Page 20 of Coerced

It was the best thing I’d ever done for myself.

And after years of putting everyone else before me, I was proud of taking this step to start my life over. I could leave the past behind me and find a better future.

At the thought of brighter days ahead, I got up from the couch, moved to say goodbye to Sasha, and walked out the door.

I was in my driveway and had nearly made it to my car when it happened. A barking dog pulled my attention in the direction of my neighbor’s house, and a movement had my eyes shifting toward the ground.

The dog was charging at me.

Maybe in another scenario, I might have been terrified to have this happening, but it was difficult to feel intimidated when a Pomeranian was the dog making its way toward me.

The pup made it to within a few feet of me, barking nonstop, and wound up reconsidering his plan. While he continued to bark, clearly feeling the need to put me in my place, he took several steps back from me.

My eyes were pinned on him, and I was caught offguard when I heard a masculine voice exclaim, “Brutus, get over here!”

I glanced up and saw my neighbor jogging in my direction. My unbelievably handsome neighbor.

The corners of my mouth tipped up as my eyes landed on him.

I might not have lived in my new house for very long, but in the short time I’d been here, it was safe to say I’d spent more time than was reasonable, looking out the window whenever he arrived home in the evenings.

His name was Paxton.

Paxton Fields.

He had short dark hair. No, not dark. Black. He had jet black hair that was slightly longer at the very front and top of his head. He wore that part spiky, but the rest of it had been buzzed short everywhere else. He had an angular jawline, dark brown eyes, and he was fit.

God, he was fit.

He was wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt now, but he looked incredible. Not only was it obvious he worked out regularly and was strong, but my eyes were also drawn to his arms, because his entire left arm was covered in colorful tattoos that I wanted to inspect up close.

And while he was taller than me, I was sure he was just shy of six feet.

I met Paxton two days after I’d moved into the new house. I’d just gotten back from running an errand, and he was leaving. We exchanged a few nice words, and he welcomed me to the neighborhood.

That was it.

That was all it had been.

But I’d seen him leaving in the morning or cominghome at the end of the day on several occasions. He was nice to look at.

“Brutus, that’s enough,” Paxton said as he came to a stop and bent down to pick up his dog before lifting his gaze to mine. “I’m sorry about that. You aren’t afraid of dogs, are you?”

I shook my head. “No. Not at all.”

“Okay. Good. I promise, this guy is all bark and no bite. He just likes believing he’s in charge of everything,” Paxton shared.

I smiled. “Is that where he got his name?”

Paxton chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”

“I think it’s great. He certainly doesn’t look like a Brutus, but he’s got the heart of one.”

“Thanks. He’s the rowdiest of the bunch.”

My brows shot up in surprise. “The bunch? Are you telling me there are more?”

He nodded. “Yep. When it comes to the dogs, there’s Brutus, Patty, and Tiny.”