Across The Court (Blackwood Court #1)

Chapter 1

Sloane Bennett

My husband’s a total asshole.

I guess the proper term now would be ex-husband.

Halle-fucking-lujah.

A broad smile takes over my face. I can’t help it.

I’m finally free.

The wind whips my chestnut hair around as I drive toward my new home.

My wonderful aunt, God rest her soul, left me her house on Blackwood Court. It’s nothing special, but with some work, it has a lot of potential. When you have the ugliest home on the block, it can only go up from there.

It’s not like the entire neighborhood doesn’t already know about me and my ex-husband’s sham of a marriage. My aunt told everyone about the divorce and that I was coming to live with her.

I was excited to spend more time with family after everything. Neither of us knew she’d have a stroke before I got here and our time together would be cut to nothing.

It was a shock, to say the least. I lost my mother when I was young and have always been close to my aunt.

She was the sort of soul who could make you laugh even on your worst days.

The streetlamps are on as I pull into the cul-de-sac. The sky is a deep purple in the last light after sunset. I pass several homes, each immaculate in its own way.

The second I pull into my aunt’s driveway, the loss hits me all over again.

I’m really going to miss her.

I get out, open the back of my SUV, and peer inside.

My God, this unpacking is going to take forever.

I’ll just bring in the essentials tonight.

Curtains shift all around the block, nosy neighbors checking who would dare disturb the perfect silence of their street.

Just me. A tired divorcee who is really not in the mood to be your peep show.

I walk up to the big white house. It isn’t so bad, but compared to the others on the block, it might be considered an eyesore.

I can’t see much in the dark anyway. I’ll assess the damage tomorrow.

I pull the jangling keys from the envelope I got from her safe-deposit box, and I swear it takes an hour to get the damn door unlocked.

By the time I make it inside, I’m more than ready for a hot shower.

It’s been a week from hell.

A wave of my aunt’s perfume hits me when I swing open the door. Jasmine and cinnamon with a hint of another flower I can’t quite place.

All my aunt’s things are still here. Nothing has changed since my last visit.

There’s something comforting about that when everything else in my life has been turned upside down.

I never thought I’d be a divorcee at thirty-four. I guess no one does when they find the person who sweeps them off their feet. No one thinks it’ll end when it’s just beginning.

There were moments when I had doubts, but I never imagined this.

What a bastard.

He took years from me, and what do I have to show for it?

I’m buried in debt and don’t even have a job to pull myself out. Whatever was left of my heart is shattered too.

The truth is, it’s not even because I love him anymore. I knew we’d fallen out of love a while ago.

My heart aches for all the time I lost and the confidence I no longer have. The big family I always wanted might be out the window too.

I should have known something was up. He always had an excuse not to try for a baby.

He was busy at work. Too stressed. We still hadn’t traveled to some random place he’d never mentioned before.

God, I’m so stupid.

Oh no, it wasn’t any of those things.

Turns out it was just me.

Because he had no problem knocking up our secretary at work.

The gall of that woman. She smiled and joked with me while secretly fucking my husband. I will never understand it.

They deserve each other as far as I’m concerned.

Goodbye and good riddance.

I turn on most of the lights throughout the house. It’s a big change from our one-level studio apartment in town.

The house is grand in the way old homes can be. Its high, slanted ceilings and intricate carved details show its Victorian history. It’s just so outdated that it feels more like Victorian meets rundown farmhouse.

Not to mention, my aunt was into cottage-core, so the entire place is packed with knickknacks.

I’m sorry, Aunt Shirley, but they’ve got to go.

I know she’d want me to be happy here, and I’m going to treasure making it my own.

It’s about time some control lands back in my hands.

I plan to grip it like a lifeline.

I realize I forgot my purse in the car, so I begrudgingly trudge back outside. It’s much darker now, and when I try to turn on the porch light, it flickers a couple of times before going out.

Great.

I dink around with it for a minute. It’s one of those old white wall sconces that arches out and hangs down. I try twisting the bulb, and it flickers again before fizzling out.

Figures.

I’m too damn tired for half-assed fixes tonight.

I turn around and jump, one hand flying to my heart.

A very large man is staring at me from across the street. He’s holding a bag of trash in one hand near the end of his driveway.

His stare is unnerving in a way that makes me feel seen all over.

And it’s the very last feeling I need.

I can tell he’s attractive even from this distance, but I am in no mood for my sexy neighbor tonight.

Of course, he has to be hot.

And not in the oh wow, he’s nice-looking way.

