“Never mind, I found them.” He grabs two, plus the roll of paper towels, and heads to the couch, setting everything down as he opens both boxes and grabs a few slices of each pizza to put on a plate.
“I’m not eating all that.”
He looks up at me with raised eyebrows. “This is mine, Troublemaker. I might have bought the pizza, but I ain’t about to assume what you like.”
Is it possible to be turned on by a guy who not only buys me dinner and doesn’t assume he knows what I like but also willingly proves he eats more than me? Look, I’m happy with my weight, my size, my eating habits. I think about it just as much as the normal woman, but when you’re a bigger girl who shops in the size fourteen jeans section, the topic always seems to be more than just a normal conversation for the average-size girl. Also, maybe I’m still upset about what Stanley said, and that’s why I’m so focused on the six pizza slices this hot god of a man with zero ounces of fat on his body is about to eat.
As he takes a bite of the first slice, he grabs the remote and starts looking through channels. I don’t know what to do, but I find myself turning around and grabbing the free 10K shirt off the bench by the front door. I put it there when I came in yesterday, and now it seems like the perfect time to see if it fits. One thing I learned about Hounds, they don’t leave till they want to. And from the way Gator is getting comfy on my couch, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be gone anytime soon.
Plus, he brought me dinner. I might be a bitch sometimes, but I honestly never turn down a free meal. Especially from my favorite pizza place, and even more so when I don’t have to get dressed up to go out.
I take a seat beside him because I honestly have no other place to sit. I don’t have many people over, and a single couch is all I’ve got. At least I have a guest room, so if there’s ever a need for someone to spend the night, I don’t fall into the classic “we have to share a bed” single woman routine.
But who wants to sleep alone?
I mentally smack my inner goddess upside the head as I grab a plate and a slice of pizza.
“Did Jules tell you where I lived?”
He shakes his head at my question as he watches some game show.
I narrow my eyes at him, not that he’s looking at me. “Did you follow me home?”
Another shake of his head.
“Then how are you here, and with pizza from my favorite place?” A thought dawns on me, and I almost drop my pizza. “Oh my God, you really are a stalker, aren’t you?”
He finally looks over at me and grins wide. “Nope, but I can be if you want me to.”
Again, I’m rendered speechless. Which makes zero sense. I’m not the type to get shy around guys or lose my voice when spoken to. Hell, half the time bullies targeted me because I never could shut up. I always had to have the last word. But Gator has some damn ability that makes it almost impossible at times to say anything. Maybe it’s because he makes me blush more than any other person in the world, and when I do that, I can’t think. My brain overheats, and I can’t think of a single thing to say till I recharge.
Great, I’m a freaking battery.
I glare at the TV and know I’m directing it at my reflection. I’m a smart person; there’s no reason I need to act like this. Besides, I’m older than him. I should not be acting like the younger, inexperienced ninny.
I finally succumb to the smell and take a bite of pizza. I close my mouth to savor the taste and don’t even regret moaning. Naps Pizzeria is the best place in like three states. They’re legendary, and I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t moan when they eat their pizza.
“Why did you buy so much?” I take another bite and almost ignore him completely as I devour the slice.
“One for you, one for me. I don’t usually share my food. I definitely don’t share my toys.”
His words make me glance over at him. The look he’s giving me should burn this place to the ground. So much heat is coming off him, I swear, if you could see lust and desire as a color, it would roll off him in waves of red.
I cough a bit, and he narrows his eyes before he gets up and goes to my kitchen. Coming back with two waters, he gives one to me, and I take a large drink. I know it’s the middle of summer and the AC is on, but damn if it doesn’t feel like I’m drowning in heat. I have half a mind to take off my cover-up but think better of it. I don’t think me showing more skin is going to help us right now.
I decide to do what I do best and ignore him. We sit in silence as the game show continues and we eat. Once we’re done, I continue to just sit as he cleans up. Which is a first. I’m usually the one picking up after a guy, but ever since Gator walked in, he’s done everything while I just sit and watch.
See, there’re perks to a younger man. He has the energy to clean, and he can probably outlast any guy we’ve been with.
My lips twitch at the thought. Not that I agree with my inner goddess, but she has a point.
He comes back into the living room and tosses me the remote. “Your turn to pick,” he says before he takes off his vest and rests it on the coffee table we just ate at.
I eye him but say nothing as he sits back on the couch while I flip through the channels. I should probably bristle or something about him still being here. He’s already barged into my place, hung up the phone call I was having, and then picked the first show. And now he isn’t even giving me the opportunity to kick him out, as he acts almost sweet-like in his leather vest that shouts Hounds of the Reaper, which is the very definition of not sweet. It’s a mind-boggling contradiction.
One that helps me find my voice as I continue to flip through channels. I’m looking for something girly, as I know most guys can’t stand them. Maybe it’ll be the reason he leaves, because while I might hint for him to do so, I’m not going to tell him to.
“There a reason you came over here other than to feed me pizza? ’Cause I’m not the type to give it up just for a few slices.”
