Rock Hard Neighbor : A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Rye Hart

  “You might as well be,” Timothy said boldly. “I’ve had the run of the oil business for four decades now. Twenty years ago, Jonathan stepped up. We’ve been doing this since you were just a child.”

  “Which is exactly why I trust your judgment,” I said. “While I do have ten years of my own experience, I understand that you’re both miles ahead of me. I look forward to learning from you and growing together.”

  Timothy nodded approvingly, but Jonathan continued to look skeptical. He didn’t know me and, yet, for some reason, he doubted me. I knew it couldn’t just be about my age, but the reason didn’t matter. I vowed internally to prove him wrong. No matter what it took.

  “Well,” Timothy said. “Have your secretary send over the contracts, and we’ll look them over. If everything is in order, we’ll sign and get this deal off the ground.”

  “Sounds great.” I smiled and stood. Timothy and Jonathan each shook my hand before slipping out of my office.

  I stayed on my feet for a few minutes, just in case they came back. When I was sure they were gone, I exhaled sharply and fell back in my chair.

  I knew I had what they needed and that the deal would benefit both of us greatly. I just hoped that Jonathan would be as on board as his father was. I needed to make sure this all went off without a hitch.

  “Marcy?” I called, not bothering to use the intercom. My secretary immediately appeared at my open office door.

  “Yes, Mr. Smart?” she asked.

  “I need you to get those contracts over to the Harringtons today,” I said. “Ideally, I’d like the papers to beat them back to the office.”

  “I’ll fax them immediately,” Marcy said with a nod.

  “Thank you.”

  She hurried out of the office and, within seconds, I heard the familiar buzz of the fax machine. I smiled. This was a good thing. Working with the Harringtons would bring in more money and more customers. I turned to face my computer and, when my phone rang an hour later, I was grateful for the interruption.

  “Hey, Josh,” I said, pressing my phone to my ear.

  “Hey, brother,” Josh said. “Listen, I had a break, and I wanted to check in about this week.”

  I frowned. “This week?”

  “I can’t get together this weekend,” Josh said. “I have that medical conference in Houston, remember?”

  “Oh, right.”

  Josh and I always tried to see each other once a week. With our schedules, it wasn’t always possible, but we made an effort. After my meeting with the Harringtons, I wasn’t thinking about anything else, least of all grabbing a beer with my brother.

  “I can do Thursday night,” Josh said. “Does that work for you?”

  I paused for a few seconds. Thursday night was open for me, but I didn’t know if it would stay that way. With this new deal underway, I knew there was a chance I’d be stuck at the office for days. Maybe even weeks.

  “I’ll have to get back to you,” I said. “I just got started on this new deal, and I’m not sure how busy things will be.”

  “That’s fine,” Josh said. “Just let me know tomorrow, okay?”

  “Will do,” I said. “So, how are things going? You heard from that ex of yours lately?”

  “No,” Josh said. “We haven’t spoken in a month.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “I told you we broke up,” Josh said impatiently. “Or were you too distracted by that blonde to pay attention?”

  I laughed. “Well, she was pretty distracting.”

  “Are you ever going to grow up?” Josh asked.

  I bit my tongue. It was ironic that, after dumping his girlfriend because he didn’t have time for a relationship, he was lecturing me about maturity.

  “I know you broke up with her,” I said. “I just thought you might have been in touch. Closure and all that shit.”

  “I got my closure,” Josh said. His tone was nonchalant, and it grated on me.

  “And her?” I asked.

  “She’ll get over it,” Josh said. “If she hasn’t already.”

  “I’m sure,” I said. “She’s not missing much.”

  “Fuck off.”

  I laughed, and we finished up the conversation. Josh wasn’t the kind to joke around or appreciate being teased, but I didn’t care. It was fun to screw with him, especially since we missed out on twenty-eight years of each other’s lives.

  “Call me about Thursday,” Josh said as we said goodbye.

  “Will do.”

  I hung up and tossed my cell onto my desk. I groaned and pushed my chair away from my desk. The call from Josh was just the distraction I needed but, now, I had to get back to work, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  “Marcy?” I asked as I stepped out of my office. Marcy was sitting behind her desk, typing away on her keyboard.

  “Yes?” she asked, turning to face me.

  “Anything from the Harringtons?” I asked.

  “They received the contract,” she said with a shrug. “Or, at least, someone in their office did.”

  “No word yet?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “No. I’m sure their lawyers are just going over everything, and they’ll—”

  “Thanks.”

  I didn’t wait for her to finish. I stepped back into my office and pulled the door closed with a snap. Falling into my chair, I knew I had to get this deal in the bag.

  The Harringtons were the best in the business. If they backed out, others would follow. I had two other deals in the works. One with an oil rig up in Alaska and another here in Texas. Both deals would be profitable, but neither came close to what the Harringtons would bring in.

  If they were good businessmen, like I thought, then they knew I was their best option.

  No one outperformed my firm. No one outperformed me.

  Now, it was just a matter of time.

