Page 10 of Release Me

I get only a small grunt in response as she rips the cardboard sleeves off her yogurt and snaps the little containers apart to line them up neatly in two rows.

“I picked up towels at Walmart after work. They’re gray, so they won’t get mixed up.”

“I doubt that would happen, anyway. I don’t buy my towels fromWalmart.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her snotty tone andinstead turn my attention to the textbook on the counter. “You in school?”

“Yup.”

I flip open the cover. “For what?”

“My MBA.”

“That’s—exciting.” I pull my fingers away just in time as she slaps the cover shut and collects the textbook along with the others. Hugging them to her chest, she grabs her purse and stalks toward her bedroom.

“Hey, hold up.” I tack on, “Please?”

She slows with reluctance.

“This is dumb. Can we start over?”

“Why?”

“Because we have to live together?”

She peers over her shoulder at me, her eyes flickering down. I’m ready for the club, in black pants and a baby-blue button-down that hugs my torso. I don’t often dress in anything but jeans and a T-shirt, but when I do, I like to think I clean up well. “Did you really just break up with your girlfriend or was my brother talking out of his ass again?”

I falter at the unexpected question. “Yeah. A few months ago.”

“How long were you together?”

“Four years.” And the last thing I want to talk about in my new life is Tasha.

She snorts. “Wow. And here I was, crying over eighteen months wasted.”

“That’s a good chunk of time too.” This is good. We’ve found something in common—our broken hearts.I lean against the wall. “Why’d you guys end things?”

Her jaw tightens. At first I think she’s not going to answer. “He said he loves me too much and he’s not ready for that kind of commitment yet.” She pauses to chew her bottom lip in thought. “Do you think that’s some ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ bullshit?”

Yes. “Hard to say. You’ll probably find out soon enough.” With a line like that, my gut says the guy is already dick-deep in another girl. But I can’t tell Ryan that. “Tasha told me she needed some space to make sure she loved me.” I smile bitterly. “She hooked up with one of my best friends two weeks later.”

“Ouch.” Ryan slides off her glasses, cleaning the lenses with the hem of her T-shirt. When she glances up at me, I see hints of sympathy. “So, you moved down to Miami to what? Get over her?”

Get over her. Forget about her. Keep myself occupied until she decides she loves me again. That last one sounds about right. I couldn’t stand being in the same city as her, knowing she would be out with other guys. “I needed a change, and I’ve heard this city is the place to be.”

“If you’re like my brother, then it is.”

“I’m not like your brother.”

“I guess we’ll see.” Again, that shrewd gaze drifts over my body. She’s already seen me naked; I wonder if she’s picturing me naked right now.

Blood starts flowing south and I have to shift my stance, ever aware of how fitted these pants are and that they don’t hide raging erections well.

Her eyes widen, as if she caught herself checking me out. Standing taller, she says, “Don’t touch my stuff anymore. I’m weird about my space. I like things a certain way.” With that, she disappears into her room.

I heave a sigh, glancing at my watch again. I’m no longer tired; the five-minute exposure to her, first to her sharp side, followed by something softer, has my pulse buzzing. I need to get out of here.

Thank God, Connor plows through the door. “Two minutes! The ladies are waiting.”

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