Sirah

“That’s it? I’m free?” I asked, but my voice cracked, and unexpected tears filled my eyes.

Warner stared at me for a second before handing me the box of tissues on his desk.

“It’s all done. I pulled some strings to ensure your application went through. This is the Final Order. It was a simple process. There was no need for the courts to drag it out for months, no matter how hard Mr Taylor had tried to sabotage our efforts.”

I nodded while I blew my nose. “I’m just so relieved it’s over,” I said with a sniffle.

“Can I ask why you didn't ask for your share in the house?”

I knew the final order gave him a set timeframe to remove me from the house mortgage and title deeds. The hit was one I was willing to take to get the mother-and-son duo out of my life.

“Life isn't always about money, Mr Reid,” I said softly.

I remembered when Ryan pushed me. The house was a reminder of what he was capable of when he found himself backed into a corner. He was lucky I never told my brother or Dad about the incident.

His chapter was closed, and no amount of money could beat the finality of ending our ill-conceived union.

∞∞∞

I did a double take as I saw who was standing on the balcony beside mine. He must have bought the house next door. I bit into my lip as I reached my top step, but I needed to be polite.

“Hi, you bought the house then?” I said.

It was a chilly night, but he wore trousers and a tight-fitted shirt. There was a mug in his hand with steam escaping from it like a witch’s cauldron. Damn it. He was sexier than I remembered.

“Yes, I moved in a little while ago,” he said with a smile.

“It’s just you?”

“Yes, but my parents and brother don't live too far away,” he replied. “What about you?”

I nervously adjusted the strap of my purse on my shoulder. It wasn't like me to be nervous, but the way he looked at me was weird.

“My family are in Reading, but I've lived in London for a few years,” I said until I saw his Christmas decorations behind him.

I frowned and realised that the Christmas decorations were due to go up on Sunday. This left me two days to buy everything. After the year I’d had Christmas, it wasn't high on my list. All I wanted to do was relax this weekend.

“Do you need a hand putting yours up?” he asked as he noticed me staring at his decorations.

“No thanks, I haven't bought mine yet,” I said with a sigh. “Thank you for giving your statement to the police.”

The incident happened over a month ago, but I hadn't messaged him due to my wanting to keep my distance.

The wind wafted the rich scent of hot chocolate towards me, and it surprised me he looked more like a coffee snob.

“No problem, I was happy to help. Would you like some? I still have some left on the stove. It’s trickier than it seems portioning for one person,” he said ruefully, and his relaxed manner soothed some of my concerns about him being a weirdo.

My stomach rumbled with hunger, reminding me that I’d not eaten since lunchtime.

“Another time,” I said politely, smiling, as I didn't want to offend the man. “I don't want to spoil my appetite for dinner. Welcome to the neighbourhood, goodnight.”

“Goodnight, ,” he murmured, causing the fluttering sensation in the pit of my belly like last time.

Did I tell him my name when we last met, or did Irene say it out loud?

Either way, the way he said my name in the low, husky voice gave me tingles in places that were on lockdown. I turned away from him as a shiver ran down my arms and shoulders, but it had nothing to do with the cold weather. As I put my key into the lock, I tried to remember the first time I met Ryan, and I didn't remember having this kind of reaction.

The house was lovely and warm when I went inside, but I didn't remember putting the heating on or figuring out how to set the timer. I placed my bag on the sideboard and went into the kitchen to put my marinated salmon in the oven and prepare the vegetables.

The truth was I was trying to stay close to spy on my hunky neighbour. The man could fill out a shirt and pants exceptionally well. I caught glimpses of him hanging up various lights and decorations. My heart wasn't in the Christmas spirit this year.

My parents were off to the Canary Islands, and my brother was going to his girlfriend's house for Christmas dinner. The girls had their own holidays planned in Reading, and even though Sonia had invited me, I felt as if I would be intruding, so I had resigned myself to a single divorcee version of Christmas. I may just get drunk and watch the terrible Hallmark movies.

By the time dinner was ready, Saul was packing his toolbox away. I was curious to see what his decorations would look like once he lit them up. I saw the lights switch on, but they went off just as quickly. I couldn't see them properly from the angle of my front windows. I heard him close his door and was disappointed that my man meat show was over.

However, it didn't stop me from flicking my long-forgotten bean that night when I lay awake thinking of Saul. After all the stress from the separation and divorce, it was my secret guilty pleasure to screw my lockdown policy for one night.

∞∞∞

I didn't see Saul until Monday morning when we both left our houses simultaneously. He glanced sideways, and so did I when I noticed he had hung some mistletoe between our houses. He saw me staring at it, and I blushed, considering the violating things I had thought about on Friday night.

“A man can dream,” he said before he locked his door. “Do you catch the Tube or a bus to work?”

“The Tube,” I said quickly, looking down at my door, focusing on locking it and not thinking about kissing him across our balconies.

“Would you mind if we walked together?” he asked when I turned towards him.

“Uh, sure,” I said as I walked across to the stairs.

“Great,” he beamed, and he did the same to climb down his stairs.

He wore a tailored suit with a dark coat over it, but it did nothing to hide his build. The underground tube would be busy in the morning, and the likelihood of getting a seat was slim to none. I hesitated because he held his arm out for me when I reached him. When I glanced up at him, he had a soft smile on his face. I slowly slipped my arm into his, and he instantly tightened his arm around mine.

“I don't bite—unless you want me to,” he whispered as he began walking toward the tube station.

My eyes widened in shock at his words, but as we walked, I could do nothing but envision him biting me.