My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1) by Piper Rayne (phonics reading books TXT) 📕

he walks toward me, his eyes never wavering from mine. “You need to stop assuming things.”

“So you weren’t the no vote?”

“Votes are kept confidential. I can’t in good faith tell you how I voted because then you’ll throw your animosity at one of the other four people. And since I’m the aim of your anger right now, we’ll just keep it that way because I’m more forgiving than most.”

“Forgiving?”

“Yeah, once you realize I’m a good guy.” His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, his vision dipping to the front of my overalls. “I like the outfit.”

“Don’t make fun.”

He chuckles and his fingers go to one of the clasps. “I’m not making fun. Just think of how accessible you are with the flick of a clasp. You should think about that when you wear them.”

I swallow audibly and he chuckles, getting the reaction he hoped for. I’m visualizing what would happen if he did that to me right now and how the material would puddle at my ankles, leaving me in a tight white T-shirt and my panties.

“Well, they’re comfortable.” I shrug, trying to play off my reaction.

His thumb runs over the metal as if it’s taking every ounce of his control not to unclasp it. “That’s a great reason.”

He lets go and the flood of disappointment is damaging to my psyche. You can’t have him, Presley. Remember Clara’s word, complicated. Your life is already a clusterfuck.

“That’s all the measurements I need. My dad should be here soon.” He steps away and picks up his measuring tape and pad of paper.

With his back to me, I answer his question because apparently part of me wants to prolong his departure. “I went to school for business. A friend helped me with the video. I did part of it myself and I sketched what I was thinking, but she put it all together.”

Emery did an amazing job and I can’t take credit for it, even if she’d never know.

“Still, all the statistics and stuff, that was you?” He stops at the door.

I nod.

“Well, great job. Even if it may or may not have swayed me to vote yes.” He chuckles and opens the door.

“Cade!” A man strikingly similar to Cade stands on the other side.

“Hey, Dad. Adam?”

Two men walk into the shop and Cade doesn’t leave.

“I’m glad Cade got ahold of you. I’m sorry, I hate being late.” Hank Greene puts out his hand and I shake it, envisioning what Cade will look like when he’s older. Pretty damn close to this man, I suspect. “This is Adam, Cade’s brother.”

The younger version of Cade shakes my hand.

“What are you doing here?” Cade asks.

“Adam’s gonna help me with this project because he needs to keep busy.” Hank turns from Cade to me. “He’s a forest ranger, so he’ll be here on his off days. I’ll fill in on the other days.”

“Seriously? You agreed to this?” Cade asks Adam.

Adam shrugs. He shoots a look at Cade, and Cade backs off. I’ve figured out in the short time I’ve been here that their family has entire conversations without words, whether it’s a flick of an eyebrow or quirk of a lip.

“Cade, do you have the measurements?” Hank takes the piece of paper Cade tears off his pad. “Perfect.”

Hank walks around the space and I follow as he asks me questions about what I was thinking for the space. When we’re by the windows, discussing the special ones I’ll need, my gaze ventures to the back where Cade and Adam now stand, having a conversation. It looks serious.

“Don’t mind my sons,” Hank whispers. “Adam”—he looks back, and I assume it’s to make sure he’s not listening—“is going through heartbreak. But he’s qualified, don’t you worry. He’s been my little helper his entire life. He can drywall the holes and repaint. When it comes to the built-in bookshelves, I’ll be here to make sure everything is done properly. Adam can probably handle the flooring as well.”

He lost me after heartbreak.

“He’s young to be so brokenhearted,” I say. Damn it, that was supposed to stay inside my head and not come out of my mouth.

Hank nods. “Yeah, well, when you marry your high school sweetheart, the odds are stacked against you. Though I married mine.”

I assume he was on the wrong end of those statistics too, because I know he and Marla have a blended family.

“Unfortunately, she passed.” He glances at his boys again. “Cade was only twelve. Adam six. I blame myself for letting Adam marry Lucy. They were too young. I think he wanted to repeat what his mother and I had. He’s always idealized our relationship. Not that he doesn’t love Marla, but it’s complicated.” He glances at them again. “Neither of my boys would be happy that I’m sharing all this with you, but you’ll find out eventually anyway. Maybe I feel bad because my stepdaughter is spreading all the news about your life on her radio show. Tit for tat and all that.” He smiles, and jeez, Cade is such a mini-me, even down to the smile.

“It’s okay. It’s no different in Connecticut. It’s nice to actually know what they’re saying about me instead of it all being behind my back.”

“Well.” Hank sits on the windowsill. “I’m pretty sure I speak for the town when I say we’re glad you’re here and that this bookstore will be a great addition.”

So he voted yes then. It has to be Cade. A handyman wouldn’t care about my bookstore—hell, I’m giving him business. Trent Lawson will make money on legal fees with me setting up my business. And the fifth person is that woman who I think owns the knickknack store. Maybe she didn’t want me here, but she stopped me the other day and asked if I’d have romance novels. It could have been George I suppose but I’d put money on it being Cade who voted no.

“Well, thank you, Mr. Greene.”

He stands. “Any time. You look like you’re ready to start now. Let me get