“Yes!” Nicky exclaimed. “It’s going to be epic!”
Liam laughed. It would totally be better with his bestie. He didn’t need a Daddy. Liam was okay on his own. He told himself that at least several times a day.
“What are your plans for today?’ Nicky asked.
“I’m going to get my furniture unpacked for the back deck. Maybe spend some time in the ocean.”
“You are totally going to become a beach bum,” Nicky teased.
“I wrote three chapters last night!” Liam defended.
“I’m so proud!” Nicky told him. “My best friend the bestselling author.”
It was hard not to smile. Nicky had been his biggest supporter from the beginning. It helped that both he and Nicky identified as littles and loved reading romance novels with that dynamic. Nicky read as much as Liam, if not more. Nicky had been the one that had pushed Liam into sending his first book to a publishing company.
“I better let you go so you can get to work,” Liam said. Plus, it was time to get outside so he could be grunted at by his neighbor.
“Fine,” Nicky whined. “I can’t wait for the weekend.”
“Me either,” Liam agreed. He walked out of his bedroom, heading toward the kitchen where his coffee machine should have already begun brewing his first mug of coffee. The automatic machines were awesome.
“I’ll call you tonight to see how your day was,” Nicky told him.
“Sounds good.” Liam was so lucky to have Nicky in his life. “Love you.”
“Love you!” Nicky parroted.
Liam disconnected the call as he reached the coffee pot. He grabbed his full mug and added a cube of sugar before stirring it in. Peering out of the window above the sink, Liam sighed loudly. His handsome neighbor was already swimming in theocean. Every morning Liam could stand there as he slurped down his first mug of coffee with the best view.
The man had long arms that cut through the water as he powered forward. His back was muscular and cut, showing off amazing definition. Not that Liam was surprised, since the man did spend every morning swimming longer and farther than Liam could even imagine. He must really love swimming.
Already his mind was coming up with a name, story, and background for his stranger. Liam often made up little stories about people he encountered. Or just when he was people watching. His new place was the perfect location for the people watching. And no one had caught his attention, quite like Liam’s new neighbor.
As his neighbor started the long swim back toward the shore, Liam stepped out onto his covered back deck.
The furniture that had delivered still sat with the plastic wrap surrounding it. That was his mission for the day but not until he had his morning interaction with mister grumpy neighbor.
Liam walked past the furniture toward his back gate. He opened the gate and in only a few steps warm sand was under his bare feet. He sipped his morning coffee, enjoying the view in front of him. Maybe Liam shouldn’t be so blatant in watching his neighbor. Not that Liam was to be blamed. He was human and his neighbor was just so yummy! He’d drained his mug by the time his neighbor had reached the shore and his towel.
He had abs!
His neighbor was so sexy. Liam really wished that the man would just talk to him.
* * * * *
Jude
He was there again. Every morning for a week his neighbor would watch him while drinking out of a giant mug. That was too much coffee. Hopefully, his neighbor didn’t have more than that one mug. Not that it was any of Jude’s business. No. His neighbor’s coffee habit did not have any impact on Jude. None. Jude was really trying to keep his distance, but it was getting harder when his neighbor would smile in that cute way of his and call out a good morning.
Jude braced himself as he approached the neighbor.
“Morning!” His neighbor lifted the mug in his direction. The smile firmly in place and those blue eyes shining.
Jude stopped. “Why?”
His neighbor brought the mug down. The smile faltered briefly before returning, missing some of the brightness. “What?”
“Every morning you stand here and greet me. Why?”
