Read Online The Boy Next Door by Katy Baker - Free Book Online

dad’s employed him. He reckons the house and yard will go to wrack and ruin if it’s left to me while my folks are away.”
    Sarah grinned. “So you’ve got your very own servant? Awesome.”
    Melissa smiled in response. “I suppose so. And he can be pretty handy.” Although she hadn’t meant it that way, Melissa blushed scarlet as she thought of how ‘handy’ Rory could be.
    To cover her sudden embarrassment, she said, “Can I get you a drink?”
    Sarah didn’t respond. Her forehead creased into a frown as she began piecing things together. Then her eyes went wide.
    “It’s him isn’t it?”
    Melissa froze. “What is?”
    “This mystery man you’ve been seeing. It’s Rory Thompson!”
    Melissa’s cheeks burned and she knew she must be blushing as red as a tomato. This was the last thing she wanted. She hadn’t sorted out her own feelings for Rory yet. She certainly wasn’t ready to explain them to her friend. And how was she supposed to explain how she’d fallen for the school nerd? The boy who Sarah and Melissa would order around like he was their slave?
    An idea formed in her head. If she played this right she might be able to save face.
    She shrugged nonchalantly. “You remember how eager Rory was to please? Well, I thought I’d see if that extended to the bedroom too.”
    Sarah barked a laugh. “Melissa Smyth, you are incorrigible! And does it?”
    “Oh yes. And he’s good. Especially after I taught him exactly what I want. You remember those handcuffs we bought? Well, they were certainly put to good use.”
    Sarah leaned forward and Melissa knew she’d sparked her friend’s interest. “Who’d have thought it, Rory Thompson good between the sheets? I’m jealous—I want my own bed slave!”
    “Well you can keep your hands off mine!” Melissa laughed, even though inside she felt the sting of betrayal as she belittled her relationship with Rory.
    Sarah held her hands up. “Don’t worry, he’s all yours. I can see your evil plan now, Melissa. For one horrible moment I thought you were actually falling for him!”
    Something twisted in Melissa’s stomach. A sick feeling filled her gut. I am, she wanted to say. I am falling for him. And I don’t care what you think. But her courage failed her.
    “Don’t be ridiculous!” she said, dismissively. “He doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m having fun with him, that’s all.”
    A bang echoed through the house, loud enough to make Melissa jump. The back door slamming, she realized. A moment later Rory passed the window on his way to the yard.
    Melissa went cold. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Had Rory heard what she’d said? Had he been in the kitchen listening to her conversation with Sarah?
    “Come on then,” Sarah said, oblivious to Melissa’s discomfort. “Tell me all about it. I want all the gory details.”
    But Melissa had lost all appetite for this chat. She slapped her forehead as though she’d suddenly thought of something. “Dammit! I promised to take my mom’s car into the garage today. Sorry, Sarah, I’ll have to fill you in later.”
    Sarah spluttered indignantly. “Can’t it wait?”
    Melissa shook her head. “I’m late already.”
    “Give me a call when you get back,” her friend said as Melissa ushered her to the door. “I want to hear all about it.”
    “You bet,” Melissa promised.
    She closed the door and leaned against it, heart thundering. Then, steeling her courage, she strode through the house and into the yard where she came to a halt, blinking in the bright sunshine.
    She knew right away that Rory had heard every word. He stood with his back to her, digging in her mom’s vegetable garden. His shoulders were hunched with tension and he dug viciously, as though the ground had offended him.
    Tentatively, she approached. “Rory?”
    He didn’t respond. The crunch of the spade as it bit into the soil sounded loud to Melissa’s ears. A line of sweat trickled down Rory’s neck, dampening the