The Alpha Next Door

all the old-time movies. When

What’s shown in those old movi

y, having left Dana to take care of other matters. He was on his wa

and connecting his property the one next door could use some landscapin

couldn’t hide, blonde woman who was walking directly towards him. His neighbor. Eyes on

ett nearby. Only it was about three seconds too

t the feet of Bennett Orloff. All while wearing her pajama sweats and an old tank top she’d had so long she couldn’t even reme

least she’d managed to fall gracefully. Though, considering the

d. Every inch of his over six-foot fram

t help but imagine wrapping around her, pressing

ghtheaded. Her heart beat against her ribs like

embarrassed enough. Running into him like that. Spilling her

iced coffee, clawed at her throat like the wa

e have a concussion? From

n. Bennett Orloff. Who somehow managed to both completely flus

y.” H

ly calling to mind images of lush duvets and silk

ennett continued. His voice edged

pproachable neighbor. A man any woman would feel comfortable talking to. A man she could talk to. Go gra

hought she knew about him. Which wasn’t much. She compared th

nitely. Bennett Orloff

. She saw a ripple of muscle flex throu

bun. Grateful she’d thought to do that much. Wishing she’d had the foresight to bru

ly presentable? At all times? Just in case? Seriously who could manage that? They were barely past a worldwide pandemic. Her bank account had an absolu

ssed her back the letters she’d dropped. Of course, he had a perfe

re passed between them. Like electricity. But more. Much more. Stella’s heart lodged itself in her thro

with long, black lashes. Was a man allowed to have eyes so beautiful? It hardly seemed fair to the re

un into each other lots of times, as neighbors do. Hopefully not a

k at him. After all she was a full-grown woman she reminded herself. Why was she suddenly

how to present herself. How to connect

r cheeks. Singing them a bright ruby red. It wasn’t like her to let someo

he had a chance to say anything at all she’d gathered up his ke

g by his expensive fountain pen named after a mountain in the Alps, and designer at

ntense! They seemed to shift like clouds o

he…

said curtly. “I’ll

to jump start her brain. Desperately hoping to t

ands. The spark of electricity from before still burned

town I must get to.” Benn

e walked to a shiny red sports car parked along the street. Wher

a backwards glanc

self and the driveway. Seemed they’d collected everything

s sure she hadn’t imagined the surge of electricity she felt pass between them.

st not her style. So, what gives? She chide

for my neighbor. Stella f

wh