Sworn to Loathe You

Which one is the worst neighbor ever? It might be a toss-up. Melissa... Connor Harwood is a snoop, a bad neighbor, and a tree and grass killer. Oh, and probably a criminal. I can't forget that part. The fact that I find him to be the handsomest guy I've ever laid eyes on is completely irrelevant. I'll just have to keep a close watch while also ignoring his very existence. I can do both, right? Connor... Melissa Cooke is way more than I can handle right now, and most likely stalker material. I have to remember that. I will not be taken in by the way she looks in her elephant-print pajama pants while holding her little excitable dog. I will not...go...over...there.

Sometimes love is war. Clay... My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It's unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also, ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad's the boss? Yeah, she's so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I'll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts. Lauren... I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It's going on the list of things I've outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn't matter that I've caught Clay looking at me like he's a jewel thief and I'm a precious gem encased in glass. He'd never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad's asked for Clay's help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way.

She's bad at reading signals. He's sent all the wrong ones. Jenny... Of course, Noah would come back, and right when my life is a mess. I swear we had the best carpool friendship. Until he asked me out, then changed his mind, and then asked me out again, only to ghost me. I hate him so much. Almost as much as I love him and miss him, the old him before he became the worst ever. I don't know what to think, but I know what I'm going to do. I'm locking my heart in a vault where he can't reach it. My crush on him may have been obvious and embarrassing, but now that he's in carpool again, I'm making sure the only thing getting crushed around here are his hopes for a do-over. Noah... I'm the worst. I chose my job and my assignment over the best person I'll ever know. I have so many secrets I might as well be an international spy. Except there's nothing glamorous about me. Especially my career. I'm working in phone support just to be in Jenny's carpool again. It's not a great plan, but at least it's taking me in the right direction, towards a future with Jenny. This time, I'm not going to screw everything up. Hopefully.

Friends come and go. I wish this one would go. Sadie... I know Denver Talcott hates me as much as I hate him, but since we're sharing custody of the same friend, I can't get rid of him. Believe me, I've tried. Worse, he's now working at the same startup as me. My dream job cannot be his dream job, because my dream is to not see him on a daily basis. Denver... You wouldn't think a prickly introvert could also be a busybody, but it's possible. I've met one. Sadie raises my blood pressure with her mere presence, and she can't ever know that. She'd weaponize it. And then sell the recipe to other sadists. Plus, I have another secret-this pesky attraction I feel towards her. It's got to be one of those inappropriate reactions to stress, like when you laugh while being reprimanded, or see your to-do list and decide to take a nap. I'll be fine. It'll be fine. I just won't ever look at her. Except now we're desk mates at work...

It's not awkward unless we make it awkward. Carmen... I've forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don't care how much chemistry there is between us. I'm done with guys and their commitment issues, and I've found a way to make life a whole lot easier. I friend-zone them. Every single one. It's worked super well. Until now. Isaac isn't like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I've shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It's not the elephant in the room. It's his favorite joke. The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn't just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He's also winning me over, and I'm terrified. Isaac... I couldn't have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire. Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it's right there. I won't step across the line without her permission, but I'm not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means. Read the whole Sworn to Loathe You rom com series Worst Neighbor Ever - A Prequel I Hated You First - Book 1 Carpool Crush - Book 2 Not Friends - Book 3 Keep It Together - Book 4 Freelance Flirt - Book 5

Her business consultant has love on the agenda. Dean...Hitting on my best friends sister started as a way to make her laugh after her divorce, but its since morphed into real feelings. Karma is fun like that. Now I plan out ways to get her attention. I hold onto breadcrumbs pigeons wouldnt get excited about. But Grace doesnt take me seriously, because shes a single mom and Im a carefree bachelor. Someday shes going to see menot just as a buddy, or the business guy with money. Im her perfect match, and Ill prove it to her. Grace...Everyone loves Dean Kinney, including my seven-year-old daughter. But he's a shameless flirt, and I don't have room in my life for one of those. In fact, I go out of my way to keep his high-level charm at arm's length. Unfortunately, Dean is my go-to guy in an emergency, and right now I have one. My flower shop is in trouble, and I cant tell if the people wanting to buy it up are friend or foe. Despite asking me to rate his hotness level during a business meeting, Dean knows his stuff. I trust him with this. I trust him with everything. Just not my heart. Read the wholeSworn to Loathe Yourom com series Worst Neighbor Ever - A Prequel I Hated You First - Book 1 Carpool Crush - Book 2 Not Friends - Book 3 Keep It Together - Book 4 Freelance Flirt - Book 5 **All of Rachel John's books are closed-door romances sprinkled with flirty banter and swoony kisses only.**