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

I grab another glass. “Want to join us?”

“Nah. I’m out actually.” He pats me on the back, grabs his jacket from the counter, and doesn’t even bother saying goodbye to the group.

Since we’re closed now, I flip the lock then bring everything over to the table and sit down to enjoy the rest of the night with Presley. She seems more at ease with Clara around. I’m happy these two are finding some sort of friendship. I really need to stop this inkling inside me that wants more.

My phone rings and I grab it out of my pocket, seeing Jed’s name on the screen. “Did you forget something?”

“Might want to tell your date something’s going down at Glacier Point. The girl I was headed out to meet just called and said she needs a place to stay because of some ceiling leaks or something.”

“Are you serious?”

Lying about a leak would totally be a Jed thing to do to keep me from enjoying my night with Presley since he views her as our nemesis. I know he wants to stop us from growing any closer since he thinks if her business fails, the building will be ours. He’s a persistent guy. With tunnel vision sometimes.

“Yeah. She wanted to stay at our place…” His tone indicates he thinks the girl is crazy. “I just called Mandi and got her a room at the B&B. I figured you wouldn’t wanna be in the same situation, so you might want to check to make sure Presley’s room isn’t affected before Mandi books up. I don’t wanna come home and see her in your bed, Cade.”

Part of me wants to do exactly that just to piss Jed off. He needs to get over his issue with her.

“Thanks for the heads-up.” I hang up because I am not arguing with him about this in front of Presley. I shove the phone in my pocket and see the whole table staring at me. “You might want to call Glacier Point, or maybe we need to go over there. Jed said some rooms had some type of ceiling damage and some people have to vacate their rooms.”

Presley’s jaw drops for a second, then she reaches for her purse.

“I’ll drive you,” I say.

“We can go too.” Clara follows us.

The four of us leave out the back. We climb in my truck and Presley tries dialing the resort, but no one answers, so she tries again.

In the meantime, Clara is searching for any information on social media. “You’re probably fine. It says here that the roof leak only affected one floor.” She puts her hand on Presley’s shoulder, but Presley doesn’t seem to take any comfort in the information.

“Does it say which floor?” she asks.

“It doesn’t.”

When we pull up to the resort, it’s organized chaos. The line to pull up to the front entrance is packed as people with luggage carts stream out and pack up their vehicles. I park along the side, out of the way, and Presley gets out of the truck immediately. We all follow her inside, hanging back and watching as she approaches a tall man who seems to know Presley and ushers her over to the side.

“She knows Wyatt Whitmore?” Clara asks.

I’ve heard rumors about the owner of the resort. Originally from New York, uber-wealthy, met one of Dori Bailey’s granddaughters and relocated here. But how does he know Presley so well? Surely he doesn’t know every one of his guests.

“Damn, he really is model good-looking,” Clara says.

Xavier raises his eyebrows at her.

“What?”

“He’s married.”

“I can still appreciate a good-looking man.” Clara shrugs. Truth is, Clara is such a tomboy and into her books that I’ve never really heard her talk about a guy before, so I’m a little surprised as well.

Presley’s hand runs down Wyatt’s arm and she nods. It’s a little too close for my comfort. Turning around, she heads back to us and Wyatt heads on to another group of people.

“My room was affected. He’s put my stuff in his office. At least two days.”

I pick up my phone. “I’ll call my sister at the B&B. Better to be closer to Sunrise Bay anyway.”

I walk away as Presley and Clara walk toward the front desk where the ever-so-helpful Wyatt Whitmore stored Presley’s stuff in his precious office. How gentlemanly of him.

“You have that look again,” Xavier says.

“What look?”

“The jealous one. The one you got when Marla first moved to town and you and Jed were vying for the same spot on the football team.” He points at me. “You like her.”

No shit, dipshit.

“Mandi.” Thankfully my stepsister answers, so I ignore Xavier’s observation. “Do you have any rooms left?”

“I just gave away my last one. I have to say, being taken away from my latest binge on Netflix was so worth it. I’m sold out and it’s not even tourist season.” She’s so excited, I think she forgot I was calling to get a room. “Oh, but anyway… who needed a room?”

“Presley Knight,” I say.

“Sorry. I’ve got nothing left. Maybe she can stay with Clara.”

I doubt Presley wants to go spend the night in a house her birth mom lived in with pictures of Clara plastered everywhere.

“Thanks, Mandi.”

I hang up as Presley and Clara come back, loaded down with bags and wheeling suitcases behind them. Xavier’s quick to relieve Clara of the weight.

“Mandi’s?” Clara asks.

I shake my head. “She’s booked. I doubt we’re going to find anything this late.”

“Want to come home with me?” Clara asks, but we all know the answer.

Presley shakes her head. “I don’t think I’m ready for that. I’ll just head farther out of town. I’m sure Anchorage has something available.”

“That’s ridiculous. Come on, you’re going home with me.” I pick up her bag.

“I can’t do that,” she says, catching up to me.

“Relax, you’ll stay in the apartment above the garage, and if it’s bad, you can stay in my bed tonight and I’ll take the couch. We’ll get the place ready tomorrow.”

“But—”

I swivel around to face her. She doesn’t