  CHAPTER 3

  Julie

  I hadn’t been in town long before I realized how much I needed a job. I longed to spend my days writing my book, but I knew that wasn’t realistic. My savings would only get me so far and, right now, I had to focus on being practical. At least for a while.

  Early on Wednesday morning, I walked to the little coffee shop I’d raved about to Andrea. It was tiny. There were only a handful of chairs scattered throughout the place, and the counter was barely longer than my bathroom vanity. Still, I loved it. After the first time I stepped foot inside the café, I knew I’d chosen the right place to move.

  “Good morning,” I said as I stepped up to the counter. “Could I get a triple espresso with a splash of milk? Thanks.”

  “You got it.” The barista smiled and immediately went to work making my drink.

  Within a minute, I was holding a white ceramic mug and making my way toward the window. I sat down at a table for two and gazed outside. My laptop was in my bag, but I wanted to wake up a little before I immersed myself in research.

  I sipped my coffee and watched the early risers walk past the coffee shop. A few people stopped inside to pick up something to go, but most walked right past. Even fewer glanced at me as they passed my window. Of those who did, every single person smiled. From what I could tell, Ennis seemed to be a busy place full of kind people. Exactly the sort of town I wanted to be in.

  “Can I get you a refill?” the barista asked from behind the counter. I was the only person in the café now.

  “No,” I said with a smile. “Thank you, though.”

  “What are you up to over there?” she asked.

  “Well,” I said, bending down to pull my laptop from my bag, “hopefully, by the end of today, I’ll have a new job.”

  “Are you new in town?” she asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

  I nodded. “Just moved here.”

  “What kind of job are you looking for?” she asked. “We’re always hiring here.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled again. “But I’m a journalist. I’m hoping to find an online
job. Something that will provide a steady income, but still leaves me free to enjoy my time, you know?”

  “Sounds like a dream,” she said, laughing softly.

  “Sometimes, it is,” I said.

  The barista returned to her work cleaning the espresso machine. The silence of the café pressed down around me, so I pulled my headphones from my bag and stuck them on my laptop. Soon, music filled my ears, and I sank into myself.

  I spent what felt like hours researching online jobs. There were a million things out there, but I wanted to find the perfect position. Andrea was right. My book was too important to me. I’d let two years pass without any serious work on it. I couldn’t keep pushing it to the side, no matter what other things I had going on in my life.

  When I checked the clock on my computer, I realized I’d only been at the café for an hour. It felt much longer and, yet, I still hadn’t found a job I wanted to apply for.

  I took my headphones out of my ears and let the silent buzz overwhelm me again. Looking around, I saw that I was no longer alone in the café. A man was standing in front of the counter. I couldn’t see his face, just his dark hair, and strong build. He immediately caught my attention, but I looked away quickly.

  Today wasn’t about men. I didn’t come to Ennis to find a new boyfriend. I came for a fresh start and for a little freedom.

  “Thanks, Sarah.” The man’s deep voice rang out behind me, but I refused to turn around.

  I stared at my computer screen, barely seeing it. My mind had already begun to wander, and when the man stepped up in front of my table, I felt my entire body react to his presence.

  My shoulders tensed, and my forehead furrowed. I lifted my eyes to his face, prepared to politely tell him to go away. I was busy searching for jobs, and I didn’t need to be distracted.

  “Hey there,” he said.

  My breath caught in my throat when a handsome, well-built guy with dark brown hair stood before me with an air of confidence about him.

  His muscles were outlined by the fitted shirt he wore, and I couldn’t help but notice the bulge in the front of his pants. It seemed like his arms weren’t the only thing he was working out. I wanted to snort at my joke but stopped myself.

  His eyes were an ocean blue color. He was tall, and would easily tower over most people I knew. There was something both familiar and irresistible about him. I couldn’t pinpoint it besides that my stomach fluttered our eyes met.

  There were small lines at the corner of each eye. He was older than me, but not by much. Just like that, my polite rejection faded away.

  “Hi,” I said instead.

  “Listen,” he said. “I know this is a little weird, but I saw you sitting here, and I just thought… Well, I thought maybe you’d like some company.”

  “Sure,” I said without thinking. “That would be great.”

  I gestured toward the empty chair across from me. The blue-eyed man lowered himself into it and smiled at me again. His eyes were enough to keep my attention, but that smile didn’t help matters. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular build. His jaw was angular and strong, and his blue eyes held mine like some sort of tractor beam.

  “I’m Julie,” I said.

  Very smooth.

  I stuck out my hand for him to shake. “Julie Black.”

  “Michael Smart,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you, Julie.”

  I smiled. “You too.”

  “So,” Michael said. “I haven’t seen you in here before, which must mean you’re new in town. Or maybe just visiting?”

  “Just moved here,” I said. “Do you use that line on all the girls?”

  “What’s that?” Michael asked, frowning slightly.

  “You must be new in town,” I mimicked.

  “Was I wrong?” he teased.

  “Not at all,” I said, and I could tell he was every bit the playboy he seemed to be. “Well, I’m here every day,” Michael said. “Just ask Sarah. She’ll vouch for me.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” I laughed softly.

