Filthy Rich, Wild with Lust

Chapter 50

“Too bad.” My smile does break free this time. “The shop is closed.”

“What about a fifteen-minute window? It would be record speed.”

No kidding.

“No.” I push him out my front door, and he turns around to face me.

“Happy milking.” I smile sweetly as I close the door in his face.

Dick.

Things are getting better. I’ve been going out with the girls, I got a new hairdo, and today, Joel is coming over. I’ve saved some more money and am finally getting back to decorating my house.

The entire house is painted internally now, and it’s time to look at outside colors and themes. I’m still enjoying it here, but I’m not sure if it’s my forever home.

I mean, it’s great and all, and maybe one day when my brain finally lets me forget the man next door, I will fall in love with the street again.

The car pulls up, and I peer through the curtains. That’s Joel here now.

I smile and open the door as I wait for him. He gets all his swatches and carries a big box inside. “Hey, stranger.” He smiles as he walks past me into the house. He stops and pecks me on the cheek. “You look gorgeous. I’ve missed seeing you.”

Oh...

“Hi, come in.”

Henley

I sip my beer, unimpressed, and stare over at her house. That f*****g i***t Joel has been at Juliet’s for over two hours.

“I don’t know if they are going to win,” Blake says casually as he lies back on my couch watching the game. “If I lose this bet over these fuckers...”

I stand at the window, peering through the curtains, my eyes still glued over the fence.

My temper hangs on by a thread. “Shut the f**k up about your bet and just watch the game.” I drag my hands through my hair.

“What’s so interesting out the window?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

“What is this... the third or fourth time the interior designer has been over to her house this week?”

I roll my lips, infuriated.

Fifth.

“Who knows and who cares,” I lie.

I’ve been baiting her with all my might, and not even a nibble. I’ve f****d this up well and good.

“She’s practically in love with him already,” Blake says casually.

“Shut up.” I begin to pace back and forth. It’s all I seem to do lately. “I don’t give a damn what she does.”

“Sure you don’t.”

If she falls for him... I swear to f*****g god...

Damn it, I don’t have time to be worrying about her all the time.

I just want this over with.

“What are we doing tonight?” he asks.

“I don’t know.” I peer through the curtains again. Hurry up and leave... fucker.

Before I break your face.

“I’ll hook us up with some girls, blow some steam off,” Blake replies.

My eyes stay glued on Juliet’s house. “Sounds good.”

11:00 p.m.

The bar is loud, the company is hot... but my mind isn’t on the scantily dressed women around me.

It’s at home.

With her.

It’s been weeks, and it’s not getting any better. If anything, it’s getting worse.

The more I see her, the more I want her.

She’s all I f*****g think about.

I’ve ruined everything with Juliet. I need to work out how to change her mind.

I feel a hand slide up my thigh, and I glance up as I remember where I am. “What are we drinking, Henley?” the hot little redhead purrs.

What is her name?

I exhale heavily. Ugh... “I...” I pause as I reconsider my options. “I have to get going.”

Blake raises an eyebrow in question. “What?”

“I just remembered something I have to do.”

“Oh no,” the girls sigh. “Don’t leave, the night is young.”

“Sorry.”

“You f*****g kidding me right now?” Blake widens his eyes.

“More for you.” I stand and put my hand on his shoulder as I walk past him. “You want them all, admit it.”

“You’re f****d,” he mouths.

I chuckle. “I agree.” I smile to the girls with a nod. “Good night. Have fun.”

Juliet

“It’s getting late,” I say to Joel. “I have to work early in the morning.”

“I’ll get going.”

“Okay.”

It’s the weirdest thing. Joel has been here all week. He’s telling me that we need house-planning time, but the reality is that we don’t talk about my house at all; he just wants to hang out.

Which is fine. He’s a great guy, and in any other circumstance I should be interested. I’m just... off men.

“I’ll walk you out,” I say. We walk out the front and down to his car, which is parked on the street. We stop beside it, and his eyes come to me. “Would you like to go out some time?”

