You're to Blame(20)

Duke chokes on a slice of pickle. I pound on his back until he waves me off. He fills a glass of water and takes several sips.

“Do you know him?” I tear off a piece of turkey and fold it into a ball, devouring it in one bite.

“He’s a brother at my fraternity.” He places a plate of food on my lap. “Well, not anymore, but once a brother, always a brother kind of bullshit.”

“He knows Jacob, then?” Lettuce falls on my lap when I take a large bite. I pick it up and toss it in my mouth. Duke’s eyes widen. “Never seen a girl eat a sandwich before?” I release a nervous laugh. “Why are you looking at me like I’m strange or something?”

“You’re refreshing, Charlotte Novak.” He suddenly stills, his focus on the sandwich in his hand.

Duke’s lips close around the bread, and he bites down. Even the way he eats a sandwich is captivating.

If he eats a sandwich like that, I wonder... Don’t go there, Charlotte.

“Thank you for the lunch.” I place the empty plate behind me once I’ve finished. “So, Duke, you and Jacob are unlikely allies...” My observation is not unfounded, and by the way his eyes wrinkle in the corner, he knows what I say is true.

“We rushed together,” Duke deadpans, moving to clean up the mess.

“What I mean is he’s more straight-laced.”

“Wow!” Duke laughs as he tosses the garbage into the waste basket. “Quick to jump to conclusions, are we?”

“I didn’t mean it as an insult. The opposite in fact.” I place a steady hand on his forearm.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He doesn’t move, and curiosity gets the best of me.

With Duke, anything seems possible. He’s the type of guy a mother warns her daughter not to be alone with. My conscious screams for me to step away from the trouble. My hand slides down his arm until my touch graces the ring on his middle finger.

I still under his stare, letting myself slip away from him. My skin immediately misses the thrill from the smallest of touches. His green eyes remain on me.

“I have something of yours.” He races from the room. When he comes back, my black notebook is in his hand. I tear it from his grip.

“Where did you find this? I’ve been looking all over for it.” Blood rushes to my head. Anger and embarrassment are a lethal combination.

“I visited Jacob last night, and it was tucked under the newspapers.”

“Did you read it?” Panic spreads through my body, threatening to swallow me whole.

“I did.” He shrugs, not an ounce of apology in the gesture. “Do you do it a lot, write down random thoughts?”

“Sometimes.” My breath quickens and my cheeks warm, forcing me to look away. Why’d he have to read it? He could’ve ignored it and left it in the room.

“Don’t be embarrassed.” His soulful voice entices me. Our stare locks in on each other. “You have a little” —Duke steps into me— “something, right here.” He tugs the ends of my hair and holds up his finger. Mustard.

I gasp as the end of his finger slips past his lips. His tongue licks the pad, removing every trace of yellow. My insides squeeze tight, and my breath grows shallow. A feeling I should not be having, but dammit, excitement is right there making its presence known. I shake my head from side to side, attempting to erase the reaction from my mind.

“You’re breathing heavy, Charlotte.” His eyes are on my chest. “You okay?”

A tiny version inside my own head screams, “No, I’m not okay. Quit looking at me like that.” This is the perfect time to let her speak. Instead, I tell her to shut up. There’s no denying I enjoy the way Duke is looking at me. Being graced with Duke’s attention forces my body to take notice.

He’s too close for me to think straight. I may as well lay down on the island and ask him to take me right here. I poke my fingertips on his chest, and he takes the hint, stepping back to give me the space I need.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that...” I gesture between the two of us. “Whatever that was, I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“It’s human nature. You shouldn’t feel guilty for finding someone else attractive.” Duke leans his hip against the island, looking every bit gorgeous with his sly smile. Is this asshole laughing at me? At least he attempts to hide it behind the back of his hand.

“It’s not funny.” I shove his shoulder. He falls back but recovers quick.

“It’s hilarious.” He grins, and I can’t help but mirror his expression. “I get it. You and Jacob are an item, but it doesn’t matter where you get your appetite as long as you eat at home, Charlotte.”

At the mention of Jacob, my insides churn, and the sandwich I devoured threatens to revisit me. Duke isn’t the first guy I’ve found attractive outside of Jacob, but he is the first person I’ve ever envisioned ripping his clothes off.

He shifts his back, and the muscles flex and retract. A guttural grunt escapes under his breath.

I jump from the table and shift to stand in front of Duke. “Do you have something you’d like to say?”

He rubs the back of his neck two times before flashing his green eyes down at me. His lips open and close, but no words come out.