  Michael was easy to talk to. Much easier than I would have anticipated. When he sat down, I immediately felt my nerves kick into overdrive, but once we started talking, the banter flowed easily.

  “What are you up to?” Michael asked, nodding toward the computer.

  I sighed. “Looking for a job.”

  “No luck?” Michael asked.

  I shrugged. “Not yet. I’ll find something. It’s just a matter of finding the right something.”

  Michael looked at the computer closer and squinted. When he looked back up at me, I felt my stomach tighten.

  “Journalism?” he asked simply.

  I nodded. “I’m hoping to find an online position,” I said. “Maybe a weekly column or something.”

  “You know,” he said. “Dallas isn’t that far. You could always commute up there. Find a job at a reputable paper.”

  “I did that,” I said with a smile. “I actually just left Dallas.”

  “Oh yeah?” Michael asked. His interest was flattering, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into the details of my life with a complete stranger. After all, we’d only known each other for ten minutes.

  “I needed a change.” I shrugged. “This place seemed perfect. The only problem with Ennis is its lack of publications.”

  “Yeah,” Michael said. “You won’t find a need for reporters around here. It’s a pretty quiet town.”

  I nodded. “So, I’ve realized.”

  Michael and I spent the rest of the morning talking. I asked what he did for a living, something about oil rigs or tools, and he asked more questions about my job search, what kind of column I wanted to write, where I went to school, my journalistic background.

  With each minute that passed, it became easier and easier to talk to him. Michael didn’t feel like a stranger. There was something oddly familiar about him, something that put me at ease and made me feel like Ennis was really meant to be my new home. When he finally stood up to leave, a sense of disappointment settled in my chest, but I pushed it away and fixed him with my best smile.

  “It was really nice to meet you,” I said.

  “This doesn’t have to be goodbye,” Michael said. “I’m fairly confident I’ll see you around again, but just in case…”

  He pulled a pen out of his pocket and grabbed a napkin off the table. Handing both to me, he raised his eyebrows suggestively.

  I laughed and took the pen from him. Scribbling my number on the napkin, I felt his eyes on the back of my neck. Just his attention was enough to make my cheeks blush.

  “Thank you,” he said as I handed him the napkin with my number written on it.

  “I’ll see you around,” I said.

  “You definitely will.”

  Michael grinned at me one last time before waving goodbye to Sarah and stepping outside. I watched him until he disappeared around the corner, my cheeks still slightly warm.

  CHAPTER 4

  Michael

  Julie’s face floated through my mind for the rest of the day. I was extremely late to work that morning, but I didn’t care. By the time I ambled into the office, Marcy had ten messages for me and was on her way out to lunch. My mind was barely focused on work, even as I threw myself into returning phone calls and emails.

  All I could think about were those pale blue eyes and her light brown hair that fell just to her shoulders. Whenever she shifted her head, it caught the sunlight just right and made my stomach tighten. She was tall, but not too tall. Her curves were just enough to draw my eyes. She was gorgeous in a way I’d never expected. I could have stayed in that café all day if it meant I could talk to her.

  As I sat back in my chair, I tried not to think about her. I tried to listen to the client who was talking a mile a minute in my ear. I tried to focus on the emails pouring in. I tried to ignore the nagging voice in the back of my head, telling me to drop everything and call Julie. Nothing worked. No matter how much I tried to stay focuse
d on work, I just couldn’t get her smile out of my mind.

  Julie looked to be in her mid-twenties, although I didn’t know her exact age. When she spoke about her job as a journalist, she slipped into an easy professionalism that most people her age didn’t have. I was impressed by her the second she opened her mouth. She was intelligent and witty. Talking to her was effortless. I couldn’t remember the last time I could joke with someone the way I joked with her.

  “Mr. Smart?” Marcy asked, poking her head into my office. “I have Timothy Harrington on the phone.”

  If there was anything that would drive Julie out of my head, it was the name, Harrington. “Put him through.”

  Marcy nodded and hurried back to her desk. I heard the familiar click of her phone, and then, my own rang sharply. I picked it up quickly and pressed the receiver to my ear.

  “Mr. Harrington,” I said. “What can I do for you today?”

  “My lawyers went over the contracts,” Timothy said, not bothering with pleasantries. “Everything seems to be in order.”

  “That’s wonderful,” I said. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Jonathan and I will sign them tomorrow,” Timothy said. “Your office should have them by the end of the day.”

  “Thank you,” I said, trying to keep the eagerness out of my voice. “I look forward to working with you, Mr. Harrington.”

  “And Michael?” Timothy said. “Don’t screw this up.”

  With that, Timothy hung up, and I was left with a dial tone. I shook my head and exhaled sharply as I laid the phone back down. My entire body felt light as air. Not only did I spend the morning with an amazing woman, but I just landed the biggest account of my career.

  I couldn’t wait another second. Without thinking, I pulled the napkin with Julie’s number out of my pocket and smoothed it out on my desk. I dialed her number and grinned as I sat back and listened to the phone ring.

  “Hello?” Julie’s voice was just as sweet and seductive as it had been in person.

  “Hey there, it’s Michael,” I said. “Any luck on the job front?”