“Dex…”
“Hey, blame yourself. Who the hell doesn’t lock their doors at night?” He frowned at her. “That’s not safe.”
“I thought I had. I usually do.” But she’d been flustered at thoughts of what he might do if she avoided him. She didn’t want to go out with Dex, because she did. She was just perverse enough to torture herself by going after unattainable guys. Handsome, rich, funny Dex definitely qualified as above her pay-grade. She’d stick to poor bad boys, thank you very much.
“Maya.” He sighed. “What’s our deal?”
“You make it sound like this is something we both agreed to. You blackmailed meagain, you bastard,” she muttered, though the fact he’d been underhanded enough to coerce her into a date showed he had promise. Not so good after all.
“Hey, I’m not the one who punched Selena Thorpe in the face. I’m just a helpless witness, who may or may not have a selective memory.”
“Helpless, my ass.”
He grinned. “And though it goes against my trustworthy and honest nature—” he ignored her snort of derision “—I’ve agreed to lie for you. That whole ‘Selena walked into a door and broke her nose’ bit is pretty thin. But for you, I’ll say it.”
“You’re lying for who, exactly?” He wanted a date. Correction. He wantedtendates where they’d go out in public and hold hands. Emotional romantic crap. Maya had better things to do. Or so she kept telling herself.
“I lie foryou, my lovely victim.” He leered, and she coughed to hide a laugh.
“You already fibbed to the cop that asked about Selena’s story. Now if you admit to the cops that you lied, you’re in trouble too.”
“Not according to Selena.” His knowing smile irked her, because she knew Selena would do anything but get Dex in trouble. Selena would persuade Dex to come to the dark side. No doubt the skank would make sure she got some quality sack time with him in the bargain. Any heterosexual woman with a pulse would jump the guy.
And that, right there, was a sign for Maya to watch her step.Shedid the seducing. She held the power in her relationships. With Dex, she had a feeling she’d be the one taking commands, not giving them. She clung to her denial. “I still don’t think anyone will believe her over me, even if you back her up.”
“Yeah, but it won’t just be me. It’ll be Anson too.” His cousin, another prick she and her friends had to deal with now that he’d moved back to town.
“I still don’t get it. You’re lying for a date. With me.” What did Dex really want, apart from annoying her? It had to be sex.
“Not justadate. Ten dates.”
Shoring up her courage, she plunged in. “Look, why don’t we just get this out of the way. We’ll screw, then you’ll have what you want and I won’t be wasting my time with you.” Her body sang at the thought of getting Dex under her, but she put on her bored face, trying not to seem too keen on the idea.
He watched her, his gaze moving over what seemed to be every flipping bubble in her bath and ending on her sore hand. “How are those knuckles doing, baby?”
She wanted to show him, fist to nose. Typical of him to ignore what he didn’t want to answer. “They’re fine,baby.”
“Riley said they’re bruised and that you can’t make any new clay pieces for a while.”
“When did you talk to Riley?”
He shrugged, sat on the edge of the tub—waytoo close—and didn’t even pretend not to stare at her body. “I went to visit Anson yesterday and stopped next door at her place for a cupcake. That girl can bake like nobody’s business.”
“Yeah, I know.” She had half a loaf of decadent pumpkin bread in her freezer. Just in time for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. That’s if she didn’t go to jail for killing Dex first.
“So, about your offer…” He trailed a finger in her bathwater and skimmed her knee.
She shot back in the tub, sloshing water and scowling at him. If a simple touch turned her on, she could only imagine what a kiss might do. Oh man. Not good.
“You’re scared.” His satisfied smile should have irked her. Instead his confidence turned her on even more.
“Excuse me?”
“Yep. Scared of me, which is weird because I’m not out tobump you and dump you,” he emphasized. Obviously he’d heard all about her friend Ann’s failed plan to use and lose his buddy Jack. “I just want to spend some quality time with a beautiful woman who’s not all about getting into my pants or my wallet. You don’t want to go out with me, and excuse me for being confused, but the last time we talked, you refused to fuck me as payment for keeping my silence. So I’m not too sure why I should think your offer for a quick fuck is on the table now.”
She seriously wished he’d stop sayingfuck, because every time he did he sounded like he was making an offer she’d be stupid to refuse.
She swallowed hard. “I, ah, I’m uncomfortable, okay? I’m naked, you big goon. At least let me get out of the tub so we can have this discussion while I’m dressed.”
