The Neighbor #3 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #3) Read online

  THE NEIGHBOR #3

  Book 3

  By Claire Adams

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 Claire Adams

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  The Neighbor - Release schedule:

  Book 1: October 8th

  Book 2: October 22nd

  Book 3: November 5th

  Book 4: November 19th

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  Chapter One

  Ryder’s bedroom was awash in sunlight the next morning. It occurred to me that I had never spent this time of day in the bedroom with him. Last time it was so early the sun wasn’t even rising yet. It was heavenly.

  “Afterglow,” he said with distinct pleasure in his voice. “I have never basked in it like this before. I have certainly never experienced it with a woman like you. One of my favorite albums is So Much for the Afterglow by Everclear. I just made myself look old again since they are a 1990’s post-grunge band. I think I am babbling, which I do when I am relaxed,” Ryder said.

  I wasn’t paying attention to a word Ryder was saying. He was going on about music while all I could think about was that I was naked in bed with Ryder Curran again…my human sexuality professor, my golf instructor, my boyfriend/partner—and a person who had cancer. It wasn’t the easiest thing to wrap my mind around.

  His king bed could have been a twin and we would have ample space; our bodies were twisted around each other in a sensual embrace. I took a good look at his head in the direct sunlight. The cancer, the scar—everything was starting to make sense. He had not lost all his hair but it was clearly a worry. It must have been why he liked to wear a cap all the time. I laid my head on his shoulder, wrapped my arm around his neck, and fingered his scar with my forefinger.

  “Stop.” Ryder shot up making me jump.

  “It’s okay,” I said.

  He eyed me suspiciously for a moment, and then spoke in an angry tone. “You know I have cancer obviously since you’re so damn curious about everything. How did you find out?” Ryder asked.

  “You forget that my father had cancer. I learned a lot about it. I saw the pill bottles in the bathroom and I was especially familiar with the anti-nausea medications and the Tropisteron. When my father was ill, we had to administer it through his IV drip. I was surprised to see it as an oral med.” I had a great deal of cancer information stored in the back of my mind.

  “Since you think you’re so smart, can you tell from the drugs what type of cancer I have?” Ryder asked. I wasn’t sure if the question was antagonist or curious in nature.

  “Since your head has been cut open I assume you have—or had—brain cancer. And I am aware it’s not contagious, so lay back down with me.”

  He stared at me for a moment and then spoke. “For a little while, I liked to say I just had a malignant tumor. It sounded less dire. After all I have been through, you would think that I would’ve made peace with the cancer.”

  “So…you’re in denial?”

  “Something like that. I am not going to make friends with cancer. Some have told me that I should consider it the enemy. I’m not going to do that either. I just throw a cap on my head, take the pills and let the pros stick me with needles, and then I ignore it.”

  Ryder was finally opening up to me. “You must think about it when you are puking your guts out,” I said referring to our first night together. It was not the alcohol, which sent him running to the bathroom. “You shouldn’t be drinking alcohol, Ryder, and you should start focusing on your diet because it matters most. Cancer or not, it prolongs your life.”

  He sighed and threw his hands in the air. “This is why I conceal my disease. I want to enjoy life. I am not going to live in a plastic bubble or live life eating twigs and seeds. You can save the climb and put your soap-box away,” Ryder said.

  I understood where Ryder was coming from, but I thought he was being an ass. I should have chosen not to push him on the issue at that point, but I was not going to stand by and see a man I cared for, die. This was new to me and I wanted more information. I relied on my instincts to know when I probed too deeply.

  “What is the Keppra used for?” I had seen the bottle next to his glass of water, so I assumed it was something he was currently taking.

  “Why? I think you know all you need to about what’s going on.“

  “So you’re not going to tell me?”

  He grunted. “Keppra is just an anti-seizure medication okay? I am at a greater risk because they rearranged shit inside my scull.” Ryder was defensive.

  “Good to know in case you spazz out while your head is in my crotch,” I joked as Ryder seemed like he had enough. I was still worried because I didn’t know if he was getting better or worse.

  I rubbed Ryder’s chest and felt his heart beating. I was becoming attached to the heart. I wondered if I would have fallen so fast and so quickly if I had known Ryder was ill. When my father died, he had been sick for a long time. He was never a particularly healthy person. Ryder appeared vital and it would be unfair for him to die during the prime of his life.

  I moved towards him and kissed him gently, as though he would break. I had to try hard to treat him the same way I had the day before. If I didn’t, Ryder would notice. I untangled myself from his sheets.

  “Don’t tell me you’re leaving,” Ryder said in a sleepy and very sexy voice.

  I got up. I felt the effect of Ryder’s feasting from the night before.

  “I am going next door and to get a change of clothes. Thanks to you, my panties are ripped. It would be ideal if you were right where I left you when I get back,” I said and then kissed him on the lips. “I will bring you some coffee and fruit for breakfast. I saw some on my mom’s kitchen counter yesterday. I will tell you more about my mom later.”

