Tall, Dark and Handsome Neighbor: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Lauren Wood

  “I hear there's a big party over by your place. So many people have told me about it.”

  “Yeah, I don't know their names, but dad asked me to swing by after we're done here. You going?”

  Tommy shrugged like he wasn’t sure one way or another. Tommy didn’t make plans, he just did what he wanted. It was much like his hair, that at the moment, was blue and spiked upwards with enough products to be considered a fire hazard.

  “So, he was cool with you playing tonight?”

  He smirked at me and I just looked away. We both came from similar backgrounds, good families, and high expectations. Just like me, Tommy had bucked the trend and now he was actually just disowned by his parents. They had left him to struggle on his own, figuring that he would just finally give in and go work for the company like his dad wanted.

  Tommy had not done that. He was convinced that our band was going to make it big. I hoped as much as he did, but I knew better. I knew the statistics, and even though my manager hyped us up every time we saw him, I had to wonder if it would translate into reality. I wouldn't say I was much of a pessimist, but I was a realist, and I knew in reality that there was only a very small chance of really making something of ourselves.

  Tommy was excited, though. The place was packed and there was supposed to be some big record producers that were going to be listening to us tonight. That's why there was no way that I could pass it up. I was excited, too, but it was more reserved. I hated to get my hopes up for nothing.

  “Do you think that they're going to be here?”

  We didn't even have to talk about who they were. It was all that we had spoken about last time we were together.

  “I don't know, Tommy. If they come, great. If not, we're just going to keep on doing what we do.”

  “That's easy for you to say, Nick. I’ve got rent to pay.”

  I offered him some money and he told me that he didn't need it. I know he did, though. I made a mental note to take care of his rent for a little while for him. I would just call his landlord and do it that way. I didn't want Tommy to know. Maybe he would think that it was his dad and they would come to some kind of agreement finally. The stalemate was hard on my friend.

  Jesse and Colt got there a little bit later. We were ready to get on stage, and Molly still hadn't showed up. I was starting to think that my dad really had messed it up with her. Dad should have just kept his mouth shut, but since he never did, I knew that I might lose Molly. How could I expect anybody to deal with him? I barely could and he was my dad.

  Everybody was pumped up to play and it seemed like the stars were aligning, because the music coming out was perfect. We had practiced the same songs at least a dozen times, some of them hundreds, and they never sounded this good. There was just a vibe in the bar and with the band. Everybody was on the verge of feeling like this was it.

  After the first set, we went to the bar to get a drink. It would be a few minutes before we played anything else and there were quite a few more people there. I was hoping that Molly would have showed up by now. I know that she was mad at me, but she had to forgive me. It's not like I could stop my dad from what he said. At least she didn't hear everything that he said about her. If she did, she probably would never talk to me again.

  She wasn't there, though. After a few quick scans, I realized that she probably wasn't coming. There was an urge to call her and see if she was coming, but that wasn’t like me. I wasn’t going to chase a girl, even if they were as fun as Molly. Dad was probably right. She wasn’t for me. But that didn’t mean that I thought any woman was for me. Some men aren’t meant to be domesticated and I liked to think that I was one of those men.

  I was about to sit down at one of the stools at the bar when my hand slipped and I almost fell, catching myself just in time before I completely embarrassed myself. For a moment, I looked around, hoping that nobody had noticed. This woman had noticed, though, and I could see her put her head down a little bit to giggle.

  She was beautiful. And she was somebody that I'd never seen before. Long, dark, black hair that was almost to her waist. It was pulled back and braided down the middle of her back. She had dark skin and green flashing eyes that were now laughing at me. I didn't like to be laughed at, but I didn't seem to care. I just wanted her attention and now I had it. Where did this girl come from? All thoughts of Molly were gone.

  When I started to walk towards her, I could get a better look at her. She had freckles that fell across the bridge of her nose, as well as tiny flecks of gold in her eyes. Her chin and nose were small, yet her mouth was generous, lips full. Who the hell was this girl? My heart stopped in my chest, and it took a minute for it to restart after she smiled my way, immediately brightening up the whole room. I didn't believe in love at first sight, but whatever this was, whoever she was, I believed in that.

  I stopped next to her and asked if she minded if I sat down next to her.

  “Of course not. It's a free country.”

  It wasn't quite the answer I was expecting, and she just kind of turned away, like she didn’t want to talk, or at least not near as willing as I would have liked.

  Didn't she know who I was? Every other girl in this town would drop their panties for me if I gave them the right look. This one was different. This one was purposely ignoring me, which was a first. My ego took an immediate hit.

  “What's your name?”

  The woman turned to me and said that her name was Betty. It was an old name and not one that I had heard before in a woman that was under fifty.

  “It's good to meet you, Betty. I hope that you're enjoying yourself.”

  “I am. I'm really digging the music. Your band sounds great.”

  She was gushing a little bit and that made me feel better. Here I was thinking that I had lost my touch and that wasn't it at all. I had many women that got their panties wet when they heard me sing. I don't know what it was, but I was thankful for it. It made my life a lot easier. Maybe it would make my life easier with Betty as well.