I stare at him.

He answers my question before I have a chance to ask it. “Like on a date.”

“Oh...” I shrug. “I’m not really”— f**k —“wanting to get into a relationship right now.”

“It’s just dinner, Juliet.” He smiles. “Not a marriage proposal. Relax.”

“Right.” I smile, feeling embarrassed by my dramatic reply. “Sure, why not?”

“Great.”

I step back from him. Please don’t try and kiss me goodbye.

“Next Saturday night?” he asks.

I nod. “Yep. Sounds good.”

Henley’s car pulls into the street and into his driveway. His car turns off.

Don’t look.

“Okay. I’ll see you next week,” I blurt out in a rush to end the conversation. I really don’t want Henley to see me here with Joel. “Goodbye.”

“Bye.” Joel smiles.

I quickly walk inside before Henley gets out of the car. I close the door behind me and lean on the back of it for a moment. Even the sight of his car sends me into overdrive.

Maybe I really should consider moving house?

With a deep sigh I walk into the kitchen and flick on the kettle to make myself a cup of tea.

Knock, knock sounds at the door.

It’s him.

Don’t ask me how I know; I just do.

On autopilot I open it in a rush, and there he stands. Six foot four of hard ass. His dark hair is just mussed to perfection. The pull to him is instant.

“Hi.” He smiles softly.

I stare at him, unsure what to say.

His eyes search mine. “Can I come in?”

My stomach flutters at his proximity, and we stare at each other.

“So... can I come in?” he asks again.

I step back to let him walk past me.

Fuck.

I don’t know if I have it in me to resist his milk requests tonight.

“I, um...” He shrugs. He’s wearing blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. His shoulders are wide, and his chest is broad. Regardless of how things have worked out between us, I know there has never been a more beautiful male specimen on the face of the earth.

“I just...” His eyes hold mine, and once again, I can tell that he’s nervous.

“You what?”

“I just wanted to see you,” he murmurs. His eyes drop to my lips.

It would be so easy to kiss him right now.

“Why?” I act brave.

“I...” He pauses. “I wanted to...” He shrugs as if feeling stupid.

I frown. “What is it?”

“Can I have a hug?”

“What?”

Oh, gentle Henley is here... the one that I love.

“I just...” He swallows the lump in his throat, and unable to help it, I take him into my arms.

We hug, tight and close, and my eyes shut as I lean against his shoulder.

“Do you ever think of me?” he whispers.

I get a lump in my throat. “Yes.”

He nods as if processing my answer.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because I think about you. A lot.”

I can pretend that I don’t care about our demise, but the reality is that we really should be together.

Why doesn’t he get it?

My nostrils flare as I try to hold in my emotions. Why does he affect me so much?

“I just wanted you to know that”—he frowns as he articulates his words—“it’s not that I don’t want to be with you. This has nothing to do with you.”

Wow, that old chestnut.

“‘It’s not you, it’s me’?” Annoyed, I pull out of his arms. I give a subtle shake of my head. “Is that what you’re saying?”

He nods.

Frustration sets in. Seriously, is that the best he’s got?

“Is that it?” I ask.

His eyes hold mine. “Do you want it to be it?”

Come out with it. If you want me, have the balls to say so.

“What do you want, Henley? Why are you here?”

He exhales heavily. “I don’t know.”

Wrong answer.

I can’t fix this for him. I’m not giving up what I want so that he gets what he wants.

I deserve better than to be his booty call, and he knows it.

“Look, I have to work in the morning.” I walk to the door and open it. “I’ll see you later.”

He pauses, and I get the feeling he wants to say something else... but he doesn’t.

“Goodbye, Juliet.” He brushes past me and walks out.

I roll my eyes and close the door behind him. Stop f*****g with my head.

“How are we feeling today, Mrs. Potter?” I smile as I take her blood pressure on my morning rounds.

“Okay, I guess. I would be a lot better without that racket.” She gestures to the woman in the bed opposite her. The woman is asleep and snoring like a Mack truck.