Page 11 of Game Over
“Great.”
He stepped into the kitchen and reached around her to snag a set of keys out of a drawer. He rested his hand on her waist, while reaching, and she didn’t know whether to ignore it or chastise him. It spoke to a level of comfort they shouldn’t have after so many years apart.
“I’m still not convinced this is good idea,” she muttered. “Being your neighbour is one thing, but right next door, with a common door between our apartments.”
“If you’re worried you won’t be able to resist sneaking in here at night to have your way with me, I can throw the deadbolt on my side to help you out with that.”
“You’re such an ass,” she said, elbowing him in the stomach. “It’s not me I’m worried about. If memory serves you were the insatiable one.”
That innocent comment was all it took for the mood in the room to change from playful to sexually charged and Harper wasn’t sure she welcomed the change. As he looked down at her, they both seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the other to make the first move. She would have to be certifiable to kiss her ex-boyfriend, the man who not only dumped her, but stomped on her heart. But knowing it would be a mistake didn’t prevent her from wanting to make it.
Before she could act on temptation, she patted his chest. “I’m dead on my feet. I just might take you up on that offer to sleep over. Uh, in the apartment next door, of course.”
He smirked. “Of course.” He crossed the room. “Just let me grab those sheets and towels. Oh, and you’ll need soap...”
His voice trailed off when her memory took over. Soaping each other up in the shower. Him pinning her against the tile wall, having his way with her mouth while he breached her, stretching her in the most delicious way…
Deke was standing in front of her, hands full, looking amused. Like he’d just caught her with her hand in the cookie jar after she’d sworn off treats. “Did I interrupt something?”
She shook her head, trying to re-focus on the present. “Uh no.” Her cheeks were burning, so she pushed past him, knowing it was too late to hide the obvious. “Thanks for letting me stay over. If I know Jude she’s having a sleepover tonight and there’s no way I’d want to be a fly on the wall. Our apartment is so small that awkward mornings after are a given.”
“That’s why you need your own place.”
He was really selling it, but the question remained whether she was buying. It was a hard offer to refuse. Getting paid to look after an adorable kid, plus free rent. It was like the answer to her prayers, but she knew allowing Deke to play her hero was just asking for trouble.
Since his hands were full, she turned the lock and opened the door that led to the apartment next door. Flicking the light switch, she whistled under her breath. Damn, it was nice. Why’d it have to be so nice?
White walls and trim, scraped gray hardwood floors. A white kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless appliances. A small living and dining area, both filled with coordinating white furniture. It was just one large open room, but the higher ceilings made it feel more spacious.
“What do you think?” he asked, setting the load in his arms on a skirted ottoman in front of one of two loveseats facing each other. “I know it’s not very big, and kind of neutral, but I wanted the tenant to be able to add their own touch so I thought a blank canvas worked best.”
“It’s beautiful.” She ran her hand over a distressed cabinet that housed a TV. “You’ve thought of everything.” She couldn’t reconcile the reckless, moody, artistic kid she used to know with this guy. It didn’t compute.
“I tried,” he said, shrugging. “It’s easier to get good tenants if you fix the place up right.”
She turned without realizing he was standing so close. They were practically toe-to-toe, totally invading each other’s space. But she knew if she took a step back she’d send the message she was fighting their connection.
“Sounds like you’re kind of an expert at this stuff. What’s the deal?” When he didn’t answer right away, she said, “Come on, Deke. Really?”
He sighed before threading a hand through his hair. “I didn’t set out to get rich, if that’s what you think. I still don’t give a shit about money. I just hated feeling so insecure. After the way I grew up, it always felt like the rug could be ripped out from under me.”
“I get that,” she said, softly.
His eyes drifted to her lips and he licked his own. “I, uh, bought this building. It seemed like a good fit for my shop. The apartments were a write-off, so I fixed those up one at a time, starting with mine. When this place was fully rented and I started making some bank, I bought another building.” His cheeks were ruddy as he dipped his head. “Now I have six.”
Her jaw dropped. “Shut up! You own six buildings like this?”
He grimaced. “Yeah, sixty nine units in all. Six retail, the rest residential.”
Harper shook her head, trying to make sense of what he was telling her. The kid who’d gone to school without lunch money most days was stinking rich. “I don’t believe this. Why didn’t Jude tell me how successful you were? I mean, I knew the tattoo shop was doing well, that you were killin’ it as an artist, but she never said a thing about the real estate.”
He shrugged. “Not many people know about it.” He bit his lip. “Honestly, it becomes a hassle if women find out. You have to wonder if they’re dating you because they like you or because…”
“Of your money.” The thought of Deke dating other women seemed so strange to her. In the past, when they’d spent time together, they’d always been a couple. Now she had to accept the fact he was a single guy, who probably slept around, when Drew wasn’t with him.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” He looked a little nervous as his eyes locked with hers. “If you think I told you this just to impress you—”
“That’s not what I was thinking.” She had no filter when it came to him, never had. “I was wondering if you sleep around when your brother’s home with Drew.”
