Page 127 of The Villain We Tempt

Looks like Bella has a crush on Lucia’s cousin Damiano. And I’m betting the real reason she couldn’t sneak this present into his locker is because she didn’t want anyone to know it washer.

And that's allprettyadorable, I have to say.

I set the little present down on top of the stack of neatly folded towels, grin at the family photo again, then gently close and re-lock the locker.

Then, before I can get caught snooping in the men’s locker room, I turn?—

Directlyinto a bare, muscled chest.

“What thehellare you doing in here?”

Mother. Fuck. Shit shit shit shit shit.

My heart slides up into my throat and then immediately plummets into my stomach as I look up into Lochlan’s piercing blue eyes.

“Uuuhhh…”

He’s standing right in front of me, a confused expression on his brow, wearing only a freakingtowelwrapped around his trim, athletic waist.

I swallow heavily.

“N-nothing?”

Honestly, I kind of expect my dickhead TA to tell me off, or to be a prick or something. But instead, he just leans back, folds his arms over his bare, muscular chest, and grins at me.

“Nothing.”

I clear my throat. “Yup,just…passing through.”

Lochlan arches a brow. “You’re not one of those girls who steals dirty underwear from star sports players, are you?”

“Ew!” I find myself giggling as a grin spreads over my face. “That’s disgusting!”

“Hey, it happens.”

I roll my eyes. “It definitely does not.”

“No?” He flashes another heart-stopping grin at me.

Goddamn, why are dickhead jocks so obnoxiously attractive?

“Then why is the laundry closet locked?” he says, nodding his chin past me.

I turn, and my jawdropswhen I see the door at the far side of the locker room with a big padlock on it.

“You’rejoking,” I gasp.

Lochlan laughs, pulling my attention back to his grinning face.

“I am, actually,” he chuckles. “That’s the electrical room.”

I groan and roll my eyes. “Dick.”

“Well, thisisthe place to see them.”

I snort, feeling my face fill with heat.

What thefuck.