Page 43 of RomeAntically Challenged
“Why are you following me?” she demanded.
“I was actually here first, so I think that means you were stalking me.” Something across the parking lot caught his attention, and he froze.
“Shit,” he mumbled and, without further warning, dropped to the ground, completely disappearing from view.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Annie unbuckled herself and maneuvered in the driver’s seat until she could scramble onto her knees. Just in time to watch Emmitt perform some maneuvering of his own—an improv duck-and-cover routine that reminded her of a puppy trying to avoid crate time. He wasn’t quite on all fours but was headed in that direction.
After one of the most entertaining thirty seconds of people-watching she had ever participated in, Annie saw Emmitt try to conceal himself from anyone exiting or entering the market. He was, however, in Annie’s line of sight.
Unable to help herself, she reached for her phone to video the entire episode when he dropped down so far, he disappeared from her view.
She wasn’t sure whom he was hiding from, but whoever it was, they had him taking ghosting to a whole new level—to the tune of sliding under her car.
Annie felt sorry for whoever this woman was and wanted to see just how far Emmitt would go to avoid a real conversation with one of his friendly friends with benefits.
Annie thought back to the men in her life and wondered why it was easier for them to run from conflict than talk it out.
Annie cracked her window and said, “Hey, whatcha doing down there?”
His reply was uttered though clenched teeth but still came through crystal clear. Four letters, rhymed withduck, and wasn’t very neighborly of him.
Annie paused and, with a snort, picked up her phone. “Hey,” she said out the window. “Guy hiding under my car. Do you know a ten-letter word forrousedthat isn’tinstigated?”
He was silent so long, she doubted he’d answer. Then a very annoyed, very loud whisper said, “Aggravated? Or, I don’t know, how about,Shutting Up?Zip it or Pay?Oh, I know,It’s my House.”
“All good suggestions, but I don’t think they match the spirit of the clue. Do you?”
She was met with silence, so she decided to see what hadrousedthe bear. She scrambled across the center console, narrowly escaping an intimate moment with her parking brake, to get a closer look. And look she did.
Annie looked until her mouth went dry—which was the exact opposite of what was happening in her cheeky-cut panties. Because Emmitt was peering beneath her car to check whether the coast was clear, and the position forced his butt to stick up in the air, showcasing that grade A backside of his. It also did a lot to showcase just how worn and soft his jeans were.
Gravity did the rest.
The dark gray T-shirt that moments ago had clung to his chest with the day’s humidity slid up to expose a slice of that work-honed body. He shifted slightly, gifting her with a profile view, which was equally impressive since it included some premium side coverage, starting from his upper ribs all the way down to the impressive V that must leave women drooling as it disappeared into his jeans.
You’re becoming one of those women, she told herself, a little ashamed that she was objectifying him and a little breathless over the idea of just where that V ended.
Then she thought ofallthose women. The Tiffanys and Tif-fanis of the world who had been led on and then left hanging by guys like Emmitt.
How one minute he would be dancing them into bed, the next ducking under cars to avoid talking.
Not this time, buddy. Not on her watch.
Annie cracked the window.
“Emmitt?” She spoke with a raised voice so it would easily be heard by whomever he was avoiding. “Is that you? I didn’t know you were back.”
Slowly he turned his head and looked directly up at her window.Are you fucking kidding mewas written clearly across his face.
Annie shrugged a dramaticWhoops.
His brow rose in challenge.Game on!
It happened in slow-mo. She saw him reach for the door handle, saw the intent in his eyes, and before she could hit the locks he had the door open and was diving across the seats. Well, diving as far as a six-foot-plus guy with a very impressive set of biceps and thighs could in her fuel-efficient compact.
There was a lot of grunting and elbows flying, and then next thing she knew, Annie was flat on her back, emergency break shanking her in the kidney, 180 pounds of solid man on top of her.
A grunt and three jabs to his ribs later, Emmitt lifted up enough for her to breathe.
