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“Oh…Oh. I wasn’t ogling you. I… happen to love tattoos,” sherushed out. “I’m ahugefan of them, actually. That’s all I was checking. Is it a wave? It’s beautiful. Stunning line work. Did it hurt? I bet it did.” She took a deep breath. “I… yeah, I love tattoos on men. Or people in general.”
Instinctively, my palm went to my side and framed the design. I rubbed my fingers over it, driving her gaze back there.
“I’m glad you approve.” A chuckle finally left me. “For a second there I thought I’d crossed a line walking around like this. But I guess you were just a little distracted.” I paused. “Because of the tattoo.”
“Oh yes.” Rosie nodded her head vigorously. “Totally. You could stroll around completely naked and I wouldn’t even bat an eyelid.”
“Good,” I answered, letting her think I believed her. I didn’t. She’d be affected. If I dropped my towel right this moment, she’d probably blush so hard she’d pass out. And I found myself enjoying that knowledge a little too much. “I’ll make sure to remember that. Nakedness, okay.”
“Awesome,” she croaked. “Really great.”
Hiding my smile, I turned away from her. “Did I wake you? It’s a little early for long showers.”
“You didn’t,” she said as I walked where my backpack was and threw it open. “I’m always up at dawn. I’m not much of a sleeper.”
“That makes the two of us.” I snagged a change of clothes and glanced at her. “Do you need the bathroom before I go change?” I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest and flexing my biceps the tiniest bit because my ego was a little too pleased with her attention. Her eyes tipped down quickly and widened. “Or I could change right here. With you being okay with naked—”
“No!” she rushed out. “Go ahead,please. I’ll get the coffee started.”
With a satisfied nod, I disappeared into the bathroom again. When I returned Rosie was placing two mugs on the counter. She had changed out of last night’s sweater and into a black sleeveless top. Her hair was wrapped in some kind of colorful tie at the top of her head. Inadvertently, my gaze trailed down her neck, followingthe line of her throat and shoulders, all the way down her arms and back, taking in the soft curves of her body and hopelessly reaching her backside. It was a good, rounded—
I shook myself.
No. I couldn’t check her out like this. Not when I was about to suggest the plan I’d come up with in the shower.
Rosie turned to face me, an apology shining in her eyes. “I swear, I meant to leave last night. I’m sorry I dozed off.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” I waved a hand in front of me, meaning every word. “You were exhausted, and I was, too. We both fell asleep.”
She seemed to consider something. “You put me to bed, though, didn’t you? You really didn’t need to do that.” She grabbed the coffeepot and placed it on the island. “I could have stayed on the couch.”
“It wasn’t a problem.” I shrugged.
She pulled out a stool and sat down in front of me. “It was very sweet of you to do that.” She averted her eyes and busied herself with the coffeepot. “You know,” she said, filling both mugs, “Lina mentioned how much of abruteyou are, and I keep wondering why she ever said that.”
“Oh.” I let out a laugh. “Trust me, she has more than a couple of reasons to say something like that. I was a bit of a nightmare when we were kids. As a teenager, too.” I snickered. “And, well, I still am on occasion.”
“You seem to be on your best behavior now.”
I met her gaze as I dragged my coffee toward me. “I’m actually glad you think that way.”
“You’re glad?” A small frown tugged at her brows. “Why would you be?”
Readying myself, I waited until she took a sip of her coffee, then I said, “Because I think you should stay.”
Rosie lowered her mug very slowly. “Like, now? For breakfast?”
“No, I mean for as long as you want or need to.” I let that sink in, then added, “Stay here, in Lina’s apartment with me.”
She arched an eyebrow. “What? I can’t.”
“Why not?” I sipped my coffee.
The conviction in my voice must have worked in my favor because she stuttered over her words. “Because you’re… you’re… Lucas. And I don’t… live here?”
“You can’t stay in your apartment,” I pointed out, holding my mug between my hands. “And it doesn’t seem like you can stay at your dad’s, either. Otherwise, you would be there right now. But correct me if I’m wrong.”
Rosie’s shoulders sunk. “No. You’re not wrong.”
