Naughty Neighbors (4 page)

Four

Back in Cincinnati, Kara had just returned from the grocery store when her doorbell rang. Greeting her neighbor Zak Stone, she was taken aback when he thrust a package forward. “This came for you while you were out.”

“Thanks,” she said, aware of his mysterious black gaze nearly penetrating her shirt. “I’d ask you to come in but—”

“I hope that’s an invitation,” he said, thumbing his unit right next door. “I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

“You have?” Her heart skipped a beat and she immediately struck a pose that left her hip cocked and her hand resting in the bend of her waist.

“Yeah, I have.” The sexy rasp in his voice impacted her in a way she couldn’t explain.

Her nipples ached as if he’d just brushed his fingers across the points. Afraid she might have blushed under his scrutiny too, she looked away from his burning gaze and waved him inside. “Come on in.”

Acting rather peculiar, he glanced around her condominium as if he’d never been inside her home. “I wanted to see if I could flip on the tube for a minute. My cable is off for some reason and I need to watch
Live at Nine
.”

“Of course,” she said, setting aside the large parcel and leading the way to her cozy den.

Dressed in faded blue jeans and a white button down shirt, Zak possessed a quiet confidence that often left her curious. For some reason, his sex appeal had never taunted her to this extreme and she chastised the woman within for noticing her neighbor’s good looks.

She’d always prided herself on loyalty, something Kemper had once told her he expected. Never mind the fact he slept with two women. He needed to know he could trust her and up until that very moment, she’d never doubted her own desire for fidelity. She’d always been true and belonged to Kemper in every way that mattered.

Flipping on the overhead light, Kara went to her entertainment center and retrieved the remote control. “Here you go. Make yourself at home.”

Their fingers brushed together as soon as she relinquished the direct power to her television. For a split second, they stood there ogling one another. Kara was the first to pull back. She scolded herself as she hurried to the kitchen, unsure if the self-reprimand was due to her reaction to Zak or the fact she didn’t stick around long enough to explore where their first touch might take them.

Alarmed by the intrusive thought, she unpacked her groceries in deep thought. Did she pull away because of her love for Kemper or because she didn’t trust herself? Was she trying to honor the man she professed to love? Was she afraid of her reaction to Zak’s touch? And why had he shot her such a seductive smile when she’d jumped back and walked away? Was he aware of his impact on her? Was her attraction obvious?

She hurriedly put away the milk and orange juice. Turning back to the groceries, she glanced in the den and was grateful to find Zak’s back to her as he surfed the channels. Was she scared to explore those tingling sensations he stirred in her for fear they would reveal too much? Why did she feel so weakened in his presence? Why did he disarm her? And why were all these emotions making her feel so vulnerable?

How could she respond to Zak in this manner when moments before he knocked, she had been missing her boyfriend and longing to talk to him? Peering around the corner, she asked, “Can I fix you something to drink?”

“I’m easy.” He shot her another one of those sexy smiles, clicking through the channels without paying attention to the television. “Got a beer?”

She released a tortured sigh, the breath she must’ve held as soon as Zak confessed he was easy. Where was her mind? Positively in the gutter, she decided. “One beer coming right up.”

She returned to the kitchen and paused right inside the door. Pressing her head to the wall, she slowly counted to ten. Zak was a real looker. For an older guy—or at least old by her standards at twenty-two—he was extremely handsome. At over six feet tall, he towered over her five-foot-four frame and often looked down that slender nose of his as if he were contemplating doing the unthinkable, perhaps tossing her over one broad shoulder and carrying her off to the closest bedroom.

She shivered with the thought, grabbed a beer bottle from the fridge and turned around to find Zak standing right behind her.

Taking a leap backward, she nearly fell inside the refrigerator but somehow caught her balance and held fast to the nearby countertop. “I didn’t hear you walk up!” Clutching the bottle to her chest, she released a hard breath. “Sorry about that.”

“I didn’t mean to spook you.”

