Thirty minutes later, Maddie plopped down onto the porch swing beside me. “Lord have mercy, I’m stuffed.” She hiccupped. I feel like I’m going to explode.”

I chuckled and reached over to rub her belly. “I don’t imagine there’s much space left in there for food. Silly baby is taking up all the room.”

Maddie smiled, and my chest warmed. “Only seven weeks to go.”

I nudged her with my elbow. “And only a couple of weeks until you get hitched. Speaking of—” I pointed at Hendrix “—you sure you want to marry him? I mean eww.”

When Hendrix scowled in my direction, I blew him a kiss and batted my eyes.

Maddie laughed at us both. “Yeah, I think I’m gonna keep him.”

I tapped my fingers on top my thighs and nudged her with my arm. “I don’t blame you. You know I think he’s great, right? I know I give him shit all the time, but it’s only because I like him.”

“He likes you too.” Maddie entwined her fingers with mine. “It’s why he pesters you so much. If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t even talk to you.”

That was the truth, and I knew it.

A smidgen of relief washed over me.

I didn’t care what people thought of me, but I cared about Hendrix’s opinion because he was about to marry my best friend. If he hated me, then I knew it’d stress her out, and that’s the last thing I wanted. Maddie was a beautiful person, and one of the best people I knew. She deserved nothing less than pure happiness.

“Soooo…” Maddie nodded towards the house across the street. “Have you seen the new neighbors yet? Grandmama said somebody moved in a few weeks ago, but she doesn’t know who they are yet.”

I looked at the colonial style home I’d dubbed my dream house the first time I saw it. It was a blue two story with a wraparound porch and a towering oak tree in the front yard which was perfect for a tire swing. The backyard was huge, level, and fenced. Azaleas and knockout rose bushes lined the porch and driveway making the home look like something straight out of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

It was one of the most beautiful houses I’d ever seen.

Too bad I couldn’t afford it.

Maybe one day, I thought as I stared at the property with longing.

“Has Grandmama or Keith not gone over there yet?” I looked back at Maddie. “What about Pop?” Pop lived in the house next door to Grandmama and Keith. It’s how Maddie and Hendrix met. They’d been neighbors and best friends since they were little kids.

“All three of them have,” Maddie replied, picking at a piece of lint on her shirt, “but whoever lives there is never home.”

“They don’t have any kids?”

Maddie shook her head. “Not as far as anybody can tell.”

How weird. Why would someone buy a house like that if they didn’t have kids? The place was meant for a large family. I couldn’t be sure, but I was fairly sure it had four, if not five, bedrooms.

“Maddie!” Hendrix yelled. “Time to go, pretty girl. I’ve got to be at the fire station to sign in for my shift within an hour.” He worked at station 24 in Toluca as a full-time firefighter. Pop also worked there as Hendrix’s captain. Coincidentally, Keith worked at Station 41 in Kissler as a fire captain too.

Maddie grabbed my hand again. “Help me up, blondie. I’ve become a beached whale. I can’t even get up by myself anymore.”

Standing, I turned around, wrapped my arms around Maddie’s waist and pulled her up. “Thanks, honey.”

Hendrix, who had been standing in the front yard pushing Lucca on a toddler swing, jogged up the steps with my little man in his arms. “You didn’t have to do that. I was coming to get her.”

I thumped his shoulder before taking Lucca from him. “You gotta be faster than that around here, behemoth.” I kissed my baby’s forehead and buried my face in his curly hair. “Ain’t nobody got time to be waiting around for you, slowpoke.”

Rolling his eyes, he bent down and scooped Maddie up in his arms. “Call me when you get home, Shelby, so I know you made it all right,” Maddie said as she snuggled against Hendrix’s chest.

“I will.” I blew her a kiss as he carried her away. “Love you, sugar.”

She blew a kiss right back. “Love you too, crazy.”

I chuckled at the familiar words.

“You ready to go?” I asked Lucca a few minutes later when Maddie and Hendrix were gone. Besides Pop and Keith, we were the only two left from supper. Hope and Evan split right after they got done eating.

Lucca nodded once. “Des, Ma-ma!”

My heart swelled every time he called me Mama. “Alright, let’s get outta here.”

Grandmama stepped outside just as we were about to descend the steps. “Hold on, Shelby, I’ve got something to give—” 

Her gaze darted over my shoulder, and her eyes widened. “Oh sweet baby, Jesus,” she mumbled before pushing her glasses up her nose and moving around me. “Please tell me that’s the new neighbor.”

Huh?

I turned around, and my eyes searched for whatever—or whoever—she was gawking at. “Who are you talking about—”

My words were cut off when I saw him.

Anthony…

Wearing no shirt, his shiny skin drenched with sweat; he jogged up the sidewalk, a bottle of water in hand. The defined muscles in his chest and abs contracted with each step he took making me go weak in the knees. My heat-filled gaze raked over every inch of his perfect body, taking him in from head to toe. Swear to God, my ovaries nearly combusted when I caught sight of the tapered V that disappeared beneath the waistband of his shorts.

“Holy… Shit.”

Grandmama nodded, mouth still gaping. “Sounds about right.”

I hopped down the steps. “I can’t believe he’s here,” I whispered in shock. 

Grandmama moved to stand beside me. “Who is he?” Realization struck her. “Oooh! Is this the guy from the diner that Hendrix was talking about?”

I nodded in response. “Yeah, that’s Anthony.”

She wiped her mouth with the hanky she’d whipped out.

Is she drooling? 

