The Troublemaker Next Door (24 page)

Lucky girl.

She wondered wistfully what it must be like to have someone accept you, flaws and all. With Flynn, Maddie could be herself. Slightly neurotic, obsessively organized, beautiful and confident enough—at least in her looks—to know it. Abby could do neurotic, and she had her office as neat as a pin, but confident in any way? Hell no.

Every other day she expected a rejection from one publisher or another. Her agent had so far stuck with her and seemed keen on making them both money. But Abby knew she was only as good as her last book. The minute her sales dropped, she could find herself ass-out of an agent, an editor, and the royalties she needed if she wanted to eat.

Though come to think of it, missing a meal or two couldn’t hurt.

So pleased for her best friend, she also couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit envious. Abby lived out her fantasies through her books and characters, but reminders of her solitude ate at her every time she stepped away from her computer.

“Hey, you okay?”

The others sat in the living room yelling at the television. She’d thought herself safely apart in the hallway, looking for Colin. How had Brody found her unless he’d been looking for her?

She cleared her throat. “Fine. Just looking for Colin.”

He arched a brow. “Really? ’Cause he’s sitting on Pop’s lap.”

Pop and Bitsy—what he called James and Beth McCauley, the people who’d raised him. She still wanted the full scoop on Brody Singer, but she couldn’t ask outright because then Maddie would think she was interested in him. And she wasn’t. Not really.

A woman would have to be a lesbian not to desire Brody. Yet even Robin had commented on how handsome and sexy he might be to a poor straight girl. Like Abby.

That dark blond hair—which she’d never liked, but on him looked right—those light brown eyes that reminded her of honey when he grew angry. And that body. She sighed. For someone who had issues with sweets and how they fell directly to her thighs, she shouldn’t have set her sights so high. But Abby had always been a sucker for trim, lean men. Brody had surpassed lean thirty pounds of muscle ago.

“Abby?”

She blinked and saw her stare centered on Brody’s chest. She sure hoped he hadn’t noticed… She blushed when she met his gaze, annoyed at the smirk he wore. “What?”

“Like what you see, honey?”

She snorted. “Honey? Please. I’m about as sweet as vinegar, and you know it.”

He leaned close, and she made the mistake of breathing him in. Her nipples stiffened, and she praised the weather for being cold enough to make a sweater necessary, hiding her reaction.

“I bet you’re sweet all over.” His eyes flashed with heat. “I’d be more than happy to indulge my sweet tooth. Any time you say the word.”

She burst into laughter. “Sweet tooth? Does that line ever work on anyone?”

He seemed annoyed but grinned too quickly to think he’d meant anything serious by the comment. “You’d be surprised.”

She snorted. “Probably not. Your type seems to go for the empty-headed bimbo.”

“Really? So I have a shot then?” The hopeful look on his face made her laugh.

“Good one. I’ll give you that.”

She could have sworn he said, “I’m hoping you’ll give me a lot more,” before Flynn dragged her away.

“Yeah?”

“Quit picking on Brody. You placed my money, right?”

She patted his arm. “I did. This means our sprinkler system is a done deal when the weather heats up in the spring, right? That is, after the wedding.”

He winked. All that McCauley charm bottled up for her best friend. Damn.

Flynn stepped away from Abby and motioned for Maddie to join him. Abby took a subtle step back and started when large hands pulled her into a hard frame.

Brody stood behind her and wouldn’t let her go. He whispered into her ear, “What did Flynn say to you just now?”

She barely controlled a shiver while her body flushed with heat. Annoyed by her reaction to him, she stepped on his foot. When he grunted and let her go, she took refuge next to Colin, who’d moved to be near his Uncle Brody.

“Good move, Abby.” Colin let her rest a hand on his shoulder. A big deal considering the kid never stood still.

“If I could have everyone’s attention.” Flynn said it again, louder, and the room quieted.

Abby noted the nods between Flynn’s brothers. A glance at Brody showed a smug smile.

Beth and James sat next to each other on the couch. Beth looked so happy, Abby almost felt bad for what was about to happen. Except she knew Flynn’s mom had bet on today as well.

Flynn took Maddie’s hand in his and held it up for everyone to see. “Maddie is the love of my life. She knows it, and it’s time everyone knew it.”

A bunch of “hear hears” and “It’s about times” scattered through the room. Vanessa joined in, looking satisfied. Probably taking credit for putting the pair together.

“I wanted to do this with friends and family to witness. It’s been almost five months, the best five of my life.” Flynn put on a burst of emotion that seemed fake to Abby, but everyone else seemed to buy it.

