Part 33 (2/2)

Thanks to Laura Bradford for being my chief ally and biggest fan, always.

So much appreciation for Bree Bridges, who shared her experiences with earning a computer science degree when you possess two X chromosomes. Any mistakes or liberties are my own.

I must also acknowledge the contributions of women who have shared stories with me over the years. Please know that your voices were heard and that I remember. I did my best to speak...because the world silenced you.

All grat.i.tude, respect and admiration to Donna J. Herren, Lauren Dane, Megan Hart, HelenKay Dimon, Tessa Dare, Courtney Milan, and Yasmine Galenorn for the unconditional friends.h.i.+p and sisterhood.

Karen Alderman and Majda Colak have been my beta readers for years. At this point, I have no idea how I'd write books without their input. Ladies, don't ever leave me.

Thanks to anyone who offered me a kind word when I needed one. And thanks to those who never kick me when I'm down. Thanks to the people who help restore my faith in the fundamental goodness of others.

Which leaves my family. I'm so proud. The fact that you believe in me is the only reason I've come this far, and I adore you all. Thank you for your patience.

Readers, you're always on my mind. I hope my words make you laugh a lot, cry a little-feel all the things-and that you close the book a little happier than you were. Thanks for supporting me, and as always, read on.

”A tender, sweet and s.e.xy story about how life-and falling in love-can never be planned.”

-Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You

If you loved As Long As You Love Me by New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre, be sure to catch the following two t.i.tles in her contemporary romance trilogy, available in ebook format: I Want It That Way

The Shape of My Heart (December 2014)

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CHAPTER ONE.

The first time I saw Ty, I fell down the stairs and tore my pants.

A superst.i.tious person might call that an omen. He had nothing to do with it, of course; that was just a quirk of timing. While Lauren and I struggled with the sofa, a guy I presumed to be a new neighbor came into the building. He had auburn hair, brown eyes and a strong jaw dusted with gold scruff. I'd always had a soft spot for gingers, probably a result of growing up on Harry Potter movies. He was also tall and lean with a sculpted, ascetic face, like an austere warrior who would be at home on the prow of a s.h.i.+p. Okay, it was possible I'd watched too many episodes of Vikings this week.

When he saw us wrangling such a heavy piece of furniture, he only sighed, stepped around the boxes cluttering the foyer and checked his mailbox. No greeting, no ”welcome to the complex.” I was halfway up the stairs to the landing, heaving my end of the sofa, when my hands slipped and the couch bounced away. I lunged for it, missed and came tumbling after. Lauren jumped aside like it was a sled on the slalom track, so the brown plaid monstrosity thumped ahead of me back down to the floor. The couch just missed slamming into the wall; I wasn't so lucky. In honor of moving day, I had on old comfy pants, and they'd been washed one too many times, judging by the audible rip as I bounced off the wall and landed at Lauren's feet.

She pulled me up, eyes wide. ”You okay?”

”Just bruises to pride and pelvis,” I mumbled.

She tilted her head at the workload awaiting us. ”Maybe we should wait for the guys to get back from their beer run?”

I surveyed the mess we'd created in front of the entrance and just outside, conscious that we were inconveniencing our neighbors. ”We can't really leave things like this.”

”I'll help you with the couch.” As greetings went, it wasn't the warmest. Grumpy Ginger strode toward us, rolling up the sleeves on his dress s.h.i.+rt to reveal very nice forearms: lightly tanned and dusted with auburn hair, lean but strong with prominent wrist bones. His hands appealed to me just as much, long-fingered and elegant, without being overly manicured. You know, if you liked that sort of thing. I was bad at estimating ages, but he was probably out of school, judging by the business casual he had on.

Belatedly, I realized I'd been studying him for thirty seconds too long. ”If you're sure.”

”It's fine. I'll walk backward and guide it up.”

”Thanks,” Lauren put in. ”We'd prefer not to commit soficular homicide our first day in the building.”

Since my back was to the wall, I escaped the ignominy of the new neighbor seeing my panda underpants. He slid by and hefted the sofa up a few stairs on his own. Lauren and I worked together, and it was much easier with him doing the heavy lifting up top. With a minimum of fuss, we maneuvered the couch up to the second floor, where GG paused.

”A or B?” he asked.

”B.” I should win the prize for hilarious banter.

Nodding, he helped us carry it down the hall and into the apartment. We'd left the door open since we had so little in there. Most of it was still cluttering the lobby downstairs. Max and Angus had taken off as soon as we got everything unloaded: my car, Angus's and the rental truck. After that, they were gone like the wind with the excuse that moving in would be more fun with pizza, cold beer and a buzz on.

”You're right above me.” He didn't look particularly happy about it, either.

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