Crushing on my Billionaire Best Friend - Jolie Day Page 0,44

go. I quickly turned to look out the window, avoiding his gaze.

But if whatever scary movie he picked out sent me flying into his arms for safety, he couldn’t say I hadn’t warned him.

12

Oliver

I couldn’t deny that I got a secret thrill from Laney flying into my arms for protection when we watched The Grudge Saturday night, and not just once. The scene when the female apparition was climbing down the stairs backward with her limbs all jacked up, and when the kid’s face just appeared from beneath the bed was all it had taken. Laney had jumped from her seat and had practically been in my lap. I was still chuckling to myself about it as I strolled through the hall to my front door, whistling while I went.

Something about inviting Laney to stay with me had put a pep in my step. Maybe it was just the new element of surprise. I wasn’t coming home to an empty apartment every night. I liked waking to fresh coffee. Or funny notes sticking to my bathroom mirror, the kitchen counter, the toaster, or the front door. I never knew when she’d be there first, curled up on the couch with takeout, or popcorn, or what movie she’d chosen, or if she’d have another surprise waiting for me. Or when she’d be coming and going. It was just a little extra excitement in the mix, and maybe I’d needed that more than I realized.

I slid my key into the lock and turned. But as the door swung open ready to greet her with a playful “Honey, I’m home,” I was met with an empty penthouse after all. Laney must be working late. I shrugged off my disappointment and walked over to the fridge, opening it to snag a beer.

It hissed as I twisted off the cap and tossed it up in the air. As it landed, I heard the jingle of keys in the front door. Happiness rushed through me. Laney came shuffling in with her arms full and a dripping-wet umbrella.

“Is it raining out?”

She stopped and stared at me, then back down to her soaked body and belongings. “No. Not raining. I just decided to go running through a bursting fire hydrant for fun.” I blinked, staring back at her with a blank expression. “Yes, Oliver. It’s raining.”

“Hey, Yoda, far be it from me to judge somebody on how they like to have fun. Maybe running through fire hydrants is your thing.” I shrugged, taking a sip of my beer.

She dropped her scowl and snorted. “Ha! So, you did read the other Star Wars note. Good.”

“Uh-huh.” I couldn’t help but grin at the surprised expression on her face. “We love that movie. Well, all of them.”

Laney nodded and started shedding herself of everything, plopping it all down into the entryway before straightening to slide out of her drenched sweater. She lifted her arms straight up, giving a brief flash of her sexy, bare waist and stomach, and her black, lacey bra underneath, with beautiful perky nipples poking through the thin material. I cleared my throat and looked away out of politeness until she’d straightened out the T-shirt under the sweater. But damn if the brief flash of what I saw wasn’t enticing. It made me think back to her first night here when I’d seen her tits on full display. The mental image alone caused my dick to jerk into a fucking semi, and I wanted nothing more than to tell her she shouldn’t be ashamed. That I might have already seen her breasts, and they were fucking amazing. … Holy fuck.

Her gaze met mine, seeming to pick up on my interest in watching her partially undress. She had no idea just how fucking gorgeous she was.

I cleared my throat and spun around to the takeout menus in the drawer by the fridge. “Well, I was just about to go out for dinner, but if it’s pouring outside, maybe it’s a good night to stay in. What are you feeling? Chinese? Thai? Oh, maybe Indian.”

“Don’t you have plans with Miles or something? You know, one of the new club openings?”

“I like a quiet night in as much as the next guy.” I spread the menus out on the countertop.

She tilted her head, cutting into me with a knowing stare. “Oh, yeah. Oliver’s just a regular ole homebody. Always has been,” she shot back with a sarcastic grin.

“I vote Indian.”

“Fine,” she sang, breezing past me to her room. “Please order for