Page 41 of Vegas Baby

Yep, she could definitely see herself living here.

And sleeping here.

With him.

Despite floor to ceiling windows that banked the back side of the house, the huge room closed in on her and she willed her pulse to slow down.

“Welcome. Sorry I couldn’t get the door. This dish is a bit more work than I anticipated. I hope you didn’t have a problem finding the place.” Dressed in jeans and a blue cotton t-shirt hugging the muscles of his arms, he leaned his hip against the black countertop.

“No, it’s pretty close to my place.” Except her entire condo could fit into this room alone. Feeling overwhelmingly shy, she inspected the black and white two-tone cabinets and bright blue backsplash that provided a welcome infusion of color. “Your house is gorgeous.”

“It’s a company house. It’s much easier to put up athletes and their families in a home than a hotel. Leo’s idea. Guy’s a genius.”

“What are you making?” She rubbed her palms down the soft denim of her favorite jeans, ones Trent insisted she wear because they made her ass look good.

He finished packing the mixture into the baking pan, picked up an index card, and handed it to her. “Mexican Black bean Quinoa Casserole. It’s one of those healthy meal kits.”

“Let me guess, Leo ordered it? She read the ingredients for the dish, forcing her mind to concentrate on anything but the man standing inches from her.

“Yes, it’s a food service that delivers weekly.”

“It sounds like he’d make a better wife than me,” she said.

“Granted, he’s efficient and anticipates my every need, but he’s paid to do that. While I’m sure some men might find him attractive, he’s not my type. He’s missing some critical body parts I value in a wife, so your title is safe for now.” He leaned in and brushed his mouth across hers, warm, soft and enticing before he withdrew.

“I’m glad to know I win by default.” Face heating, she glanced away, the impulse to kiss him again far stronger than she’d thought possible. Why not? He kissed you. Because if I kiss him back, I won’t stop. Once again, addiction raised its ugly head but this time she’d indulge to her heart’s content. When she was ready. Which she wasn’t. But she was tempted. Lord was she tempted.

“How are you feeling? Are you still having morning sickness?” he asked, placing the wooden spoon he’d been using to stir the food into one of the two dishwashers.

“Yes to the morning sickness, but I’m feeling okay tonight.” Now if she could get past this growing attraction for him, she’d be doing much better.

“I bought you some ginger ale, it’s in the fridge. And there’s three boxes of saltines if you need them. Sadly, my briefcase is out of commission, so you’ll have to use the trashcan,” he said with a cheeky grin.

She wrinkled her nose at his teasing, but she was touched by his concern for her health. Opening the huge refrigerator, she scanned the shelves stocked full of food and drinks and pulled out a flavored soda water. There was much more to their staying married than the baby and while she was falling hard and fast, it would behoove her to keep Article I permanently in the forefront of her mind. Falling in love with Howler was off limits. He’d made himself more than clear on the subject. Once the initial lust faded, mutual affection would remain. But would it be enough?

“We can keep ordering it or if you’d prefer to the do the shopping, you can.”

“Trent usually cooks.” She broke the seal on her water bottle and took a sip, the bubbles tickling her dry throat

“Your friend, Trent? Does he live in the same building?”

“He’s my roommate. I thought I told you.” Raina frowned at the crispness of his tone, and rolled the cool bottle between her damp palms.

“No, I don’t think you did.” There it was again, the sharpness to the statement that almost sounded like jealousy. Surely, he wasn’t jealous of Trent? Because if he was, that would become a big problem.

“Trent is my best friend. My gay best friend and roommate. Well, I guess he was my roommate and he’ll be my tenant if I move in here. She’d decided to keep her condo, a safeguard if things didn’t work out between them.

The stern cast to his jaw lessened and he nodded, turning his back to her. He opened the oven door and slipped the dish inside. He had a really nice ass and the worn jeans only emphasized his powerful thighs.

She took another sip of water, her internal temperature rising at the intriguing view and she shifted her gaze. “It’s really quiet here.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” He shut the oven with a soft click and he straightened, hands on his lean hips.

“A good thing. I have a loud neighbor and had a big fiasco with the condo board over the entire mess.” Small talk worked. Keep things light and your eyes at face level.

He cleared his throat and moved past her to the refrigerator. “Feel free to turn on the TV or the stereo, there’s an app on my phone. You should put it on yours. I’ll give you the codes.”

Watching his stilted movements, she licked dry lips. Good, she wasn’t the only one feeling awkward. “Brandi hated anything but classical music at dinner, not that we had dinner together much. No phones, just conversation, usually about her. When I was a kid, I hated it. Once I grew up, I can see the benefits.” Nannies raised Raina until Miller broke up with Brandi and she sent Raina away to boarding school. She’d resented it at the time but boarding school was the best thing to ever happen to her.

---