Chapter 4 Why Are You Walking Around Without a Shirt?

Evelyn

God, what was wrong with me?

One look at the shirtless guy across the street and suddenly I couldn’t think straight anymore.

Really, Evelyn. A midlife crisis already?

Trying to shake those thoughts away, I walked toward him and stopped right in front of him with a tense smile.

“Hello, young man. I’m your new neighbor. I’m sorry if we disturbed you this morning while moving furniture.”

“Here, take this cake. I made it myself, and I hope you like it… and again, I’m sorry.”

The box stayed between us while his gaze moved from it back to me. Cold. Sharp. Enough to send a slight shiver through my hands for no reason at all.

One step closer, and suddenly he was standing right in front of me.

Damn… he was tall.

Bare chest. Strong build. Too tall.

Even with heels on, the top of my head barely reached him, and God, that definitely wasn’t helping my thoughts right now.

Heat rushed straight to my cheeks.

What am I even thinking?

Small piercing rested against his lower lip. Normally, stuff like that never caught my attention, but on him, it looked unfairly attractive.

There were the tattoos covering his arm. Detailed. Eye-catching. For some reason, my fingers almost twitched with the urge to touch them.

Wait… why would I want that?

The pressure of his stare made me swallow hard before his voice finally pulled me out of my head.

“It’s fine,” he said in a deep, calm tone. “I’m Adrian Blackwood. Welcome to our humble neighborhood.”

Deep voice. Calm face. Didn’t even smile.

Rude. A little!

His expression stayed unreadable, and somehow that only made my nerves worse.

“Oh, thank you,” I said. “I’m Evelyn Carter. Nice to meet you.”

My hand lifted for a handshake, only for him to stare at it without moving.

Is he angry?

Shouldn’t he show some respect? I’m older than him. Why did I even offer my hand?

When embarrassment started creeping in and I almost pulled away, his hand wrapped around mine.

The second our skin touched, my heart started racing for absolutely no reason.

No polite smile. No bow.

Nothing except those eyes fixed on me.

“The pleasure is mine. So, do you like the neighborhood?”

His scent was strong and way too good, while his voice sent something soft, warm, and dangerous through my stomach.

Damn it, why do I feel butterflies at my age? What is wrong with me?

Apparently noticing how quiet I’d gotten, Adrian snapped his fingers in front of my face.

“Where did you go, Evelyn?”

That rough edge in his voice… and the casual way he said my name…

Way too nice.

Oh God. He just said my name, and I liked it that much?

“Oh, nothing.” I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, it seems like a nice and quiet neighborhood.”

Opening the box, Adrian looked down at the cake before tilting his head slightly.

“Strawberry cake… my favorite.”

Then he smiled.

God. Bad idea.

A piece of cake disappeared between his fingers while his eyes stayed on me the whole time. Slow bites. Slow movements.

His tongue brushed the cream from his lip again.

Yeah. He had to be doing that on purpose.

Why did I suddenly feel hot?

Seriously. He was just a young man.

“It’s really good,” he said, pulling me back to reality again.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Right then, a familiar voice called out!

“Mom!”

My head turned toward Marcus immediately.

Great. Perfect timing.

Embarrassment crept into my chest at the sight of him standing there while I talked to my new neighbor. These things always happened at the worst times.

“Marcus, come meet our new neighbor. He seems to be around your age.”

Surprise crossed Adrian’s face.

“Excuse me… you have a son?”

A small smile tugged at my lips, though the strange look in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Almost like he was trying to remember something.

Do I look familiar to him?

Before the silence stretched too long, I spoke again.

“Yeah, I have a son close to your age. This is my son Marcus. Marcus, this is our neighbor Adrian Blackwood. He lives across from us.”

Marcus stepped forward with a smile and held out his hand.

“Hello, how are you? I’m Marcus. Nice to meet you.”

Something cold flashed across Adrian’s face as he looked at Marcus.

Their handshake barely lasted a second, but the grip looked way too strong. Marcus didn’t say anything, though the discomfort on his face was obvious.

“I’m fine,” Adrian said coldly. “Looks like we’re about the same age. Adrian Blackwood… nice to meet you.”

Trying to break the awkwardness, I clasped my hands together and smiled.

“You should’ve bowed to me, Adrian. Where are your manners with someone older than you?”

His eyes froze on me for a second like my words hit something inside him.

Weird.

“I… apologize. I didn’t know you were a mother. I mean… you look very young.”

A slight bow followed, and soft laughter escaped me before I could stop it.

Marcus groaned right away.

“Oh, don’t tell me you thought she was my sister too.”

An awkward scratch behind Adrian’s neck made him look almost human for the first time.

“Actually… yeah.”

“It’s fine,” I said with a small laugh. “Everyone thinks that.”

Marcus frowned suddenly.

“Mom, have you seen my phone? I can’t find it.”

“It’s in the kitchen. Why don’t you look properly?”

“Oh… sorry, Mom. I didn’t notice. Thought I lost it.”

A sharp look crossed my face.

“You young people never look. You just start complaining right away.”

“My dear mother, don’t start lecturing now.”

I was about to answer when Marcus suddenly added, “By the way, Mom, I think the front door is broken. It doesn’t close from the outside.”

My eyes widened.

“Don’t say that, Marcus! I didn’t notice at all.”

Straight to the door I went, trying to close it myself, but the lock refused to work.

“Oh my God… I got scammed with this house. The door won’t close, and the lock is broken. What am I gonna do now?”

Adrian watched me for a second before finally speaking.

“I can help if you want.”

“Really?” Hope slipped into my voice as I turned toward him. “I mean… can you fix it?”

The second he stepped closer, Marcus frowned again.

“Why are you walking around without a shirt?”

Embarrassment hit instantly, and I lightly smacked Marcus’s arm.

“Ahem… Adrian, please don’t mind Marcus. He doesn’t think before he speaks sometimes.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong,” Marcus replied. “I was just surprised.”

A bored look crossed Adrian’s face as he rolled his eyes.

“Fine. I’ll go put on a shirt. Would that make you comfortable now?”

“Yes,” Marcus answered immediately. “That would be very appropriate. Please.”

Without another word, Adrian walked back toward his house.

I turned sharply toward Marcus.

“Marcus, what is wrong with you? Why would you say that?”

“Mom, you know me. No need to explain. Why isn’t he wearing a shirt? We’re not at the beach.”

“Marcus, we’re in the city now, not in that old village. Things are normal here.”

“This is not normal, Mom. You’re here. How can he walk around like that?”

“Alright, don’t get upset. We should thank him for fixing the door. I can’t afford the repair right now… I’m almost broke.”

Before Marcus could answer, footsteps stopped right behind us.

Adrian.

This time, he was wearing a shirt.

Looked even worse.

His eyes locked on mine before he said quietly

“Move.”

My heart skipped.