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  400 First Kisses

  E. L. Todd

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  Hartwick Publishing

  400 First Kisses

  Copyright © 2017 by E. L. Todd

  All Rights Reserved

  Prologue

  Bree

  I took the stairs to the third floor with the phone placed against my ear. “Amelia, everything is ready to go, right?”

  My sister shushed everyone in the background so she could hear me talk. “Everyone is here. Evan is running a little late, but he said he’s pulling into the parking lot. I’ve got the balloons and the cake. We’re ready to go, lady.”

  “Perfect.” I walked down the hall and approached Cypress’s apartment. I was throwing him a surprise birthday party, a mixture of my friends and his. “I’m almost there. I’ll give him my birthday present then offer to take him out to dinner. He’ll have no idea. It’s gonna be awesome.”

  “I can’t believe you went to this much trouble for him. You’ve only been dating for three months.” Amelia had always been the responsible one, paying every bill early because even on time was too late. She liked to live life by the book, following every rule like it was one of the ten commandments. Sometimes it annoyed me, but she always meant well. Besides, she was my sister. I had to like her, even during the times when I didn’t.

  “Well, you know I fell in love with him on our first date.” I met Cypress in college. We had business law together, but we didn’t start dating until after graduation. He had a girlfriend at the time, but luckily, that didn’t last long. Once I finally had him, I knew I wasn’t going to let him go. It was one of the rare moments in my life when I just knew it was going to work out.

  I approached his door then lowered my voice. “Alright, I gotta go.”

  “See ya soon.”

  I hung up and shoved my phone into my back pocket. He had given me a copy of his key recently, so I dug in my purse until I found it. I unlocked the door then stepped inside. I was just about to open my mouth and call for him when I heard something I didn’t like.

  “Cypress…”

  I stilled in the entryway, feeling the dread sink in my stomach like a brick. My pulse pounded in my ears, and adrenaline spiked in my blood. My lungs worked hard to get enough air to my brain, but the rest of my body didn’t want to cooperate.

  When I turned toward his bedroom, I saw a case of beer sitting on the table with a pink bow on top. The bed squeaked as two heavy bodies worked together. Even though I knew exactly what I was going to see, I walked toward the open doorway and saw a scene I’d never forget as long as I lived.

  Cypress lay on his back while his ex-girlfriend rode him like a cowgirl.

  His hands gripped her hips and guided her up and down, his eyes homed in on her shaking tits. He didn’t even notice me in the doorway.

  My initial reaction was to cry then run.

  But I wasn’t going to do either of those things.

  I grabbed the case of beer she must have brought and popped the cap off a few with the bottle opener I kept on my keyring. Foam poured over and spilled on my hands, but I couldn’t care less about the stickiness.

  I stormed into the bedroom with three bottles in each hand then turned them upside down, spilling hot beer and foam all over their bodies.

  “What the hell?” She covered her hair, as if that would do anything to stop the beer from soaking into her strands.

  Cypress locked eyes with me, and his guilt outweighed the beer that was currently soaking into his mattress and ruining his belongings. When he opened his mouth to speak, I poured more beer right over the opening so he choked on his own words.

  “Asshole.” I threw the empty bottles on the ground, listening to them shatter as I walked off with my head held high. There was no way in hell I was gonna shed a tear in front of a guy who didn’t deserve it. No way in hell was I gonna let his whore know she hit me where it hurt. I opened the front door and made sure I had the last word before I left. “Happy birthday.”

  1

  Bree

  My Spanish windows were wide open, and the sound of the mourning doves reached my ears. With a slow coo, they made their hypnotic noises and slowly pulled me away from my dreams and into reality. When I was fully awake, I purposely kept my eyes closed so I could enjoy the serenity for just a moment longer.

  Carmel was the most peaceful place in California. The weather was always forgiving and moderate, and the small population of four thousand people made it easy to walk everywhere in town. I couldn’t remember the last time I drove anywhere.

  I pulled the sheets higher over my shoulders and listened to the ocean in the background. I lived on Casanova and 7th, four streets from the water. Early in the morning and late in the evening, it was quiet enough that I could hear the waves and the seagulls. Some people fell asleep to the sound of their TV. I fell asleep to the sound of the nature around me.

  When I couldn’t stay in bed any longer because my full bladder was aching for release, I finally got up and went to the bathroom. The windows were open in there as well, so I listened to the doves everywhere I went. The sun was already out that morning, and there was a hint of a breeze.

  It was going to be a beautiful day.

  I walked downstairs and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I needed to make some coffee in my French press before I could become fully awake and able to get to work. I needed to get down to the Hippopotamus Café, the restaurant I owned on Ocean Avenue, to do the books and help out with orders.

  My grandmother had lived in this house for over thirty years. When she passed away, she willed it to me. It was the only reason I could afford to live here to begin with. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the money to open up my business.

