Page 19 of Firecracker

“Jesus, don’t let Mila see that.”

“See what?” She turned big eyes to him.

“The margarine.” He nodded. “She thinks it’s a crime.”

Arden’s grin was gorgeous. “Oh right. Butter lover. I’m in trouble.” She popped the lid off the container. “Do you object to margarine?”

“Hell no. That’s what I buy.”

“I actually prefer butter. But I don’t use much of it, and it’s hard to keep soft. Margarine’s convenient.”

“True.” He paused. “Can I eat one now?”

She smiled and carefully lifted a muffin out of the tin. “It’s still pretty hot, but what the heck, go ahead.”

He slathered margarine on it, although it kind of fell apart because yeah, it was still really hot, but he managed to devour it in about two bites. “Damn, that’s good.” She handed him another one, which he eagerly accepted. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

The muffins were really excellent. He rubbed his abs, enjoying how Arden’s gaze followed his hand there and lingered. Too bad his dick also took notice. “Okay, now I’m ready to work.”

He left her apartment to retrieve his sledgehammer and crowbar. He’d burn off that sexual energy with some physical activity. He entered the small bathroom and stopped. “Hey, Arden!”

“What?” Her voice came immediately from behind him. She must have followed him.

“You wanna move your shit out of here?”

“My shit?”

“Yeah.” He jerked his head at the towels and various bottles of female potions. There was also a hairbrush, a curling iron, and a tube of toothpaste on the vanity. “It’ll get all covered with dust.”

“Okay.” She squeezed past him into the small space and, call him an asshole, he didn’t even try to move to make room for her, enjoying the brush of her body against his. Heat sizzled in his veins.

She gathered up all her shit. He helped by picking up the blow dryer and curling iron and followed her into her bedroom.

He was in Arden Lennox’s bedroom.

He almost laughed at himself. It was a thought his fourteen-year-old self would have had, and probably sprung a huge boner over. He was too old for that, way past that ridiculous crush.

Except hehadthought it, and he couldn’t help but notice her bed, where she slept, and some clothes she’d started to unpack…including a pile of lacy lingerie on the bed.

Fuuuuuuck.

He dumped the stuff onto the dresser and stalked back to the bathroom. It was now completely empty. After shutting off the power to the room, he rolled out plastic and duct taped it around the door, then stepped inside, and with vicious enjoyment, picked up his sledgehammer and slung it against one of the walls. The old plaster shattered with a satisfying crack.

He heard a little scream from the hall.

With a sigh, he turned and saw Arden staring at him with big eyes through the plastic curtain. “What?”

“What are you doing?”

“Tearing down the walls.”

“Why?”

He gave her a look. “We’re gutting this room and rebuilding it. I’m going to take the walls down to the studs.”

“Studs.” She continued to stare at him.

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