style="font-size:15px;"> Done with her up, down and sideways analysis of his fine self, she smiled. “Hi there.”
Dressed in loose athletic pants, running shoes and a snug-fitting T-shirt, he asked, “Did you need some help?”
She needed all kinds of things...
He nodded to the plant.
Forgetting all about Jason and her plan, Lexie quickly agreed. “Yes. Please. Thank you.”
His polite expression never faltered—unlike her pulse.
Inhaling, Lexie looked him over again. Straight black hair, neatly trimmed but not overly styled. A firm mouth, strong jaw and those incendiary eyes. A lean, tall, finely honed body. “Where did you come from?”
“I live across the street.”
He could’ve said heaven and she would have believed him.
Wearing a quizzical frown, he glanced at Honor’s house. “I take it you’re my new neighbor?”
Oh, she wished. It’d be worth giving up her very nice downtown apartment overlooking the river. The views around Honor’s house were definitely better.
“My best friend is, actually.” Belatedly she held out a hand. “I’m Lexie Perkins.”
“Sullivan Dean.” He carefully took her hand, his touch gentle and somehow more familiar because of it. “It’s nice to meet you, Lexie.”
Liking the sound of her name on his lips, she tried to hold on to him, but other than a long look, he didn’t play along. Bummer.
From behind her, Jason said, “Hey, Lexie.”
She turned—and couldn’t help looking Jason over, too. Honor had struck gold with her location.
And to think she’d once considered the neighborhood old and stuffy.
“Jason, just the guy I was hoping to see.”
Wearing his intense, enigmatic expression and not wearing a shirt, Jason shifted his gaze to Sullivan.
Oh, crap. Lexie definitely didn’t want Sullivan—please let him be available—to get the wrong idea. She had zero carnal interest in Jason...especially since Honor had already staked a claim, even if Honor didn’t realize it and would never admit it.
To clear up any misconceptions, she explained, “I was going to ask you to carry in the plant I got for Honor. It’s a housewarming gift. But it’s a monster. No way can I get it up to her porch and in the house on my own.”
Once she got Jason inside, maybe she could convince him to stay. If he got to know Honor, if he understood why she forced the issue of independence, Lexie felt sure he’d adore her as much as she did.
Things didn’t go quite right when Sullivan stepped forward. “I’ve got it.” In a beautiful display of muscles and fluid strength, he lifted the plant as if it were a bag of sugar. “Where to?”
Oh, those glorious biceps...
While Lexie quickly considered the twist to her plans, Honor pulled up. Exhaustion gave way to confusion as she hurriedly left her car and trotted toward them. “Lexie? What did you do? What’s going on?”
Sullivan stared at Honor, smiled slightly and said, “I see. Now it makes more sense.”
Jason shot him a look but quickly returned his attention to Honor.
Lexie had no idea what that odd exchange meant, and with so much accusation in Honor’s tone, she couldn’t figure it out right now. Given half a chance, Honor would send them all packing.
Her friend didn’t like gifts any more than she liked help.
“Surprise!” Unwilling to let Honor put a damper on things, Lexie grabbed her hand and started hauling her toward the house. “Come on. Sullivan’s carrying your housewarming plant for me and I don’t want to test his goodwill. It weighs a ton.”
“Sullivan?” Honor asked.
“Your smoking-hot neighbor from across the street.”
Honor glanced back at him. So did Lexie.
Amused by the praise, Sullivan smiled at them both. “Hello.”
Honor swallowed. “Hi.”
Jason said nothing. He just watched Honor with near-predatory intent.
Lexie understood his expression, though it clearly went straight over Honor’s head.
Pleased with things so far, Lexie continued to rush Honor until she got the door unlocked. Lexie stood back to hold the door open and Sullivan carried in the plant, bending his knees as he went over the threshold to keep from damaging the top leaves.
Jason still stood in the driveway.
Cocking out a hip, Lexie shook her head and said, “Come on, slowpoke. We might need your help. And even if we don’t, you’re the reason I’m here, so—”
“Lexie.”
As Honor’s fretful voice emerged from the house, Jason grinned and ambled up the drive to join them. Sweat gleamed on his naked shoulders, and muscles flexed in his thighs.
She understood exactly how he so easily flustered Honor. Most women would react the same.
Until he came in, Lexie hadn’t yet looked around, but as soon as he cleared the doorway she did, and it blew her away. Honor had arranged everything so that the small room felt more spacious. Fresh paint on the walls brightened things and even her makeshift sheet curtains looked smooth and crisp and coordinated.
Lexie turned a complete circle before saying, “Wow. You’ve been a busy girl, Honor. It looks great.”
Jason nodded his agreement. “The colors are really nice.”
“Thank you.” The praise took some of the tension from Honor’s shoulders. “I like a lot of color, so I researched what would be right for this type of home. I wanted to stay true to the Cape Cod style.”
“Perfect choices. It looks terrific.”
She smiled with relief, then touched one leaf of the plant. “You shouldn’t have, Lex.”
Knowing it wasn’t the problem, Lexie said, “If you don’t like it, I can take it back and pick you out another.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“It fits okay? Not too big?”
“It’s perfect.” She turned to Sullivan. “Thank you for carrying it in.”
“Carrying in a plant was as good an excuse as any to meet you.” He held out his hand. “Sullivan Dean. I live across the street from you.”
Smiling, Honor indulged the requisite
