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But I don’t know that for a fact. It could also be amazing. If I kissed her as if I planned to take her my bed, I might get a taste of what would happen next.
“Was it awkward?” Zack asks in a matter-of-fact voice. “Seeing her naked for the first time?”
I school my facial expression and step around my friend. With my hand pressing against the door, I say, “Yeah, I’m not going to answer that.”
Zack follows me into the bustling main floor. “I’m coming up with you to say hello.”
“You’re not invited.” I walk into the locker room and head for my bag.
“I’ll be on my best behavior,” Zack promises.
“I’ll hold you to that.” I pull on my sweatshirt. Then I find my cell and text Kayla, giving her a quick heads up that we have company. It’s six a.m. and she needs to be ready to play the part of my future wife. She responds with a one-word request.
Bagels.
Ten minutes later, the elevator opens into my apartment. The four-legged welcoming committee rushes to great us. I’m careful to keep Kayla’s breakfast out of K-9 reach, but I don’t make an effort to pull them off of Zack. If he didn’t want dogs jumping on him, he shouldn’t have invited himself.
“Kayla?” I call.
“In the kitchen.” Her voice fills the apartment. “Take your shirt off before you come in here. I want to see those hard-working muscles on full display.”
“Did you give her a heads up that I was coming?” Zack asks.
“Yeah. She’s just messing around.”
And playing her part.
I lead Zack and the dogs through the living room and into the kitchen. Kayla’s perched on a kitchen stool, sipping coffee. She looks casual in jeans and an oversized white shirt. I recognize the white V-neck. She traded her pajamas for one of my undershirts.
Her gaze locks on the bag of bagels.
“Are those for me?” she asks.
I set the brown paper bag on the marble island. “I was hoping you’d share.”
She peers into the bag, and extracts a cinnamon-raisin bagel. The cream cheese appears next. “I don’t know,” she murmurs. “You’re still wearing your shirt. I thought seeing your hard-earned muscles after a workout was one of the perks of moving in with you.”
“Zack’s here.” I gesture to my friend.
“Good to see you again, Zack.”
“You too.” Zack slides his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Congratulations. I never thought this guy would settle down.”
“I’m just as surprised as you are,” Kayla says, glancing at my friend and offering a winning smile. Combine that grin with my old shirt and her farm-girl next-door freckles, and Kayla’s serving up a hat trick of pure sex appeal.
To freaking Zack.
She slides off her stool and steps away from her food. Warning bells sound in my head as if the apartment smoke alarm went off. She moves within arms’ reach. Her hands touch the hem of my mesh gym top. I inhale sharply as her thumbs brush the bare skin above the elastic waistband holding up my gym shorts.
“I brought you bagels.” I toss this fact out because I need her to go back to her stool. I can’t handle her touch. Not without a physical reaction that’s inappropriate to share with my best friend and my sparring partner.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zack’s chin dips to his chest, and his gaze fixes on the floor.
“Kayla,” I growl, my tone heavy with warning.
Her lips part and she looks ready and willing for a kiss. I narrow my eyes. It’s as if I’m trying to find my way through a maze. Every turn leads to taking Kayla in my arms and tasting her mouth.
After thirty fucking years of friendship, I want to push Kayla up against the white marble island and feel every inch of her pressed against me. I’ve never looked at Kayla and pictured sex. Sure, I’ve admired her. She’s a beautiful woman. But I’ve never felt as if I would lose my mind over her.
