Page 13 of Sack

“All I’m saying is, you could do worse.”

The knock at the door gave her the excuse she needed to drop the subject. Her heartbeat quickened, and she snapped, “Go put on a shirt.”

“Aye, aye, captain.” He threw in a heel click and salute for good measure.

“Just do it,” Ivy hissed and made for the door, praying Jason would stay in his room. Not one to miss the opportunity to gawk at a hot guy or rub elbows with a celebrity, she doubted he would, but one could hope.

She opened the door expecting P. Colton. She got Colt. Old, faded jeans that probably felt like butter.Notthat she would be checking to find out. A white,Disarmsmile t-shirt—surprising her he was a Smashing Pumpkins fan—covered with a black, leather jacket. And at least a day’s worth of growth along his jaw, making him a little scruffy and a lot sexy. It was a very nice look and the complete opposite of hers.

“Well, kriff.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled, debating whether she should go upstairs to change and deciding she was definitely going to.

He was staring at her, and she realized he was waiting for her to say or do something. “Hello.” No, too formal. “Hi.” Better. “Um, would you like to come in?”

And the awkward award goes to…

He stepped over the threshold and instantly scanned the room. “Nice place.”

“Thanks. I like it, though I’m sure it’s not what you’re used to.”

A line appeared between his brows. “What makes you think that?”

Oh, poodoo, had she offended him? “I just figured, being a big-time celebrity and all, you must live someplace really nice. You know, like a mansion or something.”

She grew uncomfortable under his stare, shifting her weight from one foot to the other until finally, she took a deep breath ready to blurt another round of nonsense.

Thankfully, he saved her from that embarrassment by speaking first. “I liked it better when you didn’t know who I was.”

That threw her, and she frowned.

“You were the real you then. Now I make you nervous.”

“I hate to tell you this, but other than the slight flutter in my stomach, this is the real me.”

“No, it’s not. I want the woman who was brave enough to stick up for herself.”

“That’s me when I lose my temper. Otherwise, I’m really a big dork.”

He shook his head and eyed her pink hair that now sported the dark-burgundy highlights she’d added that morning. “A little eccentric maybe, but too cute to be a dork.”

Did he… Did he just call her cute? Then to prove her point to the world that she really was a big dork, she spouted, “But not nearly as cute as you.”

She dropped her head, closing her eyes, praying the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Instead, she got Jason’s belly laughter filling her ears.

Someone kill her now, please. Or better yet, kill Jason.

Chapter Four

Colt

Colt turned his head at the sound of laughter. The same guy from yesterday stood in an open doorway, shoulder leaned against the jamb, barefoot, wearing shorts and a tank. So, he lived there. Colt wasn’t sure why that thought bothered him so much even though Ivy had said he wasn’t her boyfriend.

“I see you put your foot in your mouth again.”

Colt’s hackles rose. Who was this asshole?

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