Enemy Daddy Next Door

Hunter Ricks seems like a very bad bet.

He’s 43 years old, sexy as hell, and determined to sleep his way through the entire city whenever he’s not taking care of his four-year-old daughter.

Not exactly boyfriend material for an inexperienced 24-year-old who writes children’s books for a living.

And yet I can’t help it…

His irresistible charm, his flowing locks of hair, and the way he adoringly cares for his daughter just makes my heart melt

Sure, he’s too cocky for his own good,
but that cockiness only makes the tension between us spike whenever we’re alone.

I know it’s a mistake, but giving in to him is a temptation I can’t resist…

“Hunter!” 

That’s not
Trisha’s(?) voice. That’s the voice of a seriously pissed off Amy Solace. What
the hell is she doing storming into my house without an invitation? 

“In here,” I call out. I might be confused about what she thinks
she’s doing, but I have to admit, I’m curious. 

“I need to talk to you.” I can feel her anger without even seeing
her face. Which is funny because when she walks into the kitchen and lays eyes
on me, her entire face goes red and her jaw drops. “Oh my god! What are you
doing?!” 

My coffee’s done, so I pour the delicious bean juice into a mug.
“Having a cup of coffee. What are you doing?” 

Amy holds out her hands and gestures toward my lower half. “Not –
not the coffee! You’re –” Her embarrassment gets the better of her and she
flips away from me covering her face. “Oh my god!” 

I laugh to myself. “What are you so embarrassed about?” 

“You’re – you’re naked!” 

“I’m not naked. I’m half-naked.” I take a sip of coffee. Perfect.
Bold and strong. Just the way I like it. “There’s a difference.” 

“I won’t talk to you until you’re clothed.” 

Now it’s my turn to clock what she’s wearing. Tiny bikini that’s
barely covering her ass. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve taken some long looks at her
out by the pool since Jessica and I moved in a year and a half ago. It’s even
better up close. However, I’d never want to make her uncomfortable with my
gaze. I’m her much older neighbor. Her dad would kill me. I look away. “I could
say the same of you.” 

Amy looks over her shoulder at me, her silken brown curls cascading
down her back. She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs. “You’ve got some
nerve.” 

“I’m just saying I think we’re even,” I reply. “Now…” I take a few
steps toward her. “What is it you wanted to talk to me about?” 

Amy’s body softens when she remembers her purpose in coming here.
“I’ve had just about enough of your girlfriends sneaking through my yard.” 

I resist smiling. So, that’s what this is about, huh? “They’re not
my girlfriends.” 

Her body locks up again and she ducks away from me toward the other
side of the kitchen island. “You know what I mean.” 

“I don’t think you
even know what you mean, Amy. These are women I have
fun with. Nothing more,” I explain. 

Amy gapes at me and then darts her gaze away again. She can’t bear
to look at me for more than a few seconds at a time. Surely, it can’t be for my
propriety. I’m a grown ass man. Perhaps Amy is concerned about hers. What year is
this? 

“You feel inclined to have fun with them in the middle of the day
and then send them out through a stranger’s yard in broad daylight?” 

I lower my voice and follow Amy’s trajectory around the island. “I
can’t have them going through the house toward the end of Jessica’s nap. Plus,
her window looks out at the front of the house. She’d see them walking out
front. Best to keep things completely separate.” 

Amy looks outright disgusted with me as she backs away. It’s sort of
cute. Sort of. 

“Have you considered that maybe it’s not appropriate to have women
traipsing through your home with your daughter upstairs?” she says in a tense
whisper. 

“Have
you ever considered I am a man with needs?” I echo back in the same tone. I
love teasing her. She gets so up in arms about it.

She makes a noise of frustration and turns away again. 

I laugh. “You may as well turn around; clothes aren’t going to
magically appear on my body.” 

She does so, begrudgingly, her eyes very purposefully focused on my
face rather than my body. Which I have to say is a feat. Not that I think much
of my body, but I do keep it in good condition. It shouldn’t surprise her that
I’ve got a line of suitors. “If it falls off and you flash me, I’ll sue.” 

“Trust me, Amy, this is on as tight as a chastity belt.” 

Her eyes widen briefly. And though I’m still a few feet away from
her, I’m evidently too close. She backs up and hits the kitchen counter, 

“See?” I jump up and down. The towel doesn’t move. “I’m a pro at
this point.” 

“Can you not do that? You’re making me uncomfortable.” 

I stop. Never in my wildest dreams did I want to make her
uncomfortable. There’s a line between teasing and discomfort, and I’m
embarrassed to have crossed it. However...it didn’t take much to get Amy
flustered. Perhaps she lacks the experience I’ve just assumed she had. Not for
any other reason than she’s a beautiful young woman, surely sought after by
suitors. 

If she’s withheld her virginity this long, major kudos to her. I
know men can be fucking pushy. I clear my throat and take a step back. “I’m
sorry. That wasn’t my intention.” 

Amy’s eyes flick down briefly to my chest and maybe even farther
down, toward my waist. Her cheeks flush. Then, she looks away. “I won’t be an
accomplice to your behavior again.” 

Listen
to her talking like we’re in a courtroom or something. “What’s that mean?” I
ask with half a smile.

Amy glowers at me. Really, she glares, her deep brown eyes
smoldering like she wants to kill me. Too bad it just...stirs something inside
me instead. 

Down, boy. Next door neighbors are
off-limits. Girls nearly half your age are definitely off-limits. 

“It means that the next time one of your little playboy bunnies
knocks on the gate, I’m not letting them through. She can do the walk of shame
on your property.” She turns on her heel and starts to walk back toward the
foyer. 

Don’t look at her ass, don’t look at her
ass. “Come on, Amy. It’s not that serious,” I say as I
follow her into the front hall, keeping my voice low in case it travels up to
the second floor where I know Jessica is probably starting to stir from her
nap. 

Amy shoots back around; her eyes aren’t just smoldering now, they’re
full of fire. “Not that
serious?!” 

“Okay,
keep your voice down, Jessica is just upstairs,” I say, trying to temper her
anger.

Her
hands ball up in front of her and her lips tighten together. “You are the most
infuriating man I’ve ever met.”

Why does that feel like a compliment? 

“Amy, I’m sorry I upset you, but don’t be unreasonable, alright?
We’re neighbors.” 

“Neighbors
are for a cup of sugar! Not exit strategies for pl—”

“Playboy bunnies. Got it.” 

stract
her with ice cream. But it’s only a matter of time before that trick stops
working too.