Page 24 of Bad Boy Next Door
Anxiety accelerated my heart. The way I was feeling, I did not trust myself alone with Nick. “You sure?” I yelled across the open courtyard as she headed down her hall. “If bacon and eggs are too heavy, I could make you a salad? Some pan-roasted veggies? An egg-white omelet?” I thought through my limited pantry.
“Thanks anyway.” She stopped at an apartment door and waved. “What time’s your shift tomorrow?”
“Seven.”
“Want a ride in?” Her voice carried easily across the open space.
“Sure. Thanks. And thanks for the ride home tonight.”
“No sweat!” She opened her door and stepped inside.
Suddenly the air felt thicker, and the space on the balcony-like hallway shrank. Even though neither of us had moved from where we’d stopped at the top of the stairs, it was like the air and concrete had conspired to force me closer to Nick.
My breathing felt labored, and I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at him.
“Your place or mine?” His deep voice rumbled through me.
“What?” I glanced up.
“Breakfast?” He took a step toward me. “I’m starving. Unless you’re taking back your offer. Maybe you think you’ve already shown me enough gratitude.” He was grinning, his tone teasing. And even though his words could be interpreted as a threat, they didn’t come off that way. At all.
I dug for my keys as I headed for my apartment. “One breakfast, coming right up.”
“Fantastic,” he said but stopped at his door. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. I’ll come by in ten?”
“Sure.” I shot into my place, trying not to imagine his naked body under a stream of hot water.
Crap. I leaned back against my door. If he was going to shower, did that mean I should too? First things first. Get some biscuits going, because I hadn’t yet baked any bread.
