Page 15 of The Stud Next Door (Frisky Business 3)
When she bends over a cardboard box to read the label, I catch the sight of black panties before I can force myself to look away. Hot damn.
“This place is a wreck right now. Want the grand tour?” I ask, gesturing to the door. The shop is bigger and has better air flow, and I’m counting on it to clear my head.
“Sure,” she chirps, spinning around.
When she passes me, I can smell the floral scent of body lotion on her skin. Suddenly, I’m accosted with images of Jessa naked, fresh out of the shower and bending down to rub scented lotion over one long leg and then the other.
Since when have I turned into a teenager who can’t stop thinking with his dick?
After handing Marley off to the guys for quality uncle time, Jessa and I spend almost an hour walking around the shop, making pleasant conversation. She has a lot of questions about the business itself, which I much prefer over the usual “What does this one do?” The less I have to explain the mechanics of sex toys to the nanny I want in my bed, the less likely I am to imagine using them with her. Well, at least not while she’s right next to me.
A little while later, Jessa and Marley set off for home, and I finish the rest of the afternoon in a distracted state. Thankfully, Hayes doesn’t ask any more questions about my love life, but I can tell they’re on the tip of his tongue.
By the time I make it home late that afternoon, Marley’s napping again, and Jessa is standing at the sink, wrapping up a couple of chores.
“She’s sleeping again?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen.
Turning, Jessa gives me a warm smile. “Yup. I think our outing today tired her out.”
“Really?”
Jessa nods. “But I think she liked seeing you during the middle of the day.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you guys stopped by.”
Neither of us says anything else for a long moment.
I normally enjoy a comfortable silence, but with today’s events, I have to clear the air. But before I can say anything, the very words I’m thinking about come tumbling from Jessa’s mouth.
“I just want to say that I’m really sorry about earlier,” she says carefully, her voice concerned.
I glance over to find her turned toward me, examining my expression. Jessa looks so legitimately worried that I can’t help the smile that breaks out across my face. “Sorry about what? You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Caleb led me to the back room, and when he opened the door—”
“Seriously, Jess. You have nothing to worry about. Caleb, on the other hand, got a minor beating from Hayes.”
“Are you serious? I must have missed that.” Jessa laughs, snorting a little.
She’s so fucking cute.
I lean against the counter, relaxing a bit. “Yeah, so don’t worry. It’s all good.”
See? That wasn’t so hard. But when Jessa speaks again, my heart drops.
“I guess I just . . .”
Fuck, I guess we’re not done with this conversation.
“It seems so unlikely. You’re so attractive. And young and single. And you’re a great dad.” She states all of these compliments as facts, completely unaware of how they affect me. But her words do affect me—a slight buzz hums through me at the idea that Jessa finds me attractive, that she thinks I’m a great catch.
In my experience with women, I’m used to playful banter and the never-ending back-and-forth. It comes with the territory of having a little sister and several female friends. I don’t know how to handle someone who gives out compliments like candy on Halloween.
“Thank you,” I murmur, grateful to see that Jessa’s focus is back on the bottles and nipples she’s arranging on a drying rack on my kitchen counter, and not on my awkward fucking face. Because I don’t know whether to smile or play it cool.
“I mean it,” she says solemnly. “You’re a total catch.”
Am I fucking blushing? Jesus Christ, Connor, pull yourself together. A cute girl gives you a compliment and you’re red in the face? Is this middle school?
“I don’t know about that.” I duck my head to rub the back of my neck, hoping she’ll let up on the deluge of affirmations.
Don’t get me wrong, I like them and all. It’s just making it hard to respond like a normal human. I was serious when I told Hayes it had been a minute.
“Oh, come on.” Jessa scoffs, turning toward me again, her expression serious. “If you ever wanted to go on a date,” she says, and my heart clenches, “and need me to watch Marley for the night, just let me know.”
My heart sinks. She’s not fucking interested, man. Get it through your thick skull.
“No, I’m good,” I grunt out, coming off more curt than I mean to.
