Page 57 of Friends with Benefits

‘Jess.’

He lifted his cap and scratched his head of thick, brown hair. ‘Sorry about my roommate. He has like a birth defect or something.’

I smiled. ‘Yeah, I figured there was something going on there.’

He replaced his cap and leaned his head to one side. ‘That’s an English accent with a difference.’

‘Mm, yeah, well, I’ve lived a lot of places.’

And nowhere.

His eyes never left mine, as if he was waiting for more information, but I didn’t give it. This wasn’t going to be a long-term arrangement, even if I did decide to stay. I didn’t need to share things with him.

He let out a short pfft of laughter. ‘All right then, Jess from Nowhere and Everywhere, let me show you around.’

I watched his back muscles move beneath his T-shirt as I followed him through the lounge-kitchen-diner area, along a corridor and to my potential bedroom. It wasn’t much, completely empty but for a wardrobe and a mattress-less double bed. But it was better than most places I’d stayed in the last fifteen years. Plus, it had an en suite. I could be alone here as much as I wanted.

As we stepped back into the hallway, Alex came out of his bedroom, still almost naked, but now smelling of aftershave.

‘Christ man, put some clothes on,’ Jake said, the break in his voice betraying his amusement.

Alex shrugged. ‘She needs to know what she’s getting herself into if she lives here. Jess, my love, I don’t do clothes in the house. I do women. Lots of women. If you want…’

He winked at me again.

‘While that’s a delightful offer, and, might I add, very politely put, it’s Sunday, day of rest and all,’ I said.

Jake laughed hard, with his head thrown back and the skin of his neck pulled taut across his Adam’s apple. Damn, the man was sexy as hell.

‘I like her,’ Alex said. ‘Let’s keep her.’ Then he was gone from the corridor.

Jake led me to the kitchen and pulled out a stool for me. ‘Grab a seat. Beer?’

I was about to object but he was already taking two bottles from the fridge. ‘Looks like I don’t have much choice.’

‘Things you need to know,’ he said, unhooking the lids from the bottles. ‘Alex doesn’t wear enough clothes, and he really is frisky but harmless. For my part, you should never refuse beer, wings or burgers and we’ll get along just fine.’

He handed a bottle of beer to me and I watched him swig from his own. My lips curled up and I still have no idea why. I just… liked him. When I realized I was staring, I dragged my eyes away, looking for anything to distract me. My focus landed on his laptop.

‘Were you on a video call before?’ I asked, stating the obvious.

‘Yeah, it’s a family thing. Probably something else you should know about me. I Skype my family a lot. I’m a big family guy – even my closest friends are family.’

I took a gulp of beer and played with the label on the bottle, a wave of unexplainable emotion floating over me.

‘Sorry, does that make you think I’m weird or something?’ he asked.

‘Weird? God, no.’ Then I don’t know what came over me, but I told this hot stranger, ‘I guess, if anything, it makes me feel envious.’

I didn’t know why I said it and I didn’t want him to push me any further. My chest fluttered with panic as he questioned me with a look.

He stepped back against the kitchen counter and folded his bulging biceps across his toned pecs. I remember thinking, Hell, I do have a libido.

‘So, Mysterious Jess, do you want the place?’

I took a deep breath and sat up straighter on my stool. ‘The lease is six months?’

He nodded. ‘Unless you want to sign up for longer. I’m sure the landlord—’

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