Page 6 of Embracing Easy

Holy. Shit.

My eyes sweep down her body, taking stock of every detail from the blonde hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun to her emerald green eyes, rosy cheeks, and plump pink lips that were made to be kissed.

Fuck, I want a taste to see if they’re as sweet as I imagine.

This goddess is quite a bit shorter than the women I’m usually attracted to, but lord have mercy, she has curves in all the right places. I sink my teeth into my fist when my eyes hit the tops of her muscular tan thighs, showcased perfectly by the short cut-off denim shorts she’s wearing.

Christ Almighty.

“I…” she starts, drawing my attention back to her gorgeous face.

My lips twitch when I catch her checking me out just as eagerly as I was her.

I almost forget I was standing here in a towel, giving her the perfect view of my mangled leg until her eyes widen, and she takes a step back.

I’m used to the reaction; I was blown up for fuck’s sake, but for some reason, this reaction coming from her hits different, and my temper flares.

I’ve fought for my country, for our freedom—for her freedom—and I’ve paid a price.

“Take a fucking picture,” I growl, pissed off that the beauty banging on my door is like all the other superficial bitches I’ve come across since being discharged from the Army.

Her head flies up and her eyes widen. “What?”

Wanting nothing more than to get her off my porch, I cut to the chase. “Is there a reason you’re banging on my fucking door?” I know I’m being an asshole, but I’m fucking tired.

“Yes!” she blurts, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink that would be cute if she hadn’t already pissed me off. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting—” She bites her lip and shakes her head.

“A monster?” I snap.

“What!? No!” She shakes her head, her eyes closing before flying back open. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—and I don’t think,” she rushes out, flustered and grasping at straws. “I... Can we start over?”

I lift a brow. Start over? Fuck no. The only thing I want is for her to get off my porch.

“Hi,” she steps closer, reaching out her hand. “I’m Alexis Vale.”

I glance down at her hand then back to her.

Fuck it.

Sooner she tells me what she wants, the sooner I can finish my shower and get in bed. “Shawn Patterson, but everyone calls me Easy,” I tell her, surprising myself when I give her my government name as I take her small hand in mine to shake.

“Easy?” Her brows draw up.

Maybe if I tell her I like to fuck that would make her leave. “It’s a nickname my club gave me,” I say, rubbing at the back of my neck with my free hand.

I watch her closely, prepared for some kind of judgment, but surprisingly it never comes.

“It’s nice to meet you, Easy. My landlord told me I could pick up the key for my rental from my neighbor. I saw your light come on and thought maybe the neighbor he meant might be you.”

Now it’s my turn to lift a brow. I don’t have the slightest fucking idea what she’s talking about. “Key?”

“For the place next door,” she explains, pointing to the little flip house I just spent all day ripping the carpet out of.

“Uh, I think you must be confused. That’s not a rental.”

“It is. It’s my rental. Look,” releasing my hand, she digs into her front pocket, pulls out a folded piece of paper, and hands it to me.

My eyes go wide the second I open it up. There, in black and white, is a listing for the investment property I just purchased.

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