Thin Walls

by Lawson, Cassandra

  “You should have had her arrested for breaking in,” she told me. “That’s a psycho bitch move if I’ve ever seen one.”

  “Technically, she didn’t break in,” I explained. “I gave her a key when we were dating. She gave it back, but it seems she had a duplicate made first.”

  “It’s breaking in,” she insisted. “You didn’t invite her over, and she stole that extra key. That’s illegal. Don’t make excuses for the psycho.”

  I blew out a tired breath and nodded as I stared down at my cupcake. “You’re right. Suri was always too impulsive.”

  “She is a psycho,” Mercy argued. “I can see why you don’t want to be that guy who says horrible things about his ex. Nobody likes listening to someone insult their ex, and it makes you sound like you aren’t over them. In this case, no one will blame you. You should stay far away from that woman.”

  “Are you worried about me, Mercedes?” I asked with a smile. I liked the idea of her worrying about me.

  “A little,” she admitted. “Wipe that smile off your face.”

  “I can’t,” I replied. “You’re adorable when you worry about me.”

  She snorted. “Adorable? I don’t think so. Are you flirting with me?”

  “Apparently, I’m not doing a very good job of it if you have to ask,” I replied with a laugh.

  Mercy looked like she was about to turn me down again, and I almost flinched.

  Saved by the bell! That’s exactly what I thought when Mercy’s doorbell rang.

  “Crap!” Mercy said as she looked at the time. “I completely forgot about my cousin and friends coming over today. It’s a last-minute thing I arranged when my cousin had to miss our lunch date earlier today.”

  “Should I leave?” I asked.

  She shook her head on the way to answer the door. “You may as well have a seat and let Delaney interrogate you in comfort. She’ll follow you back to your place if you try to leave.”

  I didn’t get a chance to ask for an explanation before Mercy opened the front door to greet her friends.

  “It smells amazing in here!”

  “Holy handcuffs! Your hot neighbor is in your condo!

  “Holy handcuffs?” Mercy asked with a laugh. “Since when are handcuffs holy, Laney?”

  Holy handcuffs? Hot neighbor? I wondered which of them had dubbed me Mercy’s hot neighbor. With any luck, it was Mercy.

  “The last time Sebastian had me in handcuffs, I screamed Oh God! so many times, I decided they must be holy,” the pregnant redhead explained as she sat at the breakfast bar and flashed me a smile. “So, are you over here to defile my cousin?”

  “Er,” I began, not at all sure how to answer that question. No one had ever asked if I planned to defile a woman before.

  “Leave him alone, Laney,” a brunette with a sweet girl-next-door look warned.

  “You don’t want to scare off the first man Mercy’s let into her condo in all time I’ve known her,” the last woman to enter the kitchen added.

  My jaw dropped as I stared at the woman who’d just spoken. With long, pink hair and pale green eyes, I immediately recognized the bassist for Reckless Release.

  “You’re Harley Winters.” Nothing like stating the obvious.

  “Yes, I am,” Harley replied with a smile. “Can we call you something other than Mercy’s Hot Neighbor? That’s what Delaney’s been calling you for months. It’s not that I mind the name so much as it’s a mouthful.”

  “I wanted to ask his name, but Mercy told me to leave her hot porn-addict neighbor alone,” the redhead, who had to be Delaney, explained.

  “This is Spencer,” Mercy replied for me before giving me a brief apologetic smile. “Spencer, I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Bentley, my cousin, Delaney, and my friend, Harley, but I guess you already recognized her.”

  “It’s nice to meet you all,” I replied. Mercy’s cousin seemed to have absolutely no internal filter. I’d also had no idea Mercy was acquainted with the members of Reckless Release. Since I loved their music, I followed some of the gossip. I knew Bentley was married to the lead guitarist, Gage Addison, and of course, I knew who Harley was.

  “Sorry we interrupted your porn with our spanking party,” Delaney said with a grin.

