The bed dips near my feet.
My heart stops.
My eyelids fly open.
A yelp bursts from my mouth.
This is where I get murdered. I’m as foolish as Hansel and Gretel, and Jude is a blood-thirsty witch. This is not how I see my life ending. I’m too young. Too full of unfulfilled dreams. Too—shit!A chill raises the hairs on the back of my neck at the sound of a low growl.Fuck!What the hell is in this bed? Every episode ofThe Wandering Deadflashes in my mind’s eye and my breath catches with fear.
I scramble upright and reach for the bedside lamp. The space quickly illuminates, showcasing two big, sad eyes surrounded by a scruffy face. Not Jude. Not a monster.Walter.He whines and edges closer.
I press my hand to my chest and hold back the urge to laugh. My limbs relax under the comprehension that I was never in grave danger. “Aren’t you the master magician?” I scratch behind his ears and he nuzzles closer, shimmying up the bed with each tail wag. “Sneaking into my bed and scaring the crap right out of me.” Within minutes he’s made his way onto my lap. I’ve already forgiven him.
“Walter.Wal-ter,” Jude whispers from outside the closed door.
“He’s in here,” I call out.
Walter rolls onto his back, his puppy eyes begging for a tummy rub. Of course I’m helpless to his adorableness and give in immediately.
A knock on the door precedes its opening. “Can I—?” Jude’s question dies off as his gaze zeros in on Walter. “Dirty little bastard.”
I cover Walter’s ears with my hands. “He’s just looking for a little love.”
Jude’s lips quirk up as if he wants to smile. “He’s only playing cute so you’ll let him sleep there.” His brows rise.
I look down at my lap and grin. “It’s working.”
“Damn dog.” He shakes his head. “Man’s best friend, my ass.”
Is he jealous of his dog?I bite back the urge to laugh. “I don’t mind if he stays, but if you need to take him . . .”
“No.” Jude leans back onto the door frame, looking like a freaking snack.
Lounge pants. That’s what he sleeps in, or at least walks around wearing. My gaze drifts to the front of them, then up to the black T-shirt molded to his body. I’ve never seen Jude dressed casually, let alone ready for bed. He crosses his arms over his chest, and the muscles of his body constrict. Holy hell. His shirt lifts just enough I’m given a delicious view of his waistline and the trail of hair leading beneath the low-slung pants.Fuck, why is that so hot?It’s not as if he’s close to being naked; his clothes cover all the good stuff. But it doesn’t matter because my imagination runs wild. Pictures him crawling into bed. Ripping off his shirt, then mine.Is it warm in here?
Jude chuckles, his gaze lifting from where Walter snuggles closer on my lap. “He’s obviously made his choice. Can I get you anything? Glass of water? Another blanket?” He lifts his brows, a smirk growing on his lips. “A human pillow?”
Chemistry swirls in the space between us. Tempting. Promising. Delicious. “I’m good.” My voice cracks. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Jude smiles, and it’s the kind that I could bet money his own sexual fantasies are playing out in his mind. I’m almost disappointed when his gaze drops to study the floor. “What time do you need to be at the studio tomorrow?”
We make plans for the morning. It’s a much shorter commute thanks to the proximity of his condo. He asks to keep the door cracked open, in case Walter needs to get up and relieve himself in the middle of the night. It’s all so domestic. Comfortable. Almost strikingly so considering we’re practically strangers.
“All right then. I’ll let you get your rest.” Jude backs out of the doorway, and pulls the door most of the way shut with him. “Sweet dreams, beautiful.”
My lips part, speechless and without a comeback, but he’s gone before I can get them to move. Beautiful? Why do I love the sound of that, especially when it comes from his lips? “Just friends,” I mutter to myself.Just friends.I reach over and flip off the light, needing to hide from the thought of Jude being anything more. But even as I relax into the darkness, and Walter curls into my side, I can’t escape the feeling that I’d like something more from Jude.
24
Jude
My condo has always been my favorite place. Not only a source of pride, but a peaceful escape I look forward to each evening. It’s why I don’t bring most people here. Only my closest friends on occasion, and never hookups. Yet in one snap decision, I not only persuade Rachel to move in with me, but to take my bedroom.
It should bother me, her being in my space. Touching my things. Stealing Walter for the night. Okay, that last one is on him.
But it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I like it more than I should. I want her to stay much longer than a few days.Bloody hell, what is my problem?
It’s her. Rachel. She doesn’t want my help. That’s why I want to give it to her.Yeah, you do.I shake my head.Fuck.No, it’s not that. Okay, of course it is. I do want her in my bed. But that’s not the only thing I want from her. There’s an unexplainable, compulsive need to help her. One I haven’t felt since—nope. Not going there.
