Blind Date (A Why Choose Romance)

Fucking hot.

I did not want this woman to leave, and for just the briefest moment, I wondered if she’d agree to stay in my bedroom forever.

And then I remembered she hadn’t even seen my bedroom.

Her body sagged with complete fulfillment, and it was my duty as a gentleman to look after her.

“So, babe, you being the kitchen wench at work, I don’t expect you to step into work mode when you’re a guest here. My cooking skills might not be up to what you’re used to, but I’ll do my best. How do eggs, bacon, toast sound?”

“I’m famished. I’ll eat them no matter what you do to them.” She looked around a little uncertainly and then picked up the discarded shirt of Ethan’s. “I should go and get dressed.”

“You do that, and I’ll see you in the kitchen.” I winked. I’d let her find out whether or not I intended to be a naked chef.

I did not.

When she went into Ethan’s room, I went into my own and pulled on a pair of shorts, that’s all. Why hide my body when I knew she enjoyed looking at it?

In the kitchen, I washed my hands and pulled on the apron. I don’t mind a bit of oil rubbing over my abdomen, but hot oil spat from the frying pan was a different matter.

Kayla appeared a few minutes later wearing the same clothes as the night before. A shame she didn’t just stay naked the whole time.

“So... uh... um... are you and Ethan really best friends? Or is that just an act for the public?” She timidly sipped from the glass of iced tea that I poured for her.

“Ever since middle school, we’ve been inseparable. We’ve been a unit since then, rolling over our competition for fucking years. Doing it on the big stage is just our dream come true.”

“Usually, childhood friendships don’t go that far.”

“Oh, I guess we’ve just been brothers off the field too. Jake and Lewis and Hank, all, well, just sort of all lined up magically and some shit. Many of the same interests, lived nearby, the universe aligned, and now I’m stuck with those assholes for better or worse. Like I’m married to them.”

Her expression went dour at me saying that.

Logic told me I’d made a serious fucking mistake in taking Kayla in the hallway as if I hadn’t shown her enough respect to take her to my bed. As if I hadn’t respected the fact that she’d spent the night with Ethan. But my heart and cock were in disagreement with the old brain: they said she liked it and I liked it, so good for us.

“Are you looking for the next step in your life, just like Ethan?”

“Maybe I am. It can be a brief career with a sudden ending, so a guy always has to keep thinking ahead.” I grinned. “Maybe I want to keep living the bad boy life with fast cars and supermodels.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, you want a supermodel so bad you fucked me in the hallway.”

“Sweet, you’re a supermodel to me.”

“What me? The frumpy fry cook? The kitchen wench?”

“You’re more of a superwoman than a supermodel. And that’s better. Super sexy. Super fun. Super down to earth. Supernatural. I mean that as in natural or normal is good; I don’t mean supernatural like ghosts and vampires. And mind-reading. Although, can you read minds?”

“I can read yours like a book. And it’s filthy.”

I grinned. “Good, I’m glad you can read that page.”

“Oh, shut up.” Her face said she was fooling around, so the words didn’t worry me.

“I absolutely mean it. I don’t know you, Kayla, but I like you, and I’d like to get to know you. I’ve never thought that about any supermodel I’ve ever met.”

She shook her head, bemused by my words.

“You don’t believe me. But it’s true. Underneath this super sexy body that I work fucking hard to maintain, I’m just a guy who goes to work. I have an ordinary background. A sense of humor. And good taste in women.” I waved my hand toward her. “I don’t go around inviting random women to share my bacon.”

“How can I take you seriously? Mister rude and crude, bad boy?”

“Get to know me. And then you’ll know. I like to laugh, but mostly this bad boy stuff is an image created by corporate marketing. Most of the photos and stories are made up deliberately. I have an agent who pushes an image.”

She laughed. “An agent? You mean the agent who negotiates your contract?”

“Yeah. He’s some type who also has, like, Hollywood connections and stuff. He thinks I could be one of those huge crossover stars like Shaq or The Rock. Can you see me as the sexy romantic lead in an action film?”

She laughed instead of answering. “I guess it’s good to have a backup plan; there’s always a chance of getting too beaten up to play.”