Page 58 of I Knead You Tonight

“Don’t argue. Just think about it. It’s a serious offer. You and Riker can stay here as long as you need to until you get back on your feet. Move all your stuff in here. It’s not a massive house or anything, but we can make it work for the time being. Besides, this car repair will most likely cost a pretty penny, and going back to your apartment and saddling yourself with all those bills and rent is just going to set you further and further behind.” He lifts a shoulder and backs out of the room, still staring at me. “Keep that in mind while you’re thinking about it.”

He disappears, leaving me standing here with a million questions and just as many reasons why this could never work running through my head.

I can’t live with Winston.

I hate him too much to live with him.

We’d do nothing but fight all the time. He’d drive me crazy and I’d try to kill him.

There is no possible way this could work.

Unless we just kissed all the time, because I don’t seem to mind him then.

No!

I amnotthinking about it. Ican’tthink about it.

I’ve spent too much time over the last two days thinking about kissing him again. I can’t waste another second doing it.

With those thoughts off the table, I still can’t find a good reason for us to live together.

Well, besides all the ones he listed…the very compelling ones.

I start adding up my bills in my head. Then I tack on how much I’m ballparking the car repairs will cost.

I tally up all the diapers I’m going to need, the formula vouchers don’t cover, and basics just to get by.

At the rate I’m going, it looks like I’ll be broke forever.

Shit.

I think Winston’s right. I think itwouldbe a good idea if Riker and I moved in here.

I’d feel awful putting him out like this, but hedidoffer, and itwasgenuine.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I march toward the living room, ready to tell him yes.

Only my feet screech to a halt when my eyes land on the scene on the back patio.

Winston’s standing out there, one of those dreadful cigarettes in hand. Smoke is billowing around him, and although I think smoking is disgusting, I’d be lying if I said he’s ever looked sexier than he does in this moment.

His shirt is stretched over his broad, muscled shoulders. His jeans hang low on his hips, hugging his ass just right.

How is it possible he’s so attractiveandso annoying?

As if he can feel my eyes on him, he peers at me over his shoulder. Slowly, he turns, resting his back against the rail. He brings the cigarette to his mouth, the end turning a bright orange as he takes a long drag. My teeth sink into my bottom lip. I’ve never been so jealous of a cigarette in my entire life.

A new cloud of smoke forms around him, swirling with the old as he slowly releases it through his lips.

God, I feel like a fool watching him smoke and getting so turned on by it.

His mouth turns up in the corners, like he knows he’s affecting me.

Like he’s teasing me on purpose.

Stupid, sexy jerk.

I force myself out of the haze and march toward him, sliding open the glass door and stepping out into the cool night air.

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