Lust Thy Neighbor (5 page)

She caught sight of Jacob Pierce when he walked past her desk, his eyes darting away from her as if he was terrified to make eye contact. "Hey, Jacob?"

Cringing, he stopped and let the student behind him pass. "Miss Kelly."

She smiled as he turned to face her. Jacob looked a lot like Declan. He wasn't as tall as his brother, not yet at least, but he was still towered over her and would eventually rival his brother’s height. He had Declan's classic facial structure and the same messy, dark hair that gleamed black in certain lighting, but Jacob's eyes were hazel to his brother’s coffee-colored irises.

They were also still avoiding her.

"Since we're neighbors and all, I think it'd be okay if you called me Violet when we're not in class." She glanced around the empty classroom. "Or at least, not in front of the other students."

His lips quivered into a shy smile. “Thanks."

"How was your first day?" He was fortunate that, although the school year had already started when he enrolled, he had only missed a couple weeks in this district.

Jacob moved his head from side to side, as if looking for the right answer, before he finally hunched his shoulders and said, "Fine."

Violet nodded, expecting that answer. Everything was always 'fine' with her kids. Even when they were on top of the world or feeling the lowest of lows, they always muttered that they were
fine
. "So ... where did you and Declan live before moving here?"

She watched him fidget with his backpack strap for a few seconds, his long fingers nervously plucking at invisible strings. "New York. Declan lived in New York City. But I lived in California. That's where we're from."

"Oh, yeah? I’ve never been, but I hear it's beautiful. I always wanted to go there and go on the tours of all those Hollywood mansions. Maybe go to Disneyland.” She new her parents had taken her to Disneyworld as a child, but her only memories of that vacation came in the form of faded photos. “Where in California did you live?"

"Close to the beach." Jacob's eyes had glazed over for a moment, betraying a hint of longing.

"But then you moved to New York?"

Jacob looked away to the picture of her, Beck, and their friend Daria that she kept on her desk. "My parents died."

Violet was momentarily stunned. Well, that solved the mystery of why he was living with his brother. Suddenly, she regretted the entire conversation. "I'm so sorry,” she said, her voice hushed.

"Yeah, me too."

They were quiet for a few heartbeats; Violet at a loss for words and Jacob appearing to be deep in thought before she finally broke the awkward silence by clearing her throat. "Hey, do you like dogs?"

He bobbed his head up and down.

"How would you like to make a little cash? I need someone to walk Bear."

His brow furrowed. “Why?"

"He really should be getting two walks a day. So I was thinking maybe you could walk him before school and I’ll take care of it after school?”

"I don’t know.” He scratched a mosquito bite on one of his lanky arms and wrinkled his nose. “That's really early."

She held back her laughter. Apparently only
one
Pierce brother was a morning person. "How about right after school then?"

"Aren't you going home?"

She shook her head. "No, not today. I have papers to grade and lessons to plan. School might be boring to you guys but it's work for me."

"Honestly ... I like school."

"Good to hear because that makes my job easier.” She stapled a packet of papers together before looking up at him with a questioning lift of her delicately arched brows. “So what do you think? Walk Bear after school? Monday through Friday. They don't have to be long walks, just twenty minutes or so. Up to the park and back. I'll give you forty dollars a week."

Jacob’s hazel eyes lit up. "Sure."

"Great. You can start tomorrow. I'll hide a key under the ceramic cat on the porch and you can go around back through the kitchen. His leash hangs on a hook by the door. And there are plastic baggies in a container on the counter next to the leash."

"Okay."

"See you tomorrow, then?”

He nodded and adjusted his backpack. He was almost to the door when he paused. "Thanks ...Violet."

She smiled but he couldn't see her. Jacob didn’t turn to face her and he slipped out before she could reply.

*

D
eclan knocked on the front door of Violet’s cottage, hands deep in the pockets of his jeans, rocking back on his heels. He didn’t have a chance to figure out exactly what he wanted to say to her because a few seconds later, the door swung open.

She leaned against the doorframe. "Hey."

