Page 18 of Wrecked (Axle Alley Vipers)

The answer to that was an emphatic no.

If she didn’t give this one last shot, she’d always wonder what if. She was sick of getting tied up in knots over him. It was time to find out one way or the other. She couldn’t let this chance slip away without trying.

He’d brushed the call under the carpet, pretended it never happened. Now it was the big pink elephant in the room that no one wanted to bring up. Because bringing it up meant he’d have to admit the way he felt about her. And going by his swift departure the other night, he had no intention of doing that. But his actions recently, the way he looked at her, the way he’d kissed her back, they told her something entirely different. He wanted her all right.

He just had to stop fighting it.

So, for a moment, she stopped fighting as well, let the false happy, the bravado, slip from her face. The pretense was a waste of time. He may not want to, but he knew…he knew exactly how she felt. How could he not? “I promise you, Cole, I won’t bother you. But if you want me, for anything—you know where I am.”

Even Cole couldn’t mistake her meaning. He was off the hook. His best friend’s little sister wouldn’t be throwing herself at him any longer.

But she would be doing her damnedest to tempt him at every opportunity.

He made a rough sound. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Her belly did a little swoop. “Great. I’ll see you around, then.”

“I guess you will.” Then he turned away, but before he did, something flashed behind his eyes, something dark and tormented.

For a minute she felt rooted to the spot, until he started unpacking one of his boxes, back and shoulders stiff, effectively ending the conversation.

She walked out, leaving him on his own, and after closing and locking up the garage, she crossed the parking lot to her cottage. The sun was still high in the sky, the asphalt sticky beneath her boots. Yep, a pool would be awesome about now. But today, the hose would have to do.

Sitting on her front steps, she pulled off her boots and socks, then stood, sighing when her feet sunk into cool, spongy grass as she walked to the side of the house. Turning on the hose, she aimed it at herself to wash the grit and dirt off her skin, so she didn’t traipse it through the house, and groaned when the cool water ran down her overheated body.

Next stop a shower, followed by a glass of wine and some serious planning. She needed to come up with a few creative ways to torment her surly neighbor.

After a few more minutes hosing herself down, she turned off the water and headed back to the front of the house.

I will make you give in, Cole Black. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just you watch me.

Then, before she could stop herself, she turned toward the apartment above the garage— and sucked in a startled breath.

Because he was watching her. Arctic blue eyes watched her from the kitchen window.

Without even realizing it, she’d won the first round.

She smiled to herself.

Let the games begin.

Chapter Six

Cole moved to his kitchen window and froze, hands gripping the edge of the bench hard enough to make the Formica groan. Piper stood in her yard, garden hose turned on, aiming the jet of water at herself.

But if you want me, for anything, you know where I am.

“Shit.” Had she really meant what he thought she did? Or was she thinking more along the lines of a neighborly cup of sugar? Fuck. He couldn’t allow himself to believe it. Believe that shy, sexy, little Piper West—the woman of his dreams—had just invited him into her bed. His head might actually explode if he did.

He swallowed hard, gaze following the water’s trajectory. The way it sluiced over her neck and shoulders, her arms, soaking into her shirt and shorts, gathering at the apex of her thighs and down her legs, making her skin glisten.

Not just my goddamn head.

Groaning, he licked his lips, like he already had her salty, sweet taste on his tongue.

Jesus.

Was she doing it on purpose? Was she trying to kill him? Because that’s what it felt like. His heart smacked around in his chest so damn fast, so hard, the possibility of having a heart attack wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. And his dick…shit. He’d never been so hard.