“No? You thought I’d be the type who came home and kicked his shit everywhere? Dirty clothes on the floor and dust on the nightstand?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Besides, it could still be true. It’s easy to keep a guest room that’s never used clean. Harder when it’s your own room.”
“If you don’t believe me, I can show you my bedroom.” He pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t crack a smile. A pretty blush stained her cheeks and sparked fire in his veins.
What he wouldn’t give to pick her up, carry her across the hall, and toss her beautiful little ass on his bed. Then he could really show her what kind of guy he was.
Dropping her gaze to the warm wood on the floor, she snorted and pushed her way past him. “Down boy. I might be here to play games, but there are certain ones I refuse to play. Besides, your sister’s waiting.”
If Suzy were home,she’d lean back against the couch and unfasten the top button of her jeans. Between the pizza, chips, and chocolate, she’d probably put on five pounds.
But at least she kept kicking Duke’s butt in video games. It didn’t matter what they tried. She was the fastest on the racetrack, had the best aim at the duck hunting, and her cute little princess character currently had the most stars with one turn left.
Duke mashed the buttons on his controller and muttered under his breath. His character fell off a cliff and disappeared from the screen. “Come on,” he said. “You rigged the game. Idon’t know how you did it, but there’s no way you’re this good at everything we play.”
Grinning, she lifted her shoulder and kept her focus on her character sweeping into a bow on the screen. “What can I say? I’m just that good.”
Heather yawned. “As entertaining as it’s been to witness Duke get his ass handed to him over and over, I need to go to bed. It’s been a long day after a long drive. Do you guys mind if I head to my room?”
“Go for it,” Duke said. “I’ll clean up. You have everything you need?”
“Sure do.” Heather stood and stretched her arms above her head. “Hope to see you tomorrow, Suzy.”
“No doubt you will. I hope it’s a little less chaotic.”
“Me and you both. Goodnight.” She gave her brother a quick hug, waved at Suzy, then disappeared down the hall.
The screen announced Suzy’s character as the winner then flashed to black. She set her controller on the coffee table. “Maybe I should get going too. You must be tired from all that losing.”
He snorted and set his controller next to hers before leaning back into the sofa cushion. “It’s still pretty early. You don’t have to run off just because Heather went to bed.”
Suzy noted the time on the clock under the television. She should head home. The day had taken a toll on her as well, but she couldn’t tear herself away from the comfy spot on the sofa beside Duke.
“You have another game you want me to beat you in?” she asked, enjoying the easy banter that always existed between them.
He rolled his eyes and hooked an arm over the top of the couch. “You’re too funny.”
Tingles of awareness rippled through her body. She wished she could lean back and let his fingertips brush the top of her shoulders.
Sighing, Duke pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut for a beat.
Her insides twisted into knots. He’d been his normal jovial self for most of the night but there’d been an undercurrent of tension. As though the three of them had made some silent agreement not to speak about the horrors of the day.
But with Heather gone, that imaginary agreement seemed to have dissolved. “Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes. “Because of all the butt kicking?”
She shook her head but held back any more questions. He knew what she meant, and if he wanted to talk about what was going on in his head he would.
He sighed again and pressed his lips in a tight line. “Chaos is exactly what I’m worried about and I don’t know how to stop it.”
“Is this about your ex-girlfriend?” She held her breath as she waited for him to answer.
Moving his jaw back and forth, she could practically see the wheels churning in his head. “I’ve been running from Chrissy a long time. It’s what brought me here. I figured if I put enough distance between us, she’d finally let things go.”
“But that’s not how it’s worked out, huh?”
He shook his head. “Apparently not.”
