Our eyes met.
“Good morning," I muttered, trying hard to let as little of my morning breath escape my mouth as possible.
"Morning to you too, Freckles," he muttered and the corners of his mouth tipped up into an annoyingly handsome smile, one that said he was trying really hard not to grin. I narrowed my eyes and he couldn’t hold on any longer - the grin broke free. I didn't know what was so funny. Clearly, he was gorgeous and knew it and, without a doubt, he'd woken up to stunning women many times in his life - one of which I wasn't.
But he didn't have to rub it in.
"Am I that funny looking to you?" I snapped and his grin vanished, but it was instantly replaced by a frown.
"Are you kidding me?" he asked, exasperated.
I blinked. "No, I'm not kidding. I know I probably don't live up to bombshell status, or your requirements for bed banging privileges, but I'm still cute. You just caught me at a bad time. Mornings and my hair don't go well together."
It was his turn to blink.
I sighed. “While we're on the subject of looks, can you please put on some clothes? More specifically a shirt? It’s too early to look at a hot guy, and there's too much of you to concentrate on before coffee.”
His grin grew blinding and I rolled my eyes.
“Maybe I’m not wearing a shirt because I want to wear the one you have on.”
I quickly glanced down at the ginormous red t-shirt I was wearing. Then, I glanced down further. “Did you cover me with the blanket?” I asked, ignoring his comment.
His grin disappeared and he countered with a question of his own, “Why’d you come out here to sleep on the couch? I don’t remember all that much about last night, but I definitely don’t think I did anything inappropriate,” he pointed out.
He also sounded disappointed, which I thought was odd. Was it because he didn’t touch me inappropriately or because I came to sleep on the couch? I wondered. I also supposed he didn’t consider rubbing his hand all over my stomach, throwing me in bed and holding me down “inappropriate”.
“No, you didn’t really do anything wrong. I just wasn’t comfortable sleeping in the same bed with you.”
His frown deepened as he studied my face. I could feel the red that I hated creeping up my cheeks.
“You mind if I get up so I can change and brush my teeth,” I asked softly, because the staring was starting to become very uncomfortable.
He shook his head and suddenly stood up, looking extra-large towering over me with no shirt on. How did a guy get to be that big? I mean, he was tall, but I’d seen plenty of tall guys before. Shit, I was five-three, so most women were taller than me, but lover boy here was tall, and his body was wide, and his stomach was ripped, and his shoulders were broad, and he had that v-thingy at his hips, and...
“Mia!” he called out for like...the third time and my head craned upward.
“What? I heard you the first time, but I was checking you out. Jeez! I told you to put on a shirt,” I snapped back because I was a tad bit embarrassed he caught me ogling him, but since he had caught me, there was no reason to hide it. Plus, I’d wanted to look longer and he interrupted me.
“Jesus, you’re cute,” he said through a chuckle.
“Well, again, I’m only cute because you’re seeing me first thing in the morning and I’m in your baggy ass clothes. Otherwise, I’m drop dead gorgeous.”
“That you fuckin’ are,” he growled.
My heart skipped a beat.
“I was kidding,” I whispered.
He ignored me.
“Your clothes are in the dryer, Babe. Why don’t you just hang out in what you’re wearing, or get naked for all I care? Actually, I’d much prefer you naked, but I highly doubt you’re up for that yet. So, just hang out, make yourself at home while I finish cooking us breakfast. I don't have a TV, but I have a laptop that I can bring you if you want to use it... You have anyone you need to call to let them know you’re safe?”
No TV? Who the hell doesn't have a TV?
Chapter Eight
Adam Bryant
I watched a million different emotions play across Mia’s face, but the expression she settled on was surprise.
She held up a finger. “The fact that you have no TV is just plain weird...possibly even creepy. Do you play with dolls or something?"
The fuck?
She held up another finger before I could respond. "Let’s get one thing straight. I’m never getting naked in front of you, behind you, with you or anything involving you.”