“I tell you what, that man is so delicious I could eat him with a spoon.” She sucked in a breath. “It should be a sin to look that sexy.”

Shocked as hell at her words, my eyes almost bulged out of my head. “Grandmama!” 

Her gaze snapped to meet mine. “What? I may be old but I ain’t dead yet.” She looked back at Anthony who still hadn’t spotted us. “There’s still a lot of tread left on these old tires,” she cooed, running her hand down her side in a flirty manner.

Um… That’s just … gross. 

To say I was mortified would be the understatement of the century.

Keith, who walked up and stood by my side, looked more horrified than me. “Jesus, Mama! Nobody wants to hear that.”

She waved her hand at him in a dismissive gesture. “Shut up, you big dummy. Wasn’t nobody talking to you.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Keith snapped something back at her. What he said, though, I didn’t know. My attention was focused solely on Anthony, not on the bickering knuckleheads surrounding me.

When Anthony stopped to check the mail at the house across the street, I sucked in a breath. He was the new neighbor, the one who’d bought my dream house.

You gotta be shitting me.

Before I had time to talk myself out of it, my feet began to move.

“Shelby!” Pop called out my name from the end of his driveway where he stood. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer him.

Grandmama, however, hollered, “Shut up, James. She needs to do this.”

I had no clue what she meant by that. 

Carrying Lucca on my hip, I hoofed it down the driveway and across the street.

The moment I stepped foot in Anthony’s driveway, he turned around.

His face brightened, and that heart-stopping smile of his appeared when he saw me headed straight for him. “Shelby,” he said in that silky voice that made my toes curl in my boots, “to what do I owe this unexpected, yet welcome, visit?”

Breathe, Shelby. Just fricken breathe!

“Oh, you know; I was just in the neighborhood and saw you outside, so I thought I’d stop by and say howdy.” I turned and glanced back at Grandmama’s house. All three stooges were staring at us. Keith looked half a second away from running back in the house and grabbing a bag of popcorn. “See that yellow house over there?” He nodded. “Well, it belongs to Grandmama. She’s, uh, sort of my grandmother.”

His brows furrowed. “Sort of?”

I sucked in a much-needed breath. “She’s actually Maddie’s grandmother, but she’s pretty much adopted Lucca and me.” Heart pounding, I moved a step closer. His unique scent tickled the tip of my nose and, I swear to God, I felt my legs shake a bit.

Lord, he smells good!

“Looks like you’re her new neighbor.” I pointed towards his house. “Unless you’re just visiting somebody.”

Tucking his mail under his arm, he shoved his hands in the pocket of his running shorts. My eyes trailed down his broad chest and over his taut abs to the black fabric that covered his muscular thighs.

Perfect; he was fricken perfect.

“No, sunshine,” he replied, “I’m not visiting anyone. I moved in about a month ago.”

My gaze snapped up at the term of endearment. “Why did you call me that?” I paused and quirked my head to the side. 

“One day...” His voice was low, sweet. “One day I’ll tell you. But not today, sweetheart.”

Hmm.

Shuffling a silent Lucca up higher onto my hip, I leaned forward. “Why not?” My nosy self asked. “What’s the big secret?”

“Trust me; you’re not ready.” 

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Completely flabbergasted, I shook my head back and forth. “Whatever you say, stud muffin.” Lucca started to whine. After all the pie he ate, I doubted he’d be able to stay awake much longer.

 “Well”—I nodded down at my little man—“I guess it’s best if I get going. I’ve got to work tomorrow, and we have to be up early in the morning.” I took a step back. “It was nice seeing you again, Detective Moretti.” 

I turned around and started to walk away. 

However, I didn’t make it far. 

Out of nowhere, two strong—albeit sweaty—arms circled my waist from behind. I stopped mid-stride and gasped. Fear momentarily took hold of me as I waited for the panic and terror to appear. Neither did.

His touch didn’t cause my stomach to roll or my lungs to seize. 

The feel of his body pressed against mine didn’t cause the darkness to rise.

I didn’t understand it.

Anthony’s hot breath bellowed over my ear as he whispered, “Not even going to give me a chance to say goodbye, sunshine? That’s just cold, baby.” 

Baby… baby? 

I damn near hyperventilated on the spot. Remaining silent, I held my breath as Anthony’s head dipped forward and his lips met the top of my bare left shoulder in a soft kiss. My flesh burned from the contact, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

Oh, dear, sweet baby Jesus. 

“Anthony,” I whispered as I turned my face to the left. My nose rubbed against the apple of his cheek and I sucked in a shocked breath. Almost involuntarily, I leaned back an inch. My shoulder blades pressed into his rock-hard chest, and I bit my lip to keep from whimpering. “What are you doing?” 

He pressed a second kiss to my shoulder. “Just telling my girl goodbye.” 

For the second time that night, words failed me. 

Him rendering me speechless was getting to be a problem. 

After what felt like forever, he took a step back. “Better get home, Shelby. I don’t want you to be tired in the morning when you’re driving to work.” His voice was commanding, authoritative. “Walk, baby. Now.” 

Unable to ignore him, I started to move towards my truck. I didn’t look back—not once—but Lucca stared at Anthony over my shoulder.  

“Bye, little man. Take care of your mama for me,” Anthony called out as we reached my truck that was still parked in Grandmama’s driveway. “I’ll see you later, piccolo principe.”

Lifting a hand, Lucca waved in Anthony’s direction. “Buh-bye.” 

It’s a miracle I didn’t melt into a puddle of goo on the spot.