  “Spanking party?” I asked, both confused and intrigued.

  Chapter 6

  Mercy

  Spencer looked over in time to see me motioning for Delaney to stop. So, I ended up standing there frozen with my hand up in a kill gesture.

  “I wasn’t there,” he explained.

  “I have cupcakes,” I announced, hoping to avoid putting Spencer through another awkward moment.

  “Someone was watching porn in your room while you weren’t home?” Delaney asked.

  For someone who spent a lot of time observing people, my cousin could be clueless at times. Delaney wrote erotica for a living, and she believed everyone’s sex life was research for her next book. She had no shame in asking questions.

  “Excuse my cousin,” Bentley told Spencer with a sweet smile.

  “Oh!” Delaney said as she finally caught on. “Now, I see why Mercy looked like she was directing traffic and then threatening to kill me. Sorry if I brought up a bad memory.”

  “It’s all right,” Spencer assured her. “I should probably go so you can enjoy your visit.”

  “And so my guests don’t make things even more awkward for you,” I added.

  “That too,” Spencer agreed as he got to his feet. “It was nice meeting you all.”

  “Sorry about driving you away,” Harley said as she grabbed a cupcake.

  Spencer looked like he was about to assure her that they hadn’t driven him away, but instead, he said, “I dropped by unannounced, so I’m intruding on your time.”

  “Drop by more often!” Delaney called out as Spencer neared the front door with me by his side.

  “Sorry about that,” I said as I opened the front door. “My family and friends are all unique individuals.”

  “That’s not a bad thing,” he replied with a smile.

  Something about that simple smile, and the way he leaned closer, made me hyperaware of his presence. I’ve never been the type to swoon over any guy, not even in my high school days, but Spencer was very swoon-worthy. His gaze lingered on mine before moving down to my lips. That’s when his smile slipped, and his lips parted.

  How is that no flirting rule going? A voice in the back of my head asked, and I suddenly wondered why I was so hellbent on a no flirting rule. I was attracted to Spencer, and we were both single. What was the point of holding back?

  Standing in full view of the breakfast bar, everyone could see what we were doing. I had no doubt they were watching, but I didn’t care. My focus remained on Spencer and the hot way he looked at me. I felt that clench of desire—the one I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  “Dinner?” he asked.

  I blinked twice as the realization that he’d continued talking while my mind wandered down the overgrown and long-forgotten path of sexual desire.

  “Dinner?” I asked because there was no way to get around admitting that I hadn’t been paying attention to a word he’d said.

  His knowing smile told me he knew and liked the effect he had on me. “I asked if you’d like to have dinner with me tomorrow. I get off work around five, and I could swing by to pick you up.”

  Rather than answering, I stood there like an idiot and continued to stare at him. No sounds came from the kitchen as the nosy bitches impatiently awaited my response. They wanted me to get out of the house and would consider going out with an attractive guy a bonus.

  “Why the hesitation?” Spencer asked softly. “Are you worried about turning me down in front of your friends?” He leaned in closer, making it even harder to think.

  “Dinner’s fine,” I replied, taking a step back to clear my head.

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me. “My cell number is on
the back.”

  “Smooth,” I replied as I took the card. “I’ll bet these fancy cards impress all the ladies. Do you have a box full of them with your number on the back?”

  Sometimes, I think owning a strip club ruined me for all men. It’s not that I mind men going to strip clubs. Enough men looking to score came into The Frisky Beaver to make me jaded, and yes, I’ve seen the guys handing out business cards. I collected my share of them working the bar.

  “I’m trying this technique for the first time,” he admitted with a laugh. “It’s not going well, so I guess it doesn’t work.”

  Tired of my crazy hesitation, I smiled and placed a hand on Spencer’s chest. His gaze moved to my hand, and I could tell he felt the same heat between us. Giving his chest a little shove, I pushed him the rest of the way out the door before bringing my hand to my lips and blowing him a kiss.

