I have a feeling the moment that douche comes near Jade, he’s going to start groveling and saying he’s sorry, and she seems like the kind of woman to forgive him even though he doesn’t deserve it.
My brow tightens with that thought before a cool hand slips around my elbow. I turn to find Sunny smiling at me. “I’m going to head out,” she says, ignoring Jade completely. “See you tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Jade hiccups and sticks out a wobbly hand. “Hi, I’m Jade. From the Quinn Brothers store around the corner.” Sunny pauses before giving Jade a limp handshake. Sunny’s eyes dart to mine while Jade begins rattling off a sales spiel about her shop and those weird-ass head sculpture things she was selling today. I can tell she’s getting nowhere with Sunny, and she’s kind of slurring, so I gently fold my fingers around her forearm. Jade stops speaking instantly and looks at me.
“I think we’re all done with work for the day, aren’t we?” I say gently.
“At least,Ithought we were,” Sunny mutters before asking Jade for her store’s website. I’ll bet my bike outside that Sunny is only being mildly polite and has zero intention of looking it up.
“Website? Oh, we’re building one at the moment,” Jade replies, flushing pink like that’s a load of shit. She offers to email Sunny the URL when it’s up, but Sunny says that’s not necessary.
She quickly thanks Jade and turns her back on her. “A convenience store for a national feature spread?” Sunny whispers to me. “Is she serious?”
A defensive feeling surges through me, but before I can say anything, Sunny presses a wet kiss to my cheek. I don’t miss how Jade rolls her eyes as Sunny saunters away.
“I think that’s my cue to go home,” Jade says. “Thanks for the drinks.” She stuffs her phone into her purse and starts for the door. I close out my tab as quickly as possible, leave a big fat tip, and catch up to her outside as she heads toward her store.
“You have an apartment in the back that I don’t know about?” I ask, lingering like a creep and telling myself it’s only because I want to make sure she doesn’t end up passed out on the sidewalk.
Her keys jingle in her hands as she tries one, then the other. “Don’t you worry about me, old man. This isn’t the first time I’ve crashed here. I’m a seasoned pro.”
Why does she insist on calling me old man? I’m notthatold. “Yeah, but where do you crash, exactly?”
“The office floor is surprisingly comfortable.”
She can’t be serious. “You’re not sleeping on a floor.”
“No?” She props her hands on her hips and stares me down, probably trying to be intimidating, but she looks so fucking cute that it makes me want to eat her up. “Where am I sleeping then?”
I fold my arms over my chest and give her my best smile, the one that has gotten me into a lot of trouble through the years. Which is fitting for this particular scenario because what I’m about to say could get us both into trouble if my sister finds out. “I hear that your sexy neighbor has a nice new bed.”
Her wide eyes flicker to my apartment next door before returning to me. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not into casual sex.”
For some reason, her assumption that I’m only into booty calls and one-night stands pisses me off, even though she’s not exactly wrong. Which is why there’s a bit of a bite to my tone when I respond. “That’s great to hear because I’m not really into screwing my baby sister’s drunk friends.”
Jade doesn’t even have the good sense to look scandalized. “Good.”
“Good.” I drag my keys from my pocket and start for the door. “Are you coming or what?”
Her footsteps shuffle behind me, the scent of her perfume driving me a little wild. I hold open the door, and once she’s brushed past me, I lock it and head for the stairs. Up in my apartment, I flick on the lights and throw my keys on the linoleum countertop. Jade bends to undo the straps on her shoes, offering me the perfect view of the lacy pink bra beneath her sweater. I force my gaze away and try not to think about how full and perky her tits look as I start for my bedroom, stopping at the door. She squeezes past where I’ve halted, looking around at the mostly bare space but saying nothing.
I brace my hands against the doorframe to keep from following her. “I’m using the guest room for work, so you can have my bed.”
Her head whips toward me. “Where are you sleeping?”
“The couch.”
“I can sleep on the couch.”
“Not happening. Just don’t tell anyone you spent the night in my bed, or your reputation will never recover.”
I can feel her eyes on me as I retreat to the living room and drop onto the couch, my back already aching.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
JADE
