Page 40 of Crave Thy Neighbor

“No way. That’s half the magic of them—that they’re only available once a year. They tried to do a ‘Christmas in July’ edition once, and they didn’t taste the same. I made sure to send a feedback email too.”

“I’m sure they took your comments straight up the ladder.”

“I hope so.”

I tuck my lips together, shaking my head. “You’re something else.”

Her face falls. “Oh god. You think I’m insane, don’t you? I promise I’m not. I’m just a little in love with my Christmas Trees is all. I’m perfectly stable the other nine months of the year.”

“Not insane…passionate.”

She captures her bottom lip between her teeth, and my blood flows to areas it shouldn’t.

“That’s a good thing, right?” she asks, blinking up at me with those tantalizing eyes.

It’s the same look she gave me in the bar.

Impish and sexy.

Inviting.

I want to reach over the table, pull her into my lap, and finally get a taste of her lips.

Fuck.I can’t be thinking like this.

If Maya is going to be staying at my place for two months, I can’t be conjuring up images of kissing her or anything else my brain has cooked up over the last week…like that fantasy of—

No! Nope.

Not going there.

“Sure.” I swallow, working hard to talk my dick down. I clear my throat and cast my eyes anywhere but her. “So, I guess we should talk about the details of your lease.”

“Right.” She retreats to her side, pressing her shoulders back. “Like I said last night, it’ll only be for two months while they finish up the new apartments over off Burrow Street.”

“I know the ones. That land was bought by a rival company. I didn’t realize they were leasing already.”

“They had opened up a few rentals around when we got the notice of the demolition, but they filled up fast. I guess they’re ready to move on to phase two soon.”

“Lucky for you then.”

“I’d be even luckier if I didn’t have to do this at all.” She waves her hand. “Whatever. It’s all finally working out.”

I see it again, that relief in her gaze.

Darlene brings breakfast out: Frenchtoast sans syrup and powdered sugar for Maya and a stack of syrup and whipped-cream-covered pancakes with a side of baconandsausage for me.

We tuck into our food, taking a break from talking to get some fuel in our stomachs.

“You can charge me more, you know,” Maya says after a few minutes of silence. “I’m good for it.”

“I don’t doubt that, but I can’t in good conscience charge you more when you’re only staying for two months. Especially not when you’re going to have to put down a deposit and everything else that comes with a new apartment so soon.”

“But your savings…”

“Will be fine,” I tell her.

She doesn’t need to know the money I have in there hasn’t been touched to cover the extra expenses the apartment upgrade cost me. I make enough to cover the rent without digging into it and can still get by.

---