Loathe Thy Neighbour

Chapter Two

‘So where should I put your dress?' Her mother asked, holding up the once beautiful red ruffled silk gown. It was now in such a state that she almost asked her to throw it out, but then she remembered how much it cost. She'd been desperate to look like the belle of the ball, and just came off looking like the lonely, deranged drunk. Every family had one of those.

'Ugh.' Was all she could muster in response, as she lay face down on the sofa. One leg hanging off the suede three-seater, she barely had the energy nor the enthusiasm to lift it. She heard her mother rinse out the dress in her shower, and then the familiar lull of the washing machine except now, with her head banging, it may as well have been a jack hammer. She heard the thud of a glass being plonked down on the coffee table, followed by a rustling. Looking up between splayed fingers, covering her eyes from the bright evening sunshine, she saw her mother drop a couple of headache tablets onto the table beside the glass.

'Take those baby, I'll call you in the morning with any juicy gossip.'

'Ugh.' She repeated, knowing that meant every gory detail from her night with Mr Grey suit.

Her mother chuckled knowingly, and headed out the front door. She cursed her aloud as she slammed the door hard in its frame. It was surely far too early to have a hangover; she'd only stopped drinking half an hour ago.

'FML.' She called out, to no one in particular, before burying her head into the cushions again. She felt a soft tail wagging against her leg, and lifting it begrudgingly, allowed her golden retriever, 'Barker', to climb onto the sofa alongside her.

'Barker you'd have been so embarrassed today. I think it's time I avoided being seen in public, whadya think.'

The puppy yawned, and laid his head on her thigh.

'Yeah, I think sleep is the best idea I've heard all day.'

Disorientated, she woke to her stomach growling, and Barker staring at her from the floor, head c****d as if he'd heard something intriguing.

'What is it boy?' She asked, stroking his head. 'And what time is it?'

Looking up at the clock she groaned. It was ten pm, and that meant she wasn't sleeping tonight. She'd not slept in the afternoon since she and Taylor had spent a summer in Mexico. The searing hot weather coupled with their frantic, energy consuming love making had meant many a day time nap. She cursed her hormones as she went to the kitchen to make a sandwich. It had been nearly a year since she'd been satisfied by a man. Satisfied would probably be the wrong word though. He had been a one-night stand, her first, and last. He hadn't been bad in the sack, but he hadn't rocked her world either. She wondered whether she still had his number, but she probably wouldn’t get away with it these days. Not with her mother living over the street, not half a mile away. She slapped her forehead with the heel of her hand, making a ham and cheese baguette on auto pilot.

'Barker, come get some supper boy.' She opened a tin of tuna dog food, wincing at the scent in light of her drink-sensitive stomach, and watched him chow down with disgust. The smell didn't usually bother her, but tonight it smelt revolting. Carrying her sandwich into the living room she was once again, uplifted by the sight of her new home. The home she had bought herself. The home she never even dreamed she would have. A little sliver of good luck, someone up there must have been smiling on her the day she bought this beautiful property.

With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, open plan living room, and large roomy kitchen, she had never imagined such a place could be hers. She'd been deliberating over retiring from dancing. At twenty-six, she seemed so much older than the other dancers coming through, and once featured in top 20 music videos, she found that line of work dried up pretty fast once you were over twenty-five. She'd lived between London and New York since she graduated college, but something was calling her home. Aside from her mother, who begged her by phone every day.

A little sweetener to the deal had been the ridiculously large cheque her mother had given her. She had wanted to present Felicity and Taylor with the money following their return from honeymoon, but when that all fell apart, she felt it high time she made her daughter an offer. Something that could spell a brand-new start for her, and maybe keep her a little closer. The very cheque that had allowed her to purchase this very house. She had never known her father, but a week before the wedding was due to take place, her mother received a letter regarding his estate. He had left a sizeable chunk of money for both herself, her sister and her mother. She tried to mourn his passing, visiting his grave and laying flowers on his birthday, but she knew in reality if he had wanted to see her during his lifetime, he would have. This money was just a vain attempt to stop his most recent widow from netting any cash.

Now here she was, back in Summer Town, a beautiful ex mining town nestled against the River Summer, and flowing into Lake Ellis, named after the towns founder, Cecil James Ellis. River Summer flowed just beyond the perimeter of her garden, and blossomed out into the lake, just beyond her neighbours’ home on the right. Her mother lived on Cherry Tree Street too, as did her sister. A long, meandering road, tracing the route of the river, they lived on the opposite side. She and her neighbour were set further off the road than the rest of the neighbourhood, giving it an almost isolated feel. She embraced this, after the hubbub of the cities she had lived in, and the fact that her mother’s apple pie was a mere ten-minute walk away.