Yeah, okay.
She added another finger. “Thanks for washing my clothes.”
She added another finger, making it four now. “Are you a good cook or will I get food poisoning?” She paused and I spoke when I realized she was actually waiting for me to answer.
“I’m making crescent rolls from a package and scrambled eggs. I’m pretty sure I can handle it, Babe.”
She sighed before nodding in approval. “Good, because I’m starving.”
She dropped her hand. “And to answer your last question, I do have someone I need to call, but he can wait. I’ll call him when I leave.”
I stiffened.
“A boyfriend?” I asked, immediately and unintentionally heated.
Is that the reason she left me and came to sleep on the couch last night?
I crossed my arms over my chest, her head tilted to the side, red hair spilled over her left shoulder and she regarded me with suspicion before her heart-shaped lips moved.
I couldn’t take my eyes away from them.
“No, he’s a friend. Not that it’s any of your business,” she snipped.
“A friend you’re having sex with?” I demanded to know, and again, I didn’t mean to sound like such an asshole, but the thought of her with another fuckin’ guy was pissing me off. I didn’t want to imagine those pretty, pink, heart-shaped lips touching anyone else’s lips but mine, which of course was insane.
I swiped a hand over my head and down my face.
I really need to eat. I’m losing my damn mind.
Her eyes narrowed and I knew whatever she was about to say was not going to make me happy and would only piss me off more, so I held up my hand.
“I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business, I know. Just...do whatever you want while I cook. I need to eat something.” I turned and walked the few steps it took me to hit the kitchen. I took the eggs out of the refrigerator, grabbed a bowl, found the Tony Chachere Seasoning and I did my thing.
I did a one-eighty, turned from the back counter against the wall to the counter facing the living room, bowl in hand. As I beat the ever-loving shit out of the eggs inside, all I wanted to know was who in the fuck this guy was that she needed to call.
Mia stood up from the couch and caught my attention. Not that my focus wasn't already consumed by her. I watched as she looked down at herself and tugged at the shirt she wore with annoyance, but I had no idea why. She looked sexy as hell in my damn clothes, even though they swallowed her.
She lifted the hem of the shirt, brought it to her neck and held it up with her chin. I froze when I saw her bare stomach, her belly button ring, and a clear view of her generous hips and ass. She grabbed the drawstring of the sweats, untied them and then retied them, probably tighter.
She rolled the waistband three times over before letting go of the shirt, bending down at the waist and rolling up the bottom of each leg a few times. She lifted, grabbed the shirt hem again, twisted it at her hip, tied it in some kind of chick knot and tucked it under the side of the shirt.
Her fair skin peeked out just above the waistband of the sweats at her hip bones, and I didn’t know if it was just the fact that she was in my clothes, or the fact that she looked fuckin’ hot standing in my living room, or both, that had me feeling like I was a fifteen-year-old boy.
She looked up, our eyes met and I went back to beating the shit out of the eggs.
“Do you need some help?” Mia a
sked as she walked toward the kitchen, and I shook my head.
“Nah, I’m good. There’s only three minutes left on the timer for the rolls, so help yourself to coffee, or there’s orange juice in the fridge. Other than that, that’s all I have to drink.”
“Coffee. Thank you.”
After I showed her where the cups were, I finished cooking the eggs and we sat down at the breakfast table. I realized how weird, yet oddly comfortable everything felt. I’d never had a chick stay for breakfast, especially a breakfast that I half-ass cooked for her. Chicks had stayed the night here, sure, but I tried to get rid of them as fast as I could.
“This is delicious,” she said through a small smile after her first bite, and I smiled back at her dreamy expression. She sounded like she hadn’t eaten in years.
“I’m glad you like it. So, what are your plans for the day?”
She took another bite and thought on my question.
“Well, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to take a shower here.” She paused, caught my eye and waited for me to acknowledge her.
Like I’d say no.
