Page 25 of The Best Wrong Move

Our hands meet somewhere in the middle, mine disappearing into his once again, and I briefly wonder if he felt a zing of anticipation up his arm like I just did.

I pull my hand back first, then turn toward the door. If I stay here much longer, we might have a hard time staying in neutral — ormostlyneutral — territory.

“I’m going shopping.”

I’m not in the right mindset to work on my script today, and the cutest dress I brought with me is currently crumpled up on my bedroom floor with a big orange blob across the crotch from that rogue chicken.

“Atta girl,” he says appreciatively, flashing me another look that makes everything in me flush deeply. “I’ll finish up here and be gone before you get back.”

He turns back to the window, reaching both arms up over his head again to measure the top of the vaulted window frame. A solid four inches of his bare torso comes out to play. I haven’t been in the habit of checking out any other men in recent years, but now I can’t look away. And if I’m being honest, I really don’t want to.

You’re single now, I remind myself.Look all you want.

But he turns — catching me in the act of ogling him. I shift my eyes away before he can see me blush.

Too late.

“By the way.” He pauses until I meet his eye. “I meant what I said about Juju. She doesn’t hold a candle to you.” My joints turn to Jell-O, making my limbs suddenly feel heavy and warm. “And in case you’re wondering...” He waits again to make sure I’m looking right at him. “I could see it written all over Rex’s face that he knows it too.”

“Whatever.” I turn toward the door so he can’t see how red I’ve become. I don’t know what else to say. “Thank you, by the way, for getting over here so quickly to hang those up.”

“Nah, don’t thank me. I should be more involved in these rentals.” He grins at me over his enormous shoulder before turning back to his project. “At least with this particular one anyway.”

Then Dom’s drill screams to life, ramming thick screws into the drywall, his biceps springing to life overhead. I quickly shut the door behind me, fighting the urge to spy on him just a little bit more.

I’m excited. For the first time in weeks, I have plans that don’t involve hiding.

Chapter 16

Whether it’s the humidity of the island, or the heat from my conversation with Dom, I’m suddenly roasting when I make my way down the driveway toward the strip of stores I spotted yesterday. I pull out my phone to shoot Abby a text while I walk.

Met Rex’s girlfriend. Going to drinks with Dom tonight. The girlfriend and Dom are both hot as hell. What do they put in the water here?

I fan myself as I wait for the three little dots on her side of the text thread to turn into words.

Rex has a girlfriend already? WTF??? And I thought we hate Dom?

I smile down at the screen.

Dom could be Jason Momoa’s twin. We definitely don’t hate him. And we have a plan to make Rex jealous. Going shopping. Stand by so you can help me decide which outfit is respectably slutty enough??

I immediately send another.

Wish you were here xo

My phone pings again. I hop over a pothole in the sidewalk, then pause to read it.

Wish I was too, but that might get awkward when you’re shacking up with Dom later??Forget about Rex & do something wild. Just for you xoxo

Once again, Abby is right. About everything, really. Maybe this trip was a good idea after all.

* * *

I crack a bedroom window while getting ready so I can hear Dom when he arrives. I don’t want to keep him waiting too long, and if I’m being really honest, I also want to hear Rex stumble through greeting him again when he realizes why the hottest guy I’ve ever seen is back at the townhouse to pick me up.

Right at five o’clock, Rex and Juju emerge from their side for their little happy hour ritual on the deck. I peek out the blinds just barely to see them leaning up against the rail, looking out at the view, with two mai tais in their hands. A pitcher and extra glass sit on top of the side table beside them. My stomach jolts when I realize Juju must have brought the extra glass out for me, in case I decided to join them after all. She genuinely seems sweet.

I drop the shades back into place, not wanting to be noticed.

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