Page 14 of Hotshot

I grabbed another water bottle and hurried after him to the balcony. “Are you going to be sick?”

“No, I never felt better. ’Cept my skin is like an oven.” Denny yanked his tee over his head in a whoosh, stuffed the fabric into his back pocket, and thrust an arm toward me. “Feel it. Seriously.”

I set my hand on his forearm and yes, he was warm to the touch. He also happened to have the body of a god. No kidding.

Every dip and valley from his pecs to his torso and abs was defined as if he’d been sculpted by a master. He was all lean muscle, not an ounce of extra fat anywhere. I was no stranger to exercise and I liked to think I was in decent shape, but I couldn’t begin to compare to an athletic specimen like Denny.

My gaze stalled on his tapered waist and the hint of a happy trail under his exposed belly button.Keep it together, Cunningham.

I swallowed hard, thrusting the water at him with more force than necessary. “Drink this.”

Denny tipped his chin in thanks and guzzled the whole thing, dragging his wrist across his full lips before letting out a monster belch. “Did ya hear that?”

“Yes, I heard that. Please don’t smash the plastic. It’s—”Crunch.I snatched the empty bottle from him with an exasperated growl. “Okay, this was a mistake. You need to go home.”

“You’re right, but MK has my ride.”

“You’re in no shape to drive anyway. Do you have Uber here?”

Denny giggled. Yeah, a real live giggle. “In Elmwood? No, sir. We do not. We have a taxi…one taxi. I don’t know who’s driving tonight. Sometimes it’s Darren. He’s nice. Sometimes it’s Sal. He’s a ashwipe, but ’s okay. I’m gonna walk anyway.”

No, no, no.

I wasn’t sure why or how he’d become my problem, but I couldn’t in good conscience let Denny Mellon drunkenly stumble home in the pitch-dark on a country road leading to a sleepy town.

“Do you live nearby?”

He furrowed his brow thoughtfully. “I live in Denver.”

“I meant here in Elmwood.”

“Oh, yeah. I live here too. I have a house.”

“Great. Where is it, Denny? Concentrate.”

He nodded hard enough to give himself whiplash. “First I gotta walk up the hill into town and go to Main Street and three more blocks to Spruce and one more block to?—”

“I’ll drive you,” I intercepted. “C’mon.”

“No, no. I wanna walk. Fresh air feels good.” Denny’s face contorted as he stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “I’m just tired. Gimme a second to cool off. Do you have more water? I gotta dilute the tequila.”

“You can’t sober up here. That might take hours, and?—”

“You’re right. I should rest first. I’ll take a nap on the sofa.”

“No.”

He widened his eyes as if insulted by my lack of hospitality. “Okay, I’ll stay outside.”

“It’s freezing, Denny. It might even snow tonight.”

“Really? Good ’cause I’m hot.” He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his fly.

“Whoa! You can’t undress here,” I whisper-hissed. “This is public property, for fuck’s sake.”

He wrinkled his nose and pointed at the trees. “No one cares. Only owls, and ’sides, you’re not gonna propzishun me anyway. I guess I’ll keep my boxers on. ’S like going swimming…but no pool. Totally decent. I’ve never done any indecent exposures. Imma genzleman. You’re the one who’s naughty. You got the propzishuns, not me.”

“This is the slurring part.” I was getting more alarmed by the second.