My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1)

by Piper Rayne

  “I love your shop. I think I could be here every day.”

  Theo laughs. “Wait until tourist season when we do glass blowing.”

  Presley’s eyes light up. “Oh, I can’t imagine how awesome that must be.”

  I’ve never wanted to be a glassblower until this very moment.

  Theo’s the artsy type. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We might have run in different circles back in the day, but there’s no arguing the guy isn’t crazy talented.

  “All the stuff to look forward to now that you’re staying,” Theo says.

  Presley’s shoulders falter a little, but she’s quick to recover. Something I’m thinking she’s done her entire life.

  “We should get going. Thanks, Theo.” I gesture with my hand for Presley to go in front of me and follow her out the door. “Come on, let’s go this way.”

  I lead her away from the town and the people, wanting to have her alone. With it already dark outside, I guess that might look a little sleazy.

  I want her to feel safe around me, so I ask, “Want to walk toward the bay?”

  “Sure.” She tucks her hands into her pockets.

  I step off the curb to cross the street toward the bay area. “Is that hard? Being here and having everyone know your story?”

  “You warned me already. What are you trying to get at now?”

  “Nothing, just… I’ve been there. I understand.” I could act like I don’t know what it’s like to have an entire town watching you, but it’s happened twice in my lifetime. The difference was, people already knew me. They don’t know Presley.

  “Your mom?”

  I shouldn’t be surprised. Of course someone in this town told her about my mom. “When she died, I couldn’t go anywhere without feeling like everyone was studying me, you know? Like they were watching and waiting and wondering when we’d grow used to living without her. They’d tell me what a great big brother I was being to Chevelle. And when Marla returned to town and got together with my dad, they were watching us again. But deep down, I always knew the town was just concerned for us because we were one of them. But you’re an outsider and them not knowing you personally yet still knowing everything about your situation must make it harder.”

  She shrugs and stops to look at the dark bay. A few fishing boats are returning to port, and we can’t see the mountain range in the distance in the darkness. “It’s not so bad. Back home, people are watching you because they’re waiting for you to screw up. They want to make sure to keep you down because they think that brings them up. It’s not just gossip. They lie. You should’ve seen when people found out I was adopted. The claws came out about how I wasn’t a real Knight.”

  “Seriously?”

  She nods. If it affected her then, she’s over it now based on the way she’s talking about it.

  “Rich people can be ruthless. The girls are just…” Her gaze remains steady on the bay. “That’s why I wanted to stay here.” She glances at me. “It’s nice here. Something I’ve never experienced. So they gossip about me?” She shrugs. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Maybe with time, they won’t see me as Denise Harrison’s unwanted child, but just see me as Presley.”

  “That’s the good thing about Sunrise Bay. They’re always willing to give someone a fresh start.”

  “I hope so.” She sighs. “Should we head back?”

  I could stay here all night and listen to her life story, but she’s right. If we don’t get back up toward the square area, people will talk.

  The town is winding down for the night, but we find Clara and Xavier walking down the street with a bouquet of flowers. Ever since Jed brought up Clara liking Xavier, I’m starting to see things between them differently. But they’ve been so close for so long… maybe when you have a best friend who’s the opposite sex, it’s a different kind of friendship.

  “Where’s Adam?” I ask.

  “I think the better question is where did you two disappear to?” Clara asks.

  “I just needed some fresh air. It was getting hot with all those people in there.” Presley’s blushing. Jesus, she’s going to have to do a better job than that if she wants people to believe there’s nothing going on between us.

  Clara nods and Xavier rolls his eyes.

  “So where is Adam?” Presley asks.

  “He went home. Said thank you for dragging him out,” Xavier says.

  Clara and Presley walk together, and Xavier and I pick up behind them. We shake hands with and wave to people we’ve known our entire lives as the four of us head back toward the brewery. Most of the people who stop us tell Xavier what a great season he had. He’s only twenty-six and I know he hasn’t even had his best year yet. He just got off being second string mid-season last year.

