Read Online Embracing Everly by Kelly Mooney - Free Book Online Page A

“Why, Miss Moore,” he stood from his chair and walked toward me, eyes unwavering. “Were you looking forward to our coffee date?”
    I wanted to smile and flirt back, but I refrained. I wasn’t the kind of girl who cheated. I convinced myself all night lying in bed and all morning that this was an innocent meeting between two people, and that was it. Friends. Neighbors. I had no close ones by choice, so that might be nice. “No, because it’s not a date, remember?”
    “Ah, yes, I think I do remember something about that.” He came to stand in front of me, and before I realized what his intentions were he kissed my cheek, his warm lips burning my skin, leaving me breathless. “I’ll get your tea.”
    I couldn’t do this. I wouldn’t do this. It was so wrong and evil to do this to Charlie. But here I was apparently a cheating slut because once again I was watching Mr. Tall and Sexy strutting his Levi covered ass over to the counter. He was perfection—like chocolate and peanut butter, my most tempting of candies. How was that possible? Not one zit, not one hair out of place, charming when he wanted, foul when he wanted, adorable when he wanted, and sexy all the damn time. “Like what you see?”
    Quickly, I looked away. “I’m sorry, I was just daydreaming.”
    He placed my tea down. “Don’t worry it happens all the time.”
    I opened my mouth to remark at his flare for his mightier than thou ego, but knew it would end up veering to sex or something else, so I switched it up. “So, do you work?”
    “Nah, living off the folks for the rest of the year. How about you? Besides the singing in coffee shops and jars full of dollars?”
    “I love it,” I sighed as I thought about the music I’d been writing.
    “Open your eyes.” I didn’t even realize I had closed them, so I did, and he was staring at me with such intensity it spooked me to the core. This man was going to get under my skin and ruin my heart and me. I just knew it. “I can tell you love it. I swear it’s like hearing an angel singing to me through those walls.”
    I sat up bolt straight, embarrassed that he could hear. “You can hear me singing?”
    He nodded as he took a small sip, hiding that cute smile. “I love listening to you. It calms me, helps me sleep.”
    “If it ever bothers you, please tell me? I haven’t had a neighbor in over a year.”
    Unabashedly, his eyes stayed on me. “Angel, I could listen to that voice all day and night. It’s not a problem.”
    I sat back with my tea and gaged him for a second or two enjoying how his shirt clung to his chest and shoulders, defining what he had underneath it. “Why do you call me that? I’m not an angel. I’m far from it.”
    “Yeah, you are. If you don’t like it just tell me. I’ll try to refrain.”
    “My name is Everly. You could just call me that,” I reminded him, although even though I hated being called a silly pet name like Angel for some reason coming from him it wasn’t so bad.
    For the next half an hour, he peppered me with question after question, and I answered because I could tell he was sincere about wanting to get to know me. I also told him because no guy had ever really asked me before. It was usually all about them and their needs and wants, and I found Mick to be refreshing.
    “Everly, babe, who’s your friend?” We both glanced up to see Charlie peering down at us with his frat brothers surrounding him. If looks could kill, Mick would be dead. Quickly, I glanced at Mick, who was wearing a shit-eating grin on his face, making me wonder what the hell he was gloating about under all that sexiness.
    “This is Mick. Mick this is Charlie, my boyfriend.” They both stared each other down and all of a sudden I started getting hotter and hotter by the minute. My chest tightened up, and my nerves kicked in. Mick stood and held out his hand for Charlie to shake, but he didn’t take it. “We met the other night, I think.”
    “Nah, man, I don’t know