The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew Book 5)

by Piper Rayne

  Once we’re in there, I feel more comfortable telling her everything that went down with Knox and me on the balcony last night. The things he said, the declaration that he should’ve picked me. That it’s something he regrets. And that kiss. My body is still pulsing from that kiss. His lips were so firm and demanding, but at the same time, he wasn’t pressuring me. The way his hands held my hips and the feel of his erection. God help me.

  By the time I finish, Rian’s hand is over her heart. “Oh, Knox.”

  I nod. “I figure if I move in with you guys just to prove my point, we’ll see if he makes a move.”

  “And what if he doesn’t?” She’s right to worry about that. Knox is a hard man to predict.

  “Then he never really wanted me anyway.”

  “It’s a game with a lot of moving pieces.”

  I nod. “Would Dylan be okay with it?”

  “Oh, please.” She waves. “These guys do so much shit to get their friends to get out of their own stubborn ways. Jax acted like he liked me for a while just to get Dylan jealous enough to make a move on me.”

  “So when he leaves for work tonight, we’ll move my stuff over?” I ask.

  She nods. “And I’ll fill Dylan in.”

  “Great. Thanks so much, Rian.”

  I give her a quick hug, and she forces a box of muffins on me before I walk out of the kitchen.

  “Hey, Kamea,” she says.

  I turn around to face her.

  “I’m impressed. You always seemed like this shy girl who lets things happen to her and didn’t make them happen for herself. Go, girl!”

  I laugh. “Thanks.”

  Let’s just hope this turns out how I want.

  I’m at the breakfast counter, working on a new T-shirt line devoted to women who want to be in charge of their own destinies. It’s different from what I usually do, but I’m feeling inspired.

  Knox comes out of his room, dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Did Rian deliver these?” He opens the bakery box and takes a bran muffin. Even a muffin has to be semi-healthy for this guy.

  “No, I was over there this morning and she gave them to me to bring back.”

  He sits down and glances at my computer. “What’s that?”

  I turn my computer more toward me. “Just something I’m working on.”

  He sighs. “I don’t want this to be weird. The whole reason we didn’t do anything was so it wouldn’t be weird.”

  I shut my computer and get up, going to the fridge. I grab the orange juice. “That’s funny, because if you had crossed the line, we’d probably be naked in one of those rooms right now. But you have rules, and everyone needs to follow them, right?”

  His mouth opens, but he says nothing. Am I being a tad ridiculous? Yes. I can admit that. But his reasons for not doing anything about his attraction to me are stupid. I’m a grown woman and I understand the chance I’m taking if I sleep with him.

  I’ll be honest and say it wouldn’t be my smartest decision, since I don’t have anywhere else to go should things go bad. But that’s not what he’s worried about. He’s worried that I somehow associate living here with having to sleep with him. What planet does he live on?

  He sets down his muffin. “You’re playing dirty.”

  “Dirty would be if I stripped down and walked around naked.”

  He swallows hard and his gaze zeroes in on my lips. “I’m not sure I know what you want me to do.”

  I shrug. “Nothing. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”

  “Fine. The woman’s definition isn’t the same as a man’s.”

  I smile and turn because he’s so right. “I just meant I understand your rules, but I don’t have to like them or even agree with them.”

  Jax comes out of his room in just his boxers. “What’s up, guys? How was last night?”

  “Fine,” I say.

  Jax looks at Knox with a cringe.

  “See, even Jax knows what it means when a woman says it’s fine.” Knox motions to Jax.

  “Let’s get his take on it then, huh?” I finish off my orange juice.

  “Where did that sweet girl who lived with us go?” Jax asks.

  I ignore his questions. “So, Jax, let’s say you like a girl. And you help her out with a place to stay. Things are going well. You flirt with her. She flirts with you. You look at her every morning like you want to rip her clothes off, and she looks at you like you’re her personal lollipop she wants to suck on when you come out of the shower.”