“Not enough tears,” Colin whispered.

“I know,” she whispered back. “Shush.” Figured the little con man would see through him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brody’s gaze narrow on her.

“And so, with all of you here to witness this special occasion, I’m just going to ask her.” Flynn bent down on one knee, his hand still holding Maddie’s. Despite knowing what was coming, Abby couldn’t help thinking how romantic the scene looked.

For some reason, her gaze met Brody’s. She couldn’t read his expression and quickly turned back to Flynn and Maddie.

“Madison Gardner,” Flynn boomed. “Will you do me the great honor”—he took something from his pocket—“the incredibly important role, of becoming my…”

Everyone stopped breathing.

“Girlfriend?” He opened his palm and on it sat two dazzling emerald earrings. “Will you, my sweet, wear these earbobs as a token of my extreme affection?”

The earbobs line had been Abby’s touch. She’d been reading a historical romance the other week and was stuck on how much she liked the word.

Beth looked heartbroken. The others mumbled unflattering comments while she, Flynn, and Maddie laughed.

“Pay up, suckers.” Abby collected money from everyone who’d bet Flynn would pop the question today. They’d been placing wagers for a month. Abby had mentioned it to Maddie, who’d told Flynn. In an effort to win some money, Flynn had planted some hints he might ask her at the family barbecue.

“Hey, does this seem rigged to anyone else?” Brody frowned as he dug in his wallet.

“Rigged is such an ugly word.” Maddie put on her earrings and smiled. “They’re beautiful, Flynn. I love them.”

“And I love you.” He kissed her.

Beth finally stopped frowning and smiled. “You’ll have such pretty babies.”

Colin gagged and pretended to have a seizure on the floor.

“Maybe a girl this time,” Beth said with a frown at him.

Mike nodded. “Yeah, a girl or two… to kiss cousin Colin!” He jumped on his son and tickled him until Colin cried
uncle
, to which three men answered, “Yes?”

Abby laughed and gave Maddie a hug, stunned when Vanessa willingly did the same.

“What?” the blond asked. “I can’t show some love?”

Abby waited.

Vanessa lowered her voice and admitted, “Well, Maddie cut me in on the take. I made twenty bucks off Cameron and James, enough for a few lattes next week. Nicely done, ladies.”

Abby grinned. “And this is where I’d type
The
End
.”

***

Brody watched Abby with her friends. The sexy little liar. He shook his head.

Flynn went out back and returned scowling. “Hey, Brody. Go get that thing you call a dog before he breaks the leash and attacks the grill. And just so you know, it’s not the dog I’m afraid for. It’s the steak.”

“Dick,” he mumbled under his breath. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming, Mr. Romance. Earbobs? Extreme affection? What the hell, man?”

He met Abby’s gaze as he passed, and his pulse jumped the way it always did around her.
Nope. Not
The End
, Abby Dunn. This is just the beginning.

Here’s a sneak peek at book 2 in the McCauley Brothers series,

How to Handle a Heartbreaker

They stared at each other, like dueling gunslingers waiting to see who would draw first. She’d be damned if she’d blink before he did. Despite his sheer size, drool-worthy body, and oh-my-God sex appeal, Abigail Dunn refused to budge on this issue. Her roommates might think she was one big pushover, but she knew better. It was time
he
did too.

After several tense moments in silence, Brody Singer rolled his eyes, then pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in defeat. “Okay. Jesus. You’re such a hard-ass. It’s not his fault, you know.”

“No. It’s
yours.
” She crossed her arms over her chest, doing her best not to turn pink when his gaze immediately followed the movement. And stayed there. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “My eyes are up here, Brody.” She pointed to her face.

He slowly lifted his gaze to her face but didn’t stop leering. Instead, the charming idiot wiggled his brows. “Beautiful. So…big. And so…brown.”

She wore a brown sweater today, so she couldn’t be sure if he referred to her breasts or her eyes. By the expression on his face, she was betting on the former. Anyone else talking to her like that would have received a kick in the teeth. But from Brody, she felt simultaneously irked and turned on.
So
not good.

“You know, you’re really very good looking.”

He looked puzzled that she’d compliment him, but as he started to smile, she added, “Too bad you ruin it the moment you open your mouth.”

He had the gall to laugh. “And the guys think you’re shy.”

Now she flushed. Dear Lord, did Mike and the others talk about her? Her neighbor, Mike McCauley, was the oldest of the four McCauley brothers, of which Brody had been unofficially adopted at a young age. She’d been dying to get the scoop on the whys and hows of his life, but asking would make it seem as if she wanted to know. And heaven help her if her roommates started on the sparks flaring between her and Brody again. Her head hurt just thinking about it.

