off half in one bite as if it would feed me insight into Braxton’s mind. It wasn’t bad. Of course, I was hungry as fuck. I couldn’t recall the last time I ate either. Being on the road could be brutal. There were times when even the most basic human necessities were either optional or forgotten.
We watched the movie mostly in silence. Rich and I made more than a few male appreciation sounds, which disgusted Braxton to no end.
“Do you ever dress up for Halloween?” I asked without preamble, rhyme, or reason.
She cut her gaze toward me. “Where is this going?”
I nodded toward the TV and Gal Godot playing a fierce Amazonian yet clueless demigod. “With the right phone calls, I’m sure we could get you an authentic costume. Then again, I’m thinking of Poison Ivy. Assuming you’re a natural redhead.”
My eyebrows rose as I waited for an answer. Of course, she didn’t take the bait, not that I expected her to, really.
“You’re exhausting,” she said with a shake of her head.
“I prefer riveting.”
“How about pig?”
“You could call me that, but then you’ll still want me to fuck you.” I shrugged.
Our gazes met and held, but she didn’t bother denying it. Falling into bed together was just a matter of when. We were wrong for each other in every facet but one—the chemistry we made could crumble the strongest mountain.
Because I was a gentleman when it suited me, I let her off the hook by focusing on the movie until my eyes started to droop.
The film wasn’t even close to ending. How long was this fucking thing?
I’d need a bed soon, preferably with Braxton in it.
Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention in time to see her yawn for the third time in ten minutes. While she was falling asleep, she must have thought up the perfect punishment for me because she turned on her side, and just before laying her head in Rich’s lap, she paused.
“Is this okay?”
Fucker didn’t even hesitate before nodding. She rewarded him with a sleepy smile, and then her head was on his fucking thigh.
I saw red.
It bloomed on Rich’s cheeks like he was a thirteen-year-old girl.
“Why am I friends with you?” I blurted out of jealousy. I didn’t give two shits about hiding it. “You’re twenty-seven years old, blushing because a girl asked to touch you platonically.” I shook my head in envy disguised as disgust. That should have been me Braxton was lying on. “God, you’re embarrassing.”
“Ignore him,” Braxton mumbled as her eyelids drifted closer together. Any moment now, she’d be out cold. “He’s jealous because you’re sweet, and I like you more.”
Feeling evil as fuck, I smiled at them both.
“Too bad he’s married,” I snitched to Rich’s horror.
Lucky for him, Braxton had fallen asleep.
I was relieved the next morning when I woke up alone. I just wasn’t sure I’d slept alone. All I could vaguely recall was being carried into the bedroom and laid gently on the pillow-top mattress. That and a gentle kiss pressed against my forehead. I just wish I could place a face to the lips.
Following the smell of French toast, I entered the kitchen and caught Loren stealing a slice of bacon from a plate meant for me.
“So, you’re a thief, too.” I shuffled toward the counter and the delicious smell coming from the plate. I could seriously get used to having a chef around. It seemed like a worthwhile investment for a girl who was clueless in the kitchen.
“Morning, baby fawn.”
His gruff greeting told me he hadn’t been awake long either. I wasn’t a morning person, so add what he said to me last night, and I found myself snapping. “Stop calling me that. My name is Braxton, but if you insist, can you at least drop ‘baby’?”
“I’d rather drop Fawn,” he said as cool as a cucumber.
Oh, hell no. I didn’t like my stomach’s positive reaction to that. “Fine. Whatever. It’s a fucking deal.” I thrust out my hand for him to shake and pretended I wouldn’t like being that intimate with him.
He stared at my hand with amusement before his gaze snapped up to meet mine.
And then he kissed me.
The bastard fucking kissed me.
Loren’s kiss wasn’t rough like Houston’s. He wasn’t demanding, but he wasn’t generous either. No, he teased and toyed with my lips, heart, and tongue until I was ready to put my soul on the line. He was a playful kisser, leading me in only to pull away. With