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The condo is impressive, and it probably adds to the evidence that I’m a spoiled brat. He spent the past year in Africa for crying out loud. And all I said earlier about being alone must seem insignificant—my pity party—against the backdrop of this affluence.
In some ways, I can’t argue with him, and I don’t know what to say. Fortunately, I’m saved from doing so when my phone pings with a text.
Fallon: Gawd I forgot how HOT he is.
Then another one.
Fallon: Blond, tanned, and all kinds of sexy!
I smile at the screen and before I can consider a response, two more texts, one after the other, land on my phone.
Fallon: You better get some of that. Cuz if you don’t, I will.
Fallon: Enjoy the RIDE with the hottie. And give Tom a kiss for me.
“What’s got you smiling like that? Does staying at this place really make you that happy?” His tone is light and playful.
If only he knew.
I nod, vowing to never tell him what I just did, and tuck my phone into the pocket of my shorts.
After a quick tour of the place, including showing him his room, we end up back in the living room.
“Do you want something to drink? Eat?” I glide past him toward the kitchen, and he lightly grabs my shoulder. My pulse skips a beat. “What’s wrong?”
“You know, all you had to do was ask.” His gaze slides down the black blouse that clings to my torso, my jean shorts, and black Chanel slingbacks.
His expression is unreadable, and my heart rumbles like a herd of gazelles swiftly racing across the plains of the Serengeti. What is happening to me?
“Ask what?”
“There’s no way you got a good picture with the crappy lighting in the car. If you want a better one…to send your friend…” He walks over to the floor-to-ceiling windows where a warm glow from the fading sun streams in.
The golden beams accentuate his sun-kissed surfer do, boyish yet sexy features, and defined body. I couldn’t have asked for better lighting. My knees buckle and cheeks flame. He heard every word of my conversation with Fallon.
10
TOM
“You should see your face.” I chuckle and shift my body from one provocative pose to another, trying to lessen her embarrassment.
Leighton’s eyes close and her hands cover her cheeks. “Ugh, I must look like a fire truck.”
“Nah, you look fine.” I pull her hand away and drop my voice to erase any hint of teasing. “Lovely, even.”
Her eyes widen and snap to mine. Something unnameable explodes in my chest sort of like fireworks. Hot and bright and effervescent. I’m mesmerized by the jolt and marvel of Leighton.
The usually stern and shuttered features of her classically beautiful face morph into an honest-to-goodness beam of sunshine, or maybe a rainbow is more comparable. Her nose crinkles, dark mahogany eyes sparkle, and her lips split into a huge grin.
“Shut up.” A mortifying flush colors her cheeks, only intensifying her beauty.
From the second she took my picture, I couldn’t resist calling her out, all in fun, of course. We’d made a lot of headway between last night and today though she has a lot of nerve and that’s still eye-opening. I doubt she’s even aware of how easily she treats people like things. She had no problem snapping a picture of me without asking.
She sheepishly shakes her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never done that before.”
“Really? Not even with all the famous people you’ve come across?” I step closer to her. “There wasn’t a single person you wanted a picture of but were too afraid to ask?” Her gaze locks with mine, clearly waiting for me to continue. “So, because you’reyou, you boldly snapped a picture when they weren’t looking.”
I flaunt what I hope is a devilish grin, reminding her I knew exactly what she did when she did it. The flash and click were dead giveaways, and her sneaky expression didn’t hide anything.