  “I’ll text you my number later.” Not waiting for a response, I closed the door.

  “Oh. My. God,” Delaney said from right behind me.

  “You haven’t lost your touch,” Bentley added with a grin.

  Harley licked the frosting off her fingers before giving her opinion. “I didn’t even know Mercy had a touch to lose.”

  “Mercy used to have all the boys eating out of the palm of her hand in school,” Bentley explained.

  “That’s not true,” I argued. “I was the nerdy girl in high school. All I did was study and take classes at the community college.”

  “And the boys still fell all over themselves to do anything you wanted,” Bentley stated.

  “You’re exaggerating,” I insisted.

  Delaney waved a hand as if to dismiss the subject of my high school years. “Who cares about that? Tell us all about what happened with Lord Sexy Britches.”

  “Lord Sexy Britches?” I asked around my laughter.

  She nodded. “He’s British, so I was trying for something that sounds British.”

  “That was a total fail,” Harley said with a shake of her head. “Britches makes me think of little boys. Spencer doesn’t look like a little boy.”

  Having seen Spencer nearly naked, I had to agree with Harley. “How about if we skip the nicknames?”

  “Fine,” Delaney agreed. “What happened between the last time I saw you when this guy was your annoying neighbor to this morning when you’re looking at him like you want him to take you on the kitchen table?”

  We all moved to the living room, and I gave them a brief rundown of my adventures with Spencer and Suri.

  Delaney’s expression went from excited to concerned. “I’ve changed my mind about you spending time with your hot British neighbor.”

  Bentley was seated beside Delaney on the sofa, and she reached out to place a hand on her arm. “I can see why you’re worried about Mercy’s safety, but if you hadn’t gotten involved with someone with a crazy ex, you wouldn’t have Sebastian.”

  “I’m not getting involved with Spencer,” I pointed out. “We’re having dinner. He’s cute, but I can’t see this turning into more than one date.”

  “Why not?” Harley asked. “Serious sparks were flying between the two of you.”

  “You were so into him that you couldn’t even focus on what he was saying,” Bentley added. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you look at any guy that way.”

  “I’ve never seen you look at any guy that way,” Delaney added thoughtfully. “That still doesn’t mean I think it’s a good idea for you to get involved with some guy with an ex who might come at you with a baseball bat in a public restroom.”

  Her concern stemmed from her own experience with Sebastian’s ex, who had come after her in a public restroom. I wanted to say something reassuring since Delaney worried about me. Everyone in my life had worried about me since the shooting. No matter how many times I insisted I’d be fine, and I just needed time, they all thought I’d become a permanent shut-in. So, I didn’t want to add to anyone’s stress.

  “Would it make you feel better if I promise to carry pepper spray and that stun gun you got for me?” I asked.

  Delaney frowned. “Sorry, Mercy. I want you to get out, and I shouldn’t let my hang-ups get in the way of supporting your efforts to find a man.”

  “I’m not trying to find a man,” I reminded her. How many times did I need to tell her that? “Let’s talk about something more important. Where is your son? I babyproofed for the little cutie. Auntie Mercy needs her cuddle time.”

  “My parents showed up for a surprise visit,” Delaney explained. “It was either let my mom take him to the zoo or bring my mom here. She’s doing a lot better but is still too judgmental.”

  I smiled at Delaney and handed her another cupcake. “You’re going to need another one of these if you have to go home and listen to your father nag you about your sinful books.”

  Delaney blew out a frustrated breath. “It was so much easier when they pretended they didn’t know anything about my books. At the same time, I’m glad they’re trying to be more involved now. I love my parents.”

  “How long can you stay today?” I asked. “I thought maybe we could all go see a movie.”

  “A movie?” Bentley asked.

  “Yes,” I replied in a dry tone. “They play them at movie theaters. There’s popcorn and candy. You’ve heard of movies, right?”

