Page 87 of Something Tattered
"You want me to handle it?"
I studied his face. Was that a sincere offer? Even if it was, I knew better than to accept it. Still, I had to smile. "I'm pretty sureyou'vehad enough of Derek, too. Besides, this will give him a couple days to cool down."
I glanced at Joel's bare chest. "Speaking of cooling down. Do you want a shower or something?"
"I don'twantone, but I probably need one." He glanced toward the house. "Got a shower I can borrow?"
I had to laugh. "Actually, I've got like ten. You can take your pick." I paused. "But did you bring a change of clothes?"
"I always have a change of clothes."
"Really? Why?"
"Because things happen."
I couldn't help but wonder, what kind of things? But part of me knew. A guy like Joel? He was probably pounced on wherever he went. No doubt, he'd enjoyed the showers and bedrooms of countless girls across the state.
As we circled the side of the house to retrieve his things, I recalled Derek's snide suggestion, that I'd be paying Joel with, to put it crudely, pussy.
I gave Joel a sideways glance. True, I was ungodly attracted to him, and he'd done me a huge favor. But getting naked for lawn care wasn't exactly my style.
Joel did realize this, didn't he?
I gave myself a mental slap to the face. Of course he did. And I'd been stupid to even wonder.
In fact, thanks to April, he knew more than I wanted him to. So I pushed that thought out of my mind, and focused on the positive. Soon, Joel and I would both be getting the answers we wanted. And then, we could simply sit back and enjoy a nice relaxing evening.
Except, it didn't work out that way.
Not at all.
Chapter 40
I stared at the stranger on my doorstep. It was some guy in his late twenties, or possibly his early thirties. I'd never seen him before, and yet, something about him looked eerily familiar.
He was tall, with dark hair, dark eyes, and a lean muscular build that might've piqued my interest a couple of weeks ago, before I'd become so obsessed with another guy who looked remarkably similar.
I'd barely opened the door when the stranger said, "Where is he?"
Well, hello to you, too.Probably, if I'd been smart, I would've ignored the doorbell entirely. After all, it had brought me nothing lately but grief.
Joel was upstairs, taking a shower. And now, given my suspicions, I didn't quite know what to do. Should I welcome the guy inside? Or slam the door in his face?
Stalling for time, I said, "Where's who?"
The stranger flicked his head toward Joel's car. "The driver ofthat."
I made a show of looking toward the driveway. Behind Joel's car was a pricey-looking sedan with dark tinted windows. The way it looked, the guy had serious money – or massive car payments.
Then again, I could say the same thing about Joel, or even myself, if my car wasn't older and broken down, that is.
I pushed aside the distraction and returned my attention to the stranger. "Youdorealize you can't just show up here, demanding to see whoever."
"Yeah? Why not?"
I gave the guy a closer look.
Ungodly attractive? Check.