She finished her sandwich, brushing away the crumbs, and eyeing herself in the hallway mirror. She needed to brush her hair, dark unruly curls falling over her forehead like she was some eighties metal guitarist. Her outfit was no better. In an old off the shoulder off white t shirt (that may once have been white...or pink) and leggings, she scowled at her reflection. It was a very good thing that she started her new job in two days. She needed a whole new wardrobe. Something that said sophisticated, sexy twenty something, rather than ageing dancer.

Plucking Barker's leash from the coat rack, she clipped it to his collar. He smiled at her, at least she always thought it was his way of smiling. Nothing made that dog love her more than their walks, and her roast beef of course. He c****d his head again, as if hearing something unusual again.

'Barker if anyone tries to attack me tonight, you'll protect me won't you.' She muttered, checking the clock again. Not exactly dog walking time. The only people out after nine walking dogs usually found bodies. She shuddered at her wild imagination and stepped out into the cooler early September air. It was a welcome relief to have the gentle breeze lap at her bare arms with its silky freshness. She tried to cross the street and walk down towards Sapphire's home, but Barker seemed desperate to pull her back into their garden. She wondered whether there was a rabbit, or a mouse, dogs had an extra heightened sense of smell and this wouldn't be the first time he had dragged her towards a hole in the ground, his little black nose investigating the scents.

She struggled to hold onto him, and not wanting to shout her command, she was at his mercy.

'Barker come on, do you want a walk? If you don't, I'd sure like to catch up on The Good Wife.'

She wasn't watching where she was going, a common occurrence in her life, and as Barker pulled her towards the water’s edge, she slammed into a hard, broad chest.

Blinking, she stared at a white t-shirt emblazoned with 'Penn State.' The leash slackened, and Barker came running back, jumping up at whoever this stranger was.

'You going to a Flash dance recital?'

The voice was a smooth baritone, a resonating sound that seemed to ripple through her toes.

She backed up, and took in the stranger. He was either a murderer, or more likely, her neighbour. In the few weeks she had been here, she had yet to meet the elusive resident of the house next door.

Now here he was.

In a form fitting white t-shirt and low-slung jeans he had a well-toned figure, the kind of physique that had her visiting the gym. Not to work out, but to take in a little eye candy to fuel her fantasies. Her eyes travelled higher; he had that all-American look. Dirty blond hair, dishevelled as if he'd just stepped right out of bed. His jaw was angular and well chiselled, his eyes an icy steel blue, the kind of eyes that made a girl drop her panties. If she was that kind of girl....

Who was she kidding? If he asked right now, in her current state of arousal, she would most definitely say yes.

His eyes were amused, watching her tremble like jelly in his presence, and she quickly regained her cool.

'So, was it flash dance, or fame?' He teased; arms crossed over his expansive chest.

She swallowed, suddenly devoid of words.

He laughed, shaking his head. 'Not the first time I've rendered a girl speechless. Don't worry darlin, I am used to it.'

His arrogance brought some clarity back to the picture. She was thankful he seemed a little cocky, he couldn't possibly be that good looking and have a wonderful personality. Those rom com type situations never happened in real life, and if he had been charming as well as devilishly handsome, she may have trouble on her hands.

'I've not been to a dance recital.' She spat, crossing her own arms across her body. 'But for your information, I was a dancer. As for me being speechless, I wasn't speechless, I was watching my dog over there.'

He laughed again.

'What?' She asked, becoming irritated with his self-important bouts of laughter.

'You weren't looking at your dog. I saw your eyes undressing me. You like what you see neighbour?'

She glared at him, amazed at his audacity.

'I'll take it that you're not going to dignify that with a response. Either because you want to ravage me right here on this lawn, or because you're embarrassed that you want to ravage me here on this lawn.'

She blushed involuntarily and cursed herself. How could her own body defy her when she was going to give him an epic come back line.

Except she wasn't. Her mind had gone blank. In fact, his beautiful body had almost erased her thoughts altogether. He was like kryptonite.

He chuckled again. That irritating, cringeworthy laughter. Again.

'Listen doll, it's kinda late. I'm gonna head indoors. You're welcome to follow me if you find your tongue. I might be able to find a few uses for it.'

He winked as he left her standing there. Legs like jelly, mind flitting between being incensed and aroused, she couldn't put together a coherent thought. Alcohol, disorientation, the worst wedding ever and meeting ‘Mr full of himself’ had possibly made today the worst day since her break up with Taylor. She willed Barker to leave the arrogant son of a b***h a little treat on his lawn, but he didn't oblige.

She sat on her back porch, letting Barker run around a little before bedtime. Unwittingly, her eyes travelled to the house next door. The lights were on upstairs, the curtains open. She saw him walk into his bedroom, slowly taking off his t-shirt. She shut her eyes, pressing them shut and warning herself not to look.

But it was no good.

Her eyes had one last glance, and it just so happened he was looking at her, at that exact moment.

Irritated with herself, she gritted her teeth and managed what she hoped to be a smile, when in actual fact it was more like a grimace.

He smiled back, arrogantly.