Page 55 of Sexy Bad Neighbor

I climb the ladder, going up the opposite side from where Paynter is standing on the third rung from the top, staring down at me as if I’ve just announced I’m joining the circus.

“What the hell are you doing? You’re going to get us both killed. Get off the damn ladder, Chloe.”

“No. Not until you hear me out.”

“I can hear you just fine from here.”

I speak as I climb, one rung at a time. “Yes, but you aren’t listening. And this is important. I need to look you in the eye.”

That eye is wide, warily watching me. “Fine. I’ll go down.”

“Too late,” I say, having successfully reached the top. I place my hands on top of his, which are gripping the sides of the ladder. “I’m here now, so we might as well have that chat.”

He glances at the ground. “I’d rather talk with both feet planted down there. Closer to Earth. I’m not in a very good mood, Chloe, and whatever you plan to say is probably going to make my mood even fouler.”

“Paynter, stop,” I say, stomping my foot for emphasis. Which shakes the ladder. He pulls his hands out from under mine and reaches for me. Which tilts the ladder. The cutters slide off the side and Paynter tries to grab them.

“Oh no.”

“Shit! Grab the chandelier, Chloe,” he shouts, and I do exactly what he says as the ladder falls sideways and crashes to the tiles, leaving us both hanging from the long, narrow light fixture, staring at each other, swaying gently above the ground, which is a good twelve feet below us. I see fear and trepidation in his eyes. I’m sure it’s mirrored in my own. This is not an ideal situation, not by a long shot. Still...

“Can we talk now?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he shouts, and the chandelier shivers from the vibration. He glances down. “How the hell are we supposed to get down from here?”

“I love you, Paynter.”

“Goddamn it, Chloe, I said—wait. What did you just say?” His gaze flies to my face. I’m smiling serenely, trying not to gloat. He is about to be stuck with this stubborn woman. I’m not even worried that he can handle me. I know he can.

“I said I love you.”

“Okay, I admit it; I did not see that coming.”

“I can tell.”

“You climbed up the wrong side of a ladder to tell me that?”

“Well, and that I don’t want to go anywhere unless it’s with you.”

“You’re talking about the promotion, right?”

“Yes. I don’t want to take it. Well, I do, but only if you go with me. I don’t want a long-distance relationship. I want to sleep in the same bed with you, every single night. I don’t want to have phone sex. I want to have real sex, anytime I crave it. Which seems to be all the time these days. If you don’t want to go, I’ll turn it down. I—”

“Chloe, I really appreciate this revelation—seriously, I do. But I have to be honest here. I’d really, really rather have this talk when we’re both down there.” He nods at the floor.

I adjust my grip on the brass ring and glance down. “This was clearly not one of my better ideas.”

“Nope, it really wasn’t.”

“You don’t have to agree quite so readily.”

“Sweetheart, if the shoe fits...”

“Seriously? You’re calling me ‘sweetheart’ now? When we’re hanging twelve feet in the air and you’re calling me an idiot again?”

“I didn’t say you were an idiot.”

“You agreed this was an idiotic idea.”

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