  Xavier elbows me and nods at Presley. I shake my head and give him a “shut the fuck up” look. I have to tread carefully here. My family knows me, they know my facial expressions, my usual responses, and I’m sure to tip them off if I try to act as though I don’t care at all about her. They’ll see right through that.

  We end up walking into Truth or Dare, Clara and Presley finding a seat at a table. I head behind the bar and grab a pitcher and four glasses, and that’s when I find Molly and Jed looking way too friendly on the other side of one of the keg lines.

  I clear my throat and Jed stands up straighter. Molly’s been a flirt since forever, especially with Jed. I think she might have a crush on him, or maybe that’s just her way. Regardless, it made me hesitate to hire her when she came looking for a job.

  “What’s up?” Jed steps away as Molly pretends she has to go to the back room for something.

  “Nothing. You?” I raise an eyebrow.

  He chuckles and slaps me on the back. “You worry too much.”

  “And you don’t worry enough.”

  The amusement on his face falls when he looks at the seating area. “What’s she doing here?” His eyes are narrowed and blazing toward Presley.

  Again, I remind myself to watch what I say. “She’s here with Clara and Xavier. I just met up with them at Fired Up. You know, you should make an appearance at the duo nights so when it’s our turn, people reciprocate.”

  “That’s why our partnership works so well. You go so I don’t have to.”

  I grab another glass. “Want to join us?”

  “Nah. I’m out actually.” He pats me on the back, grabs his jacket from the counter, and doesn’t even bother saying goodbye to the group.

  Since we’re closed now, I flip the lock then bring everything over to the table and sit down to enjoy the rest of the night with Presley. She seems more at ease with Clara around. I’m happy these two are finding some sort of friendship. I really need to stop this inkling inside me that wants more.

  My phone rings and I grab it out of my pocket, seeing Jed’s name on the screen. “Did you forget something?”

  “Might want to tell your date something’s going down at Glacier Point. The girl I was headed out to meet just called and said she needs a place to stay because of some ceiling leaks or something.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Lying about a leak would totally be a Jed thing to do to keep me from enjoying my night with Presley since he views her as our nemesis. I know he wants to stop us from growing any closer since he thinks if her business fails, the building will be ours. He’s a persistent guy. With tunnel vision sometimes.

  “Yeah. She wanted to stay at our place…” His tone indicates he thinks the girl is crazy. “I just called Mandi and got her a room at the B&B. I figured you wouldn’t wanna be in the same situation, so you might want to check to make sure Presley’s room isn’t affected before Mandi books up. I don’t wanna come home and see her in your bed, Cade.”

  Part of me wants to do exactly that just to piss Jed off. He needs to get over his issue with her.

  “Thanks for the heads-up.” I hang up because I am not arguing with him about this in front of Presley. I shove the phone i
n my pocket and see the whole table staring at me. “You might want to call Glacier Point, or maybe we need to go over there. Jed said some rooms had some type of ceiling damage and some people have to vacate their rooms.”

  Presley’s jaw drops for a second, then she reaches for her purse.

  “I’ll drive you,” I say.

  “We can go too.” Clara follows us.

  The four of us leave out the back. We climb in my truck and Presley tries dialing the resort, but no one answers, so she tries again.

  In the meantime, Clara is searching for any information on social media. “You’re probably fine. It says here that the roof leak only affected one floor.” She puts her hand on Presley’s shoulder, but Presley doesn’t seem to take any comfort in the information.

  “Does it say which floor?” she asks.

  “It doesn’t.”

  When we pull up to the resort, it’s organized chaos. The line to pull up to the front entrance is packed as people with luggage carts stream out and pack up their vehicles. I park along the side, out of the way, and Presley gets out of the truck immediately. We all follow her inside, hanging back and watching as she approaches a tall man who seems to know Presley and ushers her over to the side.

  “She knows Wyatt Whitmore?” Clara asks.