  I made a cup of coffee then walked into the living room. The shades were all pulled down, so I opened each one and took a look outside. The street was quiet, but that wouldn’t last long. The locals would be out to enjoy the good weather with their furry dogs in a matter of minutes.

  I was just about to turn away from the window when I noticed the neighboring house on the left. Last time I’d checked, the house was still for sale as it had been for over a year. Apparently, someone must have bought it because the for sale sign was gone and the windows were wide open. A truck was parked in the driveway, and the flowers had been newly planted.

  Maybe I had new neighbors.

  At the end of my driveway sat a few packages I ordered from Amazon. They must have come last night when I was working late. In my black leggings and t-shirt, I walked outside to grab my stuff.

  That’s when my new neighbor stepped outside. Packages had been placed at the edge of his driveway as well, so that must have been where he was going. Wearing black running shorts and a gray t-shirt, he looked muscular and lean. He filled out every inch of the fabric and was nothing but pure man. Unlike the rest of the residents of my neighborhood, he was young—my age.

  I reached the end of my driveway and tried to get a good look at him without making it obvious. But it wasn’t out of line for me to introduce myself since we were now neighbors. Nothing wrong with being friendly…and maybe a little more than just friendly. “Are you my new neighbor?”

  He reached the last stone step and turned to me, a gorgeous face with a perfectly structured jawline. His eyes were blue like the water, but that prettiness contrasted against his masculinity in every other re
spect. Strong, sexy, and stud-like, he was gorgeous.

  But I already knew him.

  Cypress.

  I stilled when I recognized his features, the man who broke my heart. He made me fall in love with him, and then he betrayed me, hooking up with his ex when she stopped by to say happy birthday. I’d pretended it hadn’t bothered me as much as it really did. Only Amelia and my other friends knew how badly it messed me up.

  He didn’t seem surprised to see me next door. He walked toward me, even more handsome up close than he was from his driveway. “Morning.”

  A million different forms of rage shot through my body. The last time I saw Cypress was outside my apartment. He’d apologized and said it was a stupid mistake and he would never do it again, but I’d slammed my door in his face and told him to drop dead.

  And now he was my goddamn neighbor.

  What the hell?

  “Morning?” I blurted. “That’s all you have to say? When did you move in?”

  “A few days ago.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps looking even nicer in the t-shirt.

  “I didn’t see a moving truck.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe you weren’t paying attention.”

  “I think I would notice if someone was moving in next door to me.” I worked a lot, but I spent the rest of my time at home. I had so many windows that I could see in every direction in my neighborhood. Plus, it was a small town. Nothing went on that we didn’t know about.

  “Maybe you should get your eyes checked, then.” He smiled, like he found this conversation amusing.

  “Is this some kind of joke?” I hadn’t seen Cypress since we broke up a year ago. Now he’d just showed up next door to me like everything was normal. “If it is, it’s not funny.”

  “Do you see me laughing?” He didn’t drop his smile, getting an obvious kick out of this. “You look nice today, by the way.”

  My hair was thrown in a bun, and I hadn’t even brushed my teeth. “Now that was a joke.”

  “Still not laughing.” He stepped around me and walked to the boxes. “You need help with these?”

  “I can carry my own—”

  He picked everything up anyway and carried it to the front door.

  Seriously, what was going on? I followed behind him. “I don’t want you to live next door.”

  “That’s too bad.” He opened the front door and invited himself inside. “I was hoping you could water my plants when I’m gone.” He set everything on the counter, making himself at home like it wasn’t the first time he’d been inside.

  “This isn’t a joke, Cypress. Did you move next door on purpose?”

  He turned around without answering the question. “You want to go on a hike in Point Lobos today? It’s gonna be beautiful.”

  My jaw dropped because I couldn’t make sense of any of this. “I have no idea what’s going on right now. I hate you. Remember?”

  “You don’t hate me,” he said with that smug grin. “You just think you hate me.”

  “No, I’m pretty sure I hate cheating assholes.”

  It was the only time in the conversation when his smile faltered.

  I walked back to the front door, which was still wide open. “Now, please get out.”

  “Just trying to be a helpful neighbor.” Without further argument, he walked back outside again. “Let me know if you change your mind about Point Lobos.”

  My eyes snapped wide, and I slammed the door behind him. “What an asshole.”

  I shut all my windows so I didn’t have to look at his house next to mine—and more importantly—look into mine. I grabbed my phone and called the first person who came to mind. “Amelia?”

  “What’s up?” She spoke with a sigh, like she was tired or in the middle of something.

  “Can you talk?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine. What’s up?”

  “You won’t believe who my next-door neighbor is.”

  She didn’t venture a guess or seem interested in finding out who. “Who?” She was clearly doing something in the background, probably taking care of Rose and Lily, my two little nieces. Rose was four and Lily was two.

  “Cypress. I woke up this morning and saw him walk out of the house.”

  “Wow…strange.”

