of dark red hair pooled on her shoulder. He was dying to sink his hands in the thick stuff. “I bet it’s really hard in the winter.”

  It’s really hard now. “Uh, yeah. Pipes freezing up. You wouldn’t believe how many people go on vacation and forget to make sure they keep the heat up. Busted pipes, water heater problems, you name it. Your sink was one of the easiest problems I’ve had in a while.”

  “Glad we could help.” They shared a laugh that felt natural, and just as good as kissing her. Which freaked him out. Wanting sex with a woman was one thing. But liking her this much, spending time with her like this, it didn’t feel like his other forays into dating.

  “So how’s the job thing going?” he asked to take his mind from this emotional crap. He noticed his mother watching him and glanced at her, only to see her hurriedly look away. When her continued interest still failed to scare him from Maddie’s side, he knew he had a problem.

  “I’ve been working hard all week.” Seeing his curiosity, she continued. “I’ve come up with some quotes that can compete with other stagers in the area. There are a lot of people out there doing the same thing, but I do have a Fred Hampton’s Designs background. As much as the owner of the firm is a complete jerk, the reputation of first-class work is there. I’m hoping it’ll help.”

  “You know, my aunt is a realtor. I could call her for you. You should talk to her, see if she knows anyone who needs a house fixed up. She always says summer’s a busy time to sell.”

  Maddie’s eyes brightened before she shook her head. “No. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

  He frowned. “Why not? In my business, it’s all about word of mouth and networking. If you’re as good as I think you are, you won’t need that much help once your name is out there.”

  “Why would you think I’m any good?”

  “Because your house looks like something out of a magazine.”

  “Well, I try. But like I told you before, blame the neatness on Vanessa. She’s like Hitler with a mop.”

  They grinned together while they watched the neatnik trounce Mike.

  “She’s also competitive like nobody’s business.” Maddie sighed. “But she’s family. I love her.” She glanced around the yard. “I like your family. I think it’s great how close you guys are with your parents.”

  “Well, Mom won’t let us get any farther away. It’s like she has this huge arm that drags us back the minute we mention moving.”

  ***

  He’s leaving? Maddie blinked. “You’re planning on moving?” The thought upset her, and it had no reason to. She didn’t have anything going on with Flynn, not at all.

  “Nah. I just like to tease her. We’re not momma’s boys, but we love her. We have a tight family. It helped a lot when Lea passed. Mike’s wife,” he explained in a low voice. “When a tragedy like that hits, it hurts everyone. But we stepped in and took care of Colin and Mike, made sure they had time to grieve. And us too. We loved her; she was family. But you know, the cooking, cleaning, all that stuff. My mom and dad were really there for Mike and Colin, you know?”

  His hand rested on the table, and she put hers over it. “That’s nice.”

  He looked down at their hands, then back into her eyes.

  Oh God, she could see the variations of green in his irises, and she couldn’t look away.

  “Maddie?” His low voice made her belly flutter.

  “Yeah?”

  “I was thinking—”

  Two sets of large hands tore him away from her.

  “Stop flirting with the pretty girl and get your ass in the game,” Mike ordered from one side of him.

  Brody winked at her from the other. “Sorry, Maddie. I know how this one can get to chatting, and he just monopolizes time.”

  “Like a parasite,” Cam added from behind them.

  They ignored Flynn’s muttered cursing, which died the moment his mother approached.

  “For God’s sake, Flynn. Let the girl eat. She’s too thin as it is.”

  Maddie’s smile stretched her mouth. “Too thin? I really, really like you.” She stood and walked with Beth toward the picnic table laden with food, where her cousin and Abby had just made themselves at home.

  “Thanks for this, Beth. It looks delicious.”

  “Well, don’t tell, but I already had a brownie. That’s some dangerous chocolate there, Maddie.”

  Maddie grabbed a plate and filled it with food. Normally she’d avoid the greasy meats and starches, but she hadn’t had so much fun in ages. Feeling like she belonged amidst the crowd, half of whom she still didn’t know, she forced herself to sit at a long table with strangers.

  The patriarch of the family joined her. “Mind if I sit?”