  “Just so I’m clear, this is you two we’re talking about, right?” He points two fingers between us.

  “No,” Knox says at the same time as I say, “Yes.”

  “Okay, carry on.” Jax sits down where I was sitting.

  “You go on a fake date, but during the course of the night, you admit you have feelings for her. And you kiss her. And it’s a really amazing kiss. But then you say you can’t do anything more because she’s a loser who doesn’t have a place to live and you gave her a place to live and if you guys act on those feelings, then she’ll think she has to be with you to continue to stay at your place.”

  Jax laughs and clasps Knox on the shoulder. “Welcome to Whelanville. Full of morals and rules. He knows best and don’t try to change his mind.”

  “That’s unfair. Tell her this is legit. A good reason for this.” Knox stands.

  “We’re cut from a different cloth, man, you know this. I would’ve fucked her the first night she was here.” Jax lifts his wrist to look at an imaginary watch. “We’re, what? Day I have no idea, but you should’ve fucked her already.”

  “He should have last night,” I say.

  Knox stares at me for a second. “I agree with Jax. Who are you and what have you done with our sweet Kamea?”

  “I think she’s buried under the animosity of you denying her an orgasm last night.” Jax holds up both hands and backs up. “At least that’s what it seems to me.” He goes to the bathroom, and we hear him peeing a second later.

  “Jesus Christ, shut the fucking door.” Knox walks over to the bathroom, grabs the handle, and slams the door.

  I grab my computer and head to my room. “Have a great shift today, Knox.”

  He says nothing, but his eyes convey he doesn’t understand what’s going on.

  Once I’m behind my bedroom door, I regret being so forceful, but I hate when people think they know what’s best for me. The fact he’s holding me behind velvet ropes pisses me off. I won’t admit this to him, but I’m pissed at myself too. I put myself in a position where some guy thinks he can’t be with me because I’m too vulnerable. It’s about time I do what I’m designing on these new shirts—I need to be a girl boss.

  I lift the screen on my laptop. Time to make some money and get the hell out of here. Regardless of where things go with Knox.

  Chapter Twenty

  Knox

  It’s seven thirty in the morning when I step off the elevator of my apartment building. I had a shitty shift since Patrice called in sick—something about the fertility medicine not agreeing with her. It’s another reminder that once she’s pregnant, I won’t have her as my partner and how much I really want that detective position. Interviews start next week.

  When I enter my apartment, something feels off, but I can’t put my finger on it.

  I make myself some eggs, mentally telling myself we’re low on groceries. Neither Jax nor Kamea come out, which is odd. Usually Kamea is up and working on her computer when I get home. But maybe it’s for the best, since she’s pissed at me. Hopefully she’ll calm down after a few days. I know I’m right about what I said.

  After cleaning the kitchen, I go into the bathroom and take a shower. It looks so bare in here. Maybe Kamea ran out of her shampoo and conditioner because her bottles are gone.

  I dry off afterward and notice that her robe is no longer on the back hook of the door. Walking out of the bathroom, I spot Jax rounding the kitchen area with his mug of coffee.

 
“Morning,” he says and presses the button on the TV remote.

  I thumb toward the bathroom door. “Hey, the bathroom seems pretty empty.”

  “Yeah. Kamea moved out.” He sips his coffee, his attention on the television.

  My stomach drops. “What?”

  “Across the hall to Rian and Dylan’s.” He turns his head to look at me. “It’s your fault. You and your rules.”

  “My rules? Whatever, man. Think about it, you know I’m right.”

  He sets down his coffee, clasps his hands, and stares at me. “You’re being an idiot. You ruined your chance with her once already and now you’re blowing it again. Don’t you like her?”

  I sit on the couch and lean back, running my hands through my hair. I do. I know I do. I should’ve never asked her to move in with us. Because I already felt that wave of arousal running through me when she was near. And now I’m the one pushing her away. I nod.

  “Then stop being a pussy.”

