mulled over his words. Keep me company sounded more like babysitting. Lance took all week off from work, saying he wanted to help me transition here, but something told me he was scared I’d bolt. The fact that he asked Decker to spend the day with me supported that hypothesis. Though I had a feeling that Decker had no problem keeping an eye on me. He probably wanted to make sure I didn’t steal the flat screen in the living room and pawn it off.
Decker spun around from the stove top to face me, and my breath nearly caught at the sight of him. He was fully dressed for the day. With dark jeans and a blue t-shirt, he looked handsome. His dark, wavy hair was still wet from his shower this morning, and I found myself wanting to run my fingers through it, which was absofuckinglutely ridiculous.
I was still in my pajamas, which consisted of an oversized t-shirt and short shorts. Lance kept telling me to make myself at home, so I didn’t bother changing. If I had known it would be Decker waking me up with breakfast, though, I might have been a little more attentive to my appearance. “Oh,” I began. “Well, you don’t have to keep me company. I was going to apply for jobs at a few local restaurants. Lance has been keeping me so busy all week I haven’t had the time.”
Lance filled up every minute of my day. He took me shopping, showed me around town, and even took me to look at a new car he was thinking about buying me. I managed to convince him not to, saying that Mama’s car had sentimental value. He was going out of his way to make me feel at home, and I had to choke back my prejudice about charitable men at every turn. He was my brother, I should be excited to have a family member that wanted to help me, but something kept pulling me back. It was probably his asshole best friend making me feel like shit for even breathing the same air as Lance.
Decker grabbed a frying pan full of scrambled eggs and set it in front of me on a hot pad before migrating over to the stool beside mine. “I have a better idea, actually. You game?”
“That depends on what the idea is,” I replied. Decker’s voice sounded sleepy in a sexy sort of way, and I noticed some scruff on his angular jaw. Scooping a spoon full of eggs onto my plate, I noted that he’d sprinkled some cheese on them. Two days ago, I’d made an offhand comment that I preferred my eggs that way, and I was surprised that he remembered.
Decker reached up to grab a slice of toast, brushing his arm along mine. I turned to casually stare at him as he buttered his bread, noticing how his eyes kept drifting to my legs. “How about this,” he began. “I’ll tell you where we’re going if you give me five truths.”
“Five truths?” I questioned.
“For every lie you’ve told Lance this week about your mother, I want you to tell me the truth.”
I swallowed. No. No way in hell. I didn’t want to risk him telling Lance. “No, thank you. I’m fine with surprises,” I replied with an eye roll before shoveling a spoonful of food in my mouth.
“Fair enough. Tell me three truths, then, and I’ll get you a job at my friend’s restaurant. She’s always looking for servers.”
I swallowed my mouthful of food. Taking a gulp of steaming hot coffee, I took my time mulling over his proposition before sputtering my response. “Really? You’d do that?” I asked.
Decker leaned in closer with a smile, then lifted his thumb up. I stared at him in confusion before he swiped at my bottom lip, tugging the skin with the padding of his finger. My mouth parted in shock as a gasp escaped my chest. “You had some food there,” he rasped before pulling away. Heat flooded my skin, and I squeezed my thighs together before shifting in my seat. His eyes lingered on my mouth where his finger just was, like he was searching for another excuse to touch me. I bit down on my bottom lip, making him let out a subtle gasp.
Coughing, Decker shook his head before answering my question. “I think a job could be good for you. It’ll help you get on your feet faster. I’ve always had a job, even