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“Ooh, fancy. I knew that the moment you stepped out the house.”
“Me? Fancy?”
She pointed downward. “Your slippers. I bet you have more than one set of pj’s. too. Am I right?”
I looked at my house shoes and frowned. Who liked getting stuff on their feet? The floor could be cold. I thought everyone wore them, and Ididhave more pajamas. Several.
“You don’t wear house shoes? And everyone has pj’s.”
“Not me.”
I turned around again because I had to look the woman in the eyes. Those chocolate orbs were expressive, narrowing as she smirked.
“Then what do you wear to sleep?”
“T-shirts that are way too old.” She held up her hands, and then covered her mouth. Her cheeks reddened the longer I watched her, and she started fidgeting with her long sleeves. It was like watching someone try to hide themselves right in front of me.
Was she embarrassed? Was she lying? Was she trying to be nonchalant and failing? I didn’t know, and that bothered me.
Genie was a frustrating mess. I suddenly wanted to crack her open like an egg to see what lay inside.
One thing was certain. Genie wasn’t my type.
NINE
Eugene
Gran would be furious if she knew I finally found someone who might be a better cook than her. That was saying something because all I’d had was Hudson’sfancyramen with its egg and vegetables. I didn’t need to know what the veggies were since the meal was delicious. I even told him so, but he didn’t respond.
I had to make sure I never cooked in that man’s home while I was there. Although he never said anything, I was sure he saw the crack of my ass where my leggings ripped. Jesus, I really hoped I didn’t go into town like that. Cooking around him would just embarrass me more.
Hudson left the kitchen after he cleaned up, so I washed my dish when I finished. As I headed upstairs, I spotted him by the fireplace, resting on a recliner. That fire sure looked cozy. I wondered if he’d mind if I joined him and read while he watched TV? Max was at Hudson’s feet and jumped up when he spotted me.
“Max,” Hudson warned, and I couldn’t help but notice that Hudson styled his hair with product. His blond mane was slicked back perfectly.Fucking fancy-ass rich man.
“It’s fine.” I dropped to one knee and beckoned the bear dog forward. “He’s not bothering me.”
I got a grunt in reply.
I petted Max for a bit before I finally worked up the nerve to ask, “Do you mind if I sit by the fire to read?”
Without making eye contact, he beckoned me toward the fireplace as he browsed Netflix on his TV. I took that as a yes. With a grin, I ran toward the stairs to grab my Kindle. Big mistake! Max chased after me and stepped right in front of me at the top step. I nearly tripped over him. I caught myself on the banister with a loud ‘oof’, then looked over the edge to see if Hudson heard the mishap. If he did, he never moved from his recliner, but he sighed long and loud. I was more careful going back down with Max since he liked to trot under a person’s leg. It was cute. I had a giant animal chauffeur.
I plopped down right beside the fire with Max and began to read.
Rubbing my feet together, I leaned forward and swiped on my Kindle. I didn’t know if I was getting warm from the fire or the absolute smut in my current book. The first time the wordcockpopped up, I touched my cheeks and looked up.Mistake!
I made eye contact with Hudson. He stared at me with his arms folded over his chest as he reclined. I looked away and the magic of the book faded as awareness crept in. Normally, I didn’t care where I read my romance. I’d gotten used to reading sex scenes in public with a straight face. I had wandered into my little Eugene bubble where nothing else existed, including the man sitting next to me in a recliner. And, well, he popped my fantasy bubble with his eyeballs. He was supposed to be watching TV instead of looking at me. He ruined my sanctuary with those hazel eyes of his. Why was he staring so intently, anyway?
No matter how hard I tried reading, the words looked too much like words, and I couldn’t dive into my imagination. I looked at him again, and sure enough, he was still ogling me. I took a deep breath.
“What are you reading?” he asked in a gruff voice.
How long had we been sitting there for his tone to sound like that?
A question I hated being asked by men. I wasn’t ashamed of what I enjoyed, but the look in a man’s eyes when I told them annoyed me all the same.
“Nothing you’d enjoy.” When he didn’t respond, I added, “I read a lot of romance and fantasy.”
