She kept checking her mirrors and sticking her head out to offer apologies to everyone she cut off. As soon as she pulled up next to the curb outside her father’s house, she suddenly realized why Darren had pestered her so hard.
Through the thin towel he had around his waist, she could see the faint outline of Darren’s behind. His entire skin was glistening with sweat, and he was peering through the windows, doubtless trying to find a way in. Sophia’s heart was racing inside of her chest as she got out and slammed the door to the car shut. A few of the neighboring women lingered in their doorways, openly gawking at Darren’s chiseled physique on display.
Sophia herself couldn’t look away.
When Darren spun around to face her, Sophia slammed her mouth shut and lifted her chin up. “I was going to make a joke about keeping your pants on, but looks like you beat me to it.”
Darren scowled and folded his arms over his chest. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”
Sophia shoved a hand into her purse and pulled out the keys, giving them a slight jingle. “Actually, it’s the perfect time. I’m pretty sure you gave every single woman on this block something to talk about. That’s quite a show you’re putting on. Sure you didn’t do it on purpose?”
“Why would I do it on purpose?”
Sophia paused. “Don’t you guys have that fireman’s calendar that you do every year? The one where you all pose half-naked with, like, puppies or cats or something?”
“You know it’s for charity.”
“Oh, sure. Having half the female population in town lusting after you is for charity.”
Darren made a low noise in the back of his throat. “Can you just open the door already?”
“In a minute. I’m enjoying this way too much.”
And she wasn’t ready to let Darren inside just yet, not when she was just as appreciative as the woman on her block for the unexpected show.
“Do you want the entire town to be talking about this?”
Sophia choked back a laugh. “You know, I hadn’t even thought about that. Yeah, they probably already are by now, so it’s too late.”
Darren’s hand darted forward, but she moved the keys out of his reach. “Come on, Soph. You’ve had your fun. Let me in before my skin is burned to a crisp.”
Sophia gave him a pointed look. “Nice try. I know you can tan easily. And this is payback for that mess you and your buddies made in the kitchen the other day.”
“You really need to let that go,” Darren grumbled darkly.
With one last smile in his direction, Sophia brushed past him and faced the door. She pushed the key into the lock, heard the click, and twisted the knob. Then Darren raced past her, with Teddy hot on his heels. Sophia stepped in after them and glanced around, taking in the pile of pots and pans in the kitchen.
“Were you having a party or something?”
“I was trying to make something new for lunch,” Darren replied, pausing to snatch his phone off the counter. “I’m going to go—Teddy, stop that.”
Teddy growled and tugged on the edge of the towel.
“What’s the matter with you?” Darren set his phone down and used both hands to try to take the towel back, but Teddy wouldn’t release it. He clamped down on it with the full force of his teeth, and Sophia watched as the two of them engaged in atug of war that ended with Teddy growling and sending a buck-naked Darren into a spin.
Then he darted off with the towel, and Darren scrambled after him.
Sophia pressed her lips together to keep the laughter from bubbling out. Darren raced past her and circled the coffee table in the middle of the living room. Teddy stood on the other side of the table, hackles raised and the towel still between his teeth.
“I don’t think you’re getting that back.” Sophia kept her gaze fixed on the back of his head and tried not to look further down. “You should offer him a treat or something.”
Darren shot her a look over his shoulders. “Thank you for that astute observation, Sherlock. What would I have done without it?”
Sophia shrugged. “I’m not the one who’s stark naked and chasing the dog around the house.”
Darren twisted to face her, and Sophia’s entire body buzzed and hummed, color rising up her cheeks and neck. “Can you get me something to cover myself with?”
“Towels are being washed, but I think I can find something,” Sophia squeaked in a breathless voice.