  That’s all she had to say? “We broke up a year ago, and now he’s living next door. I mean, isn’t that the strangest thing you’ve ever heard?”

  “It’s pretty weird,” she said. “But don’t worry about it.”

  Don’t worry about it? “Amelia, why do you sound weird? Everything okay.”

  “I’m just tired. Rose didn’t sleep well last night, and I didn’t either.”

  “That’s too bad. You need me to help out? Is Evan working today?” I couldn’t remember what day of the week it was, actually. I just knew it wasn’t the weekend.

  “No…” Her voice faltered. “No, I’m okay. But I should get going. Lily is about to eat a bug off the floor.”

  I still thought it was weird that my sister didn’t seem more alarmed by Cypress’s sudden appearance, but I didn’t push her on it. Maybe she and Evan were having problems. I’d never thought they went well together in the first place. “I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  She inhaled a deep breath and went quiet. After several seconds, she finally responded. “I love you too…”

  2

  Bree

  When I woke up, it was a cloudy day. I preferred the sun, but overcast weather didn’t usually last past morning. The fog drifted away, and the skies cleared up, revealing the beautiful, beaming sun as it poured across Carmel.

  I left the windows open as I went downstairs and made a cup of coffee with my French press. I needed to head to the post office to check the mail and do a few other errands, so I finished my mug and quickly got ready before I left the house.

  The house next door had been for sale for nearly a year, but now all the windows were open, and the garden was blossoming with well-groomed flowers. Even a new coat of paint had been added. I wasn’t sure who the new neighbor was, but I’d probably bump into them eventually.

  I walked up 7th Street and made a left on Dolores. It was uphill most of the way, but I enjoyed the exercise. I managed to keep my weight down because I walked everywhere I needed to go but still got to eat the amazing food all the restaurants provided. I walked past the large windows of La Bicyclette, seeing a couple in the window enjoy their breakfast of poached eggs and fresh baguettes. My stomach rumbled, but I knew it was best to eat at home. I crossed Ocean Street then made a right when I reached the post office. I loved living in Carmel, but I hated not having a physical address to receive mail. I had to check the PO box every other day, not that I minded having another reason to walk somewhere.

  The metallic surface of the boxes gleamed with cleanliness, but I knew if they weren’t taken care of on a regular basis, they would rust. I found my box in the corner and spun the dial left and right, cracking the code to get my box open.

  A man came up right beside me, his PO box directly next to mine. I didn’t get a good look at him because we were so close together, but I noticed his arms. They were tight with muscle and corded with veins. His hands were big and muscular, perfect for handling tools, or better yet, a woman. His scent washed over me, and it was innately familiar but unrecognizable.

  I pulled out my mail, but I didn’t pay attention to what I was doing and dropped a few envelopes on the ground.

  He kneeled down and picked them up.

  “Thank you.”

  He stood upright and finally exposed his face, handsome features I’d seen before. “No problem.”

  I was looking into the face of the man who broke my heart. It couldn’t be possible, but no matter how many times I blinked, it was him. He had the same strong jaw, beautiful eyes, and the same hint of arrogance that followed him everywhere he went. “Cypress…?” It was a stupid question to ask because I knew it was him.

  “Yours truly.” He smiled then
unlocked his box. “Haven’t checked the mail in a while. Probably all bills…and I hate bills.” He tucked everything under his arm and shut the door. “Did you get anything good?”

  Why would I care about the mail when my ex-boyfriend was standing next to me? “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?” He leaned against the wall. He wore a long-sleeve t-shirt and dark jeans. Black Keds were on his feet.

  I glanced at his PO box before I turned my gaze back to him. “You aren’t my new neighbor, are you?”

  “Guilty.” When he smiled, his eyes lit up in the same sexy way as before. “If you ever need a handyman, you know who to call.”

  “But…what?” This still wasn’t adding up. “Did you move next door to me on purpose?”

  “No. It was just a great coincidence.”

  More like a terrible coincidence. My house was so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake up every morning and see the man who broke my heart next door. That sounded like a nightmare, actually. “I don’t think our being neighbors is such a good idea.” I shut the door and walked away from him, needing a minute of space before I could really accept this. When I woke up that morning, everything felt normal. Now my world had been turned upside down.

  He followed me outside, and we walked down Dolores toward 7th. It was still early in the morning, so only the locals were outside. When the tourists arrived around lunchtime, the sidewalk would be packed on either side of Ocean. “I think it’s a great idea. We can start our own neighborhood watch.”

  “There’s no crime around here.” I read in the Pine Cone that they gave a woman a fine for dropping a donut on the ground. The cops in town didn’t have enough to do.

  “You can never be too safe, right?” With his long legs, he kept up my pace easily. We passed two women on the sidewalk, and they both looked at him, appreciating his rugged good looks. He hadn’t shaved yet, so a thick shadow was covering his chin. His dark brown hair was cut short toward the scalp.