Realizing he continued to stare in a way that made her all too aware of her now tingly girlie parts, she blurted, “I
am
shy.”

“Not with me you’re not.” And that pleased him for some stupid reason, because his grin grew wider.

Abby planted her hands on her hips and counted to ten in her head. In a calmer voice, she explained, “I don’t have time for this. I have to make my deadline by Halloween—in
five more days
. Get that mongrel out of our yard or else.”

“You won’t call the pound.” He didn’t seem to be taking her threat seriously.

Abby turned and stared out the back door of her kitchen, not surprised to see dog slobber and a furry face against the door pane. The smashed nose and tongue occasionally gave way to a gaping mouth of sharp teeth as Cujo tried to get more oxygen into his freakishly large body. “Pound? I was thinking National Guard. That thing is nearly as tall as I am.”

“But you’re short.”

“Petite.”

“Not with that rack,” he muttered.

“
What?
”

“Nothing.” He swallowed hard but to his credit kept his gaze above her neckline this time. “Look, I’m sorry. He
likes
you, Abby. Mutt just wanted to give you a token of his affection.”

“You mean the bone he buried in our backyard last week?
That
token?” She fumed, remembering the broken flower pots and her mauled garden beds. “I don’t know why I bother. This isn’t even my house. You want to piss off Beth and James, feel free. But when we move out, I’m getting my rent deposit back. If not from them, from you.”

He frowned. “You’re leaving? You guys just moved in eight months ago.”

She hadn’t realized he knew that. But considering their many connections, it shouldn’t have surprised her. “You’re spending too much time with Flynn and Maddie.” Maddie, her roommate and best friend, had found a real treasure in Flynn McCauley. Great for Maddie, not so great for Abby.

Flynn and Brody were best friends and business partners. Mike was her neighbor. And Abby, Maddie, and Vanessa—her other roommate—had been pseudo-adopted by the entire McCauley clan. Which meant seeing Brody on a regular basis. She could handle his aggravating attempts at charm, but her libido was making it really hard to remember all the reasons why she should give this man a wide berth.

Like now, when he wouldn’t stop staring at her.

“Cut it out.”

“What?”

Did he just step closer? She backed up and found herself against the door. Behind her, that mammoth of a dog whined.

“See? We like you, Abby.” Brody smiled, his amber eyes bright, like his golden hair, shining through the gloom of yet another bleak Seattle day.

She held up a hand and met his chest, doing her utmost to ignore the firm muscle under her palm. “Stay.” To her bemusement, he did. She did her best not to laugh hysterically at the comparison of man to dog. “I think I made myself clear. Your dog needs to stay at
your
place. He keeps getting out of Mike’s yard, and he’s already torn up my garden.”

“Garden?” Brody looked over her head through the door window. “You mean that dirt in a box? Anything out there was already dead, honey.”

“It was dormant and would have been perfect for springtime next year,
honey
, but Fenris out there already dug up my bulbs.”

“Hmm. Fenris.”

“Yeah, Fenris. Loki’s son? A demon dog who ends the world?”

He seemed to consider the name. “Catchy, but no. Doesn’t fit him. Guess we’ll stick with Mutt for now.”

She gritted her teeth. “I don’t care what you name your dog. Just get him
out
. Of. My. Yard!”

She stormed past him in a whirl of anger, frustrated lust, and hopelessness that she’d be able to concentrate on writing her story now that Mr. Wrong had shown his pretty face to distract her again. Bad enough she saw him in her dreams or when he tagged along with Flynn. But now he invaded her working hours.

“Oh. You stupid muse.” The damn thing needed to get laid. Then maybe it would stop painting her hero with Brody’s face and smile.
Riiight. It’s your muse that’s been celibate for a year. Not you, oh she of the wide ass, freakish desires, and air of desperation…
Kevin’s words were never far from her mind, and at that moment, she hated him and Brody equally. Kevin had been a jerk, but Brody made her wish for things she’d never have. She paused in the hallway at the doorway to her office.

The front door opened, and Maddie entered with Flynn on her heels. “Hey, Abby, what—”

Abby pointed at Flynn. “This is your fault. Take care of
that
…” she thumbed at the noise behind her “…or I will.” She seethed as she closed herself in her study—what she used to think of as her sanctuary—and did her best to ignore Brody’s low voice and the happy barking no doubt forecasting a mess in the kitchen.

At the thought that Vanessa would soon be returning, Abby smiled with evil glee. The blond dictator would take care of it. She’d take care of
everything
. “Now if only she could type…”