Page 15 of Deuce

When had I become such a wuss?After my old lady bailed on me, I’d vowed to be a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.I made sure the women I bedded had no expectations beyond a mutually agreeable roll in the hay, but with Sophia I felt something different.I barely knew her, yet she intrigued me.I found myself wanting more than just a casual roll in the hay.

I padded downstairs, making one last sweep of the ground floor for security.Satisfied nothing was amiss, I unbuckled my holster and hung my gun over the edge of the coffee table within easy reach of the sofa.I tossed a pillow and a blanket on the sofa and stretched out.My feet hung over the edge, but I’d certainly slept in much worse places.The movie had ended long ago, and I turned the television off.

Setting my phone on vibrate, I tucked it under the corner of the pillow so it would wake me without disturbing Sophia if anyone called before morning.Tiny and Thor were on perimeter guard and they’d alert me if anything needed my attention.

I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing.One thing I’d learned in the SEALs was to snatch whatever small pockets of sleep I could in the midst of battle.

This felt like the start of a battle, and I intended to be victorious.

Chapter Four

Sophia

I woke up in my own bed, and that confused me.The last thing I remembered was watchingDarlin’ Bridewith the hot biker who’d rescued me yesterday.It really was one of my favorite movies, but mostly I’d chosen it to see the look on his face.Turns out he was a pretty good sport, hadn’t even flinched at the title.

The cell phone sitting on the bedside table chimed, lighting up with an incoming text, and I reached for it.It wasn’t Deuce’s phone and it definitely wasn’t mine, but Janet’s name and number were on the display.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as bruises from yesterday’s escapade made themselves known.Hesitantly, I picked the phone up and hit the call button, setting it on speaker mode.

“Hello?”Definitely Janet, but she sounded much too perky for first thing in the morning.I glanced at the clock on my dresser.Okay, maybe not so early.

“What’s up?I’m betting George didn’t turn out to be Prince Charming or you wouldn’t have texted me to come over so early last night.”

“Prince Charming he was not.I don’t want to do this over the phone.Come on over and I’ll fill you in.But give me an hour or so.I need to get rid of some company.”

“Interesting.”Janet sounded intrigued.“Not Prince Charming but you kept him for a night of rousing sex?”

“Hardly.”I snorted.“It’s not George, but it’s a long story.You coming over?”

“Absolutely!I have to now, just to find out who you spent the night with.”

A floorboard creaked, and I looked up to see Deuce leaning against the doorjamb again, the ghost of a smile curving his lips.He’d obviously overheard that last remark.

I met his gaze and felt a flutter of heat in my belly.If anything, he looked more scrumptious this morning with his hair slightly mussed from a night on my sofa.

I picked up the phone and turned off speaker mode.“Thanks.See you soon.”

“Put the coffee on!”Janet laughed as she disconnected the call.

Deuce straightened up and entered the room, placing a steaming cup on the bedside table.“Heard you moving around and figured you could use a coffee.That was your BFF returning your call?”

I nodded.“She’ll be here in an hour, so if you’re still here you can expect the third degree.She’ll be nice about it, but she’s like a terrier with a bone.I’d give you ten minutes before she knows everything about you including your shoe size and where you went to kindergarten.”I wrapped my hands around the coffee mug and took a deep gulp.

He cocked his head.“If I’m still here?You giving me the option of avoiding her?”

I picked up the coffee and inhaled, dragging the awesome aroma deep into my lungs.“Your choice.I love her to pieces, but she’s not subtle.”

“I’ll be okay.I like it when people are upfront.”

I wrinkled my nose and took a mouthful of coffee.“Upfront.I suppose that’s one way to put it.Most people call it rude and nosy.And on that note, where did the phone magically appear from?It wasn’t here last night, and I’m pretty sure you haven’t had time to go shopping.”

“Prospects brought it over earlier this morning.Ace thought it best you have a new number, so I programmed your friend’s info into it from my phone and texted the number to her.The rest of the setup is up to you.It should do until you have time to go buy one you like.You can always have your provider forward calls from your old number to this one for now.”

I shrugged.“A phone is a phone.I don’t really have a favorite brand or anything like that.Thank you, though.I can’t believe how lost I felt without one.”

A ghost of a smile curved his lips.“You’re welcome.I need to get a few things done today, but I’ll hang around until your friend shows up.How’s the arm this morning?”

I held it up so he could see the bandage.“It’s good, but I really want to have a shower, and I probably shouldn’t get it wet again.That hurt like hell.”

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