“He’s my neighbor,” I start, knowing there’s a little more to this than I’m letting on.“And he’s kinda my boss.”
“You’re sleeping with your boss?Way to go, Hannah!”Phoebe cheers, making me a little more confident in my decision to pursue this thing with Leo.
“I’m not sleeping with him.At least I’m not sleeping with him yet,” I say, giggling a little.“He invited me over for dinner tonight and we’ve pretty much been making out every chance we get, so here’s to hoping it leads to us sleeping together.I’m getting a little bit desperate.”
“Well, keep me posted,” Phoebe says, and before we hang up, we make plans to get together before she moves.I also offer to fly out there the day after she arrives to help her unpack, but she declines my help, telling me to visit once she’s settled so we can actually hang out together and make it a vacation for me.
As soon as I set the phone down, I look around at the mess that is my new house.I know it’ll be great once I get everything unpacked, but it feels a little overwhelming.Luckily, I had my furniture delivered earlier today and all of that is where I want it, it’s the unpacking of the boxes that is left.It looks like a nightmare.
So instead of unpacking, I flop down on the couch, closing my eyes for just a few minutes.It feels so good to have my own house, my own space, the quiet of Somerville’s and knowing that don’t have to deal with my brother having loud sex any longer.Taking a nap feels like the right thing to do.
The next thing I know is I’m waking up to a dark sky and someone knocking on my door.It takes me a moment to realize where I am, looking around trying to remember that I moved into my new place just today.There are no lights on and I pat around for my phone, using the flashlight on it to find my way to the door.
I really should’ve set up some lamps before I crashed, but of course I thought I would be up in an hour.I actually have no idea what time it is and then it hits me like a ton of bricks.
My date with Leo.
Fuck my life.He probably thinks I stood him up and I’m going to guess when I open this door, it’s going to be him standing on the other side.I look like shit and I’m certain my breath stinks, my hair feels like a ratty mess given how sweaty I was just a few hours ago.
This is not how I wanted my date with Leo to go.It was supposed to be perfect.I was supposed to smell good, and my hair was supposed to be washed and dried and shiny.I was supposed to wear my favorite black jeans that make my ass look so damn good, and those tie-side panties I bought at that French lingerie shop because Leo looks like the kind of guy who would tear panties.
I’m so pissed off that I want to cry.
I take in a hard breath, smoothing down my hair as much as I can, and then I open the door.And there’s Leo standing there looking so fucking hot and oh my fucking god, we would’ve made the perfect couple tonight.
“Hey, everything okay?”he asks, sounding sympathetic, but a little hesitant.I’m sure he’s thinking I’m having second thoughts about starting something with him.Far from it.
“Yes, I’m so sorry.I swear I laid down on the couch to rest for a few minutes and I literally just woke up when you knocked on the door,” I whine, hating myself for doing something so stupid and hoping I didn’t ruin this altogether.I’m never this irresponsible.Okay, I’m only this irresponsible when it comes to meeting Dylan for breakfast, but that’s different.
He smiles and my heart flutters, beating fast at just the look he’s giving me.It’s the panty-dropping smile.It’s the kind that can make a woman do whatever he asks.I’m that woman.
“I’m still up for this,” he says, motioning between us, “if you are.”
“I am, but can you give me a few minutes, or maybe like thirty.I really didn’t want to show up looking like this.”I throw my hands out in front of me and roll my eyes.“You see me in my chef’s coat on a regular basis and now today in running shorts and a tank, covered in sweat.I really wanted to…” I trail off as he leans in close to me.
“I think you look fucking stunning, Hannah,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine.“But yes, get ready and come over.If you take too long, trust that I will be joining you in the shower.”This time he bites at my neck, his mouth sucking hard, his teeth grazing my skin.
“I’m not sure that’s a threat,” I manage to mutter.“I was kinda hoping…”
“Get in the shower, Hannah,” he growls, swatting my ass.“And don’t keep me waiting.”
“Yes.”
A half an hour later I’m climbing the stairs to Leo’s place, the smell of rosemary is wafting out of the open windows, and it smells heavenly.As a chef it’s funny to have someone else cook for you, and normally I decline.I’m pretty particular about my food, but with Leo, I don’t care.
I knock softly and he calls for me to come in.As soon as I open the door, I’m taken aback by how amazing his place is.Now mine is very nice, but it’s also very appealing to the masses.It should be.At some point it will be rented out to visitors and most don’t want quirky or unique.
The ceilings of his place though, are all exposed beams and it’s basically one wide open room with a massive kitchen.It’s custom and obviously designed by him.He has all this oversized furniture that fills the space perfectly and I get a quick glimpse of his bedroom from where I’m standing.Hopefully it’s not the only look of it I get tonight.
“Hannah,” he says, and the way he says my name makes my panties wet.No one will ever say it the way he does, and no one will ever top the way it makes me feel when he does.
“Better, right?”I ask, turning in a circle so he can get a good look.
“I wouldn’t say better, but you do look gorgeous,” he replies, and I walk over to where he’s standing, pushing up on my toes to give him a kiss.
“You ready to eat?”
“Yes, I kept you waiting so yes.”
