The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,44
thinking?”
“I’ll come by tonight and we can talk about it?”
I glance at Dylan, who isn’t paying us any attention. “I had a favor to ask you actually.”
Her shoulders fall. “What?”
“It’s kind of a long story.” I glance at Dylan again. “Could we talk in the kitchen?”
“Sure.” She walks toward the kitchen, and I follow her.
Once we’re in there, I feel more comfortable telling her everything that went down with Knox and me on the balcony last night. The things he said, the declaration that he should’ve picked me. That it’s something he regrets. And that kiss. My body is still pulsing from that kiss. His lips were so firm and demanding, but at the same time, he wasn’t pressuring me. The way his hands held my hips and the feel of his erection. God help me.
By the time I finish, Rian’s hand is over her heart. “Oh, Knox.”
I nod. “I figure if I move in with you guys just to prove my point, we’ll see if he makes a move.”
“And what if he doesn’t?” She’s right to worry about that. Knox is a hard man to predict.
“Then he never really wanted me anyway.”
“It’s a game with a lot of moving pieces.”
I nod. “Would Dylan be okay with it?”
“Oh, please.” She waves. “These guys do so much shit to get their friends to get out of their own stubborn ways. Jax acted like he liked me for a while just to get Dylan jealous enough to make a move on me.”
“So when he leaves for work tonight, we’ll move my stuff over?” I ask.
She nods. “And I’ll fill Dylan in.”
“Great. Thanks so much, Rian.”
I give her a quick hug, and she forces a box of muffins on me before I walk out of the kitchen.
“Hey, Kamea,” she says.
I turn around to face her.
“I’m impressed. You always seemed like this shy girl who lets things happen to her and didn’t make them happen for herself. Go, girl!”
I laugh. “Thanks.”
Let’s just hope this turns out how I want.
I’m at the breakfast counter, working on a new T-shirt line devoted to women who want to be in charge of their own destinies. It’s different from what I usually do, but I’m feeling inspired.
Knox comes out of his room, dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Did Rian deliver these?” He opens the bakery box and takes a bran muffin. Even a muffin has to be semi-healthy for this guy.
“No, I was over there this morning and she gave them to me to bring back.”
He sits down and glances at my computer. “What’s that?”
I turn my computer more toward me. “Just something I’m working on.”
He sighs. “I don’t want this to be weird. The whole reason we didn’t do anything was so it wouldn’t be weird.”
I shut my computer and get up, going to the fridge. I grab the orange juice. “That’s funny, because if you had crossed the line, we’d probably be naked in one of those rooms right now. But you have rules, and everyone needs to follow them, right?”
His mouth opens, but he says nothing. Am I being a tad ridiculous? Yes. I can admit that. But his reasons for not doing anything about his attraction to me are stupid. I’m a grown woman and I understand the chance I’m taking if I sleep with him.
I’ll be honest and say it wouldn’t be my smartest decision, since I don’t have anywhere else to go should things go bad. But that’s not what he’s worried about. He’s worried that I somehow associate living here with having to sleep with him. What planet does he live on?
He sets down his muffin. “You’re playing dirty.”
“Dirty would be if I stripped down and walked around naked.”
He swallows hard and his gaze zeroes in on my lips. “I’m not sure I know what you want me to do.”
I shrug. “Nothing. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”
“Fine. The woman’s definition isn’t the same as a man’s.”
I smile and turn because he’s so right. “I just meant I understand your rules, but I don’t have to like them or even agree with them.”
Jax comes out of his room in just his boxers. “What’s up, guys? How was last night?”
“Fine,” I say.
Jax looks at Knox with a cringe.
“See, even Jax knows what it means when a woman says it’s fine.” Knox motions to Jax.
“Let’s get his take on it then, huh?” I finish off my orange juice.
“Where did that sweet girl who lived with us go?” Jax asks.