Thelabresultsonthe tablet blur together as my mind once again drifts to the most glorious butt and abs I have ever seen. One week later, and I still can’t stop thinking about Nico freaking Romero and his black boxer briefs.
The image of him doing yoga is burned into my retinas forever. If Nico was trying to prove his point about the view…message received. His body was one hell of a spectacle.
Like a creeper, I watched him through the glass door from my kitchen, for longer than I’d like to admit. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Nico was shockingly graceful as he moved through each pose with practiced ease. It’s clear he does yoga often. I don’t know why I assumed he wouldn’t. Exercises like that are great for his mobility since he spends the bulk of his time squatting.
“Morning, Dr. Winters.” Talia greets me from behind.
I jump out of my skin at her sudden appearance. “Oh, sh—” I bite back my curse as I check the floor for any little ears that might be close by.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” Talia covers her mouth to fight back a laugh. Her return to the hospital is timely and necessary. We missed her presence. She’s been in Arizona for a couple of weeks. First for her wedding, and then for her honeymoon. I’m really happy for her.
“It’s fine.” Hand on my chest, I take a deep, calming breath. “Don’t know why that scared me.”
“You were deep into that chart.” She chuckles. Talia grabs a box of sterile gloves from the cabinet.
“Honestly, I don’t even know if I read the numbers.” I shake my head, attempting to clear my thoughts of her brother away.
“It happens. So tell me, how’s the apartment treating you?”
At her question, an image of shirtless Nico pops into my head. I bite back a groan.
Why does he have to be so hot?I shove Nico into the closet and lock it.
“It’s great, actually. I love the view.” The word slips, but luckily Talia is unaware of my mental flogging at admiring her brother’s tight ass.
She claps her hands and smiles. “Yay, I’m so glad you love it.”
“I really do.” Talia is the sweetest. I can’t help smiling along with her. “You could have warned me about my neighbor, though.”
“Sorry?” Talia gnaws on her lip, a guilty look in her eyes.
“You don’t have to apologize. I was just surprised.” I pat her shoulder in reassurance.
“I’m so used to not telling people he’s my brother that I didn’t think about it. Plus, he’s hardly there this time of year. Wait. Is my brother being an ass to you?”
“No, no. Nothing like that,” Iassure her.
She narrows her pretty silver eyes at me. They look so much like Nicos’s, and yet his are much darker, like storm clouds that hold more pain after the storm.
“Are you sure?”
I almost fold under her scrutiny and open my big mouth. I’ve told no one about my attraction to Nico.
“I’m sure. He’s been very polite,” I affirm.
If by “polite” she means “cocky flirt who enjoys riling me up”, then yes, he is.
You like it,my brain sings.
I roll my eyes at myself because I do like it, and I hate it. But no amount of flirting will get me to jump into his bed.
The bad boy next door is off limits.
“Good. I’d hate to kick his butt for being rude.” I bite back another groan at the mention of his butt. “I know Nico can come off like a rude ass sometimes, but just ignore it. Deep down, he’s a really great guy.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