  I found my black dress sticking out from beneath the bed. I slipped it on without undergarments. It was a wrinkled mess and my hair was disheveled. I was set to take the walk of shame.

  “You are beautiful Jenna Walsh,” he said as he stared up at me.

  “You’re pretty great yourself,” I returned. “I honestly don’t know how long we are going to be able to keep this thing up.”

  Ryder reached up with his hands and pulled me closer to him.

  “Say hello to your mom. I will count the moments until your sexy ass returns,” Ryder said.

  I grinned. “I will be back. Use the time to take the necessary meds.” I wanted to pull those words back the moment they left my lips. I had to resist the temptation to baby Ryder.

  “Jenna – don’t,” Ryder said. He didn’t want me to mention the cancer unless he did.

  I nodded and grabbed my phone to leave. Ryder was still in bed and I took the opportunity to return to the bathroom. Something inside of me had to look at the pill bottles. I had to confirm that is was real.

  Ryder had cancer.

  I stepped out the front door and my phone buzzed. I took a look at the screen although there was no one I wanted to talk with. My mind was on Ryder and the amazing evening we had. I smiled when I realized it was a text from
him.

  Miss u already

  Another text came.

  Left bra/panties smell like you Nectar of the gods

  I’ll buy u a new pair

  Before I reached the end of Ryder’s walkway, I received my fourth text, and they kept on coming. I smiled.

  Chapter Two

  Ryder’s hedge was hiding my car. If I was not such a lazy ass I would have gotten in my vehicle, circled the block and parked in my mother’s driveway. Lying to my mother was exhausting. She seemed to be on a positive path and the last thing I wanted was to cause her to drown in her gin bottle again.

  I plodded down the sidewalk. My eyes darted around the neighborhood to see if I was noticed. Since I had grown up on the street, many still knew me as the Walsh baby or the little Walsh girl. They were probably wondering why I stopped setting up my lemonade stand. They had an image of me in pigtails and braces. The elderly couple across the street would have something to talk about if they knew I had been beneath the sheets with the new neighbor. They would be further surprised to hear he was fifteen years older than I was—and my professor. I didn’t go unnoticed as Mr. Simmons jogged by.

  “Hey, Jenny. What has you up and out so early?” Mr. Simmons asked.

  “It’s Jenna. I am just out enjoying the lovely day. I see you are starting early also.”

  “Yes. I am attempting to turn back the clock. Getting this old body into shape.” He could barely speak. He was out of breath.

  “Good for you, Mr. Simmons. Have a great day.” I was hoping he would have nothing more to say. My lack of a bra and panties made me incredibly uncomfortable. He may not have noticed but I felt like I was jiggling all over the place.

  “You too, Jenny.” Mr. Simons continued his jog although walk was more like it.

  I made it up my porch steps. The short walk had seemed like a long journey. In a sense, I was walking from my life as an adult back into my life as it used to be. I pushed open the door, which squeaked when I moved it. I was familiar with the sound. I could find my way through the house blindfolded. It was my home for eighteen years; the longer I was at school, Leach Hall seemed like home. As I thought about it, I was more comfortable at Ryder’s place than I was my mother’s.

  I came upon my mom standing in the kitchen. It was better when she remained in bed with a bottle of gin. I had more privacy.

  “Did you have a good time with Sayler?” My mom stood with her hands on her hips.

  “It was fine.”

  My mother laughed but it wasn’t a friendly chuckle.

  “Did you see another movie with her? I seriously doubt it as I saw her at the grocery store last night. She said I should tell you hello. The two of you should really get your stories straight if you are going to continue to use each other as a cover. I know you are lying to me Jenna.” My mother stared at me as she had not done in a long time.

  “I am living away from home, Mom. I am an adult now but I’m sorry I was dishonest,” I said.

  “Your car was visible through Ryder’s hedge. I saw your head bobbing around in his kitchen.”

  Thank god I was in the kitchen when she saw me.

  “So you have met your neighbor?” I asked.

  “No I have not met Professor Ryder Curran. People in the neighborhood have told me that he is teaching at South Carolina.”

  “Mom, please stop playing games with me. I know you have a speech prepared,” I said, throwing my arms in the air.

  “Word on the street is that he is teaching freshman human sexuality, which I am aware you are taking. Is he your professor?”

  “Yes, he is my professor, golf instructor, and friend.” I had started the process of starting to explain my relationship to my mother. It was not going to be an easy task.

  “Jenna, I did not just fall off the turnip truck. You were with Ryder all night. Look at you. You’re a mess. You might as well wear a sign that says I had intercourse with my sex professor.” My mom threw her hands back on her broad hips.

  No, I wanted to say, I did not have sexual intercourse with my teacher—I had oral sex. Maybe that would be harder for her to hear.

  “Mom, I do not need to detail what Ryder and I have done or not done. There is an age difference, but it is not unheard of. Young women and older men have been hooking up for ages. Look at Hollywood.”

