Big Bad Neighbor: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Tia Siren

  He darted past Derek before either one of us could say anything. Derek shot a wary glance in my direction.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m about to take your ass out,” I said, pumping Owen’s Nerf gun. “That is what I’m doing.”

  His eyes widened a bit at that, but that carefully guarded expression remained in place. I pointed the Nerf gun at him. His arms automatically rose in defense.

  “I doubt it,” he said, and I caught a trace of a teasing tone. “I’d like to see you try to take me out.”

  “Years of Navy SEAL training, right?” I mocked, but I kept a playful smile on my face.

  I knew without a doubt that Derek could easily take me out without even batting an eyelash.

  “You know it,” he said seriously.

  Owen came out of the house with another Nerf gun in hand. He ran past Derek with a delighted cheer before reaching my side.

  “Jenna and I are on a team,” he declared, taking a stance next to me. “Just like paintball, Dad. Come find us.”

  “You better hide then,” Derek said.

  He turned to start counting. Owen’s sweaty little hand grabbed ahold of mine to tug me in the direction of the backyard. I relished the carefree feeling of running alongside him.

  “Hide in there,” Owen said, pointing to a garden shed. “I’ll ambush him from behind, because he’ll go looking for you first.”

  “The element of surprise,” I said, but my heart pounded at the thought of hiding in a shed with Derek. There was no doubt in my mind that he would find us both without any trouble.

  I hid in the shadows like Owen instructed before he closed the door. I watched his tiny shadow dart around the side to hide behind a tree. The smell of fertilizer and soil filled my lungs, and I heard Derek approach with confident steps. My fingers gripped the Nerf gun. My heart pounded hard.

  The door opened. The morning sunlight fell in behind Derek as he stepped forward with his Nerf gun pointed directly at me. Maybe it was the way he stood so tall and confident that caused my stomach to twist into a million knots, or maybe it was the way he looked at me heatedly as he let the garden shed door close.

  “Hands up,” Derek said, a husky timbre in his voice. “You surrender?”

  “No,” I said breathlessly, and held up my own Nerf gun. “Never. I’ll never surrender.”

  A ghost of a grin tugged at Derek’s lips. “We’ll see about that.”

  He surged forward with such speed and precision that it took me by surprise. The Nerf gun fell from my fingers to the ground between us. I half expected him to shoot me, to end the game there, but his strong fingers circled my wrists instead. I stumbled back into the shed wall. The air in my lungs hitched when he pressed against my body, every strong muscle of his pressing against mine intimately.

  The heat in the shed increased. The smell of mint toothpaste fell over me. Heavy pants escaped my lips when I looked up at Derek, who was smiling down at me in triumph. He had planned this. He knew I would be alone, and the blood in my veins raced at the thought. A week’s worth of temptation bubbled inside me. A part of me expected him to release my wrists, but he never did. His hands remained firmly circled around my wrists as he held them above our heads.

  Nothing could prepare me for the feeling of him pressing his lips against mine in a bruising kiss that effectively stole the breath right from my lungs. He kissed me hard and deep, pouring every inch of his frustration into me. I kissed him back just as hard. Sweat gathered at the back of my neck, and I arched up into his hard body with a moan. I needed this. I needed him.

  “Daaad!!!!”

  We broke apart breathlessly. Owen’s shadow crept by the shed walls. I caught Derek’s heated gaze before he took a step back. I quickly gathered my Nerf gun with trembling hands while I tried to cool myself down.

  The door opened again, and an array of Nerf bullets hit Derek squarely in the back. Owen shot us both a happy grin. “We won, Jenna! Did you see that? My plan worked. We caught you by surprise, Dad.”

  “You did,” Derek said, and he ruffled Owen’s hair with a strained grin. “You both caught me by surprise. Let’s get out of this shed.”

  Derek held the shed door open for me. I stepped out after collecting the nerf bullets from the ground. My legs quivered when I looked over at Derek as he slung his Nerf gun over his shoulder. He didn’t meet my eyes again.

