Page 62 of Forbidden Kisses

Duncan grabbed a Ziploc bag and put the waffles in it.

Lord help me, I was truly finding a man holding a Ziploc bag sexy. This single dad had warmed his way into my heart.

"Okay, then, we're ready to go," I said.

I was feeling a bit weird, walking commando around the city, but I didn't want to stop by my place and put on panties. I’d promised my sister breakfast, and I was going to deliver.

Once we reached the front of her building, Duncan said, "Her place doesn't look better in daylight."

“I agree. I hate that she lives here; I’m always worried about her.” Eventually, I wanted to work something out so she could take over my lease once I started my new job. At that point, I should be able to afford another place.

"I'm walking you upstairs."

"Duncan, that's not necessary. The place looks dingy, but there have been no incidents during the day. That I know of." My sister had a habit of not telling me when really bad stuff happened. "Actually, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you come up with me."

We both got out of the car at the same time. Duncan was next to me in an instant, arm around my waist. He kept looking around. The area was deserted except for the three homeless guys two blocks away who we saw on the drive over, but they didn't pay attention to us.

Just like yesterday, the elevator wasn’t working, so we trudged up two flights of stairs.

“You don’t have to come up,” I told him. “These stairs are insane.”

"It's the least I can do. And it'll count as my cardio for the day."

I snorted. "As if I’d believe that you got that hot bod just because of some cardio."

"I didn't say I wouldn't hit the weights afterward." I could hear the grin in his voice.

"What else are you doing today?" I asked him as we went up.

"I'll probably do some laps. If I hurry, there won't be anyone in the pool. The rest of the neighbors typically show up in the afternoon. Although sometimes I do see some of the single moms. Though none of them swim."

I stopped walking and turned around, smiling from ear to ear. "And you have no idea what they’re doing there?"

"Suntanning, I guess."

Oh my God. Duncan was so naive. He seriously didn’t know?

"Here’s an idea," I said. "They might come just to watch the show."

"What show?" he asked, bewilderment obvious across his features.

"You swimming. You’re a hot, sexy guy."

He wrapped both arms around my waist. The bag of waffles was dangling at my side. "Really? You think everyone's out to get me?"

"I hope not. But they are for sure out to ogle you. And I don't blame them. But just so you know, you're super irresistible when you do the butterfly stroke. Maybe you can put a helmet on or something so you look like a dork and lower your sexiness factor. But I don't think it’ll work." I could tell he was getting a kick out of my antics.

"You're so damn adorable and funny. I love that about you."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Really? I've been told my humor might be a bit too much, so I was trying to tone it down around you.” Duncan was still my boss, after all, but we’d moved past that to… what was this?

Don’t get all philosophical Riley.Just enjoy it.

"Well, don’t. I like sassy, fun Riley."

"Excellent, because it’s really hard for me to not be me."

We both laughed, and I couldn’t help but to think how strange this situation had become.