  I’ve heard rumors about the owner of the resort. Originally from New York, uber-wealthy, met one of Dori Bailey’s granddaughters and relocated here. But how does he know Presley so well? Surely he doesn’t know every one of his guests.

  “Damn, he really is model good-looking,” Clara says.

  Xavier raises his eyebrows at her.

  “What?”

  “He’s married.”

  “I can still appreciate a good-looking man.” Clara shrugs. Truth is, Clara is such a tomboy and into her books that I’ve never really heard her talk about a guy before, so I’m a little surprised as well.

  Presley’s hand runs down Wyatt’s arm and she nods. It’s a little too close for my comfort. Turning around, she heads back to us and Wyatt heads on to another group of people.

  “My room was affected. He’s put my stuff in his office. At least two days.”

  I pick up my phone. “I’ll call my sister at the B&B. Better to be closer to Sunrise Bay anyway.”

  I walk away as Presley and Clara walk toward the front desk where the ever-so-helpful Wyatt Whitmore stored Presley’s stuff in his precious office. How gentlemanly of him.

  “You have that look again,” Xavier says.

  “What look?”

  “The jealous one. The one you got when Marla first moved to town and you and Jed were vying for the same spot on the football team.” He points at me. “You like her.”

  No shit, dipshit.

  “Mandi.” Thankfully my stepsister answers, so I ignore Xavier’s observation. “Do you have any rooms left?”

  “I just gave away my last one. I have to say, being taken away from my latest binge on Netflix was so worth it. I’m sold out and it’s not even tourist season.” She’s so excited, I think she forgot I was calling to get a room. “Oh, but anyway… who needed a room?”

  “Presley Knight,” I say.

  “Sorry. I’ve got nothing left. Maybe she can stay with Clara.”

  I doubt Presley wants to go spend the night in a house her birth mom lived in with pictures of Clara plastered everywhere.

  “Thanks, Mandi.”

  I hang up as Presley and Clara come back, loaded down with bags and wheeling suitcases behind them. Xavier’s quick to relieve Clara of the weight.

  “Mandi’s?” Clara asks.

  I shake my head. “She’s booked. I doubt we’re going to find anything this late.”

  “Want to come home with me?” Clara asks, but we all know the answer.

  Presley shakes her head. “I don’t think I’m ready for that. I’ll just head farther out of town. I’m sure Anchorage has something available.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Come on, you’re going home with me.” I pick up her bag.

  “I can’t do that,” she says, catching up to me.

  “Relax, you’ll stay in the apartment above the garage, and if it’s bad, you can stay in my bed tonight and I’ll take the couch. We’ll get the place ready tomorrow.”

  “But—”

  I swivel around to face her. She doesn’t have a lot of choices right now. Clara and Xavier walk ahead to give us some privacy. “I know it’s not ideal, but at least stay the night. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  I see her lose the fight as her shoulders slump. “One night.”

  “Of course, just one night.”

  Can she tell I’m as full of it as I feel?

  We drop Xavier and Clara off downtown so Xavier can drive Clara home, leaving me with Cade. I swear this mishap at Glacier Point has put a permanent smile on Cade’s face. Like he wants me to stay at his place. I wish I could share his enthusiasm, but I know this will make my feelings toward him even more complicated. I mean, I drifted off into dreamland tonight and imagined him being so jealous that he yanked me out of Fired Up and took me to his truck and kissed me. My cheeks heat up just thinking about it. Add on what happened at the retirement center and the fact that if we hadn’t had that audience, maybe we would’ve kissed and I’m not sure where we’re going to stand soon.

  Cade drives down a long driveway surrounded by forest, and eventually a house emerges with a detached garage.

  Oh boy, here goes nothing.

  “I’m going to warn you, the apartment is probably a mess, so I’d prepare yourself to sleep in my bed tonight.”

  “And you’ll sleep where?” I step out of the truck.

  “In my bed too,” he says with a smirk, so I know he’s kidding.

