Page 20 of A Billionaire Rebel

He toweled off his hair and then did his best to dry his clothes too.

“I’d offer you something dry to wear, but there’s a slight size difference between the two of us.”

He gave me a crooked smile. “I appreciate the thought, nonetheless.”

“Please, come sit.” I gestured toward the kitchen table. “The electricity’s out, but I can get you something to eat or drink.”

“I’m fine,” he said as he moved to sit down. “Actually, if I’m being honest, I’m not really hungry.”

“Well, I just made these red velvet muffins, and you’re welcome to have some if you change your mind.” I brought the plate over to the table and set it in front of him. “I’m sorry about your friends.”

“Thank you.” He reached out and put his hand on my wrist.

A jolt went through me, and I caught my breath. Suddenly, I was all too aware that I was only wearing a pale yellow chemise top and a pair of boy shorts, putting only the thinnest of cotton between us.

“You didn’t need to send flowers, or write what you did,” he continued, his thumb brushing back and forth on my skin. “And I appreciate that you were thinking of my friends’ families when you took the flowers to my brother instead of the hospital.”

“It was Starla’s idea,” I admitted. “Both the flowers and taking them to Holden Enterprises.”

“TheP.S. in the card was from you, though.”

I nodded, my body humming with tension. I didn’t know if he realized he was still touching me, but it was almost all I could think about.

“Thank you,” he repeated.

When he let me go, I sank down in my chair, hoping the light was dim enough that he couldn’t see my hands shaking. I’d never had such a strong, physical reaction to someone before. Not a positive one, anyway.

He broke off a piece of muffin and ate it, his face lighting up as he chewed. “This is amazing.”

It was my turn to thank him. “Eat as much as you like. I made plenty.”

I took one of my own, and we ate in comfortable silence. The food helped my stomach stop doing flips, and I regained my composure. He hadn’t come here to just thank me for the flowers. He could’ve done that in a dozen different ways. A thought occurred to me, and I frowned.

“Can I ask how you knew where I lived?”

“Oh.” He sounded embarrassed. “I went to the music store, and you weren’t there. Your boss gave me your address.”

My eyebrows shot up. Starla had given my home address to someone? Okay, he wasn’t just anyone, but it wasn’t like he was my boyfriend or something like that either. Just being famous didn’t mean he was a good guy, even though everything I’d heard suggested just that.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, scowling. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I shouldn’t be here.”

He made as if to stand up, and I put out my hand to stop him. His arm jerked when I made contact, but he didn’t pull away, making me wonder if he felt the same electric connection I did.

“It’s okay. Starla’s a good judge of character. I trust her.” I stood. “Besides, I wouldn’t have let you in if you being here bothered me.” I went to the fridge. Despite my previous thought about keeping it closed, I needed something to drink. “Do you want some milk to go with the muffin?”

“Sure,” he said. If my change of subject had surprised him, he didn’t show it. “Thanks.”

I’d just set his glass in front of him when I stepped right on a small puddle of water. Before I could stop it, my foot slid out from underneath me, and I found myself being unceremoniously dumped into Damon’s lap.

Fortunately for me, he had good reflexes and caught me before I rolled right off onto the floor.

“Are you okay?”

Wow. He smelled really good. Like I wanted to put my face against his neck and just breathe him in until he was the only thing I could smell.

“Jae?”

I blinked, my name processing where his question hadn’t. “I’m okay. I just slipped.”

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