She Welcomes a New Neighbor to The Building, Unaware He’s a Millionaire Falling Madly for Her
The Neighbor Next Door
Natalie Green was balancing a stack of grocery bags in one arm while fumbling for her apartment keys when the elevator doors slid open. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out, looking slightly lost as he scanned the hallway numbers.
He had dark, neatly styled hair, a chiseled jawline, and sharp blue eyes that flicked to her, pausing for just a second too long.
“Need some help?”
His voice was deep, smooth, and entirely too confident. Natalie shifted her bags and huffed a small laugh.
“I think I’m beyond saving at this point, but thanks.”
The man took a step forward anyway, reaching effortlessly for one of the heavier bags.
“Here, let me.”
He lifted it as if it weighed nothing.
“Wow, thank you,” she said, finally getting the door unlocked and nudging it open with her hip. “Are you new here?”
“Just moved in next door,” he confirmed, nodding toward the apartment beside hers. “Patrick Sutton.”
“Natalie Green,” she introduced herself, stepping inside just enough to drop her bags on the counter. She turned back to take the one Patrick was still holding. Their fingers brushed as she grabbed the handle, and for some reason, her pulse kicked up a notch.
“Nice to meet you, Natalie,” he said, his lips curving into an easy smile. “Seems like I lucked out with a friendly neighbor.”
She laughed. “Well, I do what I can. Let me know if you need anything—extra sugar, a fire extinguisher, noise complaints.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Patrick chuckled, his gaze lingering on her for a beat before he stepped back. “See you around, neighbor.”
Natalie watched him disappear into his apartment, shaking her head with a small smile. He seemed nice—charming in a way that didn’t feel forced. But she had other things to focus on: bills to pay and a job at the bookstore that barely covered her rent.
The last thing she needed was to get distracted by the ridiculously handsome new tenant next door. But fate, as it turned out, didn’t care about her plans. Over the next few days, Patrick kept appearing.
He held the elevator door for her and helped her carry boxes when she was reorganizing her closet. He even showed up at the bookstore where she worked, casually browsing the shelves until she noticed him.
“Are you following me?” she teased, arching a brow.
Patrick smirked.
“No.”
“Smiled,” she corrected herself.
“Just supporting local businesses,” he held up a novel. “Any recommendations?”
She glanced at the book in his hand. “That one’s good, but if you really want something gripping, try this.” She pulled a different title from the shelf and handed it to him. He took it, their fingers brushing again.
“I’ll trust your expertise, Natalie.”
Her stomach did something ridiculous at the way he said her name, but she ignored it. One evening after a long shift, Natalie found herself outside their building, struggling to unlock her door with a takeout bag and exhaustion weighing her limbs.
Before she could drop everything, Patrick was suddenly beside her, taking the bag without asking.
“You look like you need a break,” he noted. “Dinner plans?”
“Just me, my couch, and some terrible reality TV,” she admitted.
Patrick hesitated, then said, “How about some company? No pressure, but I make excellent conversation.”
Natalie hesitated. She knew him, but he had been nothing but kind and, honestly, she could use some company.
“All right, Sutton,” she said, unlocking her door. “But if you judge my TV choices, you’re out.”
He grinned. “Deal.”
As they settled in, eating straight out of the takeout containers, Natalie found herself laughing more than she had in weeks. Patrick was easy to talk to, funny, and dangerously charming.
What she didn’t know was that Patrick Sutton wasn’t just her kind, handsome neighbor. He was a millionaire keeping his identity under wraps for reasons she couldn’t yet imagine.
And what Patrick didn’t know was that despite his best intentions, he was already falling hard for the woman next door.