He grinned at the sight of her with her long hair piled into a messy bun on top of her head. She looked comfortable in black yoga pants and a loose tee shirt with a low V-neck that showed the swell of her breasts. Hell, she looked ready for bed and all he could picture was the sight of her tangled up with him, hot and sweaty and begging for more. "Hi, neighbor."

She cocked a hip and his hand itched to reach out and grip it. "Let me guess? You here to borrow a cup of sugar?"

"Why, Mrs. Cleaver.” He widened his eyes in feigned surprise. “How awfully neighborly of you to offer."

“I wasn’t offering, just asking,” she laughed, and he let the sound of it wash over his senses. "Want to come in?"

Hell yeah, he wanted to come in, but he shook his head instead. "No, I better not. Jacob is waiting on me for dinner. I just wanted to say thank you."

Her big blue eyes widened even more. "For what?"

"For Jacob. For giving him something to do." Declan paused for a few moments, his forehead puckered as he wondered exactly how much to tell her. Women didn't exactly fall over themselves to be with him once they found out he was responsible for a teenager. More than one had complained in the past when Declan couldn't spend the night because he had to rush home to relieve the babysitter. Declan was responsible for another human being these days and as much as hated admitting it, he was Jacob's brother, mother, and father, all rolled into one package.

"Look, I don't know how much Jacob has told you—”

"He mentioned that your parents died." Noticing the look of surprise in his dark eyes, she nibbled on the inside of her bottom lip. When she spoke again, she lowered her voice. "I'm so sorry, Declan."

"Thanks." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, he had trouble in New York so we moved here to get away from that. But I can't get him involved in anything. So ... thanks for at least giving him something to
do
. Get him out of the house. I worry about him, you know.”

"I should be thanking him. Bear will enjoy the extra walk."

“Wonder if that little beast will try to gnaw my brother’s ankle off,” he teased and she gasped dramatically.

“Don’t be a brute. My baby has sensitive ears.” As if in agreement, Bear barked from somewhere in the house—probably whatever spot he’d chosen to rip something to shreds. “And, like me, Bear thinks Jacob is an awesome kid.”

Declan's dark gaze softened. There was something special and compassionate about this woman. "Anyways, that's all I came to say. I don't want to keep you." He tried to peek around her shoulder. Maybe she was relaxing with her boyfriend. For some reason, the thought of the impeccably dressed Beckett Caldwell peeling those tight yoga pants off her irked him.

"It's fine. I'm just watching TV and grading papers.” She twisted her lips to the side and rolled her eyes. “I know, I’m the coolest almost-thirty-year-old
ever.
”

"No boyfriend tonight?"
Damn, what the hell was that? It's none of my business.

"Boyfriend?” She looked confused for a moment. “Wait. Are you talking about Beck?"

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “He’s not coming over to keep you company?”

Her mouth twitched; a funny little Cheshire cat smile that made her innocent features look decidedly naughty. She laughed, her shoulders shaking and a few strands of her silky brown hair falling from her updo and covering one bright blue eye. Jesus, no one should have eyes that blue. It should be illegal. Her bow-shaped lips were bare of makeup, as was the rest of her face, and he felt a jolt of desire when she flicked her small pink tongue over her lips. "What made you think he was my boyfriend?"

"Jacob mentioned kissing." When she laughed again, he held up his hands defensively. “I swear I wasn’t spying.”

"I don't want to freak you out,
but
I think Beck would rather kiss you than me."

Declan furrowed his brow for a moment and then he got it. "Oh." He shifted his weight. "
Oh
." So she wasn’t seeing someone. To his surprise, he was absolutely giddy at that particular piece of news.

"Yeah." She tilted her head to the side, more of her hair tumbling from her bun and spilling halfway onto her breasts. Her braless breasts if he judged correctly. Christ, did this woman know how sexy she was? "No boyfriend."

"Right." Declan backed down the steps of her front porch, lest he be tempted to follow her into the house and upstairs, right into her bed. "I've got to get back. Dinner. Jacob."

He sounded like a fucking caveman.

"Okay." A smile danced on her lips.

"See you around."

"Night." She closed the door behind him and he could hear the click of her deadbolt as he jogged across to his own yard.

