Page 52 of Idle

She blows on her fingers. “What can I say? I’m trickier.”

Adorable. Red danger signs go off in my head. I need to put more space between us. “Want to return to the ViewPad for dinner?”

“No way. The less time I spend there, the better.”

While I’m digesting her statement, the camera crew enters the living room. “You can stay in this apartment for however long you like, but you can’t do any more work in the primary suite until the morning.”

Paige salutes them. “Got it, captain.”

We all chuckle at her words, then they leave us. In this apartment.Alone. Stepping away from her and into the living room, I continue our conversation. “How about we get a pizza?”

She closes the French doors we installed when we did this room. “Sounds good.”

I walk into the living room to look for the box of menus, only to realize it’s in the ViewPad. “Shit. No menus here.” Her glorious face falls. “How about I go out and get us the pizza while you set up the dining area?” This will be good. Get outaloneand clear my head of all things Paige. When I return, I’ll be more able to ward off her advances.

“Great idea. Teamwork.” She walks to me and wraps her long arms around my neck. A breath away from my mouth, she whispers, “Mushrooms and extra cheese.”

I still. One movement and my lips will cover hers. Of their own volition, my hands close around her hips.Don’t pull her in.

All my hard-fought inaction is quashed when she presses forward and kisses me. With a groan of defeat, I pull her hips to mine and take what’s being offered. Her lips are like the best epoxy—strong but sinking in everywhere. Leaving no part of me untouched.

My hand slides up to the back of her head and tugs her tighter. Her moan of acceptance short-circuits my brain and my tongue delves into her mouth. Hers dances with mine in an erotic tango.

Her stomach gurgles in protest.

Returning to reality, I release her from my bold grip and step backward.

Her hand flies over her midsection. “Sorry!”

“I’ll get the pizza.”

Without turning back, I cross the living room and am out of the apartment in under a minute. When the door snicks shut, I open my mouth and exhale a long breath.This cannot happen again.

Throughout my trip to the nearest pizza place a block away, my mental running commentary exhorts me to put more space between Paige and me. After I place our order, I sit. The television tucked into the side catches my attention. Because I haven’t watched anything other than Renovation TV channels since filming started, I soak in NewsTime like it’s a novelty.

A story about the decreasing crime rate in the city is praised, the upcoming crowning of a new beauty queen hyped, and mention of the plight of the VOW-cubed executives is mentioned before Theo’s bestseller is reviewed.Good for him. I’m happy he found his happiness with writing. And he found his girl afterward. I smile, recalling the change Amelia caused in him. Which is replaced with a frown when I remember he met Amelia before he changed jobs.

At least Xander was set in his career long before he met Madison. Although after going to work for Madison, he’s not in his original field either . . .

Discarding these anomalies from the world view Homer instilled in me, one additional reason to steer clear of the designing beauty pops into my mind—she’s a New York City princess dealing with her father’s alleged crimes. Who needs the paparazzi stalking them?

I could protect her.

What?

No.

When my order is called, I add a six-pack of Guinness and bottle of red, take the box, and return to the building. Before I open the door to 1626, I give myself one last slap upside my head—figuratively—and enter.

The lighting in the room is dimmed. She somehow found candles to adorn the cozy dining room. And she’s wearing a breezy dress rather than her paint-splattered jeans and the belt that caused this morning’s uproar.

I’m so fucked.

17

Jesse

“Hi.” Her sultry voice wafts across the room and lures me inside.

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