Page 8 of Better Together

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Zeke shut the car door, hurried toward his house, and unlocked the front door. He froze when he heard the running water, but then followed the sound and stood in his bedroom, waiting for the bathroom door to open. When Alexis walked out, he cursed and shifted, his jeans tightening. He sure hadn’t expected to find her half-naked in his bedroom; he’d only fantasized about such things up until this point. Alexis looked up and shrieked.

“Well, that’s a hell of a way to welcome me home,” he said, breathless.

Two thoughts hit Alexis. One, she was wrapped in a towel that barely covered her . . . well, all the parts that need covering, standing in front of the man who’d filled her dreams for a long time. And two, the utter desire showing in his eyes as well as his jeans made it difficult to tear her gaze from him. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“My home. My shower. My towel. Not that I mind, but if you keep staring, I’ll have to show you what you do to me,” Zeke said with hope in his voice.

“I can see.” She let out a soft giggle. Still reeling from surprise and the heat between them, her brain finally kicked in. She couldn’t survive the heartache, because Zeke wasn’t the kind of man that played for keeps. But hell, he made her body zing with anticipation.

Zeke’s phone chimed, releasing her from his spell. She reached for her pajamas on his bed and held them to her chest. If only she were brave enough to release the towel. Would it lure his attention back? But then she’d be playing with fire.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, “I need to take this. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

She slipped her clinging shirt over her head and pulled her flannel pajama pants on. She’d be going commando for the first time in front of Zeke. But, who cared. He’d just witnessed her in a towel and his reaction—oh boy. She hadn’t seen that coming.

She found him in the kitchen. He had just ended his call. “I’m sorry. I should explain,” she said. “My water heater went out and since you weren’t home . . .”

Her words trailed off as he reached for her. They stood only a breath apart.

Holding her hand, he said, “It’s fine. Feel free to use my shower anytime.” He winked.

Alexis stepped back. She bit her bottom lip. “Are you up for popcorn and a movie?”

“Sure. I slept on the plane. I’ll start the popcorn.”

The smell of popcorn had her salivating, or was it the idea of Zeke having his way with her?

“Popcorn is ready.”

His voice pulled her out of the visions dancing in her head. Zeke slid a bowl of freshly popped corn across the island.

Alexis remained standing. “Can we talk?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you when you called. I wanted to surprise you.” The corner of Zeke’s mouth lifted.

“You did surprise me,” she said with a laugh.

The tension in the room evaporated when Zeke joined in. “Yeah. You and me both.”

He reached into the cupboard for two glasses, grimacing. “Water good? I’m on pain meds, so alcohol is out for me. But I can pour you a glass of wine or if you prefer, beer, unless you finished that off too, along with my cookies?” He smiled.

Alexis walked around the corner of the island. Why hadn’t she noticed he was hurt? “What happened? Are you okay?” She placed a hand on his arm and studied his reaction.

“Probably don’t want to touch me there. Other places would feel better.” He smirked.

She slapped him in the arm, and he winced.

“Actually, I meant not to touch me there. I was shot in the upper arm.”

“What?” She scrabbled with his shirt, trying to lift it over his head.

“Hold on there, Alexis. If you remove my shirt, I might think you want to go back into my bedroom.”

She let her hands fall to her sides. “Can I see it?”

The grimace on Zeke’s face turned to a grin.