“Hello?” Devon called softly.
“Hey,” Garrett said,materializing into the living room.
Devon’s body relaxed at the sightof him. It was just Garrett. No need to be alarmed. Why he was out thislate was his own business. She was just glad to see him, especially sinceshe could finally pay him some rent for the apartment. It wasn’t much, but itwould do until she got her first actual paycheck.
“You’re in late,” she said with asmile and a yawn.
“I’m surprised to find you up.” Garrett kicked off his shoes and took a seat next to her on the couch.
“I got a job today,” she told himbrightly, facing him and crossing her legs pretzel-style.
She was happier about telling himthan she had thought she would be. He believed in her. He had given her achance. He was the one who hadn’t kicked her out when she couldn’t pay upright away.
“Congrats!” he said with a warmsmile.
She liked his smile. It was sogenuine.
“Hold on one second.” Devonjumped up and rushed into the bedroom. She pulled out the wad of cash, kept atwenty for herself, and then crept back to the living room. “Here you go.”
Garrett’s eyes widened as Devonhanded him the roll of bills and sat back down next to him. He pulled it outof her hand and judged the sum.
“Where did you get all this?” His eyes moved from the money to her face and back.
“They’re my tips from work,” shetold him.
Garrett flipped through the cashwith trepidation. Devon couldn’t figure out why he was acting so strangely.
“Devon,” he said softly, “when Isaid not to worry about getting a job and that we could arrange something ifneed be…I really meant it.”
Devon looked up at him inconfusion. What was he insinuating?
“You didn’t have to…do this,” hesaid, pointing to the money, “just because you were worried about rent.”
“It’s not a big deal. I like thework. It clears my mind.” She wasn’t even sure why she said it. She hadn’ttalked much to anyone about what was going on with her. She wasn’t about tostart now.
Garrett’s eyes traveled thelength of her body, and Devon grew conscious of the little clothing she waswearing. She hadn’t been expecting him, or else she would have put on sweats.
“I’m sure you’re…good at thework,” he said, treading cautiously. “I just don’t think stripping is theanswer.”
Devon sputtered loudly, her mouthgaping open. “What?” she gasped. “I’m not stripping!”
The breath seemed to explode outof his mouth all at once. He looked very relieved. She couldn’t believe hehad thought she had reduced to stripping to get money to pay for rent. Thatwould look great on her resume!
“You’re not?” he gasped out.
“No!”
“What do you expect when you handme what looks like a hundred single dollar bills?” He shook his head indisbelief.
“You have to give me more creditthan that. I’m sure everyone wants to see me with my clothes off, but it’s notlike I’d actually do it. I’m a bit more behind-closed-doors than that.” Sherolled her eyes skyward.
They looked at each other then,and suddenly, they were both laughing. Devon was doubled over, clutching ather sides. Garrett had his hand on her back as he tried to hold in hislaughter. He wasn’t very successful. Both shot furtive glances at Hadley’sclosed bedroom door. The last thing they wanted was to explain why they werelaughing so hard so early in the morning. Hadley would surely take well toGarrett thinking Devon was a stripper…or not.
Devon leaned back on the couch. Garrett’s hand slid across her back and into his lap. She could feel everyinch he had touched, and when she checked his gaze, it registered that he hadnoticed as well. Turning away, embarrassed, Devon tucked her legs back up andscooted over. A conversation about stripping sure shifted the mood.
“So,” Devon said, clearing herthroat, “why were you in so late from work?”
“I’m working on some foreigninvestments. They like to have someone there to work the markets when they’reopen. We alternate who gets the worst hours,” he said with a shrug as if thisall made sense to her.
She knew nothing about stocks,except that her parents had invested well and that had paid for her collegeeducation.
“Sounds boring,” she told himhonestly.
“Definitely not as interesting asstripping,” he said with mischief in his eyes.
Devon laughed and swatted athim. It felt nice to laugh and feel this carefree. “Oh, stop it!”
“Tell me, do the men cry in yourcorner? When they say, ‘no touch,’ do they mean no touch?” he asked with humorin his voice.
“Crying is a definite,” Devonsaid, playing his game. “And the no-touch rule only applies to those I don’twant to touch me.”
She couldn’t figure out why hervoice changed or when the carefree had shifted away from carefree. Somehow,her teasing had strayed without her permission, and her body was now respondingto his assessment of her. She didn’t know why, but it was like, all of asudden, she realized she was attracted to him. He was her best friend’sboyfriend and pretty much the nicest guy she had ever met. Why was sheallowing herself to be attracted to him?
Garrett laughed at herplayfulness, and she tried not to read into the edge in his voice. Hecertainly wasn’t attracted to her. She was reading into it. It wasn’tthere. She had just had a rough night and was exhausted. That was all.
“I, uh…think I should go to bed,”Devon said with a smile. Even if she was reading into it, she needed to be faraway from this moment.
“Are you sleeping any better?” heasked, keeping her from her departure.
She nodded her head even thoughit wasn’t the truth. “Much.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
His gaze never left her, and shetried not to squirm.
“Night,” Devon whispered, easingout of the room as fast as she could.
As soon as she closed her bedroomdoor behind her, she rushed to her bed and threw herself against it. Whatthe fuck was she thinking? First Brennan, and now Garrett? Was she out of herfucking mind?
She couldn’t get a
