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Authors: Marie Harte

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BOOK: The Troublemaker Next Door
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Danced? As in, a stripper? She didn’t know, and didn’t want to know. Especially when another niggle of jealousy flitted through her brain. “My mom, right. Well, in a nutshell, I love my mother, but I think she works too damn hard. She’s proud, won’t accept help from me at all, and generally thinks she knows how I should live my life better than I do.”

“We talking about your mother or mine?” he asked wryly.

“Both, I guess. At least your dad seems nice. I was talking to him at the barbecue. You all look just like him,” she teased. “I never knew my father. He got my mother pregnant then left. Haven’t heard from him since.”

Silence surrounded their table. But not to be put off, Flynn persisted. Like Vanessa, she thought with amusement, he didn’t have a kill switch. “She never asked him for child support or anything?” He frowned. “I know he was just a kid, but hell, so was she.”

“Nope. She never asked him for a dime. Michelle Gardner doesn’t like to accept help from anyone. Very self-sufficient. And stubborn too.” Her mother still refused to visit Maddie until she could afford it, unwilling to let Maddie pay for her plane ticket.

“Gee, Maddie. Stubborn and self-sufficient. Sound familiar?”

She would have told him something vulgar, involving his head and his ass, but the waiter arrived. He left them a large plate of appetizers they’d decided to share.

While she enjoyed the appetizer, it took her a moment to realize Flynn hadn’t eaten. He was staring at her.

“Hmm?” she managed around a mouthful.

“I like watching you eat.” The roughness of his voice reminded her of their night on the phone. Sexy, masculine, arousing. “Almost as good as watching you come.”

She choked and needed her water to wash it down. “Damn it. Don’t do that.”

“Sorry.” The chuckle following the apology laid waste to his sincerity. “It’s your fault. You’re too pretty and sexy with your mouth full. Makes me think of other things that should be between those lips.”

Damn if she didn’t feel a flutter low in her belly. “I don’t know how you do it, but now I’ll never look at mushrooms the same way again. And you’ve ruined me for my cell phone.”

He seemed entirely too pleased with himself. “Good.” Then he changed the subject completely. To her surprise, they spent the next hour talking about her and her plans for Gardner’s.

They left the restaurant after she paid the bill, at her insistence, and spent the rest of the day walking around town together. They went in and out of shops, where Flynn actually encouraged her to try on a few skirts and even shoes. She dithered over a few purses she’d been wanting for a while and settled her mind on a blue leather bag. When her business broke even,
because
it
would
, she told herself, she’d be back to buy that bag. Or one like it, if it took her another ten years to see ends meet.

“Maddie?”

They’d walked their way back up Third Avenue toward Queen Anne Avenue, each determined to outdo the other. A long trip home, but a pleasant one. Before she could overtake him up the final hill toward Queen Anne, he pulled her with him to a stone wall outside an apartment building, and they sat for a breather.

“Okay. I could use a rest. And a snack.” She glanced at the bag, then back at Flynn.

He dug into it and took out the chocolates. But he refused to let her pick her own. “Let me.” He pulled out a lime truffle and held it to her lips.

She took a bite, unable to look away from him as she chewed. The flavor burst on her tongue, sweet and tart, yet it was the intensity on Flynn’s face that held her captive.

He ate the rest of the chocolate and blinked. “Damn, that’s good.”

She nodded, wishing she could put her confusing emotions into words. Aroused, scared, baffled, she only knew she yearned for something more from Flynn, something she didn’t need and shouldn’t want.

Flynn wiped her lower lip and pulled his thumb into his mouth. “You missed a crumb.” He licked his lips, and she wanted to kiss him, to see if he tasted like chocolate and lime. “Thanks for hanging with me today. I had fun.”

“Me too.”

“And I wanted to give you this. Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he warned and reached into his back pocket for something. He withdrew a slender gift wrapped in crinkled blue tissue paper. To her surprise, Flynn looked nervous.

More than curious, she opened the present and stared at a slender, silver card case. Engraved on the front was the word
Gardner

s
.

“Consider it a business celebration. My mom got me one when we opened McSons, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her no guy would be caught dead with something like that, especially not one in my line of work. But a snazzy designer like you? I think it fits.” The smile in his eyes lingered.

