“So, you work in publishing?”
It took me a moment to go from lusting after his fingers to hearing what he was saying to me.
“That’s what I told you,” Amy sing-songed.
He ignored her, keeping those stormy gray eyes on me. It hadn’t even been an hour since we met, and I already thought his eyes were the most beautiful I’d ever seen.
“I do,” I nodded.
His eyes went to my book then returned to my face. “Must be interesting.”
“Pretty much.” I shrugged.
“And you like it here?”
“In the city? Or in the apartment?”
He shrugged, and I was temporarily mesmerized by the lazy movement of his broad shoulders. “Both.”
I exhaled. “I do.”
“Good,” he said. “Nice to know you’re not thinking of leaving any time soon.”
“She’s not interested, Jason,” Amy said before I could ask what he meant. “And I know why you’re making small talk—you’re trying to stall until Colin comes so you can scare him off.”
“Who’s Colin again?” He gave her a teasing grin and she stamped her foot. “Seriously Amy, why don’t you want me to meet him? As your older brother, I’m practically your parent, and it’s only natural that you introduce me to your date so he knows to have you home before midnight.”
She gave him a poisonous glare just as the doorbell rang again, then she stalked to the door and opened it a fraction.
“Hi,” I heard her say in a breathless voice.
“Hi.” The male voice on the other side of the door sounded impressed. “You look wonderful.”
“Thanks,” Amy replied.
Jason gave me an amused glance, a small smile playing on his lips. God! He was so hot.
Amy turned around. The guy, Colin, was just visible over her shoulder, still standing at the threshold. “Colin, that’s my brother, Jason, and my roommate, Daphne. Jason, Daphne, meet Colin. We’re going now, good night.”
She shut the door, leaving me and Jason alone in the apartment.
He laughed. “She’s always been much smarter than me.”
Left with any other person, I would have been amused too, but not him. With him, I already felt like I was being sucked into a vortex of physical attraction, and being alone in an apartment with him wasn’t helping. It was not helping at all.
“She is pretty smart,” I said lightly, the nonchalance in my voice hiding all the lustful reactions my body was having to him.
Our eyes met again and in those few seconds, I found myself rethinking my decision to stay away from guys for a while. The whole self-imposed celibacy deal made absolutely no sense when this gorgeous man was sitting less than three feet away from me.
I wondered if he had a girlfriend.
I tore my eyes away from his face. He was my roommate’s brother. A one-night stand, a fling—anything like that was bound to get uncomfortable in the long run. Was I so desperate for an orgasm that I’d be willing to risk my growing friendship with Amy?
I glanced toward the box he’d placed by the door. “So…you got your stuff,” I said, pointedly referring to the original reason why he’d come to the apartment.
He frowned, as if he’d totally forgotten about it. “Yeah, it’s just some books and sports stuff.” He got up, his lithe body suddenly towering over me. He took a step toward the door then stopped and turned back to me. “I want to see you again.”
My belly flipped, and my lips parted involuntarily as I pulled in a small breath. His directness was such an unexpected turn-on. “You might get to see me a lot,” I said, deliberately ignoring his meaning. “I’m living with your sister.”