He never should have stayed. This had been Sam’s dream, not his. Jude had never cared where they lived if he had Sam by his side. Now he was stuck with Sam’s ghost and nothing else.
Movement caught his eye and Jude frowned as a lithe figure stepped from the gate to the left of his place. That must be his new neighbor. Jude didn’t know how he felt about the house that had been a summer rental for the entire time that Jude had lived next door being purchased. He’d have a real neighbor for the first time.
Jude stared as the man stepped onto the sand with a wide smile.
He appeared close in age to Jude’s forty-nine years. At least it wasn’t some young twenty-year-old that would turn the nice beach house into a party place. Jude would have put a stop to that right away.
The older couple that had owned the house had appreciated Jude looking out for the property. In all honesty Jude just hated to have his self-imposed solitude interrupted. They’d called him as soon as they’d received an offer on the house that they hadn’t been able to turn down. They’d stopped utilizing the house several years ago when traveling from their home in Utah became too much. Renting out the place in the summer had brought in some added income for the couple. Until this guy, whoever he was, had decided that he just needed to live there. Leaving Jude with a new neighbor.
Staring hard, Jude hoped that the stranger would go back inside before Jude reached his towel. He dragged his feet as much as he could to buy himself time, but the new guy didn’t move from where he sipped from a mug by the gate. He wasn’t looking at Jude, but their gates were side by side. Jude wouldn’t be able to avoid him.
Resigned to having to meet and talk to his neighbor, Jude bent and picked up his towel before quickly drying the cold drops from his skin.
Jude steeled himself as he started toward his house.
The guy glanced over as Jude approached.
Jude watched the neighbor from the corner of his eye. He really wasn’t in the mood to make nice. Not that he was ever in the mood, but his morning swim was already interrupted by the ghost of his past. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. Was that too much to ask for?
The neighbor lifted the mug in his hand in a salute. “Morning!”
Jude managed to grunt out a response of some sort.
The guy’s smile faltered for a moment before he shrugged and turned back to open his own gate.
Shit, now Jude was the asshole. Maybe it was better that his neighbor knew that from day one. It wasn’t like Jude was going to change his entire personality. He was an asshole and that wasn’t going to change just because the new neighbor had gorgeous clear blue eyes, a kind lopsided smile, or a body that looked good in a pair of loose cotton shorts.
Nope! Not going there. Jude had seen plenty of attractive guys in the last ten years. His neighbor wasn’t anything special. Even if he would have been just Jude’s type before he’d met Sam. Judehadmet Sam. And lost him. Never again.
Chapter Two
Liam
“No, it’s fine,” Liam assured his best friend for the fifth time in the last twenty minutes.
“But what do you mean he hates you?” Nicky pressed.
Liam sighed. “Just what I told you. I say good morning, and he grunts at me before stomping to his gate. That’s it.”
“But—”
“I don’t care,” Liam lied. He’d never been good with someone not liking him. Liam was a people pleaser by nature. He just couldn’t figure out how he would have already made his neighbor mad.
“You do care!” Nicky argued. He knew Liam well. “And the guy should be happy that you’re his new neighbor. You’re quiet, kind, and hot.”
Liam snorted. Walking to the sliding glass door, he stopped next to the cat condo. He ran his hand down Hades’s back. The tree condo was in the perfect spot. Right in the sunniest part of the room. “I’m sure that he doesn’t care if I’m hot or not.”
“Eye candy!” Nicky declared.
Liam had been enjoying having his own eye candy. His neighbor might be an asshole, but he was built. Attractive. Strong arms that must come from the long distance he swam every single morning. Tattoos that covered his shoulders and down both arms. Black hair with gray along the sides and gorgeous green eyes that appeared sad. Fucking hot! Liam hadsome ideas on what he could get up to with his sexy neighbor. Maybe that was the problem. Liam didn’t think that his neighbor had spotted him watching as the other man swam every morning but maybe Liam hadn’t been as covert as he’d thought. “Anyway…” Liam really needed to change the subject. “You’re still coming over this weekend, right?”
They’d met for dinner on Liam’s second night in town, but Liam really wanted to have a weekend playdate with his bestie. Liam had been tired from unpacking and moving furniture around and Nicky had been desperate for a break from work. The late-night dinner had been exactly the pick-me-up that Liam had needed.
He’d tried to be friendly with his neighbor that morning and every morning since he’d moved in, but his neighbor was just not interested in interacting with Liam.
“Yes!” Nicky hissed. “I am going to get this project finished if it kills me.”
“Great. I can’t wait. And you can help me finish getting the playroom set up.” Liam hadn’t been in a little mood since he’d moved in. He had a plan for the playroom. It just depressed Liam that he was setting up his special space all by himself.