Touched far more than she wanted to admit, Maddie kissed him and clutched the gift tight. “Thanks, Flynn. This means a lot.”

He winked. “But don’t think this means we’re dating,” he mimicked in a high-pitched voice, throwing her words back at her in a playful tone.

She couldn’t help the heat from rushing to her cheeks, feeling flustered and out of sorts. They’d spent a perfectly normal day together, and it had been more than fun. Now this. So thoughtful, he made her want to cry.

Saturday evening approached, and she wanted to enjoy the rest of her weekend with him.
Clingy, Maddie. Back off. Like he said, we

re not dating.
“Flynn, I—”

“Hold on.” Before she could rise, he closed the tiny gap between them, exciting her and unnerving her at the same time.

“But I…”

“Hush.” He kissed her. Unlike the others, this kiss didn’t instill sexual urgency, but a soothing sense of belonging. Affectionate and tender, Flynn didn’t even try to push his tongue into her mouth. He ended the kiss before it could truly begin and freaked her the hell out—because she’d
liked
the closeness.

Before she could complain that this felt all too much like a date, Flynn stood. He pulled her to her feet, had the nerve to slap her on the ass, and started back up the hill without her. “Come on, slacker.”

She blinked, not sure what had just happened. But no way in hell would Flynn McCauley leave her in the dust. After tucking the precious gift into her pocket, she hustled to catch his long strides and yanked him back by tugging on the back pocket of his jeans.

Shining eyes full of laughter met her gaze. “You’re so easy. Afraid I’m going to go all”—he used air quotes—“‘relationship’ on you?” He snorted. “You should be so lucky.”

“Oh? I think it’s
you
who should be so lucky.” Irritated but relieved at the same time, she increased her pace. “And if you think I’m giving you a ride home after that sneaky kiss, think again.”

They taunted each other back to her house and arrived laughing and out of breath.

“You’re not as out of shape as you look.” Flynn pretended to measure her ass.

“Jerk. I should say the same about you, but your fat ego would only get in the way.” Yeah, in the way of his thick thighs, firm ass, and broad chest. And those arms. She bent over to catch her breath and look away from his sexy body.

The card case burned a hole in her pocket. She wanted to pull it out and stare at it, then see if she could capture Flynn’s reflection if she stood closer, stupidly wanting to hold on to some part of him, if even for a few seconds.

“You’re a good sport, Maddie.” Flynn reached into his bag and handed her the box of chocolates. And the blue frog. “I’d have given you green, but you did mention you prefer blue.”

She shook the frog and watched those stupid eyes bobble. “You’re torturing me, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Yeah. Because now when you see him, you’ll think of me. First the cell phone, the card case, the frog. Before you know it, I’ll be everywhere. And you’ll be begging for more Flynn.
More
Flynn, oh yes, more…

She slapped a hand over his mouth when Mike walked outside his house and scowled at the sight of them together. “Keep it down, genius.”

Flynn glanced at Mike and groaned. “Damn. Maybe Mr. Green can save me.” He pulled out the green frog and made it dance.

She started laughing and couldn’t stop. She laughed so hard she cried, and he just grinned at her. When she collected herself again, she knew what had been nagging at her. “Oh man, I just remembered I left my stuff at your place.”

He shrugged. “I’ll bring it by tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m not insisting you stay the night. I would, but then you might think I wanted a ‘relationship.’” More air quotes. “I have to rest up for the family dinner tomorrow night, anyway. Just pray Mike doesn’t out me about you, or my mother will grill
me
for dinner.”

She batted her lashes. “Momma’s boy.”

“Witch.” He had the nerve to pop her on the ass again while Mike watched them from next door. “Now go inside while I try to mollify Mike.”

“Wow. Mollify. That’s a big word, Flynn. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Now, now, Maddie. We both know I had it in
you
.” He left with a knowing smirk.

She chuckled all the way into the house. Once inside, she pulled the card case out. She clutched it and the frog, no longer sure how to feel.

Chapter 12

The following Friday, Maddie dusted off her hands and took great pleasure in her finished work—the Horror on Howe Street, as she’d privately labeled her first big job. Linda had already taken a quick walk-through, and she’d been more than pleased.

Maddie glanced down at the check in her hands, still stunned that she was actually making a go of being her own boss. Her first job, and she’d
nailed
it.