In the I want to fuck your brains out way.

That thought almost makes me smile as I reach my car. I retrieve my purse and slam the door a little too loudly before chancing another look across the street.

And I wish I hadn’t.

The sex god is still staring at me. Gray sweatpants, a tight-fitting black henley, and all.

What the actual hell?

I wave awkwardly, wanting to escape at all costs, but he doesn’t wave back.

Okay, so he’s a hot jerk.

Typical.

I roll my eyes and walk faster than normal toward the safety of the house.

I’m not sure how I feel about that man.

Heading upstairs, I open the primary bedroom suite and peer inside at all my aunt’s most treasured things.

A lump forms in my throat and drops into my stomach when I think about having to sort through everything.

I close the door for now.

I’ll sleep in the spare room until I have time to deal with it. Sleeping in there would be too much for me right now.

After a very hot shower, one possibly interrupted by thoughts of those gray sweatpants, I climb into bed with one thought.

Tomorrow will be better.

???

Turns out I was wrong.

I swear everything is broken in this house, and I don’t have enough saved to cover so many unexpected repairs.

I need to find a job, and quick. It shouldn’t be hard. Everyone needs an accountant.

That’s the thought that keeps me going when I find a leaky kitchen faucet and a broken toilet. Then I discover the windows won’t open.

God, I need some fresh air in here.

There are so many projects that I start to feel overwhelmed just looking around this massive house.

What the hell was I thinking?

I am not a DIY person. I don’t even know how to use a screw gun.

Or do I mean screw drill?

Maybe they’re just called drills?

Hmm. I’ll have to circle back to that.

On to more pressing matters: my bare-ass fridge.

After getting myself somewhat decent, I decide to tackle the grocery store.

After last night’s restless sleep, it’s hard to find the energy for anything today, but this I can do.

My hair is still in a messy bun, and I’m wearing yesterday’s jeans, but screw it.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I start to pull out of the driveway when my next-door neighbor flags me down, waving wildly.

She’s an older woman, most likely in her seventies, but her vigor tells me she’s young at heart. She scampers over to my car, and I politely roll down the window.

“Hello,” I say with an unsure smile.

“Hi, dear. I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m your next-door neighbor, Ann.”

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Shirley’s niece, Sloane.”

“Oh yes, Shirl told me so much about you. I can’t tell you how sorry I was to hear about her passing. We were very close.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes. I know she’s trying to be nice, but something about it doesn’t feel genuine.

“Yeah. It was really sudden.”

Okay, I want this conversation to end.

“Again, I’m so sorry, dear.”

I nod and start to roll up my window.

“So, where are you off to?”

Oh my God. Seriously?

“Just getting a few groceries. It was nice talking to you.” I smile, already trying to escape.

“Oh, well, yes. Stop by later for tea, will you? I made you welcome muffins too.”

Hmm. Pity food. My favorite.

Jeez, I’m being a bitch.

She’s just trying to be nice.

“That would be wonderful. I’ll have to take a rain check, though. I have so much unpacking to do.”

“Right. Okay, dear. Well, you know where to find me,” she says, sounding a little put out.

Hmm. I’m not sure about her.

I pull away and try not to speed out of there, even though it’s my first instinct.

When I turn the corner out of the cul-de-sac, I’m greeted by a very nice sight.

Damn.

I think I’m going to like this place.

A large, shirtless man is running ahead of me. His thick, muscular shoulders flex with every stride, and I swear he’s shining as the sun reflects off his skin.

He has thick, wavy brown hair that he slicks back when it falls into his eyes.

He turns his head, and our eyes lock. His expression is intense, but then, to my utter shock, he winks before continuing his run.

It’s him.

My sexy-ass neighbor.

Emphasis on the ass.

Wow.

I am literally gawking at him.

Oh my God, is my mouth open?

Oh no.

I’ve slowed my car to a crawl by accident.

I need to hide right now.

Jesus, I’m so embarrassing.

I press the gas and try to act normal, but I’m hot now. Half from embarrassment and half from remembering what I did in the shower while picturing him last night.

Keep it together, woman.

I fly through the store, grabbing what I need on autopilot while still stuck in shock over my disastrous behavior.

I’m acting like a sex-starved fiend.

But then again...

I am one.

I grab some much-needed alcohol. Wine and Corona, my favorites.

I get popcorn for tonight because it’s Friday and I have no friends anymore.

They were all his friends. I suppose he got them in the divorce.

Well, I hope they’re all happy together.

Bastards.

The lot of you.

???