Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Legend growls and his jaw locks tight as he looks across his yard into the next. There’s a variety of shrubs and trees separating the lots but I can see someone through the branches moving around on the other side—presumably the hot little neighbor of his I saw on Halloween night.
To my shock, she starts singing loudly right along with the song.
“Christ, that woman is batshit crazy,” Legend says with a frown. He turns around and starts jabbing his shovel into the ground with vigor.
“The flamingo lady,” I tease as I can make out her form on the other side. I can see her short dark hair and that she’s wearing a pair of white shorts that ride up pretty high. It’s hot today and she’s dancing around her yard with a water hose, soaking various pots full of flowers that she has about.
“She’s the worst neighbor in the world,” Legend grumbles as he takes a moment to look over at her. She moves deeper into the yard to where the shrubs dividing the lots are thinner. Dax gives a low whistle of appreciation when we see she’s wearing a skimpy bathing-suit top.
One of the perks of November in Phoenix.
“Dude,” Dax says in a low voice. “She’s fucking hot.”
“She’s crazy,” Legend insists as he turns away again. “Have you seen the front of her house? It looks like fucking Disney World with all the yard ornaments she has. And she plays stupid music really loud. And any time I dare to complain to her, she plants plastic flamingos along my driveway.”
“Maybe you should try being nicer,” Bishop suggests.
“Yeah, take her out to a nice dinner and ask sweetly,” I add on with an evil grin.
“Bring her home and give her lots of orgasms,” Dax offers. “She’ll do whatever you ask.”
“I’ve filed an official complaint with the homeowner’s association,” Legend clips out.
“That’ll show her,” Dax mutters under his breath.
“What does she do for a living?” I ask Legend, more than a bit curious about the quirky neighbor who has managed to rile up what is otherwise a pretty laid-back and amiable guy. Legend likes and gets along with everyone.
“No fucking clue and don’t care to know,” he growls and turns once more to glare at her.
Well, that’s just a little too vehement in my opinion. He’s protesting interest in her just a little too loudly.
The woman is still dancing around the yard and now singing at the top of her lungs, wiggling her hips and shaking her ass. She skips and twirls in between pots of plants and we all just watch her in fascination.
She whirls toward a pot that sits right along the border of the two properties, holds the garden hose over it and gives it a good dousing while she sings, Oh girls just wanna have fun.
Before she turns to dance away to the next plant, her eyes sweep across Legend’s yard where they catch us gawking at her. She doesn’t even have a moment’s embarrassment and shoots us all a cheeky grin. “Well, hello boys. Sorry if I disturbed you.”
“Of course, you didn’t,” I call back to her as I stand up from the ground and rip my gloves off. I walk over to the edge of the yard and hold my hand out to her. “I’m Erik Dalhbeck.”
She gives my hand a hearty shake while water continues to pour all over her yard. She nods at me with recognition. “Premiere defenseman and elite enforcer for the Vengeance. Big fan. Nice to meet you.”
“You’re a hockey fan,” I say with surprise.
“Yup,” is all she says before dropping her hose and walking past me toward the other guys. I consider walking over to the spigot and turning it off for her but then change my mind. I don’t want to miss any possible confrontation with Legend.
The woman walks up to Dax and shakes his hand, calling him by name. “You’re Dax Monahan.”
She turns to Bishop and does the same. “And you’re Bishop Scott.”
“And you are?” he asks her in return.
She slaps her palm to her forehead. “Gosh, I’m a ditz. Sorry. My name’s Pepper. I live next door.”
“I saw you putting pink flamingos out on Halloween night,” I say as my eyes dart over to Legend who is glaring at his ostentatious neighbor.
“Just trying to loosen Legend up,” she snorts and throws a thumb at him. “But sadly, that seems to be a failing mission.”
“You could start by getting rid of all that gaudy trash in your front yard,” Legend sneers.
Pepper doesn’t seem to take offense. “Sorry. I like it.”
Legend’s face turns beet red and I wonder if he might stroke out. I’ve never seen him this angry before and it fascinates me. I turn back to Pepper. “So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m an author,” she says with grin. “I write and illustrate children’s books. You heard of The Grand Adventures of Penelope and Bert?”