Still high on her success, she treated herself to an iced tea at her favorite coffee shop and basked in the afternoon sun. She’d scored the last table with an umbrella, and thank God for that. Sweat made her shirt cling to her back. Moving furniture, designing, and stressing about the job had taken their toll. She felt greasy, sweaty, and knew her hair probably looked more limp than a dish rag. She could only hope she didn’t run into anyone she recognized.

So of course she glanced up and saw the annoying man of her dreams. “Hell.”

On the sidewalk coming toward her, Flynn argued with Brody. They both wore stained jeans and work shirts emblazoned with McSons Plumbing in bold blue letters.

On cue, Flynn zeroed in on her, and a huge smile lit his face. He left Brody behind and joined her without asking for an invitation.

“Hey, Maddie. How’s it going?”

“I’m celebrating. Linda’s house is ready for sale.”

“Congrats.” Flynn cupped her shoulder and squeezed. “Any problems?”

“Your cousin was a big help. I’m hoping to bribe Theo away from you. And Linda’s planning on giving me a lot of work in the future.”

Brody joined them. “Hey, Maddie. What’s with the big grin?”

Flynn answered for her. “Maddie just nailed the deal with Linda.”

“Good job.” He grabbed Maddie’s drink without asking and took a big swig out of it.

“Ahem. That was mine.” She glared at him.

“What’s his is mine.” Brody winked. “So by extension…”

“Brody,” Flynn warned.

“Kidding, kidding.” Brody kicked Flynn. “Then go get me something to drink. It’s your turn.”

She watched Flynn leave, her gaze lingering a little too long on his ass, if the knowing look on Brody’s face meant anything.

“So. I hear you spent some time this past weekend with my boy.” He nodded to the shop behind them, where Flynn had disappeared. “Should I ask about your intentions?”

She flushed. “You know, you’re much more irritating than you look.”

He laughed. “I don’t know if that’s possible.” His grin faded. “Flynn says you’re mean, sexy, and for me to mind my own fucking business. And yeah, he said ‘fucking.’ So I’m telling you to go easy on him. He’s fragile.”

She snorted. “Fragile my ass. Your ‘boy’ is a lady killer. That grin, those pecs, gimme a break. If I were interested in a relationship—which I’m
not
—I’d be worried I’d get my poor little heart broken. But since he and I are keeping things casual, I’m not worried.”

“Casual. Right. Is that woman-speak for fuck-buddies?”

She stared at him, agog. “Do you talk to every woman like this? Or should I consider myself lucky?”

He flushed. “Sorry. I just worry about Flynn. He’s my best friend. And I think he really likes you.”

She didn’t know if she liked Flynn sharing so much with Brody.

As if he read her mind, Brody shook his head. “No. Dumbass won’t talk about you. Even at dinner Sunday night, with Bitsy and Pop drilling him, he kept tight-lipped. Of course, I had Colin run interference. He bats those big baby-blue eyes and Bitsy melts.”

She smiled. “He’s a cute kid. And according to you and Flynn, he’s devious.”

Brody laughed. “You should see what he can do with a deck of cards. And he’s not even six yet!”

Flynn returned with three bottles of water. He set two of them in front of Brody and claimed the last for himself, then sat next to her in a huff. “Tell me you are not hitting on Brody. I could see you two chatting it up like best pals from the inside of the store.”

Brody cracked up laughing. “Oh man. All this jealousy. It’s like
Days
of
Our
Lives
, only real.”

“Relax, Flynn.” Maddie ran a hand through her hair, in desperate need of a shower. “I don’t think anyone will ever love Brody as much as he loves himself.”

Brody looked wounded and drank down one bottle of water before starting on another one. “Well at least I wasn’t obviously staring at my girlfriend’s rack. Really, dude. We’re in public.” He smirked.

Flynn cleared his throat and jerked his gaze from her chest.

Maddie’s cheeks heated. “Thanks a lot, Flynn.”

“Well, hell, Maddie, they’re out there. It’s like they’re begging me to…” He grabbed the bottle in front of him. “Man, is it hot out here or what?”

Brody snickered. “Like they’re begging you to what, Flynn?” Brody wiggled his eyebrows at her. “We just finished a monstrous job roughing in the lines. Then Flynn’s laying down some pipe—”

Laying
pipe
brought back memories of Flynn’s apartment, and she choked on her own drink when Flynn did the same.

