More Than Neighbors by Isabel Keats Page A

seem to mind that his neighbor wanted to get rid of him. “Suit yourself, Catalina, but think about it. Sometimes you just have to face up to your fears.” With those parting words, he picked up his jacket, shoes, and socks, and, barefoot, made for the door. Before leaving, he turned and took her hand in his, gently holding it to his lips and kissing it. “Thank you, Catalina.”
    After he’d gone, Cat stood at the door in something of a daze. It was the first time she’d shown one of her paintings to anyone other than Diego; not even her best friend Fiona had seen any of her work. Why she’d chosen to give that honor to her uptight neighbor, she couldn’t understand, but she had been surprised by the spellbound look she’d seen in his eyes as he examined the painting. She was glad she hadn’t been wrong the first time she’d met him; now she was sure that under his cool and distant exterior was a man with a rich emotional interior.

CHAPTER 9
    Despite one or two of the actors forgetting their lines, and the lead character tripping over the sword he wore in his belt and falling headlong onto the stage, the play was a success. To celebrate, a group of teachers from the school, along with Catalina, Diego, Fiona, and her date, went to a restaurant. Fiona spent most of the evening flirting shamelessly with her friend, while Diego drank one beer after another. In the end, the redhead and her companion left together, and Diego offered to take Cat home. “Perhaps I should’ve taken you home,” she remarked, concerned, Diego swaying drunkenly as they stood at the front door of her building.
    “Don’t be silly, my angel, I’m perfectly fine.” Her friend stumbled over his words.
    “Do you want me to call a taxi?”
    “I think I can walk the three blocks to my house!” he replied, offended.
    “In that case, good night.” Catalina leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, but Diego, who was almost the same height, turned his head, and she was unable to prevent their lips from touching.
    “Cat . . .” He put his arms around her and squeezed her to him, his mouth becoming more persistent. Catalina put her hands on his chest and pushed him away from her. It wasn’t very difficult; her friend was so drunk that she almost shoved him to the floor.
    “Diego, I’m not Fiona,” she reminded him, trying to be patient.
    “I know that, Cat. Why do you think I’d like you to be Fiona? Fiona’s a witch. You, on the other hand, are beautiful and kind. Do you want to be my girlfriend, Cat?”
    “Lower your voice, Diego, you’re going to wake the neighbors.”
    “What do I care about your neighbors?” he shouted back. “Hear me, everyone! I’ve asked Cat to be my girlfriend!”
    At that moment, an empty taxi drove by, and Catalina hailed it. With some effort, she managed to put her friend in the backseat and close the door. Then she gave the driver Diego’s address and said good-bye, first making sure he had enough cash to pay for the ride. “Farewell, my angel!” Diego yelled, leaning half his body out the window and waving his arms frenetically as the taxi sped off.
    Catalina sighed in relief. She was about to enter her building when a menacingly large shadow appeared out of nowhere. Terrified, she pressed her lips together to stifle a scream, then almost instantly recognized her neighbor’s tall frame, as immaculate as ever. “Heavens, Leo! You almost gave me a heart attack,” she complained, her hand flying to her thumping chest.
    Her neighbor fixed his eyes on the young woman’s flushed lips, a clear sign they’d just been forcefully kissed. “I’m not surprised you didn’t hear me, Catalina—that was some scene with your friend,” he said with scorn.
    “What’s the problem? Have you never had a friend go through a rough patch? You have less empathy than the nail on my right big toe!” For the first time, Leopold had managed to make her genuinely angry.
    Crossing his arms, he shook his head in