  “But what if it’s… what if…”

  Jax sighs. “She’s not Leilani. At all. She’s sweet and kind and takes you as you are. Hell, she moved out just to prove this stupid point to you.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “My first inclination is to say because we’re back in sixth grade. But I think she did it because she likes you.”

  “She likes me,” I murmur.

  “Yes, and right now, you’re making her look like an idiot. If you keep doing that, you can kiss any chance with her goodbye forever.” He turns to face me. “I get that Leilani hurt you. And you might not agree, but the girl wasn’t worth it. Do you still have feelings for her?”

  “No. This has nothing to do with Leilani,” I say, and I know that’s the truth. All I think about is Kamea all the time.

  “Then go get the girl you want. We both know if things with you guys don’t work out, you’re not going to kick her out. So don’t use that excuse anymore.” He stands and lifts his coffee mug, going to his room. “I have to go get ready to leave because Jolie swindled me into helping her Daisy Scout troop with some scavenger hunt thing.”

  “You’re helping out?” I ask with a note of disbelief.

  “Because jackass can’t be a real father. She asked and I’m not going to turn down the girl. I remember how much all those damn father-son and mother-son days sucked for me.”

  I nod, getting now why he would help. “Have fun.”

  He huffs. “Fun with a bunch of kindergarteners? I’m not sure there’s such a thing.”

  He shuts his bedroom door and I realize Jax is right. It’s time I take what I want without thinking of the repercussions. When I was with Leilani, I second-guessed every decision I made—mostly because I was worried that I’d scare her off. But Kamea is different and we’re different together. It’s time I give in to the pull I feel toward her and own it like I should’ve before Leilani ever came into my life.

  I head into my bedroom and get dressed in my jeans and shirt. Then I knock on Rian and Dylan’s door.

  He opens it right away. “Finally. What took you so long?” He steps aside. “Catch her before she’s unpacked.”

  I narrow my eyes at Dylan. What the hell is his problem?

  Rian walks out of what used to be Dylan’s room and before that Sierra’s. She holds up her hand. “Sorry, you’re not welcome.”

  “What?” My forehead scrunches.

  “You heard me.”

  “It’s fine, Rian,” Kamea says from inside the room.

  Rian steps aside with a glare that’s not at all like her.

  I step into Dylan’s old room and shut the door. The bed is made. Kamea’s television sits on the dresser. Every time one of our friends moves out because they’ve found the love of their life, they leave behind furniture. This is all Sierra’s shit, so the room suits Kamea a lot more than Seth’s ratty chair.

  “Why did you move out?” I ask, sitting on the bed while she walks back and forth between the closet and the bed, hanging up clothes. Every single one of her items is in here.

  “Well, you made it clear we couldn’t do anything with both of us under the same roof. So I made a deal with Rian.”

  “Deal?”

  She nods. “I’m her new coffee person every morning in exchange for living here.”

  “Seriously?”

  She smiles at me, all sweet and condescending. “Well, I think she would’ve allowed me to move in even if I didn’t take the job, but I couldn’t do that.”

  I scratch my head. “Okay. Um… I appreciate the effort, but why don’t you just come back? Maybe I was rash in my decision-making.”

  “Rash?” she asks, turning around with a shirt on a hanger in her hand. “I’d hate for you to break one of your self-imposed rules.”

  “Cut the shit, Kamea.” I’m losing patience. Although I can admit that this whole thing is turning me on a bit.

  “What? I’m just trying to figure out a way that we could give this a shot.” The voice she’s using is too innocent.

  My jaw clenches. “Come over here and sit.” I pat the bed next to me.

  “I have a lot to do. I hate being unsettled.” She grabs another shirt and hangs it up. Her closet isn’t as full as a normal girl’s, which I fucking hate. She deserves everything, including a closet full of clothes and too many shoes.

  “Kamea,” I say.

  “Knox,” she mimics me.

  I blow out a breath. “Sit, please.”

  “Please?”

