Gentleman Sinner

‘Only my mother,’ Theo says, and I look at him, startled.

‘You’re freaking me out.’

‘Good. You freak me out every second of the day.’

I have a satisfied smile on my face again, but it falls a little when my encounter with his mother in the hall earlier pops up in my mind. ‘Penny . . .’

‘Definitely not Penny.’

‘But you’re looking after her.’

‘I’m helping her get back on her feet.’

I could laugh, but I hold back. She’s definitely back on her feet. In six-inch heels. With her legs wrapped around a pole. ‘Who is she?’

‘I told you, the daughter of an old friend.’ His answer is full and final, and I sigh, but move on before I annoy him with more questions.

‘You know, you say Callum isn’t exactly chivalrous, but he carried Jess over a huge puddle last night.’

‘He did?’

‘Yes.’

‘Probably planned on drowning her in it.’

I roll my eyes dramatically, and he laughs, bringing the razor to his cheek. ‘Wait!’ I shout, making him pause with the blade an inch from his skin. I show him my hand and reach forward, taking the razor. ‘Don’t shave.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I like this.’ I smooth a palm over the roughness beneath the cream.

‘You want me to keep it?’

‘Yes.’ I drop the razor and pull the plug from the sink, draining the water and rinsing my hand.

‘Then I’ll keep it.’ He picks me up and places me on my feet, walking me back to the shower.

‘You need to get all the cream off,’ I point out, letting him manipulate my steps.

He grins and claims my arms, holding them still before he dips his head and starts rubbing his cheeks against mine, coating me in the masculine scent.

‘Hey!’ I yell, laughing as I use my face to try to wrestle him away. ‘Theo, that tickles!’

He growls, not relenting until he has me in the shower and the water washes the cream away from both of us. His clear face comes into view, his smile bright, and a palm comes down on to my arse. ‘Turn around, hands on the wall.’

I’m looking at the tiles faster than my self-respect should allow.Chapter 20

‘Well, would you look at that,’ Theo muses as we pull up outside my apartment. I stare ahead, to the Mercedes that belongs to Callum.

‘He’s here?’ I look at Theo, and Theo looks at me.

‘Looks like it. Unless he couldn’t get her body in the boot, so he carried it down to the common to dump it.’ He gets out and slams the door, grinning as he rounds the car to my side.

‘That’s not funny,’ I say as he opens the door and helps me out. I dash to the front door, fumbling to find my key as I go. I don’t get to insert it into the lock. I don’t even get the chance to locate it in my bag. The door swings open, and I’m knocked back a few steps by the sight of a bare-chested Callum.

‘Fucking hell,’ I breathe, part shocked, part . . . well, shocked. I’m really shocked. My jaw is lax as my eyes, level with his ripped chest, drift in and out of focus. In reality, he’s no more cut than my big man, but I’m getting used to seeing Theo’s chest. I didn’t think anything remotely similar could exist. I was wrong. I blink as I shake some life back into me, looking up into Callum’s sleepy eyes.

‘What time is it?’ he croaks, looking past me to Theo.

‘Ten, you lazy bastard.’ Theo’s front meets my back as Callum grumbles under his breath, turning and wandering down the hall, his trousers undone and hanging low, a hand raking through his ruffed-up blond waves. I grin to myself but jump when Theo’s mouth meets my ear.

‘Keep your eyes to yourself,’ he whispers, pushing me onward.

My face screws up in guilt. ‘Don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I follow Callum, looking for Jess as I go. Where is she? When I enter the lounge, I find Theo’s friend shrugging on his shirt. ‘Where’s Jess?’ I ask him, craning my neck to look into the kitchen.

He peeks up at me without lifting his head, fastening his belt, but he doesn’t speak. What’s going on?

‘So you stayed here last night?’ Theo asks, dropping to the chair in the corner of the room. He looks stupidly too big and mean for the quirky floral piece.

Callum’s lead gaze moves across the room, from me to Theo. ‘And?’

‘All right, grouchy pants.’ Theo chuckles softly.

Callum’s hard face creases into a frown. ‘ “Grouchy pants”?’

‘Don’t worry,’ I jump in, dropping my bag. ‘I was ‘panicky pants’ this morning.’

Theo scowls at me, and Callum grunts. ‘Woman’s turning you into a fucking pussy.’

‘Speaking of pussy . . .’ Theo sits back in the chair, working hard on keeping a casual persona. It’s a piss take. He knows it, I know it, and Callum knows it, too.