“What’s with you two?” Brody shook his head. “Anyway, so we’re done for the day. Flynn keeps insisting he’s too tired to hit the club the rest of us are thinking of going to. Maddie, how about it? You think you and your roomies might want to go?”

“Go where, and who all is going?”

“Me, Flynn. Cam’s out of town and not Mike, because he’s Daddy Dearest now and refuses to ‘find solace in a woman’s arms again.’ Heard that in a chick flick once, but it fits the big guy.”

The sunlight danced past the umbrella and struck Flynn’s face, highlighting the chisel of his chin. The dark stubble on his cheeks gave him a rough, sexy look. And when the sun lit his eyes, they flashed like precious gems. She wanted to sigh into his mouth, to kiss him in front of Brody and all the other women eyeing him up like their next meal. From the look of him, Flynn wanted the same.

“Well, well, well.” Brody’s sly tone broke the moment. “Aren’t we in a good mood? I tell you, Maddie, Flynn wasn’t so happy earlier. When Patty Haynes shoved her hands down his pants, he nearly hit the ceiling.”


What?
” She hadn’t meant that to come out so strong. “I mean, what happened?”

Flynn glared at Brody. “Nothing. A grabby client didn’t figure no meant no. When she
tried
to shove her hand down the back of my pants for a squeeze, she found out differently.”

Brody started laughing.

“I don’t know, Brody. I don’t think that’s funny.” She remembered too clearly how humiliated she’d felt when Fred had done something similar to her.

“No, no. You have to understand the whole picture. Patty Haynes is tipping eighty. But she moves like lightning when she wants something. Personally, I think she keeps clogging things down her sink so Flynn will show up in his tight jeans and flex for her.”

Maddie tried to keep a straight face. “Eighty, Flynn?”

“She’s seventy-eight,” he snapped. “And she looks a lot younger.”

Brody continued to laugh. His eyes watered and he sounded out of breath. Then Maddie joined in. The sheer joy of the moment, the humor and the chagrined look on Flynn’s face as he watched her, added up to gales of mirth she didn’t try to temper.

Until an older woman at a table next to them politely asked them to tone it down.

***

Later that night, Maddie, Vanessa, and Abby followed Brody, Flynn, and four of their male friends into a popular downtown club.

Maddie considered the place more sophisticated than the typical college hangouts. This club seemed to cater to an older crowd. Patrons in their late twenties and up, by the look of things. The chrome and bright lights gave the whole place a spacey yet retro feel that blended seamlessly with the music. Rave and dance, her personal favorites. The bass thumped, and the atmosphere smelled of sweat, alcohol, and a wash of cologne and perfume covering blazing hormones.

Two bars sat on either end of the first floor. In between, a raised platform filled with tables and chairs surrounded an expansive wooden dance floor. A length of counter ran the perimeter of the platform, providing a haven for the predators watching scantily clad women and men gyrate to the music.

Most of the guys wore jeans or casual suits. Dressy but not flashy. The women looked like a mix of fashionistas, divas in costumes, and well-dressed hookers. Maddie hadn’t seen so much blue eye shadow since the eighth grade.

She looked almost matronly compared to the women on the dance floor. She’d chosen a short black skirt and baby-blue top that hung off her shoulder, baring a blue bra strap that looked like part of the shirt, and a pair of strappy heels.

The club scene had never been her thing, but after the day she’d had, she’d wanted to reward herself with something new and fun. And something that involved Flynn.

Vanessa sighed. “I knew I was going to regret this.”

“What?” Abby cupped her ear, managing to look both sexy and demure at the same time. Vanessa rolled her eyes and sat at the table Brody found for them away from the dance floor. The music didn’t sound as loud back here, and Maddie sat with her, rubbing the back of her neck, aware of a tension headache developing. She removed the clip holding her hair off her neck and felt worlds better.

“Damn.” Flynn stared at her, looking less than pleased, and walked away.

She noted Vanessa’s attention focused on someone over her shoulder and turned to see Brody talking to Abby and some huge guy standing way too close.

“I thought she was right behind us.” Maddie ran a hand through her hair, then set her clip on the table.

