Rogue Devil (The Rourkes #11) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,25

bawled her eyes out after our three-week whatever it was ended. I thought it was just casual hookups. She thought it was a relationship. Nightmare.

“No,” I say. “Geez, that would be bad. That’s stalker territory.”

“You sound agitated. That’s the only woman you ever mentioned who seemed to make an impression.”

“Yeah, because she threw a stiletto at my head.”

He chuckles and turns, layering the enchilada dish with stuff he has lined up on the counter.

“Besides, how do you know it’s a woman living next door?”

He doesn’t bother turning around. “If it was a guy, you would’ve told me already. Instead you’re beating around the bush.” He looks over his shoulder at me with a knowing smirk.

He’s smart about people. So irritating. “Okay, fine. It’s Adrian’s sister-in-law.”

He doesn’t respond, focused on his work.

“The redhead from Villroy.”

“Uh-huh.”

I wave a hand through the air. “Just moved right on in next door. Now I have to deal with her studying there all the damn time.” I tip my bottle back, swallow down a fine IPA, and slam the bottle on the counter. “It’s Phillip’s friend’s building, so there’s that family connection making us neighbors. No warning from Phillip either. I should call him.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I mean, it’s just not right. We’re cousins. How hard is it to text: guess what, Chloe Travers is moving in next door for the summer. Seriously!”

Silence.

I watch as he finishes up the dish and slides it into the oven. He sets the timer, turns, and crosses his arms, pinning me with another knowing look.

“What?” I ask, already feeling defensive.

“Does Phillip believe Chloe is a shady character? Potential criminal element?”

I twist my mouth to the side. “No.” He’s teasing, but I get it. Why would Phillip think it was a problem to do a favor for another member of the family? He probably knows Chloe better than he knows me or my brothers. “Still, a heads-up would’ve been nice.”

“What’s the problem? You’re agitated because your neighbor studies a lot?”

I slice a hand through the air. “A guy should have some warning. That’s all I’m saying.”

He cocks his head. “She shot you down, huh?”

“No. We’re friends.”

He grins. “Right. Because you have so many women friends.”

“Fuck you. I could have a woman friend if I wanted to.”

He hides a smile behind his beer and takes a sip. “Glad to hear you’re evolving.”

I jab a finger at him. “Ya know, if you weren’t cooking enchiladas, I’d be outta here.”

He walks to the stool adjacent to mine, pulls it out, and takes a seat. “Tell me about the redhead.”

“She’s blond now.”

“Strike one.”

“No, it’s…fine.” Angelic. I frown as another problem comes to mind. “Her bedroom shares a wall with mine.”

“And?”

“So I’m gonna hafta hear her with random guys!”

“And that’s a problem because…”

I glare at him.

“Hmm…friends don’t let friends hook up with other guys?”

I sock his shoulder. “Shut up.”

“Okay, you have permission to take my bedroom until I’m back, which Sean and Josie say will be around mid-July. Problem solved.”

“It’s not just that.”

“Then what, Romeo?”

I open my mouth and shut it again, at a loss for words. I don’t know if I’m coming or going where she’s concerned. I just know that I’m spending way too much time thinking about her.

“Bren.”

I turn to him. “What?”

“Just ask her out already.”

“It’s complicated.” I take a long swallow of cold beer. I need to keep Chloe at a distance. There’s too much potential fallout. But how can I when she’s so close?

He stares at me for a moment, and I work on my poker face. Finally, he says, “You hooked up with her, didn’t you? Back in Villroy.” He leans back in his seat, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “I see what’s going on here. You’ve got a girl you thought you said goodbye to forever living next door, so now it’s awkward. You don’t want her to get too close because she’ll get the wrong idea and think there’s something more.”

“Nothing happened in Villroy. I told ya we’re just friends.”

He takes a pull on his beer. “Then you won’t mind if I stop by and ask her out, would ya?”

“No!”

He grins and leans forward. “Gotcha.”

I scowl. “Not funny.”

He chuckles. “Kinda is.”

And he doesn’t say another word about it. He doesn’t have to. He knows and I know that I’m hung up on Chloe. She’s the first woman I ever really listened to and enjoyed talking with. I have this strange urge to make her happy just to see her smile. It’s a stronger urge than even my lusty impulses,