“Do whatever you gotta do, Freckles.”
Another small smile played on her lips, clearly liking my use of the word “Freckles”, before she continued. “Thanks. Ok, well, after that, I need to catch the bus to Missy’s place so I can pack my stuff and move out.”
The hand holding the fork an inch from my mouth froze mid-air, because I couldn’t believe the words that had come out of her mouth. This gorgeous girl actually rode in public transportation and Houston public transportation at that? Not that transportation here was bad, but for someone who looked like her... it was dangerous.
“Do you have a car or do you always take the bus?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t afford a car. I usually take the bus if I can’t hitch a ride with Missy, which is pretty much all the time. She’s my cousin, but she’s a bitch and we don’t get along - obviously...I was only staying with her because I had to.” Her voice quieted and her eyes veered off, before continuing. “It’s a long story, so don’t ask. I was planning on moving out soon anyway, so I’ll just take the bus.”
Hell, no.
The thought of her taking the bus actually made my stomach roll again. “You’re not taking the bus. I told you last night that’d I’d take you, so I’ll take you. And I'll help you move,” I stated.
Her eyes looked down at her plate of food. She picked up and sipped from her cup of coffee. She put the cup down and then she looked at my face, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” she said softly. “I appreciate the offer, really, but if Missy sees me show up with you, it’ll just cause more problems, and I want to get in and out of there as fast as I can. For all I know, she probably threw what little stuff I have outside anyway. I’ll manage fine on the bus.”
“I’m not letting you take the bus,” I told her darkly, because her casualness about taking public transportation annoyed me. Actually, I refused to let her take the bus, but it would more than likely piss her off if I said that out loud, so I kept my refusal to myself. “It’s Sunday. I have nothing going on today and I feel a little responsible for why you have to move out. The least I can do is give you a ride and help you move. She starts any shit with you, I’ll deal with it.”
Mia bristled at my statement. Visibly bristled. I watched her do it and it was cute. Not only cute, but it was such a fuckin’ turn on knowing she was about to throw attitude that I had to forcefully stop myself from grinning.
She sighed. “I get that you want to help me and it’s nice of you to offer, but I really don’t need your help. There’s a chance Missy won’t be there, but it’s slim. If she sees you, she’s going to assume something happened between us - that didn’t. She’ll run and tell her daddy - my uncle - and he’s really the one I don’t want to upset. So, again, thanks for the offer, but I’ll take the bus.”
Mia Dayes
An hour and fifteen minutes later, I was steaming mad as I sat, arms crossed over my chest, in Adam’s beat up black Chevy pickup, headed to Missy’s. He’d tricked me. The bastard had tricked me!
After we finished breakfast and I’d helped him load the dishwasher, I’d taken a shower and changed back into the clothes I was wearing yesterday. When I was ready to leave, he’d offered to drive me to the bus stop, and since I had no idea where the bus stop even was around his apartment, I’d easily agreed.
But, after ten minutes of driving and passing five bus stops along the way, I knew we were headed toward Missy’s place. The fact that he knew where her place was sickened me, because I knew exactly why Adam knew where Missy lived. I silently wondered how I hadn't seen him with her. Maybe he snuck in? No, I'd probably been at work while they were doing the dirty.
At least I knew that Missy hadn’t slept in his bed, not that it mattered either way, but I had been in his bed last night for approximately four minutes and that would have been tacky…not to mention nasty.
Even the idea of him with Missy was gross. Not gross on Missy’s part, but gross on Adam’s part. Many men knew where Missy lived, and I decided to let Adam in on that little bit of information, because I was furious, yes, but because he also deserved to know.
I twisted my neck, glared at his profile and had the extreme pleasure of watching him glance at me with huge eyes as I informed him, “If I were you, I would go get checked out at a clinic. Especially, if you didn’t use protection with Missy. I hope you did, but from what I’ve heard her say, she sometimes ‘forgets’ to use it.” I paused to let all that sink in before adding, “Just thought you’d like to know.”
