Page 20

She laughs again, shoving at him playfully. She looks vaguely familiar, and I think it’s one of the girls Dean’s had over in the past.

She’s gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. Tall and slender. She looks like she could be in one of those perfume commercials too.

I’m reminded why something between Dean and me could never work—he’s a grade-A dick.

He’s either screwing around behind this chick’s back, or he’s leading me on.

I won’t stand for either.

“Come on,” she says. “Let’s go grab something to eat. Then we can go for round two.”

They turn toward me, and I duck behind the nearest thing I can find—the potted plant I apologize to almost weekly because I’m always running into it.

“River?”

Shit. Busted.

I peek out from around the fern. “Oh. Hi. Didn’t see you there.”

Dean’s eyes are wide. He’s surprised to see me. “You’re home early.”

Yep. Sorry to ruin your date with my presence. I’m just the girl you kissed senseless the other night. No big deal.

I clear my throat. “Yep.” I’m here to see you. “Just got done with work early for a change.”

My eyes flit to the pretty girl, and I give her the brightest smile I can scrounge up.

She returns it, looking between me and Dean with curious eyes.

“I, uh, I’ve been meaning to introduce you to someone. This is?—”

“Actually, I have to be…Morris. I need to take care of Morris.”

Dean’s brows scrunch together. “He’s fine. I just checked on him.”

“It’s a cat mom thing. You wouldn’t get it.” I brush past him and his date. I slip my key into the doorknob and twist, then turn back to the duo. “Don’t worry—I won’t wait up.”

I race inside my apartment as fast as I can, slamming the door closed and collapsing back on it.

What in the hell? Who does he think he is? Why would he be so nonchalant about it? Why wouldn’t he tell me he was seeing someone before he kissed me?

My mind is spinning, and I take in a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself, but it’s hard.

I’m fuming. So damn angry I’m vibrating.

Wait…no.

That’s the door.

Dean shoves into the apartment, moving me like I weigh nothing, and to him I probably do.

The door slams back closed with my weight on it, and all I can think is this must be awkward for his lady friend out in the hall.

He towers over me, hands on his hips, his usually bright green eyes at least two shades darker.

“What the hell was that?” His voice is low, near a whisper.

“What was what?”

“River…”

“Dean…” I mock his deep tone.

Then his big arms are boxing me in, my back ramrod straight against the door. He’s close. So close I can almost taste the cinnamon on his breath.

“Just talk to me, River. Don’t skirt around what’s bothering you.”

I meet his strong stare. “I’m not happy with you.”

“That much I gathered. Want to tell me why?”

“You kissed me. You kissed me and now today you’re with some other girl. You tell me to talk to you, but you failed to talk to me when you didn’t mention to me that you’re seeing someone.”

“I fucking swear…” he mutters, closing his eyes. When he peels them open, they’re darker. “If you would have taken two seconds to meet her, you’d know the girl standing out in the hallway isn’t someone I’m seeing and hiding from you. She’s my little sister.”

His…sister?

Oh no. I do remember him mentioning having a sister before, but I didn’t pay much attention to any details about her other than that she still lives in their hometown.

“I…oh.”

Shit. I just acted like a jealous moron over his sister. His sister!

What the hell did that kiss do to me?

“Yeah. Oh. ”

“I…didn’t know.”

“I got that. I’m just trying really hard not to be offended by the fact that you think I walk around kissing people when I’m in an alleged relationship.”

“I didn’t know,” I say again, this time quieter.

“That’s not who I am.” He slides closer, fitting himself against me. I can feel him growing hard, and that ache that’s been building inside of me since he moved in has me on edge. “I kiss with a purpose.”

“Then why haven’t you kissed me again?”

“Because you haven’t asked.”

My chest is heaving. I’m begging for air and begging for him to get closer all at once.

I need Dean to kiss me again.

“Dean?”

He drives his hips forward, and I gasp.

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me again.”

He laughs, and it’s dark, his devilish side coming out to play. “No.”

I groan, bouncing my head off the door twice. “Why not?”

He dips his head, his lips trailing over the soft skin of my neck. Up, up, up until they’re at my ear.

I want to lean into the tantalizing touch, but I resist.

I’ve embarrassed myself enough tonight.

“If I kiss you again, River,” he whispers, those damn lips brushing against me with every syllable, “I won’t stop.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“It is when I want to make you wait. And when I have plans.” He pulls away from me, his eyes pained at the thought of walking away without a kiss.

