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Just…no

Sad and soulful notwithstanding, this h, spandex is nice for highlighting…

Struck by sudden curiosity, and because I aroin

That’s right, I’iving the ht, a reclusive pervert is ht also be a tad sexually starved, since I avoid all physical, real-life human interaction

Just a tad

I walked paste in themy bottom lip between my teeth, I boarded the elevator and tried another picture; in this one, he was angled toward the , half facing the ca at ”

I ju in a startled breath, jostling the bag of takeout inmy phone to my chest I hadn’t realized that I was not alone on the elevator

I found hi at ood-natured, slits I recognized hiuously single next-door neighbor

Ale because he always had a date, but it was never the same lady friend twice

I didn’t blauy was a hot coner suit and Italian leather shoes that announced both power and wealth; a chiseled jaw beneath perfectly forht blue eyes, expertly spiked and shaped blond hair He looked like the type that subscribed to a beauty regimen I was pretty sure his eyebroere plucked and shaped by a professional

I guessti thirty; hard to tell with theof his appearance Add to all this a body that reminded me of a cyclist or a runner—lean and well-, and the females in Manhattan were helpless sheep

After two seconds of stunned staring, I ripped aze and blinked around the s

“Sorry,” he said, not sounding sorry; in fact, I was pretty sure he was trying not to laugh “Sorry I scared you”

I shook my head, my phone still clutched to my chest, and fixed my attention on the floor of the elevator

“It’s fine I was just startled,” I said, sing

We were quiet for a beat, but I could feel his eyes onto gauge howto have to share the elevator with Mr Aain “You’re Annie, right?”

I nodded, lance at hihbor Kurt” In my peripheral vision, I saw that he’d turned coain, at his friendly, easy slanced at the takeout bag in ht hand and the phone held toand say nothing

See, the proble a really well-paid hermit is that you have no incentive to ascribe to social niceties and norms My company loves ic I work I seldoo into the office—only Wednesdays and Fridays I have an office; I just prefer to work froo out in public, I walk five miles in the park every day, I love the Natural History Museum and visit once a week; as well, I frequent places where celebrities are typically spotted, so I can get shots for the blog Being a lurker doesn’t require social interaction Yes, I often people-watch, but I’ve long since learned to bury the feelings of envy at seeing scenes of hu an afternoon of co hands through the park

Therefore, if I speak—in person—to iven week, then it’s been an above-average week

Nevertheless, soht conte a wackadoodle recluse in my brain, but I could never fully cos, placed , and accepted his hand for a quick shake

But it wasn’t a quick shake His fingers tightened around aze was expectant, interested, his smile soft and really very attractive I ary as to why he ielding both in my direction

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Annie” He sounded like he meant it

I returned his smile as best as I could, felt my eyebrows lift on ether some time Get to know each other” He said these words in a rush, alht disappear before he finished speaking

“Yeah” I nodded, trying to mimic his intonation of sincerity “Sure We should do that”