brownies out of the tray and onto a plate. Rake stands a little too close behind me for my liking, and when he speaks, his breath is warm and sweet on my neck. “You smell nice.”
I clear my throat. “Thanks, it’s uhhh, a body-mist thing I use.”
“Whatever it is, it’s good,” he rumbles into my ear. “It makes me hungry; it’s delicious.”
I edge away from him and take a few steps away. “Well. Brownies are ready; I’ll ice them when they cool down.”
“I can do it,” he offers, licking his lips. My eyes zoom in on his lip ring.
“When did you get that done?” I find myself asking.
He touches it with his index finger. “I was about twenty, I think. I got my eyebrow first, then the lip.”
“Why?” I ask him, our eyes connecting.
He stills, studying me, then finally shrugs. “I was looking for distractions, I guess, and I used any I could come across.”
I don’t ask him to explain further. “I like them.”
He nods, eyes now roaming down my body. “Good, I like them too.”
He is lingering on my breasts, which are bigger than the last time he saw them.
“Ummm, good,” I mumble, not knowing what to say but not wanting to be intimidated by him. I don’t lower my gaze, even though I can feel my cheeks start to heat as the look in his eyes does.
Finally, when I can’t take any more, I lower my gaze to his lips.
His lips quirk, in a familiar way.
I puff out a breath. “Well. I have . . . stuff to do.”
“Do you need any help?” he asks, flashing me an innocent look.
I purse my lips. “I didn’t think you did housework. I’m pretty sure Anna said you have women picking up after you.”
He shrugs, eyes dancing with amusement. “Doesn’t mean I don’t know how.”
I open my mouth and then close it. It really irks me that he turned into such a man-whore. And he doesn’t even deny it. He just accepts my digs and acts like he doesn’t care in the least what I think about it. He makes no apologies. At least I was his first, and that’s something that no one can change, no matter how stupid that sounds. I’d never even admit it out loud.
“It’s fine,” I tell him. “You can leave if you like. Tia is here and nothing will happen to us in the middle of the day.”
Rake scowls, his mouth tightening. “Pretty sure that fucker approached you in the middle of the day last time.”
I hate that he’s right.
I look around the room. “It’s just weird you . . . hanging around here.”
“I said I’d help. Put my ass to work,” he says simply, like he isn’t a big, bad biker, dressed in all black, like he does car pools every day. I study him. He really is a handsome man. More than that, electric. Sensual. The stubble on his cheeks gives him a rugged look, while the glint in his eyes tells you that he would definitely give you a good time. He oozes sex appeal, confidence, but there’s also a goofiness around him that I haven’t seen much of since being back in his presence. I don’t know if that’s because of me or because he’s changed over the years. Maybe this life has made him harder. Or maybe he’s just guarded and moody around me.
“How handy are you?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Growing up without a father, Rake was born the man of the house, so he was always the one fixing shit around the house.
He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, knowing the question doesn’t even justify an answer.
I push my hair back behind my ear. “I have a list of a few things that need fixing. I was going to call a handyman in.”
“Give me the list,” he demands softly. “And from now on, you need anything fixed, you call me. No point wasting your money when I can do it for you.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Give me the list, Bailey.”
I walk to the fridge and pull down a piece of paper from the top of it. I can feel my T-shirt rise and quickly pull it down, then turn to face him. “Here.”
He takes the list from my hand, our fingers touching. I pretend I don’t feel the shock wave from such a simple touch, and rub my fingers together as he reads over it and nods his head. “No problem. I’ll have all this done