A/N: Hey guys, I decided to republish my story in the regular format that I've been seeing on Wattpad so maybe it will be easier to read. I hope you guys enjoy it. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT, SHARE, AND FOLLOW.
xoxo Alayna
Elle
Knock, Knock, Knock
I walk to the door and look out the peephole to see who the hell interrupted my soak after my long day at work. I was part owner of a restaurant downtown and I loved it, I really did. But I swear people kept testing my patience. The waitress, Cam, literally dropped every dish she touched. So, I sent her home. The big spender at table 3 whined about everything that was sent to his table from his napkin to the bottle of wine he ordered then didn't want to pay for. Sheridan was the town I settled in about 5 years ago. It wasn't huge or super small; it was just right.
Now, after a long day, I'm in the tub relaxing. Or I was until I hear the doorbell 20 minutes after I get settled in my bath.
Before I even get to see who's there I hear my best friends Claire and Shay's voices through the door yelling at me to open up.
I open the door with my favorite greeting for my favorite people.
"Hey, bitches! You know you ruined my bath?"
"Put some damn clothes on." Shay laughs and rolls her eyes strolling through the door with Claire behind her.
We started these Friday night dinners a couple years ago when we became too busy to check in with each other. It started off as every couple of weeks then eventually led to every Friday. We all take turns cooking, or ordering in (Shay's specialty), and catching up on our lives.
"And not just a t-shirt and panties. We're tired of seeing your ass!" Claire chimes as I walked back into my room to put on a t-shirt and bottoms.
" Don't worry about my ass. But, you, Claire," I turn pointing to her " need to worry about those damn waiters."
Then I proceed to tell her all about my day in Hell. Today was supposed to be a regular day before the dinner rush. Instead of the calm before the storm, all I got was the storm. Three new waiters were hired and after their training I figured all would be fine. Oh, was I wrong. I tell Claire about our mixed up shipments of supplies and our clumsy new waiter who gave me a headache just thinking about the bill we would foot for new dishes. When I finish I head back to my room to dress for dinner.
"White wine this time, remember what happened the last time we cracked open a red." I yell as I walk through the front room of my house. The last time we drank red wine together we all ended up in our bras and panties at Claire's house. None of us could remember what happened or how we got there or even where our clothes were. So hence why I remind them every single time we hang out that red wine equals bad decisions.
After dressing in a t-shirt and shorts, I look around to see where the girls are. They aren't in the living room so I walk past the couch and head to the kitchen when I hear giggling. The sound stops me in my tracks because these bitches don't giggle, then I hear another voice. A man's voice, a deep sexy raspy man's voice.
Not wanting to disturb their little giggle fest with the mysterious man, I peek around the corner to see if I need to go change. I catch a glimpse of the sexy voiced stranger and HELL YES I need to change! He's tall about 6'2", tan skin, unruly hair, a lean but muscular body, and he has a beautiful set of pearly whites he's flashing at Shay and Claire.
Ugh! Why tonight of all nights? I slip back to my room unnoticed and I change into my black leggings but keep the t-shirt because it shows just enough cleavage so he'll notice it but not enough to be slutty. I complete my "laid back" look by pulling my shoulder-length curly hair into a bun on the top of my head. After giving myself a once over in the mirror, I make my way back to the kitchen.
"Who is this?" I ask trying to be as casual as possible while walking into the kitchen, extending a hand to the stranger when everyone turns their attention to me.
"Brice Adams, I just moved in across the street," he smiled and tilted his head ever so slightly. He reaches his hand out to shake mine while making eye contact.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Elle. So when'd you move in?" I managed to say as I was being mesmerized by his eyes.
"About 2 weeks ago. I was going to stop by the other day and introduce myself but I was walking up to the front door and saw you were in the middle of a very intense dance party so, I decided not to interrupt. It was quite entertaining," he chuckles.