  I refrain from squeezing my thighs together when a picture of what that might be like emerges in my mind. I’ve never had a one-night stand, but I kind of wish I’d gone home with Cade that first time I saw him at the funeral, back when we didn’t know who one another were. Then he’d be out of my system and I wouldn’t constantly be in a state of want around him.

  “Just kidding. Come on.” He jogs up the stairs on the outside of the garage, my bags in hand, and uses his key to open the door.

  He flips on the lights and we step inside. It’s a great space. Everything is contained in one room—a small kitchen along one wall, a bed farther in, and even a love seat and television in the corner. But there are boxes in the middle of the room, no sheets on the mattress, and cobwebs galore.

  “I love it. Thank you.”

  He chuckles and shakes his head. “Yeah, no. I’ll get it cleaned out for you, but tonight, you’re in my bed.”

  Will he please stop saying that?

  “It’s okay.” I step in farther. “I can totally get this cleaned up, then go to bed.”

  “Yeah, nope.” He picks up my bags.

  “Put them down. This is fine.” I inspect the bathroom which I’ll be honest, isn’t ideal.

  “You’re being ridiculous. Come on. I was kidding about sleeping in my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “No.” I go to pull at the suitcase, but he tugs it back. “Cade.”

  “Presley. I’m not letting you stay here with all the cobwebs and a toilet that probably hasn’t been cleaned in years.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know, because I’m a nice guy.”

  “You’re nice for just bringing me here.”

  He blows out a long breath, losing his grip on the suitcase so all the weight flies toward me and I fall down on my ass.

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” he says, holding his hand out for me.

  “It’s okay.” I take his hand and stand. “Honestly, I’m more than happy here.”

  “I can’t leave you up here. We can come back tomorrow and clean up then. You can put those overalls back on.”

  I glance at him, my nipples pebbling with just the memory of his hands on those clasps. I should’ve let him unclasp them because my body was
yearning and begging to have his hands on me.

  “Always making fun of my overalls.” I circle around so I’m not facing him.

  “Oh, I’m not making fun. I fucking love those things.”

  I want to turn and jump him right now. Which definitely settles it—I cannot sleep in his bed tonight. “I think the space is nice and I’m good with cobwebs. It’s not too late, so I’ll tidy up a bit and then I’ll go to bed. I don’t want to fight about this, Cade.”

  He runs his hand through his longer hair and nods. “Fine. I’ll go get some cleaning supplies and I’ll move the boxes out for you.”

  Before I can tell him not to, he disappears from the apartment. I look at the boxes and see that they’re labeled in black marker. Hank and Laurie. Trophies. Pictures/albums. I shed my jacket and place it on the kitchen counter, figuring all I need to clean is the bathroom and the corners and the bed area.

  Cade returns with a caddy of cleaning supplies, a broom, a duster, and a bag.

  “My very own Mr. Clean,” I say.

  “Want to role-play? You put on the overalls and I’ll strip off my shirt. We can play a game of you missed a spot.”

  I laugh, easing the sexual tension in the room. “You first.”

  He drops everything and his hands grab the hem of his shirt. “Cool. Should I find the overalls or are you going to handle that?”

  I laugh, walking over and stopping him from lifting his shirt. The quick glimpse of his treasure trail stirs something inside me.

  “Oh, who am I kidding, this is never gonna work,” I say, and his head tilts forward. “Did I just say that out loud?”

  He nods, his smile growing wider. “What’s not going to work?”

  “Nothing.” I turn away, but he stops me with his hand on my hip and his chest to my back.

  “Presley,” he whispers.

  My name falling from his lips is so seductive it makes me clench my thighs. I’m barely holding back from wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. I need to get him out of here.

  “The flirting,” I say, owning it. “It’s a lot.”

  His hand leaves my hip and he steps back. I miss his touch as much as I missed Friends after Netflix removed it. “You don’t like it? Shit… I’m sorry.”