Page 24 of Down & Dirty

Making her way over to the other side of the room, she lowered carefully into the armchair and brushed the hair from her face. “You? Not good at something? I don’t believe it.”

A deep laugh busted out of me. “There she is. Thank god. I was worried you were actually going to be nice to me for a change.”

Her glassy eyes held mine. “Iamnice to you,” she said, before taking a drink. “You just don’t understand what that looks likebecause you’re so used to every woman fawning all over you and making you think you’re god’s gift.”

“And you’d sure as hell never do that, would you?”

She yawned. “Not even if you paid me.”

I laughed, but something in my mind snagged on that idea, like a record scratching. It was the faintest whisper, but it was there; that maybe we both had solutions to our problems staring us in the face.

When I looked back up at her, she’d closed her eyes, gripping the arm of the chair like she was fighting the spins. I looked around at the stark apartment and realized there was nothing here she could ruin if she puked, so I didn’t ask if that was what was wrong. I sure as hell wasn’t going to risk upsetting her again.

Just as I was about to ask her one more time for her address, she set the water down and tucked her legs beneath her on the cushion. She curled herself into the tiniest ball I’d ever seen, practically disappearing into the corner of the chair. Her hair fanned out over the arm, draping down in a sheet of silky blond strands.

“I just need one sec,” she said, her eyes still closed.

I hummed in agreement, oddly happy to see her relax. The sadness and frustration left little lines around her eyes and mouth, but as they smoothed out, she looked almost peaceful.

We stayed like that for a few minutes. And then a few more. It hadn’t felt very long, but by the time I realized she was asleep it was nearly midnight and I had no desire to try and sort out where she lived to get her home.

Sleeping all night curled up like a cat was going to wreck her neck, so I rolled the dice and decided to move her into the bedroom. Considering how much tequila she’d had, I wasn’t surprised when she barely roused at the feel of my arms sliding under her. I braced for a snarky remark, but instead she tucked herself into my neck, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Carefully, I lifted her into the air, making sure I didn’t knock her into the doorframe as we made our way down the hall. I was fairly certain she’d have something to say about me enjoying thistoo much, as if I was some gropey guy taking advantage of the situation.

And she’d be half right.

I didn’t mind having her in my arms. Or how her soft curves fit against my body. I didn’t mind the sweet scent of her that she was leaving on my shirt, or the gentle sigh that escaped as I set her down in my bed. But the only reason I enjoyed any of it was because she was too passed out to be giving me shit. Had she been awake for any part of this sweet little moment, I’m sure she’d have ruined it for me. She seemed to know no other way.

Once she was set down, I slipped off her shoes and pulled the covers up over her. The split second I’d considered getting her out of her tight jeans had me laughing; I didn’t have a death wish.

But what I did have was renewed hope that I could turn things around with this whole Nicki mess. Because, as I backed out of my bedroom to spend the night on my couch, I took one last look at Skylar, sound asleep in my bed, and I knew we were a match made in heaven.

CHAPTER 10

SKYLAR

The pounding. Could someone please stop the pounding?

Of course no one could. No one but Skylar from twelve hours ago by not having three margaritas on an empty stomach. God.What was I thinking?

I’d hardly known where I was when I finally pried my eyes open. But it all came back to me in a vomit inducing rush when the first thing that slid into focus was Cory Ellis’s smiling face.

“How long have you been watching me?” I groaned, my voice like sandpaper, as I pulled the blanket up over my head to hide.

Cory’s laughter drew closer and I tensed. “If I said all night, would you consider that sweet or creepy?”

I heard a gentle thump and peeked out to see the mug of coffee he’d set on the nightstand. The knot of anxiety in my chest loosened ever so slightly at the gesture. “What do you think?”

“Well, if you said anything but creepy,I’dbe creeped out.” His laughter was too easy, too light. Why was he in such a good mood?

I must have looked like a train wreck. Mascara everywhere, hair a mess, and judging by how cemented shut my eyes were, the crying I’d done last night would have left my whole face swollen. I wasn’t a particularly vain person, however, the idea of puttingall that on display for a man who regularly dated actual supermodels made me feel a bit vulnerable.

I couldn’t ask him to leave his own place, right?

Sucking it up, I shoved the blanket away and sat against the pillows, reaching eagerly for the coffee. Maybe a swift injection of caffeine would help bring the swelling down.

“I didn’t know how you took it.”

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