Page 18 of Killer Notes
The following morning, I get up to find that John is already up, showered, and dress in jeans, a dark blue dress shirt, and black gym shoes. I follow suit, and then dressed in a similar fashion, but my running shoes are white.
“Coffee?” he asks, raising the glass carafe and a mug.
“Yes, please,” I reply and drop onto the stool at the island.
“Did you get your shit handled while you were back at home?” John takes a sip of his coffee and closes his eyes. “Hmm. There’s nothing like the first sip.”
“Yeah. Saint’s in good hands with my buddy Nolan and he’ll keep an eye out on my place since we don’t know how long this job will take,” I explain, not looking at my partner.
A silent moment passes before John says, “I don’t get it.”
“What don’t you get?” I shouldn’t ask, but sometimes I’m a dumbass.
“Why didn’t you do all that before we started this job? You knew this wasn’t going to be a few days.” John’s eyes never waver from my face. “But that’s not what I’m asking about.”
Should I confess the real reason why I had to leave? Fuck no. I’d never hear the end of that shit. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I remain stoic and drink my coffee.
John shakes his head. “That’s one bad excuse. Why not just say that the singer has gotten under your skin and you just needed a breather?” My partner is too damn perceptive.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You’re right. But now I’m good. And I won’t lethimget any further inside my head.” I purposely did not say Danny’s name, which might resurrect those images of him in the shower.
Noise from the corridor has us turning our heads. Danny walks out, yawning, rubbing at his eyes. The t-shirt he’s wearing rides up an inch, exposing a strip of creamy flesh. In that moment, all of my good intentions flee and my dick rises to attention.
Fucking A.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Danny stumbles to a stop, eyes wide with surprise, and on me. “I thought I was the only one awake.”
“Coffee?” John offers with a smirk.
“Yes. Thank you,” Danny says in a rumbly whisper that’s all too sexy. He glances at me and quickly averts his gaze to watch John pouring coffee while he says, “Where did you run off to yesterday?”
Since John didn’t go anywhere yesterday, I know Danny’s talking to me. But I’m a little surprised that he noticed my absence. “I had to do a perimeter check.” Short and sweet. It’s all he needs to know. I’m not lying.
“Oh… Okay.” He takes the filled mug, opens the fridge, and pours a good amount of creamer in the cup before taking a sip. “Good coffee,” he says in a soft moan.
Fuck. That groan is the last thing I want to hear out of the man.
“Danny,” I call out gruffly
“Yes?” he answers without looking at me. His eyes are closed, his mouth at the rim of the cup.
Damn it. Those lips…
And apparently, there’re no words to say. My full attention is on Danny’s mouth.
He pops one eye open and studies me idly before turning and walking away. Seeing his back hits me right in my gut… and lower.
“What time are we heading to the studio today?” John asks, which has me glaring at him. Is he nuts? We didn’t get the okay from Harper that it’s safe to venture out. Unless John did yesterday while I was out.
Danny slowly turns back around, the mug of coffee to his lips again but his blue eyes sparkle. “Really?”
“Yes. Tobias and I decided that you and the band need a change in scenery,” John says. I’m not liking the way Danny’s smiling at him.
“But there’re rules,” I add, glaring at John.
“Umm… Okay. I guess we can head over once everyone else gets up, which will probably be around noon,” Danny says with a gleeful smile. “Thank you.” He’s acting like we gifted him an extra life. He then strides away, out of my sight.
“You are welcome,” I mutter back, before rounding on John. “What the fuck?”