“Sinclair?”
Denver’s naked except for a towel wrapped low on his hips, one that’s doing nothing to hide the outline of his dick. His hair is wet and there are beads of water running down his chest.
The same delicious masculine herbal scent that surrounded him when he showered in my apartment that first time hits my nose as his stormy eyes capture mine.
“I told you I’d call you. What are you doing here?”
His brusque tone is like a slap to the face.
“I’m sorry, I…” He glances back into the apartment, his voice lowering to a soft whisper. “What are you doing here, Princess?”
“I brought you coffee,” I say lamely. I regain my composure, jerking it toward him, and snapping, “What’s going on?”
Our hands collide and the mug gets knocked to one side. It falls to the floor and the lid shoots off, spraying the dark liquid all over the floor.
I step back, tugging on Monty’s leash so he doesn’t step in it as it forms a puddle.
“Sinclair.”
I look up into Denver’s eyes. There are small creases at the corners. The same ones he gets when he’s tired because we’ve been up all night together… fucking.
He reaches for me, but I take a step back, my eyes dropping over his freshly showered torso. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“Lizzie and Dixie are…” He glances back into the apartment again, turmoil swimming in his eyes as he looks back at me. “I didn’t know they were coming until they showed up last night. I was going to call you, but… they hadn’t planned on staying over.”
“I figured as much, judging by the fact she’s wearing your shirt.”
Denver’s brows lower. “It’s not like that. Nothing happened. I told her to grab something of mine. I didn’t know she picked up that one until just now.”
“I believe you,” I say, rather unconvincingly. “But I get it… she’s turned up to see you, and she’s Dixie’s mom, who is adorable, by the way.” I sniff, flicking my eyes away from his as I fight to hold myself together. “You guys must have a lot to talk about. And once you’re done, you and I should talk too.”
I meet his eyes, faking a composure that is rapidly crumbling.
“Sinclair,” he rasps. “Don’t… it’s not like that. She’s not…” He drops a hand to hold the waistband of his towel together as he steps closer to me. “I’m in…” He searches my eyes with a determined intensity, but exhales without finishing what he was going to say.
His minty breath hits my lips, and I ache to lean forward and be kissed by him. And for him to not have the woman he loved and lost half naked in his apartment right now, wearing the shirt I bought for him.
“It’s fine.” I swallow hard, flicking my hair over my shoulder for something to do that will stop me from touching him. “I only came to see if you were okay. I can see that you are, so we’ll talk later, okay?”
“Sin—”
“It’s fine, Denver,” I lie, meeting his gaze with a final cold flick of my own.
I walk away before he can say another word.
37
DENVER
“Fuck!”
I leave the front door wide open as I race into my bedroom, toss my towel on the floor, and grab a pair of sweatpants and sneakers, tugging them on in a crazed panic.
“I’ll be back,” I shout to Lizzie as I tear through the living area where they are.
“Everything okay?” she calls after me as I run down the hallway.
“I hope so,” I call out as I burst into the external corridor and sprint toward the elevator.
