Chase pointed the remaining bit of sandwich at the blank wall in the living room where the TV had been, then toward the open beer can on the counter. “Went out for a sixpack. Thought we’d order a pizza and watch a movie. Guess that’s out though.” He gave her a sly grin. “Or maybe we could test that new bed you got.”
“You went into my room?”
“Jesus, I was just checking to see if you were here. Don’t make a federal case about it. It’s not like I’m some panty sniffer.”
Had Lambert gone through her things? Touched her underwear?
“And I even replaced your milk since I drank it all with the cake.” He ran a finger over the top of her grandma’s 1971 avocado-green mixer. “I miss your cooking.”
See there? You were chasing shadows that weren’t even there. And if anyone is going to touch my underwear, I’d rather it be Chase. As long as I’m not in them.
“So,” he said, transferring his finger to her collarbone, “about that bed?”
Shrugging him off, Jo whipped the towel from the oven handle and started drying. “You’re delusional if you think you can just show up here for a little Hulu and Do You after what you did.”
“Why? You still locked at the knees?” He gave her another onceover and scoffed, “Or are you giving it to the guy all this”—he waved a hand to encompass her dress—“is for?”
“Grow the fuck up, will you?” Jo glanced at the clock on the microwave. She had three minutes to get rid of Chase before Avery showed up. “Better yet, go the fuck home.”
He caught her wrist, and she almost dropped the plate. “Who is it? Some Chef Boyardee, or is he a Little Debbie?”
“You’re such a dick.” She wrenched free and quickly put the dishes away, silently willing him to leave. “Isn’t Chelsea wondering where you are?”
Why’d I say that? Now, he’ll think I’m jealous.
“I quit her after I saw you at Christmas when I thought maybe you and me…” He shrugged and his hold on her wrist loosened. “I’m seeing someone else now, anyway, but say the word, and I’ll dump her, too.”
The doorbell rang.
Jo looked at the clock again. Straight up six. She wouldn’t have pegged Avery as the punctual kind of guy, but she was glad he was on time. “You blew your chance.”
Spinning around, she walked on wobbly legs toward the entryway, hoping he didn’t notice. The clip of his boots followed, then stopped. Pretending to check her appearance in the mirror, she took a moment to compose herself and to gauge Chase’s location and intent. He’d propped himself on the living room side of the peninsula, arms folded.
Jo inhaled, moved to look through the peephole, and let out a nervous breath. If she hadn’t let Chase get under her skin, she might have smiled.
Gloves in one hand, Avery ran the fingers of the other through dark hair as he glanced down the hall, back at the door,then down the hall again. Was he nervous? Ready to run? Or just eager to get their pretense underway?
Whatever the case, she hoped he didn’t freak out because she was about to blow rule number one, two,andthree all to hell.
Chapter Six
Avery tried not to watch the couple dry humping against the door down the hall. The last thing he needed was a hard-on when Legs answered the door, but damn, they weren’t going to make it inside.
The girl fumbled with her lover’s zipper while he fumbled with the key. Their tongues tangled. Hips clashed in rolling undulations. Moans wove through the air like lusty fingers, stroking Avery’s dick to life.
Movement at the top of the landing, a voyeur lurking in the shadows, dragged his gaze from the couple just as their door gave way and the one in front of him swung open.
His head snapped forward as Legs glided toward him. Her palms landed on his chest and slid around his neck, leaving trails of fire in their wake. His hands instinctively found purchase at her waist and dragged her closer even as Sigma voices cautioned to proceed with care. Voices that said her actions suggested a casual intimacy they hadn’t yet achieved. Voices that warned she might have fallen for himandhis credit card. He’d seen the transaction finally come through.
“Well, hello there,” he said, urging her inside and kicking the door shut with one foot. Something had shifted, and he didn’t give a fuck why or how late they arrived at the gala or if they arrived at all.
Curling her fingers around his lapel, she rose onto tiptoes. Her warm breath feathered lightly against his chin, and her perfume wrapped him in a soft fruity cloud.
“Hi, babe,” her raspy voice slid into his balls just before her lips, soft and sweet, touched his.
Avery moaned as the semi he’d been fighting while watching the couple sprang fully erect and flexed against the sharp teeth of his zipper. He angled his head to deepen the kiss, but she was already slipping away.
She peered up at him, her face pinched, her blue eyes round with a mixture of embarrassment, fear, and… Was that longing? “We have company.”
