“That was totally unexpected,” I murmured to myself, as I stared at the closed door.

The heat of her body was gone, but I could still taste the sweetness of her lips on my tongue. Her smell lingered on my shirt, flooding my senses. My cock was rock hard and aching, and my whole body burned with a raw need to slide my hand under the skirt and touch her smooth skin again. The urge to follow her to her place and finish what she started was shocking.

Wait a second…what the hell was I thinking?

The last thing in the world I needed was to fuck my neighbor. Dear God, imagine that kind of complication. No, just no. Even the idea should give me the creeps. My style was hit and run.

My antenna went up from the first moment I saw her a year ago. I knew she was trouble, and that was why I gave her a wide berth. I just didn’t know how much trouble until a few minutes ago. Damn it to hell. Why did she have to lock herself out tonight?

I exhaled. What I needed was a stiff drink.

My favorite bottle of Scotch waited on the bar cart. The first sip helped me to herd my primitive thoughts back to reality.

There was no room for relationships or commitments in my life right now. I needed to focus on business. A woman like that would be pure distraction. The kind of distraction that could drive a man crazy. I had enough on my plate. The line had to be drawn right now. She was off limits. Absolutely, no more contact with her.

The second sip helped me remember I was living in a city with an endless supply of willing women. So, he was sexy and maddeningly cute with the goddamn most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen, but she was not irreplaceable. No one was. What I needed was more women like the one I had last night. Women who didn’t make me want more than just one night with them.

I wondered uncomfortably what made me tell her about the soccer game. I’d never told anyone that story. She must be the sort of person who effortlessly tricked you into opening up and spilling cringeworthy memories.

All I had to do was keep away from her. She wouldn’t be here long. She was fighting a losing battle. I knew how these things worked. The offers were going to get crazier and crazier, and one day her magic number would come up, and she would be gone just like the rest of the people in the building. It was only a matter of time. Once she was gone I’d never see her again.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out and frowned when I saw who it was. Rule Number One: Never give your phone number to random hook-ups. Bridget was too foxy for that though. She knew my family so she hunted my mother down and tricked her with the “I left my Grandmother’s earrings at his place” story. My unsuspecting mother gave her my number. Rule Number Two: Do not sleep with people who know your family.

“Hi, Bridget.”

“Hi!” she squealed enthusiastically. That took care of my erection. Thanks, Bridget.

“I’m busy,” I said, looking around my empty apartment. “Do you need something?”

She didn’t even pause. “You. I need you,” she purred.

I died a little inside. We’d had fun. Why did there have to be more than that? “I don’t want to be a dick, Bridget, but we’ve had this talk before.”

“I know, but there’s nothing saying we can’t have fun again, is there?” Her voice was low. She thought she was being seductive. If she knew how many times I’d heard that line, she’d cry herself to sleep.

“Actually, yes, there is. It won’t be fun for me.”

“Oh! Stop being so mean, Maximus.” I hate women who call me Maximus. I could imagine her sitting in her apartment on the other side of town, pouting while twirling a lock of her blonde hair around one finger, trying to figure out how to trap me.

“I don’t want to be an asshole, but you keep putting me in a position where I have to be.”

“Don’t get mad at me.” Her voice broke on a sob.

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Women. They were all fucking nuts. I took a deep breath. “I’m not mad,” I said as calmly as I could. “You’re a beautiful girl. You have a lot to offer. There’s gotta be a lot of guys out there who would be thrilled to have you.”

I poured a second drink. It was just that kind of night.

“But I want you, Max. You’re the only guy who ever made me come like that.” She gave a girlish giggle.

I smelled bullshit but kept my thoughts to myself. “That’s a nice compliment.” I walked to the bedroom, drink in hand, sat on the bed and took off my shoes. I was supposed to meet up with friends for dinner, but I missed it while waiting for the Super to get here. I guess I was in for the night—the way my luck was running, I’d end up getting an anvil dropped on me.

“It’s the truth,” she insisted.

“I believe you,” I lied, putting my shoes away. I liked order, tidiness. In all areas of my life.

“So, why do you keep pushing me away?”

I really didn’t need this hassle. I made a mental note to remind my naïve mother never to give my phone number to any woman again even if they claimed to have left their entire jewelry collection in my bedroom.

“I’m not pushing you away. I’m just letting you know again how it is. I enjoyed my time with you, but as I told you before, I’m not in the market for anything but casual sex,” I said wearily.

“I was just hoping you would change your mind, I guess.”

“I’m sorry, Bridget.”

“Just give me a chance?” She needn’t have bothered. She didn’t have a chance in hell. The term one-timer was invented for women like her. She was jealous, clingy, needy, and stupid. Now, the sex-bomb next door. She was a whole different story. That’s the kind of women you want to make memories with. Christ, I need to stop thinking about her.

“Look-,” I began.

“Please,” she begged.

I felt like an ass, and I didn’t like feeling like an ass. No, it wasn’t my fault she couldn’t let it go. Damn my mother and her bleeding heart. “You should consider yourself lucky that you’re not in a relationship with me. I’m a dick. I’m always working. I don’t remember birthdays or anniversaries. I even forgot Christmas last year.”

“I’m sorry for you,” she blurted out.

“What?” I almost dropped my drink on the floor.

“I said, I’m sorry for you,” she yelled furiously. For the first time since I met her, she sounded like a real person instead of a wannabe Marilyn Monroe. “I’m a nice person, and I have a lot to offer, but you won’t let me into your life. I bet you meet a lot of nice girls. You’ve, um, met at least two of my friends. And that’s just recently.”

I grimaced. Women talked too much.

“You have all these bullshit excuses for why all you can do is hook up and move on. You’ll never know what a good person I am.”

I got undressed. “I really am very busy.”

“Oh, I know you’re very busy. You’re a big deal.” The sarcasm dripped from her voice.

This was getting boring. I would give one last try for our families’ sake. “You wouldn’t be happy with me, Bridget. I wasn’t kidding when I said that. It’s not just a line.”

“You can’t be happy, either. Nobody’s happy when the closest relationship in their life is with their assistant.”

“Right well. Thanks for calling.” I had to hang up then, or else I would have said something to really piss her off. “Sorry, mother,” I muttered and blocked her number.

I walked back into the sitting room and dropped down on the sofa. I picked up the remote and thought of Mimi asking me how much the TV cost and grinned to myself.

It was strange sitting there alone when I knew she was on the other side of the floor. All I had to do was go over there and knock on the door and I could have her. Then again, there was a good chance she was puking her guts up by now. Not sexy.

I thought about the jackass who’d cheated on her. She didn’t know it, but that was a lucky escape. I raised my glass in a silent toast to the chicken shit, whoever he was for dropping her. He deserved to be tied down with a screaming brat. Idiot.

I watched some TV, but I was distracted. I couldn’t stop thinking about the chick next door. How unfortunate that she was my neighbor. Restless, I roamed my apartment. I even thought about visiting my favorite lounge, I didn’t have the heart to get dressed and go out again. Finally, I decided to turn in early. Definitely not the way I usually spent a Monday, or any night.

As I leaned over in my king size bed to turn off the bedside lamp, something funny happened. I remembered that only a wall separated me from the beauty next door and it gave me an instant erection. Her mouth was so soft and voluptuous. And that amazing ass. Round and full and…

Stop it, Max. Stop it.

I was wired and wide awake. I closed my eyes and forced myself to think of something else. With any luck, I wouldn’t see her again.