Page 34 of Average Joe

Gesturing between us, I asked, “So, we’re good?”

“Sure.” She nodded toward the garage. “Everything okay? I heard some commotion.”

Arms crossed, I studied the concern in her gaze, then lingered on those freshly moistened lips, pink and ripe. “Just clearing the attic.”

“Find something you didn’t like?”

“You could say that.”

Marley dropped her purse on the car seat. “I’d offer to help, but I’m on my way out.”

“To a game?”

She looked down at her Mariner’s shirt, then back to me, crossing one Nike-clad foot over the other and shoving her hands into her back pockets. “Yeah.”

“Date?”

Brows pinched, she said, “No. Not really.”

“Not really?” I chuckled, hoping to hide my ire. “What’s that mean? It’s either a date or it isn’t.”

“None of your business.” The woman hit me with a feral glare, ready for a fight.

Murder crossed my mind. I wanted to hunt down and end the man who would sit next to her in the stadium, date or not. God, had I always been a possessive asshole?

I rubbed at the throbbing vein in my temple. “You’re right. Sorry. None of my business.”

We shared a moment of silence, gazes locked, hers slowly softening. With a nod, Marley turned back to her car and said, “See ya ’round, Joe.”

Frank’smake her feel youspeech suddenly made sense, and though I had no right, I could not let my gorgeous neighbor leave on a possible date without filling her to the brim with all the confusing shit in my head and chest.

Slamming a hand around her neck, I pulled her to me, her gasp an opening, and I captured that sweet mouth with a kiss that left no doubt about my intentions. Our tongues tangled, wrestling. Her body stiffened before melting against my vibrating muscles. I dug my fingers into that tender skin below her hairline, gripping tight, then coiled my other arm around her waist, holding her steady. Sweet Jesus, the woman moaned and damn near clawed through my shirt.

And as quick as I’d claimed her, she shoved me away, her strength mighty despite her size.

Lips parted, chest rising and falling, the red-faced woman hit me with a slap that made me see stars.

There she was, my little fighter.

Gloating wasn’t my nature, but I’d made my point, and I couldn’t help but smile despite the throbbing pain in my cheek.

Marley shook her hand and cupped it to her chest, bending at the waist. “Dammit! Ow. Is that jaw made of steel?”

I only laughed. Wasn’t the first time a woman had hit me. Was the first time I’d wanted more, though.

“What the fuck was that?” she asked, pink lipstick smudged.

“Have fun on your date.” I chuckled, turning to leave.

No way in hell she’d be touching another man without thinking about that lip-lock. I was in. Our kiss would rattle around that crazy brain of hers all night.

What a marvelous goddamn feeling.

* * *

Shopping sucked, seriously. Lock me in a room full of sugar-fueled toddlers or drop me naked into a pit of starved lions, but a busy supermarket? No, thank you. Unfortunately, a man needed food and the basics, so the earlier I got the unpleasant excursion out of the way, the better. Six AM was prime time.

My game plan? Get in. Get out. Don’t waste energy on pleasantries or eye contact. If Mrs. Cataract Surgery with dark glasses cut me off on aisle nine with her motorized cart? No problem. Turn around and get on with business. Canned soup could wait ’til next week.

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