Titus and I were friends.
Period.
7
Titus
After that almost kiss earlier in the week, I pulled back the flirting as much as I could. Which still wasn’t much because, damn, being around Amelia all day while I worked on the hotel was straight torture. She was everywhere. She was a good manager and Wayne was lucky to have her, but that meant I saw her constantly. She wore pencil skirts that hugged her curvy ass before leaving the rest of her legs bare to my gaze. She mixed it up with pants that also showed off her tight waistline before flaring over the curve of her butt and ended at high heels that made me think of what they’d look like resting on my shoulders.
And then there were the early mornings when I’d catch her still in that black silky robe. One of these days I wasn’t going to be able to tamp down all the hunger that gnawed at me until I couldn’t sleep at night. I’d grab her and tow her to her room for privacy, pull apart the top of her robe to bare her breasts, and then run my hand under the short hem to find her soaking wet for me. I bet she kept things bare down there and I couldn’t. Fucking. Wait.
“Titus?”
I slammed the hammer down on my thumb. “Fuck!” I dropped the hammer and stepped back, gritting my teeth against the pain. Amelia stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. Today was a skirt day.
“Hey, Lia.”
“You okay, tiger? That looked painful. Sorry to startle you.”
She walked in, those heels sinking into the carpet the way I wanted to sink my teeth into the globe of her perfect ass. Pretty sure those kinds of thoughts were not normal to be having for your best friend, but I couldn’t seem to stop them.
I sniffed the air as she got closer.
“You smell like apples.”
She smiled. “I wanted to see if you’d do a stakeout with me this weekend.”
I frowned, confused. “Uh…do you mean takeout?”
She chuckled and I stared at her lips. “No, I mean a stakeout. I want to follow the mayor and see if he’s up to something.”
A flash of warning had me focusing on what she was saying. “Amelia. I thought we talked about that. It’s too dangerous. Leave it alone.”
She frowned at me, brown eyes flashing. “You know, you used to be more fun, Jackson.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And you used to be more sensible, Waldo.” I glanced up at the ceiling. “No. Wait. That’s right. You’ve never been sensible.”
She gasped, feigning offense, and punched me in the arm.
“Hurt your hand?” I smirked.
She narrowed her eyes and spun, dark hair flying. Marching out of the room in a huff, I watched her go, knowing she wouldn’t stay mad long. She was always up to no good and sometimes she just needed to be told no. Growing up in a house of five girls meant she got away with everything simply because her parents were outnumbered. Amelia had never learned when to walk away from danger, instead, facing it head-on with nothing but a shield of sass and false confidence.
I tapped my chin long after she’d left, her apple scent lingering. I’d bet my entire tool set she’d still do that stakeout, with or without me. Looked like I had plans this weekend: following Amelia while she followed the mayor.
“Good night, Lia,” I called to Amelia as I walked across the little lobby of the hotel. It was Friday night. I told her earlier when she brought me lunch that I had plans with Rip tonight. In actuality, I’d be following Amelia.
She gave me a broad smile, with no hint of mischief in those bright eyes. The girl was good. Too good. I reminded myself never to play poker with her.
“Good night, Titus. I hear there’s a bonfire planned for Tuesday night to celebrate Hazel’s birthday.”
“I saw the text. I’ll be there. You want a ride?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I better. I plan to get Hazel doing shots with me. It’s like a birthday ritual, you know?”
I cringed. “I do know. Except I see it more as Amelia’s birthday hangover ritual.”
She made some weird noise with her lips. “You sound like an old man, T.”
“Just ’cause I like my liver working doesn’t make me old. Makes me smarter than you. See ya.” I headed out the door to my truck, whistling like I was headed home from a good day’s work. Another week and I’d have all the repairs done on the hotel. Only one more week of sharing space with Amelia.
I threw my tool belt in the box in the back of my pickup truck and climbed in. The engine let out a racket as I fired it up and left the parking lot, just to pull around the side of the hotel to idle at the curb. I’d have to keep the engine running because starting that sucker would give away my presence. Even the dead in the cemetery across town probably heard my truck start up every morning. I’d never minded the noise before, but then again, I’d never stalked anyone before either.
“Bingo,” I said quietly, seeing a figure in all black leave the hotel not even thirty minutes later. I couldn’t see well enough to know if it was Amelia, but I had a hunch it was her based on how she kept darting behind each parked car before continuing her walk. The damn woman looked more guilty than a bank robber walking out with a bag full of money spilling on the ground.
As soon as