  “How about some lunch in the city?” Derek asked.

  “Can Jenna come with us?” Owen asked immediately.

  I caught the hesitant look on Derek’s face. I shook my head at Owen. “Next time,” I said, ruffling his hair playfully. “I have some things that I need to get done.”

  Owen pouted at that, but he thankfully let it rest. He darted back into the house to clean up when Derek asked him to leave us alone for a minute.

  “I’m sorry,” Derek said abruptly. He looked troubled when he caught my eyes. “I-I don’t know what came over me.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, because I had no idea either. The fact that I’d gotten so turned on by just a simple kiss alarmed me. I couldn’t afford to get close to him.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said, though I knew we both would. “Let’s just forget about it. It won’t happen again.”

  “Right,” Derek said shortly, back to his cool demeanor. “I’ll see you Monday evening then.”

  I handed him the Nerf gun. “Monday evening it is.”

  I felt Derek’s eyes burning holes in my back as I walked quickly to the front. I hopped over the fence. I had no idea what exactly had just happened, but I knew Derek had kissed me because he’d wanted too. And I had kissed him back because I’d wanted too.

  Chapter Eight

  Derek

  That kiss replayed in the back of my mind for the next few days. It had been far too easy to give in. It had been pure impulse and lust at that moment when I had finally caved into the need to feel Jenna’s lips against mine. It hadn’t helped that I had awoken from a particularly arousing dream the night before Jenna had joined us in the Nerf gun battle.

  I needed to do something about this situation. I couldn’t afford to get caught up in another woman’s charms, especially after Sidney. Just thinking of her in Florida in the house I had paid for cooled the heat and hardness growing between my legs.

  I logged out of my email right as Marcus walked into my office. He brandished an envelope at me.

  “Vacation check, Summers,” he said, tossing it onto the keyboard. “I hope you plan to use it for something good.”

  “Maybe,” I said. “I’ll probably just buy Owen a new Xbox and a few games.”

  “Or go somewhere besides work,” Marcus said, shaking his head. “You’re one of the best detectives here, but it’s not so healthy to be such a prick all the time.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure that’s why I’ve solved more cases than the other detectives here.”

  “You need a break,” Marcus said. “I’m telling you to take the next week off to spend time with Owen. Take him to the zoo. Take him to the water park. Just do something other than work for a bit.”

  He walked out of my office before I could reply. I stared down at the white envelope on my keyboard. A headache pounded in my temples. Maybe a bit of time away would be a good idea. I couldn’t even think straight anymore without Jenna tantalizing my every thought.

  I spent the next few hours planning a week away at the hot springs before arriving back at the house right as the morning sunshine warmed it. Jenna, as usual, was pouring me a cup of coffee when I walked in. My eyes went to those long and tanned curvy legs that were visible because of those ripped jean shorts. My fingers itched to reach out and grab at the exposed flesh just to feel her. A week away would get rid of this temptation.

  “I’m going to be gone with Owen starting tonight,” I said.

  Jenna looked up with surprise glimmering in her eyes. “You are? Where are you going?”

  “Vacation
,” I said, and I pulled out my checkbook from my back pocket. “I’ll still pay you for next week.”

  “How long will you be gone?” Jenna asked.

  “For about a week,” I replied, tearing the check-out to hand it over. “I’m sure I’ll find another babysitter during that time, too, so you won’t have to keep coming over here.”

  “I want too though.”

  I tensed at that statement. The check between us fluttered in the summer breeze from the cracked window in the kitchen.

  “I don’t know what I’ve done to make you so angry,” Jenna said, her voice a soft murmur in the kitchen, “but I really like watching Owen. It’s not an inconvenience for me if it’s not for you. I honestly can’t find any other work that helps pay for my bills.”

  “It’s not an inconvenience,” I said. “I just thought you might want to do something else besides coming over here.”

  Jenna’s eyes caught mine. “I like coming over here. It’s not a big deal for me to help out around here if you need it.”

