The Lineup(39)

Chapter Eleven





DOTTIE





Even though it’s seven in the morning and I’m pretty sure Jason is still sleeping, given he has nowhere to be this morning, I still look out the peephole to make sure he’s not outside waiting for me.

Last night was . . . God, I don’t even know what last night was.

Irritating.

Annoying.

Educational?

And I hate to admit it, but just a tiny bit fun.

Okay maybe a lot of fun.

But I will say this, it will be a cold day in hell before I go back to his apartment and retrieve my tossed shoe. At this point, I’m considering it a loss. Or maybe, when Emory gets back, I’ll be sure to force her to grab it for me as payment for watching her stupid plants. It’s the least she can do for me. If I didn’t know Knox was very protective about their apartment and who enters it—rightfully so—I’d hire a plant-sitter so I wouldn’t have to deal with seeing Jason, but I think my escape plan will work perfectly.

With the coast clear, I sling my purse over my shoulder, slip my feet in my heels, and swing the door open, ready to make my—

“Goooooooooooood morning,” Jason says, louder than necessary, probably waking up the floors above and below ours. Where the hell did he come from? Was he just waiting there? “Don’t you look ravishing. That blouse really brings out the blue of your eyes.”

I couldn’t agree more, but I won’t let him know that.

Holding my hand over my racing heart, calming myself from being startled and running into his handsome face so early in the morning. Putting on the best front I can, I say, “What do you want?”

From behind his back, he brings my shoe forward with a coffee tucked inside.

“Shoe drink.” He smiles boldly, chest puffed. “Cute, right?”

Oh my God.

Why is he such a moron?

An adorably sweet moron.

A moron that keeps tempting me to laugh.

Hold it in, Dottie, hold it in.

But . . . shoe drink. I mentally chuckle. So stupid.

I sigh and take the shoe, pulling the drink from it and tossing the shoe behind me. I already locked the door from the inside, so I close it and give him a once-over.

Drenched in sweat, wearing slate-gray athletic shorts with a skintight Lycra shirt and a backward baseball cap, he looks all kinds of sexy—especially with his five o’clock shadow and cheery eyes.

“Were you waiting out there for me?”

“Yup.” He reaches to the ground and pulls up a water. He takes a quick gulp and says, “I’m friends with the door staff, who told me you hadn’t left yet, so I grabbed this drink for you because I’m a nice guy.”

He is. He’s too nice.

“Were you running?”

He wipes his brow with his forearm. “Is it that obvious? I told my glands to try to hold in the sweat but looks like they ignored me.” He stretches out his arms. “Give Jason Boo Boo a hug for the coffee.” I pin myself against the door, hand held out.

“Don’t come near me.”

He chuckles and falls forward, his arms propping him up on either side of my body. The heat coming off him suffocates me, making it hard to breathe. I can feel my pulse in my throat. His gorgeous eyes study me, and all I can think is how delicious he smells despite being a sweaty mess. He has an amazing deodorant and laundry detergent, because I could make a candle out of his scent, it’s that good.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” he says in a deep, rough voice. “You seem to not like me and I don’t think I can handle that.” He glances at my lips and then back up to my eyes. “You see, I don’t like it when people don’t like me for no reason, so I’m going to need a valid reason why.”

If only he knew how wrong he really was. It’s not that I don’t like him, it’s that I’m too afraid to allow myself to like him. He’s so magnetic I fear I would fall for him and fall hard.

“I don’t need to tell you anything,” I answer, clutching the coffee to my chest.

“Fine, then come to my place tonight for dinner. I’ll make you something.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t have anyone to eat with and I like to cook. You’re going to be alone over there, so we might as well eat together.”

“I’m good.” I try to move past him but he doesn’t budge, and there’s no way I’m going to touch his sweaty body.

“Then give me a reason.”

“A reason for what?”

“For why you don’t like me and I’ll leave you alone.”

“Why would I do that?” I answer, my breath catching in my throat.

“Because I don’t really believe you don’t like me.” He tugs lightly on my ponytail and then drags his fingers down my neck, sending a wave of goosebumps to cover my arms. “I think you do, but you’re too scared to admit.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have better things to do with my time than hold a grudge against random guys.” I nervously laugh and look to the side.

“Then dinner tonight, so you can get to know me better.”

“I’m busy.”

He moves in, his body so close, and my skin starts to crawl with anticipation.