  “Don’t be a smart ass,” Bentley warned. “I’ve suggested countless movies in the last few months, and you always tell me you’d rather stay home.”

  “I’m sure it hasn’t been countless movies.” At Bentley’s glare, I sighed. “Fine, I’ve refused to go out all but a few times, but things are changing.”

  “You’re going out,” Harley stated.

  “Flirting with your neighbor,” Bentley added.

  Not surprisingly, Delaney said, “Getting laid.”

  I laughed. “I’m having dinner with him. That’s all. Don’t get too excited.” Before they could talk more about the possibility of me dating, I returned to the subject of the movie. “Shall I check the show times?”

  “How about if we do some shopping?” Delaney suggested. “I need to head home in a couple of hours. This will make it easier to stick to my schedule.”

  I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Mercy needs a new dress for her hot date,” Harley added.

  “It’s not a hot date,” I argued.

  “Whatever,” Harley replied. “Let’s decide where we’re shopping so I can get my security detail to meet us there.”

  “Ah, the joys of shopping with a rock star,” I said with a laugh.

  Chapter 7

  Spencer

  It was after nine when Mercy finally texted me with her number. I’d started to wonder if she planned to cancel on me. I knew I hadn’t been mistaken about her interest, but attraction didn’t always lead to anything.

  When I saw her simple text, I grinned and added her number to my contacts.

  Mercy: This is Mercy.

  There was no request for a response, and I needed to be up early. I should have just let her know I’d gotten her message and that I’d pick her up after I got home, but that’s not what I did.

  Spencer: I was beginning to worry you’d changed your mind about going out with me.

  Mercy: Were you afraid you’d have to spend the evening at home alone with nothing to do but watch porn in your office?

  Spencer: That or spend it with my ear pressed to your bedroom wall, hoping to hear one of your infamous spanking parties.

  Mercy: It was a one-time event, and you missed it.

  Mercy: I’m sorry my cousin brought that up.

  Spencer: Because of Suri cheating on me?

  Mercy: Yes. Delaney isn’t good at taking signals from anyone.

  Spencer: That’s okay. I hate people walking on eggshells around me. I’m completely over Suri. So, if you wanted to have any kinky play time with your friends while I’m lying in my bed on the other side of the wall, I’ll be fine with it.


  Mercy: Ew! You do realize that my first cousin and sister were among the people in the room for that pretend spanking party, don’t you?

  Spencer: That does make it sound much less sexy.

  Mercy: It’s not sexy at all. Besides, I didn’t participate in that bedroom theater piece. All I did was tell them you’d fallen off the wagon and started watching porn again.

  Spencer: Hold on. I’m going to call you.

  I didn’t give her a chance to respond before hitting the call button.

  “Hi,” she answered sleepily.

  The sound of her voice made me smile. “Hi.”

  Mercy’s laughter carried across the line. “You called me just to say one word?”

  I chuckled at my reaction to hearing her voice. She was right to be amused by my response. “I had this idea we’d talk about the porn thing again, but I don’t know why I’d want to revisit that subject. For months, I thought your grandmother had banged on my wall to complain about me having loud sex, not watching porn. I even moved my bed to the other wall.”

  “I moved mine, too,” she admitted.

  “Are you in your bed now?” I asked.

  Mercy laughed. “Oh, that was smooth.”

  “Oh, no,” I began. “I’m not trying to turn the conversation that direction.”

  “So, you weren’t about to ask me what I’m wearing?” she asked.

  “No,” I assured her, suddenly dying to know what she was wearing. “I’m not going to ask you what you’re wearing.” The last was said more as a reminder for myself than an assurance for Mercy.

  “That’s a pity,” she said with a sigh.

  There was a beat of silence before I could respond. “You want me to ask you what you’re wearing?” She couldn’t be saying she wanted me to talk dirty to her. Nothing in her tone indicated she planned to have a hot and heavy conversation with me, but I couldn’t figure out any other explanation. “What are you wearing?”