[chapter one]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of
them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please.
;-)
A/N: I hope you guys think this story is cool. ;-)
**
He'd been watching her for a good twenty minutes from the secrecy of his back porch.
He'd spent his entire day off unpacking boxes and lugging furniture around until he had it just right in the new house he'd begun moving into over a month earlier. Deciding to finally reward himself with a breather and a beer, he'd stepped into his backyard and found himself staring right into his neighbor's backyard.
His neighbor, who was currently sprawled on a blanket in the center of her grassy lawn, alternately talking into her cell phone and scribbling furiously on a huge stack of papers in front of her.
Mostly, he couldn't take his eyes off her legs. Long, long legs that were probably put together by a technician very close to God.
The rest of her wasn't so bad either, he mused, taking another pull from his beer and debating a strategy.
Walk over and introduce himself?
Wave from the porch?
Sneak back inside and get binoculars?
Wait to introduce himself when he wasn't sweaty and exhausted from moving?
Just as he was deciding on the best course of action, his options were taken away from him. She looked up and their eyes locked. Moments later, she was up from her blanket and striding across her lawn towards his property.
Uh-oh.
"You the new bloke, then?" Her British accent was surprising to his ears, but he grinned and stuck out his hand gamely.
"Hi. I'm Jamie McMurray. I guess we're neighbors." He said easily.
She looked down at his hand but made no move to take it. "You and your friends should know that parking on the street is forbidden by the neighborhood association. And putting out your trash five days early? Not taken to very kindly by the neighbors."
Jamie's cheeks flushed as this angelic face with the demonic tone admonished him. "Gee, I'm really sorry. I'm still moving in and everything. I promise to be a better neighbor when I'm all settled in." He said, flashing another winsome smile.
"I certainly hope so." She said, turning to walk back towards her lawn.
"What's your name?" Jamie ventured before she took too many steps away.
"The Neighbor Who Likes People to Mind Their Own Business." She shot back over her shoulder.
"So I guess I shouldn't count on you to loan me a cup of sugar, huh?" Jamie tried for humor and was met with silence. Turning around, she looked at him for a long moment.
"I don't dust, do windows, or put up with cheeky bastards who interrupt my peace and quiet, or my work. Right?" She said evenly before flouncing away.
"Nice meeting you!" Jamie called out, unable to resist. He chuckled as she started for a moment, but kept walking away from him. Within moments, she had scooped up her belongings and stepped inside her own house.
Jamie sat down on a lawn chair and took another drink with a small smile. Nice legs, yeah, but that attitude?
Jamie reminded himself to move
his car from the street before morning.