“Yes, I’m Nate Taylor. Am I pleased to meet you now?” Smirked Nate. Claire’s eyes widened with disbelief. Didn’t the guy have any shame? How could someone be so comfortable in underwear? She refused to let her eyes wander to his organ but it was a challenging feat since he was so drop dead gorgeous! She could see his ripped body out of the corner of her eye. She could feel the heat emanating from him, even without looking at him. She could see the six packs, the bulging biceps, they seem to be inviting her to feel them like a magnet attracts a weak nail. She was that nail!

“What are you doing here?” Asked Claire in a displeased tone. The effort to keep her eyes focused on his face was taking up all her energy. Nate’s smirk grew wider. 

“You see, I’m the new owner of this apartment. I’ll now live here forever!” he said leaning towards her a little. Claire backed away with horror, she had no intention of touching his bare body! 

“Oh, whatever, next time put on some clothes when you escape from the jungle into civilized society!” Claire said tartly, planning to escape before he attacked her like an inhabitant of the jungle. But strangely he laughed out loudly, a deep sound echoing around the empty apartment. It  made Claire feel a flutter in her stomach! However that feeling was short-lived as Nate slowly approached her, his eyes fixed upon her like some predator’s. She backed away, her eyes widening with apprehension. 

“Stop, right there. I’m leaving,” she said breathlessly but her back touched a wall instead. With Nate right in front of her and his arms on either side of her, she was trapped between his bare body and the wall behind her. 

“So what am I,  huh? A lion?” He asked, his hot breath fanning her face which was inches away from his. 

“Don’t you dare touch me. You’re naked for God’s sake!” she squeaked with horror, closing her eyes when his chest brushed against hers lightly. Goosebumps erupted all over her. She didn’t know what was so special in him that made her body react this way to him. It was true that she had never seen a bare male body before but was that the only reason? She had no idea. 

“And what if I dare?” He whispered hoarsely, a strange fire burning at the pit of his stomach. Claire’s breath hitched and her eyes flew open. What was he planning to do with her?

“Please, I’m engaged,” said Claire in a desperate attempt to dissuade his advances. Nate stilled, shocked to the roots of his hair. He hadn’t expected her to be engaged. A strange disappointment and dejection spread all over his heart and Nate just released her and walked back to his nail on the wall. His hopes were shattered again. He had bought this apartment because of her and now he didn’t know why he came here anyway! 

“So what should I call you? Hot neighbor aka HN? Or maybe SN? Hope you know what that means! It’s se*xy …,” started Nate with an expression of indifference on his face. 

“Stop, I’m Claire. Claire Fischer,” said Claire walking towards him, at last introducing herself. Nate whirled around and held out his hand for a shake but Claire didn’t want to shake hands with him at all. She didn’t want to touch him. Nate rolled his eyes and placed his hand on his chest. “I’m not contagious, okay?” he said feeling a little disappointed. 

“Why don’t you put on clothes and approach me like a gentleman?” asked Claire, looking displeased with him. 

“Well! Let me inform you that I’m no gentleman. It’s my house and I prefer being like this,” he said, lifting an eyebrow at her. 

“Then I have no business here. We can stay out of our ways. Do not stalk me at all. Even if you were, stop immediately,” said Claire, whirling around and stomping away towards the main door.

“Hey, I’m not stalking you, okay?” he yelled after her, feeling more disappointed that she went away. 

“Whatever!” she yelled back.

“You’re a horrible neighbor! Here I am busy shifting after a full day’s work and all you can say is that? Good neighbors invite a needy neighbor to dinner,” he grumbled. 

“I heard that. You can come over for dinner but only if you are fully clothed!” yelled back Claire before going out and closing the door after her. Nate chuckled and went inside to freshen up and put on some clothes. He was excited to have dinner with Claire. Nice name! He rolled her name over and over on his tongue, liking it immensely. It was a misfortune that she was taken. 

By who? It didn’t look like she had much experience with men! What sort of d*ckhead would leave such a gorgeous fiancée alone? He was already hard from that encounter a while ago. He had no idea why he had reacted that way with her! Sinful thoughts entered his head when he imagined what he would have done to her if he were her fiancé. 

“Get a grip over yourself or you’ll have to sleep on an empty stomach, Nate,” he reasoned in his head. Wearing a figure hugging denim and a black chambray shirt, he dabbed some aftershave and cologne over himself. Picking up his mobile phone and apartment keys, he walked out, closing the door of his apartment after him. He walked over to the opposite apartment and rang the doorbell, his heart thumping loudly inside his chest. 

After a few seconds, the door opened and Claire peered at him. Instead of looking surprised, she gave him a once over and then opened the door wider. Seeing her check him out made him all the more excited. “Come in. I had been waiting for you,” she said, letting him enter. Nate grinned and walked inside. 

“You knew I would come by?” he asked with surprise. Claire nodded.

“Yeah, I made dinner for you as well. There wasn’t much time, so it’s very basic,” said Claire. 

“Oh, is it? So what special dish have you made for me?” he asked, the fresh aroma of cooked beef filling his nose. 

“Nothing much. I made beef tacos for dinner. There’s red velvet cake and bacon wrapped asparagus spears,” said Claire, feeling a little embarrassed for not having much to offer. “I had no idea you would be joining me else I would have made something special,” said Claire, leading the way towards her dining room. 

“No issues at all. In fact, tacos, asparagus and cake sounds delicious! I suck at cooking so this is more than a treat for me. Thanks a lot, Claire,” said Nate. They sat down at the table and Claire served him as well. The place was filled with his intoxicating smell as if he had emptied a bottle of cologne upon himself! Why was he so extreme and so weird? 

“How do you survive if you can’t cook?” asked a bewildered Claire. 

“Back in Houston, I lived with my huge family. I never needed to cook but now I think I should learn,” said Nate, biting into his taco. A myriad of delicious flavors burst into his mouth and he closed his eyes and chewed. It was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten! “I swear I’ve never eaten something so delicious all my life!” he said, opening his eyes and staring at Claire. She blushed under his scrutiny. She wasn’t much used to getting so much male attention as she always stayed away from male company. Chris Sterling was different since he sought her out first his own benefit and stayed aloof from her otherwise. 

“Thanks, that’s an exaggeration, though,” she said with a smile as she ate her food. It didn’t taste all that special at all. She could cook better than this.  

“No, no, I mean it. Please can you teach me how to cook?” asked Nate, his eyes expectantly hooked onto hers. 

“I don’t think I have so much time, Nate. Why don’t you join some beginners course instead of drinking away at the Central Pub?” Asked Claire. She couldn’t afford to be near him again after what happened at his apartment. 

“I won’t join any course. I’d rather learn from you. Are you afraid to teach me?” he asked suddenly. Claire shook her head vehemently. How the hell did he know? Was it written on her face? Of course she was petrified by her body’s reaction to him. She didn’t want that type of complications in her life right now. 

“Why should I be afraid? I’m just busy,” said Claire. Of course Nate didn’t believe her but since she was engaged, he had the feeling that her fiancé might object. ‘She has a man already in her life, stay away from her, Nate,” said his inner voice. He was pissed off at the thought of her fiancé. 

“F*ck him!” he swore angrily making Claire look up with her jaws dropped to the floor. 

“Excuse me?” she asked with confusion.