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He disappeared down the hallway and Janel stepped inside and pulled the door shut. Technically this was the first time she’d ever been alone in a man’s house. She should feel uneasy, but instead she had not a single doubt that she was safe behind his closed door.
In only a few moments, he came back down the hall, pulling his shirt on and covering up all that delicious skin. At least she wasn’t short-circuiting anymore. Much.
“Can I get you something to drink or eat?” he asked.
She didn’t think taking her virginity was what he was offering so she declined. “No, thanks. I just ordered pizza for dinner.”
“Pizza delivery is going to be busy tonight. I ordered just a few minutes ago too.”
Before she could stop herself, she said, “I have a thought. Why don’t you bring your pizza over and join us for dinner?”
His brow rose. “And then you’ll fill me in on all your secrets?”
She nodded, unwilling to lie directly to his face. She’d tell him almost everything. The smart thing about this plan was Rica would be a third, keeping her X-rated thoughts from coming to fruition.
CHAPTER 8
Dozer
Dozer found himself sitting at her dining room table with a place setting before him. A fucking plate with a folded napkin on the left side and a fork strategically placed in the center of the napkin. On the other side of the plate were a spoon and a knife with the serrated edge facing the plate. Above the plate were a glass filled with water and another glass filled with sweet tea.
What the hell!
He looked up when Jane entered from the kitchen with two pizza boxes in her hands. “Sorry, I couldn’t find a serving platter for the pizza.”
He blinked, waiting for her to say “just kidding,” but that never came.
“No worries. I usually just eat right out of the box.” Did she think that was a barbarian move?
“Right. I guess that would be best.” She sat the boxes down. “Ree took a few pieces and is going to eat in her room. She says she has a headache and wants to go to bed early.
Somehow he didn’t think that was the exact conversation he’d overheard. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, but by the sounds of their whispers, it sounded like Jane wasn’t happy her cousin flaked out on her.
Nervously, she took the seat across from his and, in a practiced manner, shook her napkin out and placed it across her lap. He shook his head. Crazier and crazier. “Why don’t we just take the boxes into the living room and get comfortable while we eat?”
Her head popped up and she glanced toward the other room. “Eat in the living room? On the couches?” she asked as if it were the most foreign thing she’d ever heard. “Yes. Of course. If that would make you more comfortable.”
To make him more comfortable? He’d offered, hoping to make her calm the fuck down. He carried the boxes and his tea into the other room. He tossed the pizzas on the coffee table and put his tea on the end table within easy reach. She placed a napkin beside the boxes and he ignored it, opened his box, and pulled out one hot stringy piece of meat lovers special and ate half the slice in one bite.
When he glanced over, she had one piece of pizza in her hand with her mouth hanging open as she watched him eat. Whatever. He finished off the slice and tucked back into the box for more.
She nibbled on a single piece, wiping her mouth after each bite. “Aren’t you cold?” she asked, nodding at his bare arms.
He shrugged. “It’s not that cold outside. We’re having a warm snap. You know Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early Spring.”
Her gaze was blank. “Who?”
Another tick in the she-doesn’t-belong-here column. “You know, the groundhog.”
She blinked again and shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know about a weather-predicting groundhog. Honestly, I’m not sure what a groundhog is.”
He stared and flat out asked, “Enlighten me. Who are you?”
She looked down at her pizza and nodded. “You’re right. We aren’t from here, but our mothers are. My mom grew up here and worked at a diner and ran a bakery out of her house before she married my father. Ree’s mom is my mom’s younger sister.”
So far he was buying what she said. “Keep going,” he prompted taking his third slice.
Her gaze widened when he again ate half the slice. Her disapproval made him chomp harder.
