Love At First Fight: My Next Door Neighbour

e's

the gentle sound of kitchen activity. For a moment, panic s

and spices. We'd talked until dawn, curled up on his oversized couch, mugs of

ant to fall

study in organized chaos – cookbooks stacked by cuisine type, a wall covered in photos of smiling p

is distinctive scrawl: "Gordon Ramse

anied by what sounded like... singing? I crept closer, d

ng to something playing through his earbuds. The morning sun caught the silver at h

oast, his movements confident and grace

ing around, "for a mystery write

eks. "How long have y

woke up." He glanced over his shoulde

om in my chest. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly very a

" I said reluctantly.

ay for breakfast. I'm making Elena's special French toast, and I happen to know

protest, then close

muttered. "Using fo

ftened. "Is

jump. Zane squeezed my shoulder reassuringly as h

. "She always shows up when I'm making Elena's

intage kimono and jangling bangles, her purple-tinted hair n

and obvious overnight attire. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows shot u

id quickly. At the same time, Z

hough I do have several thoughts about our resident novelist wearing yesterd

I insisted.

screen. "Just talking. All night. Alone. In his apartment.

e grumbled, sliding a plate o

en he sees it." Ruby snapped a picture of her breakfast. "My followe

note I hadn't heard before. "No post

She turned to me. "I forget sometimes that not everyone wan

me relax slightly. "It's okay. I just..

te in front of me that made my mouth water, "ho

ing up here last night and wanted to make sure, and I

first bite. "Mrs. Ga

nce novel you two are living." Ruby stole a piece of bacon from Zane

and I said si

arkled with mischief. "Fine, fine. I'll behave. But

e drawled from the doorway. "Whe

r for this hour in pressed slacks and a cashmere

our last encounter – the one containing all the

last night," Ruby shot back.

The easy banter between them made something in my chest ache.

pulled it out. "Sit, Marcus. Join our little breakfast club.

tested. "I just... strongl

accepting a plate from

e with an intensity that made my pulse qui

want to climb him like a tree,'

eat flood

d warm. "Leave her alone, or she'll writ

e me a glamorous murder victim. Something drama

espite the unexpected audience. There was something about this mismatche

zed with an incomi

ck in. My sister's face flashed on the scree

d, standing abruptly. "And

ssed, his touch gentle but g

"Yeah, just... sister stuff. Thank you for br

't say. "Anytime, querida. Your noise

but I was too focused on the way Zane's thum

zzed again,

e back tonight? Elena's teaching

y. Part of me wanted to run – back to my quiet apa

of his lips, the warmth of his laugh,

y. "But only because I ne

than the morning sun. "Sure, qu

ed through the door: "Ten buc

tion later, wrapped in the lingering scent of vanilla

y thing of Zane's I was