Chapter 2

• It took Juliee several hours and she had only gotten to two things. Her bed and sofa. With a cute rug. She wondered why it took her so long but then she recalled rearranging the modular sofa 10 different ways before she was happy with the arrangement.
• She shouldn’t have so much fun moving sofa pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. Not to mention how long it took her to unbox each piece.
• She glanced at her new living room and though she wasn’t near done she already loved it. The cream color sofa with the vintage black rug. Her mother always used to say she was boring when it came to color.
• She still had a lot to do but she at least had a place to sleep before starting again tomorrow.
• Then her stomach growled. Protesting for food. “Alright. I’ll eat.” She muttered to herself as she walked into the kitchen when there was a knock at her door.
• Juliee curious goes and opens the door to find none other than her neighbor.
• “Hi there neighbor,” Christian says with a smirk.
• “Oh. Hi.” She says back.
• “I figured you were too busy with unpacking you probably hadn’t eaten.” He lifts a bag with food inside and on cue, Juliee’s stomach growls again. Making Christian laugh.
• “Thought we could get to know each other more over dinner.”
• “I’d like that. Come in, it’s a bit of a mess but I still have a counter with bar stools.” Christian gives her a smile before stepping in and heading straight toward the kitchen. He knew the layout of her apartment since it was the very same as his other than everything being on opposite ends.
• He pulled out the food he had brought and set it up for the both of them.
• “So. I never got your name.” Juliee says as she steps forwards grabs some utensils and sits in the chair right next to him.
• Christian begins to say a name that he typically uses when he meets a woman but then he opts to actually use his real name. One he doesn’t share all that often. “Christian.” He says with a smile.
• Juliee looks at him curiously wondering he that is actually his real name, considering it took him a bit to say it. But figures it doesn’t matter.
• “I’m Juliee. With two e’s.” She says and Christian chuckles.
• “It’s nice to meet you Juliee with two e’s.”
• Juliee smiles. “It’s nice to meet you too Christian.” They both relax as they open the food. “Thank you by the way for the food. I had gotten so busy I forgot.” She laughs.
• He gives her an amused look “I figured as much. So what do you do Juliee with two’s.”
• Julie holds back a laugh at the way he says it. “I’m an interior designer and a book editor,” I say.
• “Two jobs?” He asks curiously.
• She smiles. “Yeah. For a while one wasn’t making enough so I got the other one to help pay the bills. But eventually, I just liked doing both. They have separate times so it’s never too overwhelming or much for me. Plus both are mostly done at home. Though they both pay well enough for me to buy this place.” She says with a smile. “And you? What do you do?” She asks taking another bit of the food.
• “Ah. Me. I do stocks.” He says casually.
• “I don’t know much about that stuff.”
• “It can be complicated if you don’t but it makes me a living.” He says before taking another bit of his food. “Do you plan on keeping the place this way or updating it? The last tenant. Did some updates but eventually decided to move. They didn’t like me much.” He laughs at that statement. And it makes Juliee curious as to why.
• “I plan on updating it. A lot of it really. I have some people coming this week to do the floors and then imma start on the kitchen and that first room. I plan on making it an office library.”
• “A library. Do you read a lot?” Then he laughs realizing what he asked. “Never mind you edit books so of course you do.”
• “I tend to get a lot of the final copies of the books I help edit. But I do have a good collection of my own romance books I like reading outside of work. So yes I read a lot. When I’m not busy of course.”
• “Well, I’ll be curious to see what you make of the place. A lot of people here don’t do much but decorate. I think I was the only one to renovate here so it’ll be nice to see what you do.”
• “I can only imagine yours must be really nice,” she says.
• He gives her a soft smile. “I’ll show it to you sometime.” The way he says that only makes her muscles tense in her lower belly. She had been with a few guys over the years but lord does this man make her feel different from any of them? But though he seems nice and willing to talk there is also the fact she quickly picked up.
• He’s completely. Emotionally. Unavailable!
• It’s obvious with the way he talks but mostly by his body language. And after his little girlfriend paraded herself this morning to him. It’s clear. He doesn’t date. He has sex. Casually. And moves on. And she has a feeling she’ll be meeting quite a few more naked women while living next door to him. She might have to avoid her balcony some days.
• “Well, I'm glad we could meet and get to know each other a bit better. Juliee. With two e’s.” Juliee laughs when he says it again. That’s not going to get old. He gives her a smile before pushing himself up.
• Juliee walks him over to the door and watches him walk next door before punching in his code and heading inside with one last smile and wave.