Page 30 of So in Love
“Yep.Does the mess bug you?”
“Not really.”She’d grown up with man clutter.“I have three older brothers.”
“Same here.”
Right—Cam, Luke, and his half-brother, Dylan.“No wonder your mom suggests a housekeeper.”
“Actually, Luke is almost painfully neat.And Cam’s not far behind.”Jamie brushed his hair back from his forehead, then set about pouring rum in the mugs.“I, uh, have executive function issues.Not quite ADD, but similar.I don’t even really see a mess or clutter or whatever.But some people think I’m a slob—Luke for one.”He screwed the top back on the liquor bottle and looked over at her, gauging her reaction, which was just her staring at him.“I also lack a proper filter.Hence my word-vomiting all that.”He moved on to the next liquor—Kahlúa—and averted his gaze, but not before she saw his eye twitch with what she would call a wince.
She didn’t want him to feel awkward.“Yeah, well, filtering is overrated.Remember when I blurted to you earlier that I wanted to talk to you about sex?”
He chuckled, his eyes finding hers before he poured the Kahlúa into the mugs.“Good point.”He moved on to adding the third liquor, triple sec.
“I don’t think I’ve had that in Spanish coffee,” she said.
He gaped at her.“Are you kidding?You haven’t been to Huber’s in Portland?It’s a landmark.”
“Um, no?”
“For a history buff, you are woefully uneducated.Huber’s was founded in 1879—same year as your brick.”
It wasn’therbrick.“Really?That’s so cool.”
“They make the best Spanish coffee anywhere.It’s a huge production.The waiter rolls out a cart with all the ingredients.Then he—or she—puts on a show with all the liquor bottles and mugs—their arms moving almost like a dance.It’s kind of mesmerizing, actually.But the best part is when they light it on fire and then keep up the act.I’ve seen a guy drop a glass before.Luckily, nothing caught on fire.”He laughed again.
“Wow, that sounds incredible.I’d love to see it.”
“I’d love to take you, but that depends on if you plan to ignore me again.You did make a comment earlier about me not seeing any more of your underwear.Which would be really sad, by the way.”He pivoted and grabbed the pitcher from beneath the Keurig spout.As he poured the coffee into the mugs, he said, “I just want to be on the same page.”
She felt like an ass all over again.“I’m sorry about that.Really.I feel terrible.”Especially given their repeat performance tonight.She liked him.
“Don’t feel bad—none of that allowed.We don’t have any strings here, and that’s fine by me.I just want to set my expectations accordingly.We weren’t in much shape to do that New Year’s morning.”
Right.They’d been tired, a bit hungover probably, and eager to get home before they were spotted by any of the Archers.
He opened a drawer and drew out a spoon, then stirred the drinks.“Anyway, I just want to know if I should expect sex after you have dinner at my parents’ house.”
A laugh burst out of her.“Uh, maybe?Like I said, let’s take one sex act at a time.I will say I’m notopposedto that.”
He grinned.“Awesome.I feel the same.”He turned and went to the fridge, opening the door.He peered inside for a moment before reaching in and pulling out a can of whipped cream.“Yes!I was pretty sure I had some.”He checked the date.“Still good.Whew.”
Shereallyliked him.He was honest and funny and didn’t take himself too seriously, something so many guys in LA were guilty of.“Wait!Aren’t you going to set it on fire?”
He arched a brow at her, and she noticed he did it somewhat often.It was incredibly charming and only added to his appeal.“Icould, but I’m not an expert.”
“Then maybe we better stick to the whipped cream.”She gave him a saucy smile.“Just on the coffee?”
He sprayed it into the mugs and winked at her.“I like the way you think.”He handed her a mug and tapped his against it.“Cheers.”
“Can you say that with a British accent?I bet you can.”
“Cheers, mate.”He waited a beat.“Is that better?”
She curled her bare toes around the rung of the stool and sipped her coffee.“It’s fabulous.”
“Me or the drink?”
“All of it.”Heat and alcohol curled through her belly, mingling with a persistent flush of arousal.This guy was like sex crack.She giggled.