Chapter Five

Two Weeks Later

Violet juggled her coffee in one hand, the plastic lid she’d placed on the Styrofoam cup looking dangerously loose, and a stack of graded papers in the other hand. A breeze blew by and took the top several pages along with it. “Ah, shit! Come back!" She plunked her coffee on the roof of her car and chased after the missing papers. They blew up and over the side fence and onto her neighbor of nearly a month’s front lawn.

“Of all the damn places,” she muttered under her breath.

By the time she crossed the property lines, she saw his dark head bent over, picking her papers up and organizing them into a neat stack. He looked up at her, his intense brown eyes sweeping over her body appreciatively. “Morning,” he drawled.

The man had a great voice, she thought. It was unbelievably, undeniably sensual.

"Hi." Her own voice sounded breathless even to her ears and she felt heat creep up her neck. What was it about this man that turned her brain into mush? Maybe it was something about watching him work in his backyard, both shirtless and fully clothed, for the past couple weeks. The guy was gorgeous and had become a permanent fixture in Violet’s fantasies. "Thanks for grabbing those. Did they survive?"

He wiped a smear of dirt from the top page. "Mostly." The corners of his lips quirked as he thumbed through the first few papers. "Did you give my brother a good grade?"

She flushed, wondering if the page he was holding really belonged to Jacob. She had given him a C last night when she sat up in bed grading papers. He had good ideas, but he hadn't followed the directions and for that she had to dock him. "Um..."

"Relax. I'm just kidding." Declan paused and cocked a thick, dark brow. "Although, if he is struggling in class, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know."

"Don't worry, I will. Jacob's a bright kid. Original ideas ... but maybe not always on point.”

He smiled a cute,lopsided half-grin and she felt something flutter in the pit of her stomach. "That's okay, he'll learn. At least he has ideas. Not every kid his age can say that.”

Violet straightened and took in the sight of Declan for the first time today. He wore a black tee shirt that hugged his lean muscles in all the right places. His jeans looked well-worn and also did wonders for his already delicious physique. For a moment, she wondered what he did for a living. Maybe all that noise and work he was doing around his house was his job as well. He
had
done excellent work fixing the fence and she saw him the other day in the garage putting together some entertainment unit that made the thousand-piece sets from Ikea look like child’s play.

"Here you go." He extended a bronze hand, giving her the papers, and her fingers tingled when their skin brushed.

"Thanks."

"Headed off to school?"

She nodded and held the grades papers close to her chest. "Yes." Catching sight of Jacob waiting by the car door, she gave him a friendly wave. "Morning, Jake."

He offered her a slight jerk of his head and then climbed into Declan’s pickup truck.

"You've got to excuse my brother. The mornings aren't the best for him."

"Totally understandable. Not everyone thrives on waking up at the ass crack of dawn," she said with a little grin. "He's been doing a good job walking Bear. After I take him on his second walk at night, poor little guy is so exhausted that he just poops out on the sofa. It's great. I don't have to worry about a little bundle of energy running around late at night."

“Good to hear the little ankle biter is mellowing out." He tilted his head to the side and she felt his deep gaze scrutinizing her, making her want to squirm or check her makeup for smears. "How have you been?"

"Good, good."

He smirked. "Just good?”

She searched her brain to say something, anything, but her phone went off in her pocket. "Sorry, excuse me."

"It's okay. I've got to get Jacob to school anyway. See you around."

"Bye." She bit her lip, hating that she didn't have just a few more minutes with him, as she answered her phone absentmindedly. "Yeah?"

"What a horrible way to answer the phone. Good morning, Violet."

She winced. "Hi ... Grandma."

"I haven't gotten your RSVP yet,” her grandmother trilled. “I sent you an invitation a few weeks ago. The dinner is this weekend."

"What dinner?" Her attention was glued to Declan and those faded, fitted jeans as she watched him walk up his driveway and pause, picking up the newspaper and pitching it into his garage. Her eyes stayed with him as he walked over to his red pickup and climbed into the driver seat.

"The dinner that I've been planning for more than two months. Since before the Fourth of July, to be precise." Her grandmother's disappointed tone cut through the fog in her brain.