Wiggling past him, she put some space between them before handing off the beer. It was then when she caught him checking her out. The man had stormy eyes and when his gaze worked over her chest, waist, and hips, she felt as if she’d been placed under a microscope. Resisting the urge to strike another pose, she pointed to the den. “
Live at Nine
?”

A very wicked tongue rolled over his bottom lip and he released what sounded like a very masculine grunt. “Thanks for the beer.” He twisted off the bottle cap and added, “
Live at Nine
always has the game scores.”

“Like I said, just make yourself at home.” She returned to the task of putting away her groceries, pulling free a few canned goods.

“That package is heavy. Want me to bring it in here for you?”

“That’s okay, I’ll get it later,” she replied.

“Any idea who it’s from?”

She forced a smile, but didn’t reply. Did he know she had a boyfriend? Did he realize he had crossed the threshold into another man’s claimed and marked territory?

“Has a California postmark.”

“Hmm,” she muttered. “Observant, aren’t you?”

About that time,
Live at Nine
began, saving her from pending package discussions. After a quick rundown of sports, Zak jerked his arm back and yelled, “Yes!” Beaming, he turned and called out to her, “We should go celebrate.”

“We should?” She leaned over the open bar separating the kitchen from the den.

She could have guy friends. Couldn’t she? Carly had a lot of men friends. Then again, Carly was a habitual flirt. She also worked in a marketing office full of men. She could excuse her evenings out with the guys.

Could Kara explain a night out on the town with her sexy neighbor? Would Kemper ask how she’d occupied her time? If so, how would he feel about her going out on the town with a good looking fellow who had lived next door for nearly two years?

She already knew the answer there. Kemper was an Alpha male. He damn sure wouldn’t like it if another Alpha paraded around on his sacred ground.

Zak withdrew a small writing tablet and jotted down a few notes. Another round of game recaps aired. Balling his left fist, he jerked his arm forward and back, grinning and chanting an “oh yeah!” every few seconds. His strong back and flexed arm made her stomach ache with an unsettling pang.

“So it was a good night, I take it.” She leaned over the bar once more, watching him curiously.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, taking a silly bow. “I just won four grand on the games today.”

“Well good for you,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound unimpressed. Her father had been a gambler. He’d bet with the local bookies and Kara remembered those “Yes!” days well. She also recalled the gloom and doom of true despair after long losing streaks, too.

“I’m offering to take you out,” Zak said. “I’ll buy you a steak dinner.”

Cocking her head to the side, she said, “I’m betting you’ve already had supper.”

“Now how would you know that?” he asked, shooting her a very flirtatious wink.

She stuttered for a moment then finally managed, “We may have a wall between our patios but I know a good meal when I smell one and you grill out early almost every evening.”

“So I’m caught.”

“And if I’d taken you up on that dinner?” She walked around the half-wall and stood before him.

“I guess I would’ve been running off a few extra calories tomorrow morning.”

As he handed over the remote, Kara’s hand bumped against the up-arrow and the quick change of channels left local reporter Stacy Stevenson’s voice filling the room.

“We have some hot gossip today from inside the NFA.” Stacy smiled for the cameras. “I’ll be back with news from LA. Stay tuned. Our sidelines report from the Nationwide Football Association is up next.”

Before the station went to commercial, a large frame faded out. Kara barely caught a glimpse of Kemper’s and Carly’s picture in her periphery.

Zak’s gaze jumped from Kara to the television. He acted a little odd then, more suspicious than usual. “So dinner is out. How about drinks?”

“Hang on,” she muttered, turning up the volume and inching closer to her flat screen television.

Stacy Stevenson reappeared moments later. Apparently wise to the unfolding news, Zak joined Kara and matched her steps as she moved to the television.

With a smile that seemed to stretch too wide for her small mouth, Stacy sat at her news desk with her palms flat against the surface in front of her. As if she wanted to appeal to those who appreciated theatrics, she waited until the screen behind her desk filled with a captured-on-film kind of moment.