  “Yes, please.” I pat the spot next to me.

  She hangs up the sweater and sits on the edge of the bed. “What’s up?”

  “You know exactly what’s up.”

  “I do?” Her smile says she’s unable to keep up the act when we’re face to face.

  “You don’t have to move out. Let’s get all your stuff and go back to our place.”

  “Your place,” she says. “And I like it here. Rian is super sweet, and this way, you don’t have to worry that I’m only screwing you in exchange for a roof over my head.”

  I groan and she laughs, standing. I grab her wrist and yank her to me. She falls between my legs and my hands mold to her hips.

  “Are you sure about this?” I ask, my heart racing with the thought of putting myself out there again.

  “About what?” The fact that her lips are tipped into a devilish grin says she knows exactly what I’m saying, but she wants me to spell it out.

  “Us. Giving this a shot. Discovering what this is between us.”

  Her fingers run through the hair at the side of my head and my eyes close briefly from the contact.

  “What’s between us?” she asks in a low voice.

  I pick her up and throw her onto the bed, covering my body with hers. With her hands locked above her head, I lower my lips toward hers but stop right before I allow them to meet. She licks her lips.

  “The fact I want to kiss you, bite you, touch you, fuck you. You’re all I can think of and I’m sorry about the rules, but I’m a cop, okay? I live by rules.”

  She nods. Kamea wiggles her arms until I release her, then she wraps them around my neck. “So we’ll give this an honest shot?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then show me.”

  “Show you what?” I ask.

  “Show me how much you want me. Unless—”

  I crash my lips to hers, her body wiggling under mine while I slide on top of her. Her thighs part and my hips fall between them, my hands brushing her hair away as our tongues glide together. She raises one leg and I grind into her, rewarded with an earth-quaking moan slipping from her throat.

  I tear my lips from her mouth, my thumb running down the center of her throat. My lips touch her jaw and neck before traveling down her body. She’s wearing one of her T-shirts about her being powered by plants, and I slide my hand up the hem. Her body shivers under my touch, so I look up to make sure we’re on the same page.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  Her cheeks h
old a slight tinge of pink and her hooded eyes say she’s into this, but I need verbal affirmation.

  “Yeah, it’s just been a while for me.”

  I slide down her body, my hands staying on her ribcage. “It’s been a while for me too. I haven’t really been dating or anything.”

  “But what about sex?” she asks with an arched brow.

  I’m not exactly proud of my behavior after Leilani left me. I screwed around with a few random girls I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, but it’s been months since then. But in order for Kamea to know that this is different, I need to have this conversation with her.

  I sit up. “You should know that after the breakup, I did sleep with a few women. All I wanted was her out of my head. But this thing between us isn’t the same thing. I want to be with you now, tomorrow, and the next day. There’s nothing quick about this. And if you want to wait, I’m cool. We can go out on a date, a real one.”

  She nods, but her mind is clearly whizzing.

  “I want to pursue this with you, but that doesn’t mean just physically.”

  “So you don’t want to have sex with me?”

  I laugh and run a hand through my hair. “Of course I do. But making this work long term is more important to me than getting you into bed this instant.”

  “Perfect answer, Officer Whelan.” She straddles my lap. “Take me to your apartment. I don’t want to piss off my new roommates because I have a feeling things are about to get a little loud.”

  “Your wish is my command.” I pick her up and walk us out of the bedroom.

  Dylan and Rian are at the kitchen table.

  “Made up, I see?” Rian asks with a smirk.

  “You forgot her boxes,” Dylan says, and Rian smacks him.

  “Later,” I say and Kamea opens the door for us to go through.

  Jax is about to lock up the apartment when he spots us. “Thank fuck, I’m headed out.” He disappears down the hall.

  I don’t stop until we’re in my bedroom, where I lower her to my bed. Her long dark hair is strewn over my pillow. Her pink cheeks and hot body call to me. If I went through all that hell to be here right now, with her, it was all worth it. She’s worth it.