“To get water.” She rolled her eyes and took a few steps toward the kitchen. Seeing her tough this out sent the weirdest sensation through my body. It was more thanlust.I liked her toughness and grit. I likedher.
“Sit your ass down, Ry.” I moved without thinking—something I did around her toooften. I put my hands on her hips, lifted her up, and plopped her on the couch. “I’ll get it for you.”
She blinked at me as I narrowed my eyes at her. Her lips parted for a second, those round full pillows teasing my thoughts all the damn time, but then she closed her mouth and nodded. “Thank you.”
With a reluctant sigh, I brought her a bottle of water and sat back on the couch, leaving enough space between us so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her. She took the medicine and leaned against the cushions, closing her eyes for a second before she shifted her body to face mine. Those expressive blue eyes warmed as she studied me, and her lips curved into a smile that made me nervous.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” I muttered, feeling stupid and off-balance.
“You’re a real mother hen.”
My lips twitched in response, and her entire face softened. She needed to stop looking at me like that, all warm and gooey, before we did something colossally stupid. “I’m used to taping ankles. It’s no big deal.”
“You lifted me off the ground and practically threw me onto the couch. You’re worried about my little ankle. It’s cute.”
“It’s not cute,” I said, sounding as mature as a fifteen year old.
“Are you going to manhandle me or insist you help me out of my clothes if I say I need to change?”
My throat got tight, and I tried not to picture her undressing orhelpingher undress. I shook my head. “No. Go ahead.”
“Thanks, boss.” She stood, leaned over, and ruffled my hair like it was the most natural thing in the world, and I swore I felt her touch all the way to my toes. I remained as still as a statue when she let go of my hair and hobbled to her room. She left the door cracked, giving me a two-inch view into her bedroom, and it felt so wrong. Forbidden.Hot.Was she undressing for me? Or did she forget to close it?
God, I was sweating. My pulse raced, and my forehead was damp. Touching her foot wasn’t sexy, yet her skin had been soft and warm. I took a sip of her water just as she came out of her room in a tight Moo U shirt and plaid shorts that left her legs on full display.
Holy shit.
Her hair was down and wavy, and she gave me such an easy smile when she came back to sit down next to me. “Happy to report my ankle feels so much better.”
“Good.” My voice came out husky and low, and there was no way I could relax with her sitting this close and smelling this good.
I needed to balance the scales, and the only way to get her to stop being all smug was to mention the guy. The date. The dinner she went on without me. It would also dim the roaring attraction I had to her. “So, uh, how was your date?”
“Honestly? Meh.” She shrugged.
“You were gone awhile for just amehdate.”
Shit.I closed my eyes as my face got really hot. Way too hot. That was a dead giveaway that I watched the clock, and when I snuck a glance at her, her goofy grin stretched even wider.
“How long were you gone, uh, anyways?”
“I think you know exactly how long I was at my date, Jonah.” She nudged me in the side with her uninjured foot. “Did you wait up?”
“No.” I ran a hand through my hair, not looking at her. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Wanna know a secret?”
This was a dangerous,terriblegame to play, yet I nodded and watched her. She was pretty easy to read, but now, seeing her this close to me with those short shorts and tight shirt that did nothing to hide her pebbled nipples…god. I swallowed hard. “Sure.”
“I went out with him because of you.”
“Hmm, what now?”
“I figured if I went out on a date and tried to flirt or tease or kiss another guy, it would help me stop thinking about you.” She sighed and played with the end of her hair like she’d just talked about the weather, not told me words that almost pushed me over the edge.
“What do you want me to do about that?” I asked, the question that kept me up at night and left me unable to focus at the gym or at home, all the time now.
Her answering snort wasn’t helpful.
