Page 11 of Betting on the Bad Boy
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I have much of a choice. Can I make one thing clear?”
“What’s that, Stinkarella?” Dante cocked a hip, obviously waiting for me to make a slew of unreasonable demands. His gaze swept over me, warming me from the core like one of those molten chocolate lava cakes I loved. Liquid heat flowed through my veins as a smile settled on his lips.
“I’m showering alone.”
“If you’re sure that’s the way you want it, your wish is my command. Follow me.” He chuckled, then pushed through the back door and walked around the building to a set of stairs.
He led me up the wooden steps to the second story and opened the door. As I entered the apartment, I took in the exposed pipes and beams running across the tall, two-story ceiling. Red brick walls complemented the shiny wooden floors.For a moment, I forgot about the dumpster gunk covering my body and let myself absorb the warmth of his apartment.
“This is awesome.” I slowly turned around in the giant open living space.
“Yeah, the guy who owns the bar gave me cheap rent in exchange for pulling the late-night shifts no one else wants.”
“I bet you get tons of natural light.” I ran my hand over the rough brick wall. A tall bookshelf caught my attention, and my eyes skimmed over the titles on display. Hemingway, Keats, Faulkner.Hmmm, the hottie bartender likes to read.
“The bathroom’s back there.” He pointed to the only room with a door, then pulled a clean towel from a cabinet and handed it to me. “Make yourself at home.”
I made my way to the bathroom, taking in the details of his cozy personal space along the way. Tons of books, lots of comfy seating. The kind of space I’d like for myself. Too bad he wasn’t my type. I could get comfortable in a place like this.
I shook my head. Comfort ought to be the last thing on my mind. I was about to get naked in a stranger’s shower. The thought sent an army of nervous butterflies on a tirade through my stomach.I guess there’s a first time for everything.
“I’ll just be a sec.” I clasped the fluffy towel to my chest and disappeared behind the closed door before I could change my mind.
CHAPTER 7
Dante
A naked Faithstood in my shower. I ran my hand over the scruffy whiskers on my chin and contemplated my next move. I never brought girls to my place. What the fuck was I thinking? She was probably soaping herself up with my bar of Dial right now. Sliding it across her stomach, around her ass, and over that stretch of twisty, curly black ink. I shook my head. Enough of that.
I scrounged around, trying to find a pair of sweats that might fit her, so she’d have something clean to put on. As I walked by the bathroom door, I heard the water running and hitting the bottom of the tub. Damn lucky water, probably coursing down her thighs right about now. I pressed the bundle of clothes against my crotch and gave myself a little adjustment. What the hell was wrong with me tonight?
With the threat of my rising attraction temporarily held at bay, I walked into the kitchen. What do I do while I wait? A white tea kettle sat on the stove. It had belonged to my grandmother. She always offered her visitors tea. Women liked tea, right? I ran some water into the kettle, set it back on the burner, and flipped on the gas.
The shower turned off, and I grabbed the stack of clothes I’d found as I walked toward the bathroom.
“Hey, Faith?”
“Yeah?” Her muffled voice floated through the closed door.
“I’ve got some clean clothes here you can put on.”
She opened the door and stood in the doorway a few feet away, wrapped in my large tan towel. Her hair hung in long wet strands, and water droplets sprinkled across her face like giant wet freckles.
As I moved toward her, she pulled the towel tighter across her chest. What was it with her? It wasn’t like I’d rip her towel off or anything... at least not unless she asked me to. Reaching up with one hand, I wiped a particularly large water droplet off her cheek with my thumb and fought the urge to pop it into my mouth.
“You sure you don’t want to, uh, stay for a while?”
“Um, thanks, but I need to get back.” She grabbed the clothes from under my arm and shut the door in my face.
Fuck. Shot down how many times now? I’d been going through a dry spell lately and hadn’t been that close to that much skin in way too long. I adjusted myself again, walked back to the kitchen, and turned off the burner. No tea. I needed to get her out of my place... and fast.
Faith opened the door a few moments later, letting the steam that had built up during her shower escape into the room. My giant T-shirt hung off one of her shoulders, and the sweats pooled around her bare feet as she padded over to where I stood at the stove.
Looked like someone didn’t put on a bra.
She must have noticed where my eyes lingered and crossed her arms over her chest. A wave of pink crept up her face from her neck to her hairline. If she hadn’t looked so embarrassed, I would have laughed.
“Thanks for the clothes. Any chance you’d be willing to go get my friend and ask her to meet me out front by the car?”
