Lie. It wasabsolutelythat good, and the vaginal orgasms he’d given me were proof enough of that. But he wasn’t getting that info from me.
“How arrogant do you have to be to think a woman would drive 250 miles just to get another ride? I’m not sure if you know this, but you’re not the only dick in town. I could replace you with a single stroll down Main Street. Hell, I have a battery-operated friend that’ll get me there just as easily as you did last night. So, in case it wasn’t perfectly clear, I’m not here for another orgasm.”
His brow pinched even more, his scowl somehow deepening. “Then what the hell are you here for?”
“My key.” I flashed him my teeth in what absolutely would not pass for a smile. “Looks like things might be a little awkward at the backyard barbecue,neighbor.”
CHAPTER NINE
ATLAS
What.The actual.Fuck.
When I’d called this woman trouble last night, I hadn’t realized exactly how fitting it would be.
Last night had been one of the best nights I’d had in recent or even distant memory. I’d let my guard down for the first time in forever because I’d figured, what could it hurt? A single mom who wasn’t from my hometown? She hadn’t wanted to spend more than an hour in my hotel room, so it was safe to assume she wouldn’t be a clinger. It had felt like a no-brainer to me.
And look where that had gotten me. My one-night stand was now my new tenant, living in my backyard for the next six months.
When my mom had told me someone needed a favor since I wasn’t using my guesthouse anyway, I’d been an idiot and agreed. If there was something I wouldn’t do for my mom, I hadn’t yet found it. Besides, I’d figured there was enough space between the two houses that I wouldn’t even know they were there.
Now, I wasn’t sure even ten miles between the residences would’ve been enough.
Since moving back home to Starlight Cove, I’d made very deliberate decisions not to shit where I ate. I didn’t fuck around with the women in town because I didn’t want them to fuck around with me. That was a flat-out rule. One I hadn’t broken—or even been tempted to—in five years.
And then in waltzed this tornado of a woman, gorgeous and charming…trouble with a capital T. Ruining the very foundation I’d so carefully laid.
Because, while we hadn’t fucked in Starlight Cove, I had no doubt her being not just here in my town, buthere, in my backyard, was absolutely going to fuck me.
“You’rethe one who calledus. Are you even listening, jackass?” Lincoln asked from the other line.
Declan snorted. “He hasn’t yelled in a full minute, so I’m going with no.”
“’Course I am,” I grumbled into the phone.
And then went right on ignoring everything the two of them were saying about our mom’s wrecked pipes in favor of glaring out the window at my new tenant. Same as I’d been doing for the past thirty minutes.
In all that time, she hadn’t once glanced my way. Probably because she was too busy being a one-person moving company. She hauled the shit out of the little trailer, a younger version of herself following behind and matching her every effort.
So, the whole daughter thinghadn’tbeen a line. Which meant she probably hadn’t been lying about anything else either. Which also meant I’d shoved my whole damn foot in my mouth when I’d accused her of stalking me.
Probably one of the worst conclusions I could’ve jumped to. But I’d been on edge after going through the fan mail at my mom’s—therehadbeen panties in the bunch, not to mention a voodoo doll and a lock of hair—so this timing was just plain old bad fucking luck.
Watching her now was a wholly different experience from last night. The woman I’d had beneath me had been flirty and playful. Now, she was nothing but determination and grit. And, if I wasn’t mistaken, a whole lot of pissed-off energy. All thanks to me.
That energy was serving her well, though. I hadn’t seen her so much as pause in the act of unloading boxes and moving various pieces of furniture into the cottage.
I’d had to stop myself more than once from storming out there to help. It wasn’t my place. And I definitely didn’t need to interact with her more than the bare minimum. That would be best for everyone.
But that plan was shot to hell when she rested one end of an overstuffed chair on the seat of a rolling chair, hefted the other side, and began pushing it toward the front door of her cottage.Alone.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” I muttered.
“Oh,nowyou’re listening?” Linc said.
“Gotta call you back.”
“For fuck’s sake, not again. Let’s just?—”