  “Yes. Look at Hollywood. Those relationships are often publicity stunts or there is money involved. We are talking about a man in a power position over young women. You are one of those young women Jenna. The guy is your college professor.”

  At this point, we both raised our voices. I looked towards the window to be sure it was closed. I would have hated for Ryder to hear us.

  “Mom. My relationship with Ryder started before I knew he was my professor. I started golfing with him before I knew he was your neighbor.”

  “What else is there you don’t know about Professor Curran?” my mom asked.

  “I am getting to know him. It’s how a relationship progresses. He is not taking advantage of me or any other girls in class. Of course, I don’t know everything there is to know about Ryder. I think it would be odd if I were to meet someone, pull out a note pad and ask for his life story,” I said angrily.

  “I wonder what the university would have to say if they found out. There go your dreams of a college degree and there goes that creep’s career.”

  “Ryder is not a creep!” I yelled.

  “Well what about the gossip? I have lived on this street for a very long time. I take Potato for a walk every day. I know when people are talking and they will be talking about you and the professor.”

  “Sorry, Mom, but I did not realize the Walsh family had a squeaky clean image to up hold. I also doubt that you walk that fat mutt every day. His dog shit is in piles all over the yard.” I felt myself boiling over. The stress of finding out that Ryder had cancer had taken its toll on me and I hadn’t got much sleep. “This is more than I expected first thing in the morning. I am going to take a shower, throw on some clothes and get out of here before I say something I regret.”

  As I ran up the stairs, my mother shouted, “This will not end well, Jenna Walsh! You mark my words!”

  I dived on to my old bed and screamed into the pillow. My mother meant well, but I was dealing with enough. I did not need her interference. There was Ryder, keeping up the sham that he was merely my golf instructor, cancer, school, etcetera. I felt as if I were standing on some sort of ledge and I was about to fall off. It was a scary, fucked up feeling because I didn’t know was waiting for me after I fell.

  I saw my phone, which was creeping across by bed. It vibrated each time I received a text. Someone had their fingers busy attempting to reach me. I hated to clean off the smell of Ryder and I from my body, but I had to shower. The pulsating warm water would be soothing.

  I entered the bathroom and closed the door. I didn’t realize it until I heard the click, that I had missed having a private bathroom. It was a luxury I had taken for granted before I went to college. For once, I did not have to fear Eric’s hand reaching under the barrier to return my bar of soap.

  I sat on the cushioned toilet seat and realized I had a clear view of Ryder’s bedroom. The window glass was permanently clouded for privacy so I cracked it open a few inches. I spotted Ryder sleeping. He was angelic as his bare sculpted chest moved with each breath. He seemed to have a wry smile on his face. I wondered if he was dreaming of our night together.

  I remembered that my mother had limited hot water and I had the water running for ten minutes already. I snapped out of it and hopped in the shower. My mother had a buffet of lotions and potions from which to choose. I felt as if I were in a day spa.

  When I finished in the shower, I ended up smelling a little strange. It was a combination of rose, honey and mint – not exactly the scent I was looking for. I had tried a little of everything.

  I peeked out the window. Ryder was out of bed and probably fixing something to eat or taking his medicati
ons. I had promised to bring him coffee and fruit and I had even hinted at something more. My conversation with my mother had taken an unexpectedly long time, so I was delayed. Ryder would have to wait for another day to have breakfast in bed.

  I threw on a pair of yoga pants and a grey hoodie. Since the encounter with my mom had put me in a sour mood, I decided to take the trip back to school. I would just have to focus on other priorities.

  I had realized that there was a great deal involved with being an adult. It was overwhelming. I had skipped classes like a rock across flat water. Mid-terms would be upon me before I knew it. I had not cracked my history book; in fact I didn’t remember what my professor looked like. I ran down the stairs hoping to sneak out the side door and avoid my mother.

  “Leaving so soon, Jenna?” My mother stopped me from a clean getaway.

  “Yes, Mom, I’m heading home,” I said.

  “This is your home, Jenna. Are you stopping to bid farewell to your boyfriend?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Ugh. I’ll call you later in the week.”

  I walked out and slammed the door behind me. I climbed into my green Soul and headed back to school. I beeped as I passed Ryder; he had texted me several times and I owed him a call. When I got on the highway, I put him on speaker phone.

  “Hello, Luscious. I had to grab my own coffee. Love em and leave em. I guess that’s your style. What happened to your return visit?” Ryder said between sips of his coffee.

  “My mother knows about us Ryder. She was ready to confront me when I walked in the door.”

  “Does she think our relationship is inappropriate?” Ryder asked.

  He used the word relationship.

  “Yes.”

  “Well…I’m kinda glad your mom knows about us. It may be hard for her to accept at first but we are two consenting adults. It’s ridiculous having to sneak around. Especially for me – I’m thirty-four years old.”

  “I am trying to put it out of my mind for the next couple of days. I’m on the road back to school.”