Page 30 of Until We're More
“Push deeper into the pose and hold it,” an unfamiliar female voice said, and I stepped out of the hallway to see Chelsea in tight yoga pants, her ass up in the air, her hands down on the mat.
I froze, and every ounce of my blood rushed south.
Living with a girl was going to be the fucking death of me.
…
I sat on the couch, drinking a beer as Chelsea’s high-heeled footsteps rushed down the hall, then back toward the living room, and then she’d swear and they’d retreat before growing louder again.
“Okay, I think I’ve remembered everything.” Nervousness filtered into her voice. “How do I look?”
I didn’t want to see, because I knew how she’d look—like the woman I didn’t want going out with anyone else.
Just get it over with. A quick glance and—
She stood there between the living room and kitchen, the light over her head illuminating every tempting inch of her. There was nothing quick about the way I drank her in, from her pulled-up hair and how it exposed her neck to her purple dress and the high heels that gave extra definition to her killer legs.
No surprise, she looked sexy as hell. In need of a proper kiss, for sure, and everything about her practically demanded I push up her skirt and take her against the wall.
Yeah, that scenario in the shower was nothing compared to where my imagination had strayed since, and now it was getting even more ideas.
She smoothed a hand down her skirt, bending enough for me to get the slightest glimpse of cleavage. “Is it too much? I’ve never been to a swanky club with a dress code.”
Of course the guy was taking her somewhere fancy. Somewhere I’d never be caught dead.It’s good for her. She’s never gotten to go to those types of places before, and I’m certainly not going to be taking her.
The knock at the door sent her eyes wide, the frantic energy that’d been radiating off her returning.
“You look amazing,” I said, and she smiled. Red lips and a teasing of teeth that shot me right through the heart. “You want me to get the door?” I scooted to the edge of the couch and stood. “You can make a grand entrance.”
“No offense, but I don’t trust you not to scare the poor guy off.”
Solid instincts on her part.
She took two steps toward the door and then spun back around. “Oh shoot, I forgot to brush George’s teeth. George? Kitty-kitty?” She waited, but the cat didn’t show his face—smart cat. “He’ll probably be asleep by the time I get home, and I know it’s just one day, but I didn’t have time this morning, and his gingivitis has gotten so much better since I’ve been brushing them. He’s such a stickler about his schedule, too, and he—”
The knock was louder this time.
“I’ll brush his teeth.” Since I’d already admitted to being a sucker for the girl, I shouldn’t be surprised I’d offered before thinking it through, but then my words caught up with me, and I immediately wanted to take them back. I was going to sit here and mope and brush her cat’s fucking teeth while she went out? Great plan.
“Are you sure?” she asked, the uncertainty in her tone clear.
Here was my chance to say,Nope. I take it back.“I’m sure.”That I’m a pussy.
The relief on her face took away caring about it, though. She rushed over, leaned across the armrest of the couch, and kissed my cheek, leaving my heart thumping way too hard. “Thank you.” Her heels clacked as she strode to the door and swung it open. “Hey, Kevin.”
He gaped at her—lucky bastard. “Wow. You look…wow.”
I stood and worked on not staring at him the way I had in the bookstore, but seriously, how was I supposed to entrust her protection tothisguy? That day he’d run without making sure she was okay first.
“Hi, Kevin,” I said, and he gulped. “Have her home by eleven.”
“He’s kidding,” Chelsea quickly said, shooting me a look, and I casually took a swig of my beer. “You remember Liam. My roommate.”
Roommate?Not that it was inaccurate right now, but it was fucking inadequate.
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck, making eye contact with my chest instead of me. “Right. Yeah. Hi.”
I didn’t bother responding to that.
