“Okay…” I eyed him skeptically as I grabbed my book again, slowly holding it backup. The words in front of me weren’t clicking in mybrain,andappeared as nothing more than gibberish across the pages. I felt hisgaze on me, and with a sigh, I brought the book back to my lap.
“Somethingon your mind?” I asked sarcastically, resigning myself to tucking the bookmarkback in and setting the book aside.
Devinshrugged, tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch. “You took your lipstickoff.”
Henoticed the lipstick. Taken aback, I scoffed. “That’s what’s wrong? Mylipstick?”
“Oh,um, no. It’s just, uh … been a night, I guess.”
“Why?Your show went really well, especially that cover of ‘Better Man.’God,that wassogood.” I laid my head against the cushions, hearing hisrendition of one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs, playing through my memory.
Henodded. “Oh, yeah … yeah, the show was good. But, I mean, there was the shitwith—”
“Nate?”I interrupted, letting my face fall. “You’re still hung up on that?”
Heshook his head hurriedly. “No, no … I just mean, there was a lot that went ontonight, I guess.”
“Well,what else was there, aside from that?”
Devinpulled his lips between his teeth, sliding his eyes to gaze at me through hisperipherals. “I broke it off with Britney.” I laughed, and his eyebrows shot tohis hairline. “What’s so funny?”
Inudged his thigh with my toe. “Was there anything to really break off? I didn’trealize you were soexclusive,” I teased, playfully biting my lip andbatting my lashes.
Hisface turned to stone. “When I’mwithsomeone, casually or not, I’m notwithanybody else, Kylie.” His voice was a knife, slicing through my sarcasm andleaving me startled.
“Okay,I’m sorry. I was just joking,” I assured him.
Hisfeatures softened as he wiped a hand over his mouth. Shaking his head, heclosed his eyes. “No, I know. I’m fine … I just, uh …”
Heswallowed. Once. Twice. His Adam’s apple bobbed furiously as he licked hislips, and I caught sight of his tongue as it swiped over his bottom lip.Involuntarily, I licked my own, imagining. Fantasizing. “Guys and girlscan’t be friends,” rang like alarm bells in my mind and I diverted my gazeto the book in my lap. I thought about the horrors between the pages. ThoughtaboutLiseyand the love she so tragically lost, and…
Yeah,no. That didn’t help at all.
“Youmakingdinner tomorrow?” he suddenly asked, placinghis hand over my sock-covered feet. His thumb curled under and stroked the archof one foot. Up and down, gently increasing in pressure. It was a mindlessaction—or was it? It didn’t seem to faze him, but me …
Thefire wasstokedand a ball of scorching lust rolledthe walls of my stomach. My lips parted with a soundless gasp, and I jerked myfoot out of his reach, pulling both of my legs closer to my body. He looked up,hit me with his clueless gaze, and I pulled my mouth into a smile.
“Youwere tickling me, you ass.”
Devsmiled and rolled his eyes. “Sorry. But, uh, anyway, are you cooking?”
Inodded. “I promised you a real meatloaf, didn’t I? What time will you be hometomorrow?”
“Well,I’m working in the morning, and then I’m heading up to see Billy. So, I figurearound dinnertime. Five, maybe six?”
“Soundsgood to me. Tomorrow’s Brooke’s night to close, so I’m yours all night.”
Devinstood up from the couch. “That’s what I’m counting on. But anyway, I’m headingto bed. Good night, KJ,” he said as he bent over to kiss my forehead. My chestheaved at the touch of his lips to my skin and my eyes closed with a burst oflonging.
“Goodnight, Dev.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Devin
Isprinted up the walkwayfrom my truck, carryinga bag of deli sandwiches and sodas. I pushed through the revolving door andgreeted the nurse at the desk with a grin.
“Mr.O’Leary,” she said with that bored tone she always seemed to have.
