Page 107 of Ace My Heart

“Stinky, you’d look stunning if you wore a sack – whatever you want to wear is fine.”

With that he left the room, closing the door behind him with a final lopsided grin in my direction. I waited until my heart returned to its normal rhythm and then I dragged on a pair of skinny jeans and a baby blue cami top with a plunging neckline. I slipped on a pair of flats and dabbed a bit of lip gloss on.

I opened the door and stepped out. Joel was waiting in the living room, lounging on the sofa in a pair of jeans and a baby blue shirt. I rolled my eyes.

“Do you spy on me and match your outfit to mine or something?” I asked incredulously.

Joel laughed, eyes dancing. “I was about to ask you the same thing. Do you want me to change?” he asked, standing up and starting to take his shirt off. I gulped at the sight of his abs, and I took the two steps across the room to him, pulling his shirt from his hands before I got way too carried away by his body.

“No, I’ll change,” I insisted hastily, tugging his shirt into its correct position. I might have smoothed it over that washboard stomach just a moment longer than was strictly necessary, and I couldn’t help the tiny little sigh that escaped my lips.

Joel looked down, past my face, to my breasts – I was braless in this top. He groaned softly. “No, don’t change, they look awesome,” he murmured, his hand grazing up my belly.

I pushed him away, flushing. “Well, let’s go then, since we’ve established that neither of us is changing!” I snapped at him, stomping towards the door. He snorted and followed me.

“Are we getting a cab?” I asked while we waited for the elevator. Joel shook his head, smirking. I was instantly suspicious.

“Where are we going?” I demanded.

“Curious – there’s another adjective for you,” Joel joked. “We’re going to a concert, seeing as I missed out on Princes of Lion in Sydney.”

I looked sharply at him.

“They’re not playing here, though.”

Joel laughed. “Did I say it was them?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Who then?” I asked.

“Impatient. Another one.”

I huffed and looked away as the elevator came to a halt at the ground floor.

The night air was balmy. I was warm in jeans, but not uncomfortably so. Joel looked smug beside me as we walked through the bustling streets of Soho. It wasn’t exactly convenient to the tennis, but it was definitely more interesting.

“I had some awesome nights out here when I was nineteen,” Joel said. I looked up at him and he grinned down at me.

“You came here when you were nineteen?” I asked.

Joel nodded. “Yeah, during the semester break from uni. I camewith a couple of mates and we stayed for a month. It was insane – the amount of beer I drank … I can’t even remember how many girls I picked up.”

“Okay, stop right there – too much information, buddy!” I snapped, holding up a hand.

“Jealous, Stink?” he asked cheekily. I clapped my upraised hand over his mouth before he could continue. His eyes twinkled merrily, his grin widening under my hand.

“I’mnotjealous of you, or the countless skanks you’ve boned!”

Joel reached up, and with very little effort he pulled my hand away from his mouth, keeping hold of my wrist and pulling me against him.

“You sure?” he asked teasingly, releasing my wrist and trailing a hand down my arm and down my side until it rested on my hip.

“Yes, I’m sure Joel,” I breathed, totally unconvincingly. He leaned down until his mouth was level with my ear.

“I think you’re in denial, Melanie Black.”

I managed to pull away then, folding my arms protectively across my chest. “I thinkyou’rewishing I was one of them, Joel Herbert,” I accused.

Joel winked at me. “Well, it would be unforgettable, that’s for sure.” He raised one eyebrow at me suggestively. I huffed.

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