“And so it begins.” Vanessa waved over a waitress and ordered two pitchers of beer for everyone.

“Should we help her?”

Flynn joined Brody, said something, and the big guy with them shrugged and left.

“Nah,” Dave, Brody’s friend, said next to her. “They have it under control. Trust me, Brody doesn’t need Flynn’s help. He’s mean when he’s riled.”

Dave, Ted, Gary, and Rick seemed like nice guys. She’d met them earlier in the afternoon before she’d left the coffee shop. Flynn hadn’t seemed to like all the compliments they’d given her, which boosted her ego, she had to admit.

“So Maddie.” Dave scooted closer. “You and Flynn got something going on?”

“Why do you ask?”

Dave put his hand on the back of her chair, the way Flynn liked to. A classic guy move, apparently. An attractive man, his brown eyes met hers and traced her features, the gesture one of interest and speculation. “He was a little insistent about us keeping our distance.”

She hoped her blush didn’t show. “We’re just friends. He’s probably just being nice. I think he and his family have adopted us. We live next door to his brother Mike.”

“Oh. Good to know.” He grinned and opened his mouth to say something else. Then he disappeared.

Flynn had yanked his chair back and inserted his own. “Back off, Dave.”

“I knew it.” Dave slapped Flynn on the back and focused on the pitcher the waitress put in front of him.

“So how do you know these guys? You never said.” Maddie accepted the glass of beer Vanessa handed her and watched Flynn. How did the man look so handsome but at the same time not look like he put effort into it?

“Dave and Ted know Brody from way back. Gary and Rick we met a few years ago on a job. They’re electricians. When you work in trade, you kind of get to know the competition and the folks that have a knack for what they do. Gary and Rick are good. Ted and Dave, who the hell knows?”

He didn’t seem too fond of Dave, who winked at her over Flynn’s shoulder. Then Dave asked Abby to dance, and she happily said yes.

Brody plunked down next to Vanessa. “Good to see Dave’s having fun.”

“Hey, he’s your friend.” Flynn put his beer down. “What do you think of the place, Maddie?”

“It’s loud.”

He laughed.

“The color scheme is actually perfect for what they’re trying to sell.”

He leaned closer. “What’s that?”

“Booze and sex. The contemporary colors, the flashy glitter of mirrors and lights. It’s exciting, functional, and a little overwhelming, to tell the truth.” On television, the club scene always seemed so electrifying and sexy. Maddie just wanted to dance to the music minus all the people. She felt on display. The term
meat
market
definitely came to mind, though in this place one would think more along the lines of filets.

Even the sight of Flynn in form-fitting black slacks and a button-up gray shirt, the sleeves rolled back to show off his sexy forearms, wasn’t enough to stave her annoyance with the crowd.

His lips brushed her ear when he leaned closer to speak again. She couldn’t contain a shiver. “You think like a designer even when you’re not designing. So what do you think of my apartment?”

She pulled back, nonplussed when his dark gaze focused on her mouth. When one of the songs seemed to grow louder, she said into his ear, “It suits you. It’s contemporary, sexy, and basic.”

“Base?”

When had he put his hand on her thigh? He handled her under the table, where no one could see, but she didn’t want their relationship to be so obvious.

She stopped his hand with her own and put it back on his lap. Except he wouldn’t let her go. He pulled her hand closer and brushed it against his erection.

“Mmm. Yeah. Base. Like my instincts right now.”

She yanked her hand back and glared at him, not pleased he was getting so cozy with her while Vanessa and Brody sat across the table from them. None of this with Flynn tonight felt casual. She knew better than to let herself get too attached. Brody and Vanessa stood and asked if Maddie wanted to dance with them. She nodded. Time to get some air
away
from Flynn. She stepped onto the dance floor and lost herself in the music. She didn’t look back for a long time.

An hour and a half later, she’d finally found her groove. Flynn kept his distance, and for the most part she forced herself to ignore him. She’d danced with Ted, Brody, and some other guys, surprised to find she was having fun.

Abby and even Vanessa seemed to be having a blast. They stayed with their group, pretty much, while she didn’t discriminate between dance partners. All of it remained innocent. If a guy put his hand where she didn’t want it, she simply stepped back to the safety provided by Brody and the others.

BOOK: The Troublemaker Next Door
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