Something About a Hot Guy

Why was he looking at me that way?

Intense and deep. Energy flashing through the air. Making it hard to breathe. Like maybe he wanted to reach out and touch me. Feel me the way I’d always wanted to feel him.

God, I loved to torture myself with the impossible, didn’t I?

Letting my imagination get the best of me. Teasing me with what could never be. I’d already learned that the hard way.

He shouldered by, stealing my breath, the brush of our skin sending a cascade of shivers tumbling down my spine as he pushed his way into the apartment.

A waterfall pooling in the middle of me. Pounding and overflowing.

“You won’t even notice I’m here.”

Um, he really was the clueless one, wasn’t he?

From over his shoulder, he sent me a smile that nearly dropped me to my knees, all one-sided dimple and plush lips and mischievous eyes.

“I’ll sleep on the couch. And I won’t make either of you pay rent for the rest of your lease, how’s that sound?”

How’s that sound?

It sounded like my worst nightmare.

“I’ll do you a favor, and I won’t even walk around in my underwear. I mean, unless you want me to.”

He winked, hitting me with all that reckless easiness that punched me in the gut. A fist right through my belly and gripping my stomach in a want and desire so intense that it physically hurt.

I swayed under the force of it, and my hand darted out to the back of the couch to keep myself from faceplanting on the hardwood floor.

“You . . . you can’t possibly stay here?” Panic started to set in when I realized he was serious, that this man was really going to be invading my space, my heart quickening to a boom, a deep, dark thunder rolling through my being.

“I mean, we have a whole schedule and our lives and you’re . . . you’re . . .”

I waved my hands in the air as if maybe that would be enough resistance to scare him away. Enough reason for him to leave.

I had to find some way to stop this from happening.

He was a danger to my sanity.

To my heart.

To my safe little world.

All it took was him stepping through the door and my entire world had become a bomb threat. I could already feel the ground trembling, sex and power and influence coming off of him in waves, so distinct I was sure you could bottle it and sell it for a billion bucks.

He’d always had that effect on me.

My senses perking whenever he came within a mile vicinity, every part of me getting needy like a lap dog that wanted to be petted.

I’d hoped once I’d moved out of our small town and into the city that it would have faded. That I would have outgrown this childish fascination.

How unfair was it that it’d only increased tenfold since he’d been away? Grown and expanded and become this palpable entity that I could feel glowing in my center. Begging for something that I could never have.

I had to get him out of there, and I had to do it fast.

He angled his head. “And I’m . . .?” he prodded when I trailed off into a stupor of silence.

“You’re you.” My arms flailed outward, as if I were waving the evidence of him in his face. “You’re messy and arrogant and . . . and a boy.”

“A boy, huh?” Amusement rode out on his rough words, the man so pretty and cocky and infuriating.

“Yes, yes, a boy, and boys are totally not welcome.”

Oh my God.

I was twelve.

He crossed his arms over his chest, a smile twitching all over his magnificent face. “Are you finished?”

“Not even close. I mean, when we signed that lease, there was no mention that you might be back. I know it’s your apartment, and all, but what . . . what if we have company?”

I said the last as if it were sordid. And I wondered if he had the first clue that was the farthest from the truth when it came to me. Not that he’d care. But I was pretty sure Vanessa might care if he was invading her privacy.

That’s right.

I was doing this for her. For my friend who had always been there for me. At least that was what I was telling myself.

He plopped on the couch and grabbed the remote.

My mouth dropped open. “Kyle. Are you even listening to me?” I pled, feeling invisible, trying to be brave and stand up for myself.

“I’m not sure how I couldn’t be, considering you won’t stop talking. It’s been a long flight. I could use a little quiet.”

The audacity. He really was rude. How had I forgotten?

Huffing, I stamped my foot and started for him so I could grab the remote before he completely tuned me out.