Thy Neighbor's Wife Read Online Free PDF Page A

moved in today?” Alex asked.
    “Are you staying over tonight?”
    “I know I am. I’m not sure about Eric yet. Remember I said his
    firm has a new branch opening up in Buffalo that he’s been helping
    to set up? I know he has an early meeting tomorrow, so he’ll proba-
    bly go back to Pittsford and stay there tonight. That’ll cut half an
    Thy Neighbor’s Wife 17
    hour off his morning commute.”
    “Wait. You’ve got another house in Pittsford?” Alex asked, her
    eyes twinkling.
    “Yes,” Jennifer drawled back, loving the playful tone of Alex’s
    voice.
    “Jennifer?”
    “Yes?”
    “Are you loaded?”
    “Loaded as in drunk or loaded as in rich?”
    “Either.”
    “Yes.”
    They burst into laughter. Kinsey lifted his head and gave them
    an annoyed glare. They laughed at him, too.
    “Can I get you another drink, lightweight?” Alex asked with a
    smirk.
    “Only if you want to carry me back to my place.” Jennifer
    chuckled, holding up a hand. “No, I’m good. Thanks.”
    “You have tomorrow off ?”
    Jennifer cringed inwardly at the question. The fact that she
    didn’t work wasn’t something that normally concerned her, but in
    the presence of her new friend, it bothered her a great deal. “Yeah.
    Yeah, I do.”
    “Well, I’m here most of the time, so if you need anything…help
    with moving stuff around or whatever…just come on over.”
    “I may take you up on that. Thank you.”
    “Are you a morning person?”
    “Sleeping until eight is considered sleeping in for me. Eric
    whines that I run from the bed too early on the weekends.”
    “Kinsey is an early riser, so we’re usually up by six or seven. I
    highly recommend having your morning coffee or tea on the deck,
    although it’s still a bit chilly yet. It’s quiet and peaceful. The
    water’s like glass. Nobody’s in sight but a few fishermen. It’s
    heaven. There’s nothing like morning on the lake.”
    The look on her face was so full of passion, causing Jennifer to
    vow then and there that she’d follow Alex’s directions the next
    morning, no matter what. “Sounds wonderful. I’ll have to give it a
    try.”
    They sat in companionable silence for several minutes, looking
    out onto the sun as it reflected on the water. Jennifer felt the burn-
    ing need to find out more about this new person in her life.
    “So, you’re not married?”
    “No.” Alex looked fondly at her sleeping dog. “Kinsey’s the
    only man in my life.”
    “Ever been married?”
    “Nope.”
    18 Georgia Beers
    Alex offered no more detail, always a little uncomfortable with
    that particular line of questioning. Fortunately, she was saved any
    further interrogation by the sound of Eric’s voice.
    “Jen!” he hollered. “I have to get going soon. Can you make
    me something to eat?”
    “Be right there,” Jennifer hollered back.
    “Hi, Alex!”
    “Hey, Eric.” Alex waved. “Welcome to the neighborhood!”
    Jennifer sighed, her respite over. “Why can’t men cook for
    themselves?”
    Alex smiled. “It’s an age-old question passed down from gener-
    ation to generation.”
    “I suppose I should go.” She made no move to leave.
    “I suppose.”
    “Am I up yet?” she asked after a few minutes.
    Alex chuckled. “Not quite.”
    “Damn.” A few more minutes passed. “How ’bout now?”
    This time Alex laughed out loud. “Um, no.”
    “It’s this friggin’ chair of yours, you know.”
    “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    “Jen!” came Eric’s voice again.
    This time, Jennifer smiled and gently moved Kinsey. “God has
    spoken. I’ve got to go.”
    Alex stood and picked the dog up off Jennifer’s lap, sorry to see
    her leave.
    “Thank you so much. For the drink as well as the company. It’s
    just what I needed.”
    “Any time. You know where I live. You’re always welcome.
    And I mean it about tomorrow. If you need anything, just come on
    over, okay?”
    “I will.” She gave Kinsey a final scratch on his head as