“Right. Your sister. That girl in the hallway.”

My cheeks redden, and it’s not only because Dean just had me pressed against the door with his obviously hard cock rubbing up on me.

He chuckles at my embarrassment. “If it makes you feel any better, she’s aware you thought we were dating and not only will she make fun of me for it, she’ll hit me with about ten thousand questions on why you’d react the way you did.”

“And what will you tell her?”

“That you kissed me, and now you want to kiss me again and turn it into a whole thing like sex and whatnot.” He waves his hand about.

“I never said anything about sex! And you kissed me !”

“I plead temporary insanity.”

“And this?” I point between us. “Just now?”

“You’re a witch. You used magic on me. A seduction spell.”

“They’ll stone me to death.”

“Then it was nice knowing you.”

I snort. “Glad to know you still hate me.”

“Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Do you still hate me?”

I…don’t know.

The Dean who’s my roommate seems different than the Dean who steals my pie. Different than the one who blasts loud, awful music. He even infuriates me on a different level now—sexually.

He’s still plenty obnoxious in his own right, but I’m beginning to believe I might have misjudged him before.

And it’s not just because his kisses make me feel like I’m on fire in all the best ways.

It’s deeper than that.

“I’m not sure. Do you still hate me?”

One side of his lips curves up, and he looks to the floor, rubbing at the back of his head. “I don’t think I ever did.”

My heart flutters.

Wait—nope.

That’s the damn door again.

“Dude! Deanie Weenie! Did you get lost in there?” His sister bangs on the door. “Are we still doing dinner? I’m starving and have been craving The Gravy Train.”

“Deanie Weenie?” I lift a brow his way.

Face pale, he gulps. “Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Oh, no. I want details.”

I turn on my heel and pull open the front door. His sister stumbles back slightly but quickly composes herself.

She grins at me, her big white smile almost blinding. “You must be the neighbor I’ve heard so much about.”

“Huh.” I peek over at Dean. “Have you been talking about me, Deanie Weenie ?”

The death stare he gives his sister almost makes me break out in hives. He looms over both of us, hands on his hips, stance menacing.

His anger simmers in his eyes. “I’m going to murder you.”

She waves his threat off. “Please. Then who will deal with your father for you?” She turns to me. “I’m Holland.”

“River.”

“I’m sure you’re wondering where Dean got his nickname.”

I bob my head. “Very much so.”

“Holland, don’t you dare.”

I turn to him, patting his chest. “Hush.”

“When he was a kid, he loved to be naked. He’d strip down to nothing whenever and wherever he could, then start flapping his weenie in the wind like that helicopter move.

” She wiggles her hips like I’ve seen guys do before.

“He’d shout, Deanie’s Weenie, Deanie’s Weenie!

” She shrugs. “Naturally, it stuck…and so did the nightmares.”

Dean swears and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I regret inviting you to dinner.”

“Good thing you didn’t invite me.”

“That’s right—you just texted me and showed up.”

“I wanted to see the damage you did to your apartment in person.” She shakes her head and grins my way. “Can you believe this idiot? Threw water on a grease fire.”

“Oh, I can believe it—I witnessed it.”

“I’m so sorry. I thought our parents raised him better than that. Paid for that fancy private school and college and everything. Still so dense.”

“Okay,” Dean says, playfully shoving his sister toward the door. “You’re done. Out you go. We’re leaving.”

“Aw, so soon?” She shoots me another smile, fighting against him. “It was great to finally meet you. I love the items you sell at your shop. We’ll have to chat longer next time.”

She knows about my shop?

“This will be the only time you two ever meet if I have anything to say about it.”

Dean pushes her out the door, closing it in her face as she laughs.

He holds the door closed with one arm and peers down at me.

“Ignore everything she just said. She’s not well.”

“I think she’s perfectly fine.”

“You’re just confused right now.”

“You’re right. I did just ask you of all people to kiss me… again . Clearly, my judgment cannot be trusted.”

“I take mild offense to that.” He clears his throat, eyes growing serious. “We, uh, we should probably talk about…whatever is happening, huh?”

He looks as nervous as I feel because what in the hell is happening? What are we doing?

“That might be a good idea.”

“When I get back from dinner? Wait up for me?”

I nod.

He shoots me that smirk that’s starting to grow on me, then walks out the door, not taking his eyes off me the whole time.

And my heart flutters again.