Page 17 of Kiss of Deceit

“What the hell am I doing?”I muttered to myself as I walked home.

I closed the bar early, which wasn’t completely unusual. If I didn’t have any customers, I’d lock up and go home. Although it didn’t happen often since I was the only bar in town, but Monday nights were always the slowest of the week. No point in wasting electricity and my time if I wasn’t making any money. Though, tonight was different. The sole reason I was running home was about Dani. She hadn’t left my mind. Not once all damn day.

Our interaction this morning only added to my unwanted curiosity about her. She was feisty. Strong-willed. Shocked the hell out of me when she shoved that bagel in my mouth—and pissed me off in the same breath. Yet here I was, hoping she wasn’t shut in her room when I got back because I wanted to see her.

Stopping in front of my house, I punched in my door code, and pushed open the door, going still when a wave of heat hit me.

“Fuck,” I mumbled, stepping inside and instantly feeling suffocated because of how hot it was in here. The small lightabove the stove was on, giving me enough light to see that no one was in here. She was either upstairs or not home. I strode to the kitchen wall, hitting the button on the thermostat, grumbling under my breath when I saw she had set it to seventy-five degrees.

I jammed my finger on the button, turning it back down to sixty-seven how I always had it. My body buzzed with annoyance, instantly reminding me why I hadn’t lived with anyone since moving here. I didn’t do well with sharing my space. I quickly moved to the back window, and slid it open before going to the front of the house and pushing open the two living room windows, enjoying the cold breeze that immediately started drifting through.

Stripping off my jacket, I hung it up in the coat closet before heading to the kitchen to make some food. As I put my leftover meatballs into the microwave, I tried to be quiet in case she was sleeping. I wasn’t used to this at all but would have to make it work until Fiona found her another place to live. It was only nine thirty, and I doubted she was sleeping, but I didn’t hear a sound coming from upstairs, so I continued trying to be quiet.

Once the food was heated, I made myself comfortable on the barstool. I shoved my fork into a meatball, annoyed with myself. This one girl was flooding my thoughts, and it was driving me crazy. I craved tasting her again. I was regretting that the lights were off when I was between her thighs because I wanted to see every inch of her body.

Voices drifted in through the window, pulling me from my thoughts, and I shifted on the barstool, adjusting my hard dick. The curtains were still mostly closed, so I couldn’t see who was outside, but I heard her voice, making me wonder what she was doing out this late. Most places in this town closed early except for my bar.

“You sure you’re okay?” a deeper voice asked.

My spine straightened, my head snapping to the curtains. I didn’t recognize it, and I slipped off the stool, creeping closer to the window.

“I’m fine,” Dani answered with a sigh. “You didn’t need to walk me home.”

“I’m only a few doors down,” the guy replied. “Is your roommate another intern?”

“No,” she muttered. “Thanks again. I’ll see you later.”

The doorknob twisted, and I hurried back to the kitchen, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping.

“Wait,” the guy implored. “I like you, Dani.”

The door didn’t open, and I bit my tongue wondering who the hell she was talking to. I had a feeling it was the guy who had eyes for her at my bar the first night the interns arrived.

“I told you I have no interest in dating while I’m here,” she replied softly. “I want to do this internship and start my life.”

“It’s important to me too, but we’ll be here a year. What’s wrong with enjoying our time?”

She didn’t say a word, and I wished I could read her features to see what she was thinking. I leaned against the counter, my eyes staying on the closed front door.

“Dinner,” the guy said. “Just as friends.”

“You want more than friendship.”

“I think starting off as friends is the best way for a relationship to build.”

She giggled even though it sounded strained. “Nowyousound like the psychology major.”

“Come on, Dani.” His voice was laced with desire that had my pulse spiking. “Give me one chance.”

“Just dinner,” she finally agreed.

My heart pounded, a rush of anger jolting through my veins that had me curling my hands into fists. Fuck me. This womanhad her claws hooked into me much deeper than I thought. And it was a damn problem.

I heard them saying goodbye, and I fell back onto the barstool, grabbing my fork as the door opened. Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as she faltered a bit when she saw me while she pushed the door shut behind her. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and her hair fanned around her face as she took a couple steps closer.

“Hi,” she greeted, eyeing me warily. “I thought your bar was open later than this.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Trying to avoid me in my own house?”