My cheeks heat against my caramel brown skin from shock and embarrassment that I actually got caught dancing alone in my living room. Oh shit, I realized at this exact moment that if he saw my little dance party he saw me in my panties! Oh god, I'll never live this down. But when I remember how good I look in my panties I suddenly realize I don't care as much as I should.
"Let's never speak of this again please" I groan inwardly.
"No let's keep speaking of it" Claire yells "We knew you had dance parties without us and you denied it every time we asked. Now we have a witness!"
Shay is just sitting at my island breakfast bar laughing so hard she's almost in tears.
"Dear God look what you started." I moan and make my way to the pantry to grab the ingredients for dinner.
"Which one of you brought wine?" I ask hoping they had one open and ready for me to guzzle down after the day I had.
"Actually I did." Brice says and we all turn and look at him in astonishment.
"What," he says as if he doesn't know the words are almost-like heaven to all our ears.
"You're amazing." Shay and Claire say excitedly in unison.
"What?" he asks again confused.
"You're the first man that's ever been over here on our girl's night. And the only man besides my dad whose brought me, well us, wine." I state matter of factly.
"Really?" he said with a bewildered tone.
"Yes, we don't kid about wine" Shay says.
"Does that mean I get to stay for dinner" he cocks a brow at me in question
"Only if we get dirt on you" Claire sing-songs.
"What kind of dirt?" Brice questions.
"How about we play the question game, we get dirt and so do you" Shay encourages.
"Ok buddy, here's how it works," Shay explains without giving Brice a chance to answer. "We ask the questions you answer. For every question you answer you can ask one of us a question. For everyone you don't answer we do shots."
"Alright bring it on." Brice says confidently.
He has no idea what he just signed up for. They asked him about everything from his mother to his sexual preferences. God these girls are nosy. He was a trooper and answered every single question. After about thirty minutes of interrogating him dinner was ready.
"Come and get it!" I announce from the doorway of the kitchen. When I turn to walk back inside the kitchen to grab the green beans Brice catches my arm making me turn back to him.
"You saved me back there. I'm pretty sure the next question they were going to ask was about the size of my penis." Brice said in a relieved sigh.
"Then it seems you owe me." I let out a flirty chuckle.
"I guess I do. What do you want in return for your heroics?" he says sarcastically.
"Hmmm" I say with my index finger on my chin pretending to think about his question "I'll collect later when I decide on a suitable payment." I joked handing him the bowl of green beans I went to retrieve.
We go to the dining room and begin to eat. The wine was flowing as freely as the conversation was. We laughed and talked about past relationships, funny mishaps, and a little bit of politics. The night was great. And by the end of it the girls were drunker than a hillbilly at a hoedown. Thank God when I built this house I put in four extra bedrooms for nights like this. After tucking in the drinking beauties, I headed to the kitchen to clean up the mess from our dinner.
I walk into the kitchen to find Brice loading my dishwasher. My heart almost melts. No man and I mean not even my dad has even attempted to help me clean. I think I might be wet from the sight of this man feeling this at home in my kitchen. And he's fucking humming too! I quickly snap out of my daydream and interrupt his little maid act before it goes too far.
"Hey I can do that" I say approaching his back. His big strong muscular back, what would happen if I touched him right now? Focus horny pants, dishes now!
"It's the least I can do after that delicious meal," he continues to put the dishes away as he speaks.
"I've got it. I have a specific way I do it," grazing his hand as I reach for a plate in the sink.
As I begin to arrange the dishes in my special way he just stands there observing me. Once I'm done with the dishes and wiping the counter tops and island off, Brice finally speaks again.
"Well I should be getting home it's late."
"Alright I'll walk you to the door," I say walking toward the living room. I can feel his eyes watching me like a predator as we head to the door. We reach the door and say our goodbyes. We both reach for the door and our hands brush. The contact sends shivers down my spine and our eyes lock. The stare is broken and Brice leaves without another word.