  “I’ll pull the ad then,” I said, grabbing my coffee mug from the kitchen island. “We’ll be back Sunday night, so the following Monday evening I’ll need you to come back.”

  I started in the direction of the stairs, but a soft hand on my elbow stopped me. Fingers tugged on the crook of my elbow. I swallowed thickly as I turned around to take in Jenna standing directly behind me. Her long strands of hair were clipped up in a bun on top of her head. I could count the summer freckles peppering her cheekbones. Something clenched hard in my chest. That impulse to lean forward and kiss her lips was there again.

  “I never had the chance to apologize for what happened over the weekend,” she said, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear shyly. “I-I didn’t mean to kiss you back. It was just the heat of the moment.”

  “I kissed you,” I said, shaking my head at her. “I should be apologizing. Why do you apologize for things that aren’t even your fault?”

  The question caused Jenna’s eyes to darken. She looked away hastily before turning on her bare heel to grab the check from the kitchen island. “Forget it. I’ll see you boys in a week. Give Owen a hug for me.”

  The front door clicked softly shut. I watched Jenna disappear through the front door of her house before heading upstairs. The guest bathroom was still steamy when I passed by it. The smell of Jenna’s shampoo, fresh and sweet, filled my nose. I hardened just thinking about Jenna’s naked form.

  “Fuck,” I whispered, treading softly down the hallway to not stir Owen in the process.

  I needed to do something to get this tension out of me, or else I would find myself working my way through Jenna’s legs. There was no doubt in my head that we were falling into each other more than we were comfortable with. I couldn’t take it any longer. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to do something.

  I closed my bedroom door softly before sitting on the edge of my bed, my erection thick and aching. I took a deep breath before unbuttoning the top portion of my jeans. The first brush of my fingers over the head of my cock brought instant pleasure and relief. I allowed the thought of Jenna, naked and bared to me, sink fully into my brain. Paired with how soft her lips felt beneath mine, it was enough to have me yearning for more.

  A summer breeze flowed over me, causing me to shiver. Sweat gathered at the base of my neck as I wrapped my hand around my shaft and pulled up slowly, pleasure dragging me in deep. The soft sound of my panting left my heart racing, my mind filling with carnality. I glanced up to find the bedroom window wide open. Shit. I’d forgotten to close it? A flash of movement stilled my hand before a daring thought consumed me—too daring to refuse. What if she was there…watching? It was the perfect time to play innocent, though I was anything but.

  Closing my eyes, I pressed my free hand against my thigh and pulled on my cock, groaning loudly as desire consumed me. I could see her in my mind’s eye, on her knees with her beautiful smile and her pretty pink tongue. Fire started in the center of my stomach and spread out like wicked tendrils of desire, consuming me as I let my imagination go wild. The possibilities were endless, and each was more delicious than the last.

  I continued until the coil in my stomach gave out and my orgasm slammed into me. I let out a low moan of relief as I worked myself through the high. My jeans were covered in my pleasure, as was my shirt and fingers. I reached up with my clean hand to brush away the sweat that clung to my forehead before rising from the bed with my pants loose about my hips. I headed to the shower, my blood pumping through my veins so damn fast that I felt dizzy. I needed a shower, but I had to know. I paused and glanced back, sneaking a glance out the window to find exactly what I had suspected.

  Jenna had been watching the entire time. She wasn’t so sweet and innocent after all. Good.

  Chapter Nine

  Jenna

  The smell of bleach filtered through the smell of freshly cut grass. I tossed one of the rags I had cleaned the all counters with into the washer. Everything smelt fresh and clean. It was all neatly organized too. The wood floors were swept, polished, and smelt of pine. I had spent the entire week from sunup to sundown cleaning every inch of the house.

  My mother would be impressed. Pride filled me before shame came slamming back. I had only cleaned to distract myself from those sinful images.

  They replayed teasingly in the back of my head. No matter how hard I had tried to tell myself to look away from that window, I hadn’t been able to. My eyes had been rooted to the pleasure contorting Derek’s face as his hand had pumped up and down his—

  Knock. Knock.

