The back of Yokira Espy's neck tingled, and she knew right away that she was being watched. She felt the burning gaze of whoever watched her, and it left a peculiar impression deep in the pit of her stomach. Every bone in her body pressed for her to run inside her home and shut the door, and yet at the same time she wondered who was studying her so closely. If it was someone intending on hurting her, there were enough lights in the gated community where she lived that it wouldn't go unnoticed.

 

And with that reasoning, her curiosity side won out. She couldn't help the stiffening of her spine as she inserted the key into her apartment lock, paused, and turned to look. The sun had set about an hour ago, but there were lampposts lit inside of her complex. Her gaze moved from a woman and man with their children, to a couple lingering outside an apartment door, and then to four teenagers lounging on the chairs by the pool. Nothing strange there from what she could tell, and no one appeared to be fixated on her either. She turned to her left, surprised when her gaze collided with a 100 percent prime male specimen. On the same floor she lived on, just two doors down from her own residence, she found the source of her distraction. There was no shock factor in the way he watched her, nor was she frightened. Not even a tiny bit afraid. In fact, if she had to give a name to what she was feeling, she would say she was utmost pleased to be the sole focus of this particular man's attention.

 

What an excellent man he was, her outrageously sexy, motorcycle-riding, muscled neighbor & friend Calvin. Funny she should think of him as hers, but she couldn't help the thought. She sure as hell wasn't going to fantasize about him and think of him as another woman's. She didn't know much of him; just that he lived close to her, and the few times he had greeted her briefly, she'd caught glances of his badge. Other than small talk they'd shared, there had never been a perfect opportunity for them to get together and really delve into the spark of connection she had felt with him. She could almost bet one year's worth of her salary that he felt the same way about her. The way he was watching her now, as if he wouldn't mind backing her up into her apartment and fucking her, made her want to go up to him and say something inviting. But what if he turned her down? There was still a small chance of that, and truly, she would be crushed that he, a chocolate African god in the flesh, didn't see her in the sexy "I want to fuck you" way she thought he did.

 

His bottom lip was slightly larger than the upper, and he sported a goatee, which she happened to love. He wore a black sleeveless tee that showed off his lean muscles, and the denim jeans enhanced his bad-boy appeal.

 

"Good evening, Yokira. Hope the day has treated you well."

 

The rest of the day, not to mention the two weeks she took off as vacation, would be perfect if she just dared to invite him in. Sweat moistened her brow, and she fought the urge to wipe her hand over it. The summer heat was dreadful today, thick and muggy. She had a vision of relieving the heat with a cold shower, and more importantly, Calvin fucking her against the wall as the water cooled their skin. The problem would be how to make that vision come true.

 

"It's been good. Tomorrow is the first day of my vacation, and I'm looking forward to it. How was your day?"

"Fine. A day with no emergencies on my end, or else I would still be at the hospital filling out paperwork."

"Well, I'm glad you're not stuck at work on a night like this." 'Please, please, please let him make the first move,' she thought to herself.

"Actually, I'm on my way to pick up some files at the office so I can at least catch up on some work at home. You have a great night."

 

Why did it feel like her heart was breaking in half at those words? The logical part of her brain knew he could have brought his files home when he had left the hospital, and that meant he used it as an excuse to get away from her. It was as if he dismissed her because he had something better to do. It was truly silly feeling such a thing, when she didn't know him in a personal way that should cause such heartbreak.

 

"Thank you." She mumbled the words and turned away from him, not wanting him to see the tiny hurt that was probably visible in her gaze. She swallowed against a ball of emotion lodged in her throat. She opened the door and entered her home, miserable at the thought of spending another night alone without satisfying any of her cravings. Add to the fact that her two week summer vacation began officially two hours ago with no plans because she was trying to cut back on spending, and she was doubly depressed. What the hell was she going to do for fourteen days? Go nuts, probably.