The Boy Next Door Read Online Free

Her pulse quickened. Her skin tingled as she imagined those strong arms around her; that hard, toned body against hers, those tight buttocks pumping between her legs…
    Realizing her mouth was hanging open, Melissa shut it with a snap and forced her mind onto the task at hand. Had Rory noticed her reaction? He gave no indication of it. In fact, he seemed far more caught up with the damn hedge than he did with her! The nearness of him was making her giddy yet she seemed to be having no effect on him at all.
    She lowered the loppers to the ground and stretched out her aching arms, being sure to push her breasts against the fabric of her shirt in a most alluring fashion. “Time for a break, I think. I’ll go fix us a drink.”
    Before he could reply she hurried into the house. Once in the kitchen, she leaned against the counter and closed her eyes, pulling in deep, steadying breaths. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting this way to Rory Thompson? So he had fucked her once. So it had been better than anything she’d ever experienced. So what? That didn’t mean she was in love with him did it? So why did she seem unable to think straight whenever he was around?
    Melissa fixed two glasses of lemonade, threw some cookies onto a plate for a hasty breakfast and then carried them through into the sunroom, placing the snack on the coffee table and then slumping onto the sofa. From here she had a great view of Rory still working on the hedge. How had he gotten so athletic? So handsome and self-assured? Where was the nerdy boy who used to follow her around and do whatever she asked?
    Melissa gulped, her nipples hardening as Rory bent over, giving her a great view of his tight little ass. She had to clear her throat several times before she managed to call, “There’s a drink here for you, Rory.”
    With a shrug, he threw down his tools and made his way into the sunroom, slumping down in the chair opposite Melissa.
    “Phew! Warm today isn’t it?”
    “Mmm,” Melissa answered, not trusting herself to speak.
    Rory gulped down his drink and sighed in satisfaction. “That hits the spot.”
    Melissa cast around for something to say. “You must be used to this heat. I’m sure it’s much hotter in Thailand.”
    “Yep. It could get pretty toasty,” he agreed. “But there was usually a sea breeze that took the edge off it.”
    Melissa longed to ask him more about his travels and what had happened out there to turn him into the sexy man sat before her now. But she didn’t seem able to form the words. Instead, she stretched her legs out and winced as a jolt of pain stabbed her ankle. Irritably, she reached down and rubbed the spot. Who would have thought a few hours of chopping a hedge would make her feet ache so much?
    “Are you okay?” Rory asked.
    “I’m fine,” Melissa replied, determined not to show any weakness.
    Rory frowned, his gorgeous eyes full of concern. “No you’re not. It’s no wonder your feet hurt, Melissa. Those shoes are hardly suitable for gardening.”
    “What’s wrong with them?” she demanded.
    Rory snorted. “Look at the heel! And I can see your toes sticking out the end. Hardly what you’d call work wear are they?”
    Melissa glared at him. “When I want fashion tips from you, Rory Thompson, I’ll ask for them. And these aren’t heels, they’re wedges.”
    But the truth was, her feet were really starting to hurt. Her strappy sandals with the two inch wedge heel were the closest thing Melissa owned to work shoes and definitely the only ones she would risk getting muddy in the yard. But it seemed even her shoes weren’t good enough for Rory Thompson. She rubbed her ankles irritably.
    Rory sighed. “Here.”
    He set his drink down and slid from his chair to kneel by Melissa’s feet. Gently he eased her sandals off and put them to one side. Melissa opened her mouth to demand what he thought he was doing but something stopped her. Instead of annoyance at his presumption, a thrill of