  I jumped at the unexpected sound. Fanning my flushed cheeks with a hand, I left the laundry room to peer cautiously through the peephole on the front door. I let out a relieved breath the second I recognized Martha’s trim figure on the other side.

  “Sorry to come over unannounced,” she said, beaming. “I just thought you might like your mail. The postman gets the mail mixed up sometimes.”

  I grabbed the few envelopes from her hand. “Thanks,” I said. I half expected Martha to hurry back down to her house to take care of Julie, but she lingered pointedly on the front porch. “Is there something else that you need?”

  “Not particularly,” Martha said. “I just wanted to know how babysitting Owen has gone for you over the past few weeks.”

  “It’s going fine.”

  That clearly didn’t satisfy the curiosity blazing in Martha’s eyes. “Right,” she said. She leaned in to whisper, “I hope that Derek hasn’t been too much of an ass to deal with. He can be such a prick sometimes!”

  I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face at that. “He can be. It’s honestly going fine. Owen is the sweetest little boy.”

  “I wish I could say he got that from his parents.” Martha shook her head with a sigh. “Neither one of them are the friendliest people in the world.”

  Curiosity took hold of me then.

  “His mom isn’t either?” I asked.

  “Oh, heaven’s no,” Martha exclaimed. “You know there are women out there in the world who are not the most pleasant of people.” Her nose wrinkled. “Well, Sidney, from what I understood, was one of them. I heard horrible things from one of the other moms who is friends with the principal of the school.”

  “They must be divorced then,” I said. “I never see any pictures of her anywhere in the house. Derek never mentions her.”

  “He wouldn’t. He went broke just to get custody of Owen from her.”

  I glanced at the house next door. They had arrived back home yesterday, a day early, but Owen had been the only one to wave, promising to show me pictures of the zoo later. Derek hadn’t even spare me a glance. And for some irrational reason, that stung considering the situation. Though what exactly that situation was, I had no idea.

  “How are you handling everything here?” Martha asked kindly. She smiled at me when I looked over at her. “All is well?”

  “Everything’s fine,�
�� I said, shrugging. “I’m just cleaning up the house is all. Never-ending projects, it seems like.”

  “Usually.” She reached out to grasp my forearm. I watched as her fingertips gently covered the marks Leon had left. They were stubborn. They didn’t want to leave. “I don’t mean to put you on the defense, Jenna, but I want to tell you that I’ve been where you are right now.” A darkness briefly clouded the warmness in her eyes. “I know how hard it is to trust people afterward. It took me a good couple of years to trust my current husband, but not every person you meet is going to be like him.” Her fingers squeezed. “Keep that in mind, okay?”

  Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I opened my mouth to reply, but the sound of Owen’s voice calling out my name spared me.

  “Jenna!” he yelled, waving at me from the front step. “Come over. We’re barbecuing hot dogs. Come look at my pictures.”

  “You better go,” Martha said. She started down the front porch step. “You better show me those pictures too, Owen. I know Julie would love to see them. She’s jealous.”

  I closed the front door uneasily. I had no idea how Derek would react to me coming over unannounced, but Owen continued to wave his arm impatiently. He motioned for me to follow him down the hallway and through the sliding glass door. The smell of charcoal and igniter fluid filled my nose when I stepped out onto the hot patio behind Owen.

  Derek stood in front of a small charcoal grill, scraping the grate. My eyes landed on the strong chords of his neck where a small cross tattoo was. He froze when he turned around to find me there. Heat threatened to sear through my stomach when those images replayed again. I wanted to see his head tilting back in pleasure because of me, not because of his own hand.

  Does he know that I watched? His eyes skimmed over me, completely emotionless. I couldn’t even gauge his reaction to seeing me besides surprise.

  “Owen wanted me to come over,” I said, resting a hand on Owen’s hot shoulder. “He wanted me to see the pictures he took.”