Clearing her throat, Stacy tilted her head and quickly read from an obvious prompter and nearby script. “Kemper Kapertone wasted no time celebrating his win tonight after he and the Houston Longhorns slid by the LA Cougars and escaped the field with a marginal win. Our reporters were on the scene tonight at the Four Seasons Hotel when Kemper met up with an unknown woman at one of the hotel’s
on-site
restaurants.”

“Why does it matter where the restaurant is located?” Kara took in the photograph on display for the whole world to see. How could Carly and Kemper have been so careless? Clearly groping one another in public, they obviously didn’t have any scruples when she wasn’t around.

Zak shifted beside her. He crossed his arms over his chest and blew out a breath.

Kara glanced at him before turning back to the television, and she couldn’t help but wonder. Did he know why she had a reaction to this report? Had he already seen the picture and put two and two together? Had he noticed Kemper coming and going from her condominium?

With a flair for dramatics, Stacy slung her arm behind her and used a fountain pen to point at the image. “As you can tell, the spicy dishes weren’t bold enough to hold this quarterback’s attention. After glancing at the menu and engaging in some table taboo, Kapertone dragged his woman off to their suite and sources say they apparently skipped the main course and headed straight for dessert.”

Another few images flashed before Kara’s eyes. The photograph that would remain forever etched in her mind was the one showing this undeniable look of lust in her best friend’s and lover’s eyes. They were locked in a passionate gaze and Kemper clearly had his arm under the tablecloth. The white linen bunched around his elbow and the enlarged snapshot relayed a clear message.

Apparently Kemper couldn’t keep his hands to himself. She shuddered to think where he’d had those talented hands, not to mention a few probing digits, fingers that had left her destroyed in private, but never in public!

Kara grabbed hold of Zak’s arm before she even realized she’d reached for him. Trying to steady herself, she fought the feelings rising inside her, but it was nearly impossible to keep the jealousy at bay.

Video footage was shown next. Carly and Kemper entered their suite, practically undressing right there in the doorway!

Aware of Zak’s large hand covering her wrist, Kara narrowed her eyes on the screen. Stacy smiled sweetly into the camera and added, “Sources close to the couple say the woman’s name is Carly Diamond.” She stuffed a finger in her right ear and held up her hand, acting as if she had just received breaking news. “And I’m told...wait are you sure?” She pressed her lips together. Her eyes widened. She nodded several times. “Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have some exciting news to share with you. It appears that Kemper Kapertone has indeed met the woman of his dreams! Our sources tell us the couple plans to marry later this fall.”

“No,” Kara bit back a cry and covered her mouth. “This can’t be.”

Zak looked at the television and then back at her. “Weren’t you dating Kapertone?”

“So much for keeping things on the down-low,” she muttered. How long had he known? She balked at that. Why did it matter? Why did she care what he knew, all things considered? “I think you should go.”

“By the look on your face, I think I should stay,” Zak said before he guided her to a barstool.

Taking a seat, Kara folded her arms and ducked her head, sickened by the news. How could they do this to her?
Why
would they do this to her? Hadn’t they agreed upon a specific arrangement? Hadn’t they all discussed and then decided that deranged or not, this sort of relationship worked well for them?

“We were supposed to be open and honest with one another,” she said, wondering now why she’d ever been loyal to a two-timing man! To think she’d harbored such guilt for giving Zak a few double-takes!

Her phone rang in the distance. Chimes filled her head.

“Want me to get that?”

“No,” she snapped.

A few minutes later, the annoying ring began once more. Why hadn’t she taken the time to assign specific ringtones to individual callers like everyone else she knew? She could think of one or two songs for Carly and Kemper now.

There were a lot of country songs about liars and cheaters.

“Maybe I should get that,” Zak suggested, thumbing the air over his shoulder.

“No,” she said with more conviction. “Turn it off.”

Frowning, Zak strolled over to the table and returned with her cell. “Maybe you should check and see if they left a message.”

“I said ‘no’ and I meant it. What don’t you understand? I was seeing him, for the love of God!”

“Well apparently he was seeing someone else, too.” Zak used a matter-of-fact tone and it irked her to no end.
Apparently
he was under the misguided impression that she hadn’t known about the other woman.