  “It sounds familiar. Do you do a cover of someone else? I think I would like to get the CD. I’ve heard it before since I’ve been here.”

  “No, we write all of our own music. This last one we wrote last week. What do you think of it? Do you like it?”

  “I think I heard it earlier being played. I bet that was you, if it’s an original. You must live up there in the Heights, huh?”

  I was a bit surprised that she knew where I lived, but I agreed.

  “I guess we're neighbors then. When we got there earlier it was blasting. I was quite surprised to hear it when I got into the bar, but you really do sound great.”

  I put two and two together with the party that my dad had pushed me to go to. This must be the girl that I was supposed to wine and dine tonight. Maybe for once my dad would have been right. I should have gone to the party, although it made me wonder why she wasn't there either.

  “Yes, I think we are. I was supposed to go to your soiree tonight. Why aren’t you there? It’s going to be hard to meet new people in the area if you aren’t there. Isn’t that the point of it?”

  She agreed. “It’s going to be boring. I thought I would catch some live music. I thought it was going to be bad, but you’re really good.”

  I could see the attraction. I took it as she wanted me, and I smiled a little wider. I don’t know where she had come from, L.A. I think I heard someone say. They were breeding them well there. It wouldn’t take long to get this last set done, so that we could get out of there. I know that there was supposed to be someone there to see us with a big label, but I would have chosen to still go home with Betty.

  “Stick around. I have one more set and then we can get out here.”

  She looked confused and I moved in for a kiss. It was just spontaneous, because as soon as I saw her, I wanted to be balls deep inside of her, but that wouldn’t do in the middle of the bar. The kiss would, though.

  6

  Nick

 
The kiss wasn’t all I had wanted it to be. It started out that way. It started out passionate and fiery. She burned me everywhere we touched. Then she got rigid, though, and pulled away. I had no idea what the matter was, and I wanted her back in my arms, lips pressed against mine. It felt good and I was dying inside for more. I think that was the point.

  “What’s up?”

  I had her pressed against the bar and I tried to get closer. I don’t exactly remember doing it, but there was something going on and I wasn’t sure what. Betty had been giving me all of the signs that I’d seen a million times. Her beautiful eyes told me that she wanted it, so what was it now?

  “I… I um, just don’t know you and the kiss was nice and all, but…”

  Her green eyes were now large, and I felt bad. What had I been thinking? It was obvious that Betty was different. I knew it the first time that I saw her. Now I knew that I was going to have to say something to her.

  “Sorry, you’re right.”

  Tommy walked up and told me that we had to finish up the last few songs. I thought I had more time. I told him I would be right there, and he tried to rush me, but must have realized that I was trying to get a girl’s attention. I guess that it wouldn’t have been that hard to imagine.

  “Look, it will only be a few minutes. Will you stay?”

  She looked unsure and I did something that I hadn’t done much before. I didn’t beg, per say, but it was the closest that I’d ever came to it.

  “If it’s not going to be that long. I guess I can stay a little while longer.”

  I kissed her again, a bit quicker, but it looked like I still caught her off guard. I guess I didn’t realize how different Betty was, but I was getting the hint. Only time would tell, what else I would learn about the beauty that came out of nowhere.

  When I pulled away, she had that stunned look in her emerald eyes and a shyness that I wasn’t used to in a woman her age. Betty was really different.

  7

  Betty

  Every fiber of my being told me that I needed to get out of there as quickly as I could. I needed to get away from the man that kissed me, my neighbor. Not only was he tall, dark-haired with an incredible body, but he had one hell of a voice. It wasn’t the tight jeans over thick thighs that held my attention the longest, it was his voice. Every song after that, felt like he was singing to me and his deep brown eyes never left mine. It felt almost like he was holding me hostage with his gaze.

  I shivered and took another sip of my drink. I was supposed to be back home at a party, but I’m sure that my time here was going to be better spent. I knew that all my parents wanted was for me to find a man. I couldn’t help but think that I had. I was still trying to recover from the kiss that he’d planted on me earlier.

  The man could sing, play guitar, and kissed like a god. He seemed too good to be true, and I wasn’t sure if he was real or not. I wanted him to be, especially as my heart melted. He was singing right to me. He had such a presence on stage and when I looked around at the crowd, I noticed that many women were checking him out. I didn’t like that at all. He wasn’t mine, but I didn’t want him to be anyone else’s either.

  All of the extra attention that he was getting was not easy for me to see. I don't know why I wanted to claim Nick as my own, however, I did. I felt something when I was around him. It wasn't the first time that some guy had found it his fancy to kiss me. But, it was definitely the first time that I felt something like that from it. I'm not even sure what ‘it’ was, but Nick was a man that made all the girls in the vicinity take notice.

  The set lasted for a couple more songs, and even though I was supposed to be at the party, I waited until he was finished. I don't really know what I expected from him, just that I expected it to be different. I expected him to be different.

  When it was done, he came straight to me with a smile on his face. I was still trying to figure out why I had stayed, but then he smiled in a devastating way, a dimple appearing in his cheeks, and my heart melted again.