  Before she could answer, he scooted her over and sat next to her. As big as Mike, and just as handsome. No wonder Beth McCauley wore such a wide smile. Talk about good genes. But though Flynn looked like his father, he had his mother’s eyes.

  “So how are you and the girls settling in?”

  “Fine.” They’d been in the house for over four months. The settling had passed. “Mike’s been more than nice, when we see him, which isn’t that often. He’s the perfect neighbor.”

  James grunted. “Colin hasn’t been bugging you overly, has he? The boy nags to see the house all the time. My boys grew up in there, you know.”

  “It’s a lovely house. Really great architecture.”

  He smiled, and they spoke of the neighborhood, her job—briefly—and how much the East Coast differed from the West.

  “I hear Flynn helped you with a problem the other day.”

  Her mind flashed to her kitchen, and Flynn’s mouth. “Yep. Fixed our sink.” I wish he would have fixed a few other things.

  “He’s a good boy. Can get a bit randy now and then, so if he gets fresh, smack him upside the head.”

  She’d been drinking when he said randy, a word she hadn’t heard spoken since her grandmother had said it how many years ago? She choked, gasping as he tapped her back.

  “You okay?” His face creased in a frown.

  “Fine.” She wheezed and drank some more, wishing now she’d taken Flynn up on his offer of a beer.

  “He hasn’t been a problem, has he? Don’t feel like you have to tolerate all the McCauleys now that you’re renting. I can have a talk—”

  “No, no. Your sons have been more than helpful.”

  “Brody too. He’s mine, as much as he thinks he’s not,” he muttered and glared at Brody talking with Beth and Abby. “Boy moved in when he was six and never left. Definitely family.”

  She wanted to say she knew the feeling, but she didn’t. She and her mother had never been a boisterous household. And visits with Vanessa’s calm, contained family didn’t count either. “You have a terrific family. I grew up without brothers or sisters. I always wanted to do this, big family parties with the neighbors.” She smiled at a few of them sitting close. Two couples with young children, a pair of grandparents, a single dad tickling his son.

  “So where’s your family?” he asked.

  “My mom lives in Pennsylvania. Refuses to move, though I’ve tried to talk her into coming out here.”

  He nodded. “Well, she’s probably set in her life. Got her own way of doing things. Much as I love my family, I realize my sons are independent thinkers. Have their own lives to lead, like you and your roommates
do.”

  She agreed. “Yeah. I just wish Mom was closer. I miss her. I have Vanessa, my cousin. And Abby of course. She’s my best friend. But they’re not Mom.” She leaned closer. “Between you and me, Vanessa’s too bossy. As my mom would say, she’s a bit too big for her britches.”

  James laughed, and his wife looked over at him. As did Flynn, who frowned and stood. He looked as if he meant to join them when Cam yanked him back down. Then Brody distracted him with something that made him laugh.

  She’d never thought of humor as sexy, but hearing Flynn’s laugh aroused her. Just what she didn’t need sitting so close to Flynn’s father. Talk about bad timing to like men again.

  “You okay?” James looked from her to Flynn and narrowed his eyes.

  “Fine. I’m going for dessert. Want anything?”

  “I sneaked a brownie when no one was looking.” He winked. “But I’ll have another.”

  Laughing, she left to get him one. But she found nothing left, just a few crumbs, so she put a piece of Beth’s apple pie on a plate for him.

  “Mom’s pie is pretty good.” Flynn spoke from over her shoulder. “But if you bake pie as well as you made the brownies, I’ll concede you the winner.”

  He took the plate from her and delivered it to his father. He darted away before his dad could smack him in the head, and she wondered what he’d said.

  “Well, nice to see you come up for some air.” Vanessa looked a little too smug.

  Not in the mood for Vanessa’s teasing, Maddie readied to rip into her cousin when a blast of water between the eyes shocked her into stuttering. “Wh-wh—”

  Flynn hoisted her assailant in the air. “Aha! Gotcha, you little monster.” He ripped Colin’s squirt gun aside. “Well, Maddie? What should we do with him?” He handed her the gun and set a squirming Colin on his feet.

  She eyed the gun, saw the dismay on Colin’s face, and handed it to Vanessa. “I’ll leave the weapon in my cousin’s brutal hands.”