I love working with my best friend and roommate. We met in elementary school when Ashlyn moved to our town from out of state, and I knew we would be best friends when she showed up to school with an NSYNC backpack. I mean come on, who doesn’t love Justin Timberlake? We bonded over our mutual love of boy bands, and the rest is history. She’s like a sister to me. When we were 16, we used to go into my aunt’s toy shop and help out. My dad was not thrilled in the least about this, but he had to pick his battles because you could never argue with Aunt Cheryl.
As we head out of the bar, a black F-150 pulls up to the curb. There’s just something about a truck that screams sex. A guy jumps out and walks around the hood of the massive vehicle. He’s wearing a black baseball hat pulled low, a white t-shirt that stretches nicely across his broad shoulders, and dark wash jeans that look like they were made perfectly for him. My curiosity is piqued; who is this guy?
He moves to stand in front of the business next to mine, takes out a key, and unlocks the door. Right before he heads in, he looks over here, and I gasp. Sweet mother of Abraham, he is gorgeous. The light hits him just right, and I can see his full lips and strong jaw. I can’t see his eyes, but I know he’s looking at me, keeping me frozen where I stand. I’ve never seen this guy before, but right now there’s a pull between us I can’t ignore. As if he can read my mind, he gives me a crooked smile before walking through the door. It’s just my luck that I’d have one of those grand moments, like in my books, while standing in the shadows like a fucking psycho. If he saw me walking down the street tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to pick me out of the crowd.
“Well, he was fucking gorgeous,” Ashlyn exclaims.
“Mmmmm-hmmmmm,” is all I can say.
Walking home takes no time. When I inherited my aunt’s store, I also inherited her house. It’s a nice two-bedroom split-level with a garage, and it’s perfect for us.
Naturally, we made some upgrades. My aunt had an obsession with cats—her two favorite things in life were dildos and pussies—so the first thing we did was take out all of the cat decor she collected. I’m talking pillows with cats printed on them, porcelain cats, cat dish towels, cat clocks, and my personal favorite: her cat, Walter, who she had stuffed after he died. Everything is now safely in the garage and no longer creeping us the hell out. Ash seems to think we could make some money selling them, but it somehow feels like a betrayal. I already got rid of her sex store, so selling her cats seems like it’s crossing the line.
Second, we had to buy stock in rubber gloves to take care of all her…private items. I contemplated hiring someone for the job but thought better of it. I manned up, threw all her toys in a giant box, and then set the box on fire. Some of the stuff in there will scar me for the rest of my life. It’s like finding your mother’s secret collection or your father’s porno stash.
Heading to the living room, we plop ourselves onto the couch and decide to watch a little TV to unwind before bed.
“Do you think that guy was the mysterious owner from next door?” Ashlyn breaks the silence, asking what I’d already been thinking.
“I don’t know, but did you see him, Ash? He may be the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
“Fate…if it’s meant to be, it will be, Savvy. I have a good feeling about this.”
Waving her craziness off, I head to my bedroom. I halt in front of my bathroom door as I remember the business card. I fire up my laptop so I can get this email over with. After I read over the message I’ve written out, I hit send, feeling satisfied. I quickly check my Facebook and notice half a dozen messages from my ex. I sigh in frustration. I wish he would let go of the idea that we can somehow save our relationship. He cheated on me! Obviously, he wasn’t that invested if he went looking for ass elsewhere. I’m a forgiving person, but we can’t come back from cheating.
Making up my mind once and for all, I click the block button. I changed my phone number a few weeks after the breakup because he wouldn’t stop calling me. Facebook was his only means of contacting me. There, no more contact, something I should have done a while ago.
I head to the bathroom to complete my nightly routine of washing my face and brushing my teeth. I slip into bed and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Grab Caged Here
Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT
Dedication
Fool Me Once
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other books by Brittany Crowley
Enjoy the first chapter of Caged
CHAPTER 1