Adam cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he didn’t speak. I turned away and kept my eyes locked on anything and everything outside my window, instantly feeling bad for what I just said. It was rude. It was true, but I never should have said it the way I did. I wasn’t usually that rude, but there was something about Adam that, even without doing or saying anything to set me off, boiled my blood.
I knew I was only taking my frustrations out on him, because, from the get-go, I hadn’t wanted him to take me to Missy’s. If I was normal, I wouldn’t have cared, but because I wasn’t normal, the last thing I wanted was for Adam to find out anything about me. I didn’t like people knowing things about me. I wasn’t embarrassed about my past, because it couldn’t be helped, but people were cruel and the more they knew about a person, the more power they held. And that power was usually used as a weapon of words.
The rest of the twenty-minute drive was in silence, which was good since it gave me the perfect opportunity to think of every-which-way to keep Adam from finding out anything about me.
As soon as we pulled up to Missy’s apartment, Adam threw the truck in park and I threw open my door. I was just about to jump out when Adam caught me by the arm and stopped my eager movement. I faced him and his expression caught me completely off guard, but it also made me feel even more like shit. He didn’t look angry. He didn’t even look disgusted with what I’d said. No, oddly, he looked sorry.
He kept his hold on my arm and leaned over. His free hand wrapped around the back of my head, and his fingers tangled in my hair as he brought my face closer to his. My heart stopped, dropped to my stomach and quickly restarted.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a whisper, but he didn’t respond right away. Instead, his eyes studied my face brazenly. After a painfully slow minute, he spoke; his words and deep, low voice, rattled me to the core.
“I get that you don’t know me. I get that, for whatever reason, you don’t want my help. I get that you and your cousin do not get along. I get that you think I fucked up by fucking your cousin, but you gotta know that I had no idea you even existed when I met her. If I’d known you, if I’d only laid eyes on you, I wouldn’t have looked any other way. Whether you would have let me get close to you is another thing, but I sure as shit would have tried. So, you also need know that I
regret your cousin, and I don’t regret much in my life so far. Not only do I regret it, but I don’t remember much of it and I thank a lot of alcohol for that.”
I’d stopped breathing the moment he started talking. His green eyes bore into mine so deeply, I felt lost in them. The little specks of blue that surrounded his pupils were hypnotizing. His eyes moved to study my face with methodical care, as if memorizing every single one of my features. And I let him. When his eyes came back to mine, they locked tight and he continued.
“I like you. The cousin thing makes this messy, and I get that, but I want to know you better. I think you’re fucking gorgeous. Not only that, but you’re adorable. You have little freckles on your nose that I want to kiss.” The hand behind my head released my hair from its grasp and drew back. He touched the bridge of my nose with the tip of his index finger and his eyes traveled the same path.
His voice was softer when he spoke next. “I like that you aren’t afraid to piss me off, but the fact that you think you’re actually pissing me off is cute as hell. So, I’m getting to know you whether you like it or not. And I’ll get checked, not that I’m worried because I’ve never gone without protection, but to be positive, I’ll get tested. If you can’t take the cousin thing after you get to know me better, I’ll leave you alone...but that’s gonna be hard for you, because I’m gonna make it hard for you,” he finished in a low, determined growl.
With that, he let me go completely, twisted his body, opened his door, and in one fluid motion, slid out of the truck.
Oh shit!
Chapter Nine
Adam Bryant
Bitches be fuckin' crazy.
I shook my head, thinking that was the only reason Missy would run out of her bedroom wearing nothing but panties and a tank top as she flung obscenities and bitchy remarks at Mia. From the moment Mia had opened the front door, Missy started in.
Mia was taking it like a champ, holding her head high and not giving her asshole cousin the time of day, but I wanted to slap the filthy mouth off her face.
Adam, Enough Said (This Can't be Happening) Page 8