Chase Me (Broke and Beautiful #1)(24)

Those sleep-ruining lips spread into a smile. “Then it’s doing its job.” She sent a look toward the kitchen. “Honey, you mind stowing the knife? Louis is Mama’s friend. He’s not a threat.”

Louis turned just in time for a brunette to charge back into the room, then skid into a casual walk when she saw they hadn’t left. She looked somewhat familiar to him, but he couldn’t recall where or how he would have met her. The familiarity might have come from the air she gave off, similar to the people he’d grown up with. Old money. It was an invisible cloak that sat on her shoulders.

She came forward with her hand out, obviously comfortable with polite formalities. At least, when fully clothed. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Abby. Where are you taking our roommate?”

So this is what it’s like on the other side of an interrogation. “I’m going to feed her first.”

Honey crossed her arms, still holding the knife. “I can feed her right here. What else you got?”

Roxy came up beside him. “O-kay. There’s enough crazy in this room to power New York for a week. Let’s get out of here before they ask for your medical records.”

Abby jogged ahead of them to open the door. “Have a good time. I want to hear all about it when you get back.”

Roxy took her light jean jacket off the wooden coatrack and slipped it on, partially covering her breasts. He hadn’t noticed the charge at the back of his neck until it disappeared. God, he needed to cool it. Other men might look at her, but she was out with him. If he reminded himself of that once in a while, maybe he could prevent a slow descent into lunacy throughout the evening.

“You’re not supposed to let the guy know we’ll be talking about him, Abby.” Roxy smiled as she opened the door. “Better to let him think I have a different date every night.”

Abby nodded, as if cataloguing that information for later. “Right. Even though you don’t.”

“You’re terrible at this.”

With that slip of reassuring information, Abby became front-runner for his favorite roommate. He smiled at Honey, and she sniffed. Apparently he had some work to do with his potential murderer. Hopefully he’d get the chance. Taking a gamble, he reached down and clasped Roxy’s hand. Her smile slipped, but she didn’t pull away. “Ready?”

“Sure.”

On the way out the door, he turned and looked back at Abby. “I’m happy with the nine, but just out of curiosity, what did you deduct the point for?”

She winced. “Don’t make me say it in front of you.”

“Say it,” Honey commanded, her head partially inside the oven.

“You didn’t even shave.”

He ran his free hand over his jaw. “I did this morning. It kind of grew back.”

“Well.” Abby folded her hands in front of her, looking slightly embarrassed. “Next time, then.”

Next time. Yup. Definitely his favorite. “Good night, ladies. I’d promise to bring her back safely, but you should know something up front. I’m going to do everything in my power to get her to my place for the night. I’m actually hoping like hell neither of you sees her until tomorrow.” All three of their faces transformed with different expressions. Honey looked disgusted. Abby, scandalized. Roxy appeared impressed. “Just thought I’d give you fair warning.”

LOUIS’S WARM HAND felt oddly natural in hers as they walked through Eataly, the massive, multi-floored Italian marketplace. She’d heard about the bustling foodie Mecca before but had never been inside. It was actually so freaking huge that every section boasted its own restaurant, with crowds at each one waiting to be seated. Voices bounced off the dome ceilings, combining with opera music to create a whirlwind of sound. On a Saturday night, it was particularly busy, but Louis didn’t seem concerned at all about getting a table. He seemed content to stroll through the aisles, occasionally picking up food samples and handing them to her. Tugging her closer when they needed to squeeze though human traffic jams. Brushing against her in a way she suspected was strategic. If so, it was working. Her neck felt sensitive, her lips felt fuller. And he hadn’t even kissed her yet. Why hadn’t he kissed her yet?

Don’t be a head case. “Which restaurant did you make the reservation for?”

He grinned sexily, and her tummy flipped. “All of them.”

Roxy stepped closer to him when a woman asked to get by. He didn’t follow her lead by moving back; he simply let her bump into his chest and held her there with a strong forearm. She tried not to think about which parts of her body were pressed against certain parts of his. He was standing too close, and he’d see it all over her face. Approachable abs. Approachable abs. What were we talking about? “All seven of them?”

He hummed in his throat, and she felt the vibration against her chest. “The only thing I know for certain you like is peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I wanted to give you options.”

“You’re a little dangerous, aren’t you?”

“Depends what you mean.”

She wet her lips when his gaze landed on her mouth, but he made no move to kiss her, the prick. “You didn’t even bat an eyelash at my nutso roommates. Now you’re giving me the feeling of being in charge of this date even though you planned the whole thing. And I’m kind of buying it.”