Page 77 of Hooked
She couldn’t stop the smile. “I didn’t say it.”
“You like your coffee like you like your men? Strong, black, and sweet?”
“You made that joke, not me.” She couldn’t stop laughing. “And I don’t really have atypeof man, okay?”
“No?”
“Over the course of my dating life? No. Currently, I’d say my type is a man who makes me coffee in the morning and doesn’t harass me.”
“But it’s such a nice ass to harass.” He ran his hand over her bottom. “I like having you in my bed, Miss McKinnon.”
She tried not to squirm. “It’s a very comfortable bed.”
“You snore a little, but you don’t kick. You’re welcome anytime.”
“I do not snore!” She rolled over, prepared to hit him with a pillow, but he’d already slid out of bed. He stood in the doorway, grinning at her, shirtless and wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants low on his hips.
Wrong. You have a type. It is him. Him is your type and every other man pales in comparison and you are thinking with your ovaries because what are you doing, Tayla?
“Just a little.” He held his fingers a fraction of an inch apart. “I set a clean T-shirt out for you if you want to borrow it.”
“Thanks.” She glanced at her phone when he left the room. There was a text message from Emmie.Since your phone is at Jeremy’s house, I’m assuming you are too.
She typed back.I knew letting you use the Find My Phone app would avoid awkward conversations.
Tayla got up and used the attached bathroom, washing her face and grimacing when she saw her reflection.
This. This was why she didn’t stay over. There was no reason that Jeremy needed to see her in this condition. Her mascara was flaking, her foundation was probably rubbed into his pillow. No highlighter. No eyeliner. She looked like she’d stayed all night at a goth Halloween party.
Disaster.
Her carefully prepared public face was completely gone. Now she had to walk home with blotchy skin. She didn’t even have her purse with her, which would have had an emergency makeup kit with the basics. Skin balancing cream, a tube of highlighter, brow gel, and mascara.
Jeremy had a good array of products on the counter. Coconut oil, shea butter, an oil that looked like it was for beards, and a fragrance-free moisturizer. She found a tissue and used the coconut oil to remove her scary eye makeup. She used a bit of the moisturizer and sniffed the oil.
Thatwas the scent she’d assumed was cologne. It was perfect for him. She dabbed a tiny bit on her wrist before she put it back.
When she walked out, her phone was lit up with a new text message. She sat on the edge of his bed to read it. She could hear Jeremy whistling downstairs.
Did you tell him yet?
No.
You better.
She hated putting dirty clothes on, but she didn’t really have a choice. She got dressed and put on the T-shirt Jeremy had laid out for her. She only had a couple of blocks to walk home. She could do this. Why hadn’t she thought about all this last night?
Oh right. Rendered stupid by sex with Jeremy.
Damn it.
She walked downstairs and immediately smelled coffee, which made life so much better. Even more, she saw two mugs sitting out on the counter, a regular mug and a travel mug.
Oh, you wonderful man.
“Hey.” He looked up from the toaster and smiled. “Nice shirt. I’m sure it’s driving you crazy to be in dirty clothes and without a toothbrush, so if you want to grab your coffee and run, it won’t hurt my feelings. You are also welcome to stay and hang out. I can make you breakfast.”
Stay!
