Jamie’s eyes lowered and he immediately started staring.
I was expecting shock. I was expecting desire, considering this was Jamie and I knew how he felt about me.
I got both.
I also got a groan.
Jamie McCade actually groaned looking at my bare breasts. That had never happened to me before.
This was the best plan ever. I was totally going to win.
Then he looked me in the eyes after I lowered his shirt, gaze burning, and promised, “You’re gonna pay for that.”
I didn’t know if he meant now or later and I wasn’t sticking around to find out.
Spinning around, I bolted to the bar, grabbed my things, and got the hell out of there.
And I did it grinning.
* * *
Later that night I was sitting on my couch, dressed comfortably in leggings and a baggy WildFox tee, and I was shifting my attention between the episode of Mob Wives I had cued up and the notepad I was doodling on, when I heard the sound of motorcycle pipes drawing closer and closer to my house.
I paused, pen stilling on the “e” I was tracing and head turning toward the window. My eyes narrowed.
He wouldn’t …
The sound kept coming, growing louder until I knew without a doubt it was emanating from my driveway. Then the engine cut off.
He would.
“Bastard,” I uttered, tossing the pad and pen on the coffee table and coming to my feet.
I marched to the door, unlocked it, swung the door open, and readied my greeting, which was going to be something along the lines of threatening castration if Jamie didn’t step off my property immediately, I’d had enough of this, but no one was there. My porch was empty.
What the …
“Hello?” I called out, sticking my head outside and getting a look at Jamie’s bike parked next to my car.
Weird. Where was he?
“Jamie?” I tried again, hollering a little louder this time.
“What’s up, babe?”
Gasping, I spun around and clutched at my chest.
Jamie was standing in my living room, looking a little too pleased with himself based on the smirk he was wearing, and holding what appeared to be a take-out bag full of food in one hand and a six-pack of Cherry Coke in the other.
I blinked at him, feeling my heart pounding against my palm.
“What are you doing in here?” I asked, darting my eyes around my living space. “How did you even get in?”
“Back door. Figured you’d try and keep me out this time so I got creative,” he answered, flashing me a smile when I looked into his face. He lifted his hand holding the bag of food. “Hope you like Chinese. Was gonna call, but I didn’t want you expectin’ anything. Sound familiar?”
I glowered.
“Got us an assortment,” he added, then he started moving toward the couch.
“Excuse me?”
“Dinner,” he clarified, even though I knew what he meant and exactly what this was.
It was happening again. Jamie was getting comfortable.
In my house. On my couch. With some seriously delicious-smelling food.
I shut my door, putting force behind it.
I was angry at him for showing up uninvited, again. I was especially angry at him for his honed skills in breaking and entering, a talent I was certain he’d put to use whenever the situation called for it, meaning every time he showed up at my house like this.
I’d never be able to keep him out.
And I was really angry because Jamie brought food I was suddenly craving and that craving was taking precedence over everything else at the moment, including my desire to get rid of him.
Fine. One last time.
“The only reason I’m allowing this to happen tonight and tonight only is because I’m starving and that food is smelling a lot better than the bowl of cereal I was planning on making myself, so don’t think this is going to become a habit because it’s not,” I declared, walking over to the couch and taking a seat on the far end. “Also, I will be putting new locks on all my doors come morning, and they’re going to be military grade.”
Jamie breathed a laugh as he started unloading container after container, spreading them out on the coffee table.
“Go ahead and test my skills, babe. Just know …” He paused, turning his head to look at me. “If you’re in this fuckin’ house, I’m gettin’ in.”
I looked into his eyes, reading his seriousness. “You sound crazy, you know that?” I shared.
“Not crazy if deep down you’re really wantin’ me in here.”
“Oh no. He’s onto me,” I joked, feigning alarm with an overplayed gasp and a hand to my chest.
Jamie stared at me for a breath, letting his eyes wander over my features, then he smiled, shook his head, and turned away.
“What’re you feelin’?” he asked. “Got a little bit of everything. Chicken. Pork …”
A phone beeped, breaking up his rundown of what he’d brought. I knew it wasn’t mine since I had mine plugged in and charging upstairs, doing that after I took a shower and got dressed. So I started peeking at the food.
While I did that, Jamie dropped the container he was holding, leaned back, and reached into his pocket, pulling out his device. He read the text.
“Shit. Figures this would happen now,” he mumbled, coming to his feet. “Come on. We gotta go.”
I looked up from the container of shrimp fried rice I was staring longingly into.
“Excuse me?”