  Oh, yeah, that’s why.

  “So, do you want to get out of here? We can go back to my place and get acquainted better. I have a few things that I would like to show you.”

  As much as I wanted to do just that, something told me to say no. It wasn't just that it wasn't the proper time or anything like that. It was me being nervous. I didn't trust myself with this guy. I just met the man and I already knew that he was going to be bad news. I didn't understand how or why, but I knew that he would change everything. I didn’t know if I was ready for that.

  “I have to go to my party, remember? My parents are already going to be pissed off at me. I at least have to make some sort of appearance. Didn’t you say that your dad wanted you to go?”

  He waved me off and said that he didn't have to go anywhere. Nick made it clear that he wanted to stay there with me, but I knew that it would not end well. Being alone around the guy like Nick was going to be more temptation than even someone like me could handle.

  How could I even say no to him? His dark eyes sparkled and he smiled. I was left thinking naughty thoughts that made me blush and made it impossible for me to really look at him.

  “Why don't you come with me to the party? Then, we will both make our parents happy, and we will see what happens from there. The house big and I'm sure that we can slip off somewhere when you’re ready for the rest of me. I can’t wait to slip inside of you and make you scream.”

  My eyes got round, I know they did. I couldn’t believe he had said such a thing to me. What was most shocking of all, was how my whole body immediately reacted. My knees got weak, panties got wet, and I was trembling a little bit inside. Didn’t he understand what he was doing to me?

  * * *

  Tommy walked up while we were talking and I was introduced to him, as well as the rest of the band. They were all really nice, and my mind wanted to know how many women Nick had picked up this way. Nick was a smooth talker, and I didn’t want to fall into his lap. It was hard to not fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Especially when I wanted what he said to me to all be true.

  Another man came up to us right before we were about to leave. He said that he wanted to go talk to Nick. I said that there was no problem with that and that I would be waiting by the door, but Nick insisted that we leave together. It wasn't until about a mile after we were down the road, that he told me it was some guy that worked for a label interested in signing the band.

  “Why in the world would you ignore him?”

  “I am not ignoring him. I just want to spend some time with you. It's not every day that you meet your soulmate.”

  “Wait, what? Soulmate?”

  I knew that he was just joking around, but saying things like that made me feel funny inside. I didn't want to think that the feelings inside of me were the same that he described. I wanted to believe it, Nick as smitten as me, but I wasn’t that naïve. I could clearly see what kind of man he was. He probably had women throwing themselves at him.

  He offered to give me a ride to my house and I took it. I had no idea what I was going to find when I got there, but I knew I had to make an appearance and at least I didn't have to do it alone now. I felt better having Nick by my side, and I secretly hoped that mom would get the wrong idea and she would leave me be about a man for once.

  There was also a part of me that had taken note of the fact that he had been invited to the party. If that was the case, and his family was going, that meant that they were well off. If he came from a good family, my parents wouldn’t care. They might even encourage a budding romance that was starting between the two of us.

  Driving to the house with Nick next to me was hard. I just felt this connection and I was questioning everything. Life wasn’t supposed to go like this. I wasn’t supposed to find a man like Nick. He was too perfect, and I studied his profile from the passenger side where I was sitting, looking for some hideous flaw to settle my nerves. If he wasn’t perfect, then he was real and he could b
e mine.

  “You’re staring.”

  I looked away and giggled. “Well, you’re pretty.”

  He scoffed and it didn’t matter if he liked the word I used or not. It was true. No woman could look at the man and not think the same thing. It wasn’t like he had feminine features or anything like that. It was just how handsome he was. His square jaw was perfect as was every other part of him. Nick just screamed man.

  While I was checking him out, the whole time I was wondering what had happened and wondering how I had met a guy like Nick.

  “Well, keep on staring if that’s what you think. It doesn’t hurt my feelings any. As long as you come home with me tonight, you can call me whatever you want.”

  I smiled and nodded a bit, but there was no way that I was going home with him or anyone else tonight. I was frustrated that every guy I met wanted one thing. I wasn’t ready for it and maybe it was worse with Nick, because I wanted him just as badly. I knew it wasn’t a good idea to go with him to the party, but I did anyway. Secretly maybe, I was hoping that they would see him and get off my back.

  When we got there, the place was lit up like Christmas and there were people everywhere. I was relieved a little, because I knew that no one was going to come after me. My parents were probably already drinking and wouldn’t be worried about much. They wouldn’t care that I had brought a complete stranger over. I doubted that I would see them at all. Something my parents loved to do was party and show off. This was a double whammy, and I was sure that they were running around here somewhere, loving every minute of it.

  We walked in and he held my hand. It was a small gesture, but one that was noted and confusing. What was I doing here with him?

  “Why don’t you show me your room? You know, give me the fifty-cent tour.”

  I giggled. What a way to say it. He had a different way of talking about things. He had this gleam in his eyes, much like the time when he had kissed me, so I blanched at the look and told him that I would. I was nervous, though. Why was I so nervous? Being around Nick was awakening something inside of me that I didn’t know existed, and it scared me.