When she’d brought up the fact that she was looking for a roommate, her friend Bree, had mentioned that Roni was looking for a place to live.
Bree and her boyfriend, Colin, had left the weekend prior. They’d moved to Austin, where Bree was going to culinary school and Colin was working as an Assistant Football Coach at UT. Nicole was looking forward to heading to Austin in a few weeks to see their new place.
She and Roni worked together at the local Bar & Grill. Roni had taken her job as a hostess, when Nicole had been promoted to server. She’d shown the other girl the ropes, and had a chance to talk to her a bit.
So far they got along; Nicole guessed they would find out pretty quickly, if they would get along as roommates.
Over the past few weeks, she and Roni had gone shopping in anticipation of the move. They’d decorated Roni’s room and some of the common areas, so the apartment was looking really good.
This was the first day off they’d both had in some time, so Roni was finally officially moving in. Nicole had gotten up early to make sure everything looked clean and presentable. She wanted Roni to be welcomed into a home that she could be proud of. Plus, Nicole knew that Roni’s twin brother, Kent, would be helping her move today, so she wanted the apartment to look nice the first time he saw it.
He was very protective of his sister, and Nicole knew that he’d tried to talk her into staying with him, but Roni wanted to get out on her own.
In an effort to relax, Nicole sat down with a cup of coffee and her laptop, when she heard the sound of excited voices coming up the stairs.
When she heard Roni’s bawdy laugh, she opened the door with a smile, and was faced with a faded grey t-shirt stretched across the sexiest chest she’d ever seen. Without looking up, she knew the owner of that chest. She’d been crushing on him ever since her first day in this small town.
She felt the familiar tug in her belly, as she allowed herself a moment to draw her gaze slowly up his chest, over his broad shoulders, and into his striking face.
Kent was the most gorgeous man she’d ever met, and no matter how many times she saw him, she always got butterflies when he was near.
He grinned down at her.
“Hey, Nic.” Kent was the only man who had ever called her that, and she felt her heart trip every time he did.
She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She tried to clear her throat inconspicuously. “Um, Hi.”
“Kent, could you please move your butt? This box is heavy,” Roni’s voice said from behind him.
Nicole moved a few steps back and out of the way so he could come inside, allowing Roni access through the door.
She chided herself for acting so weird every time she was around Kent. She thought he was out of her league. She knew that he could get any girl he wanted, and she was nothing like the girls he usually went for.
“Let me take that,” Kent said to his sister, easily lifting the box from her hands and taking it to the room that Nicole indicated was Roni’s.
“Hi, Roomie,” Roni squealed, jumping and doing a little spin around the room.
Nicole couldn’t help but smile at her excitement, then watched, confused, when Roni’s demeanor changed at the voice in the hall.
“Hello… I’m looking for the apartment housing the hottest ladies in town,” Rich yelled out as his face came into view.
Roni rolled her eyes and turned to walk into her room.
Nicole barely had a moment to register Roni’s behavior, before she was enveloped by Rich’s strong arms.
“Hey, Baby Doll,” Rich said with a smile. “Kent told me his sister was moving in today, so I thought you guys might need some help from a big, strong, sexy, man.”
Nicole giggled at his words and the wink that accompanied them.
“Thanks, I didn’t realize you were coming by, I would have stocked the fridge.” Nicole responded.
“I’ve got it covered,” Rich said, pulling a six pack from behind his back.
Nicole smiled and took it from him. She went to put it in the fridge and said, “Leave it to you to think of everything,”
Kent came back out and walked up to Rich, his arm extended to shake his hand.
Nicole caught herself watching his movement across the room, and quickly averted her eyes before anyone else noticed.
“Hey, Man,” Kent said in greeting, “Thanks for coming out to help.”
“No prob,” Rich responded, his eyes following Roni as she came out of her room. “I don’t have much going on since Colin and Bree left, at least not until school starts back up next week.”
“Oh, does that mean you’ll be leaving town soon?” Roni asked a little too eagerly.
Rich just smiled at her.
“Yeah, Sugar, I’ll be leavin’,” he drawled with a wink. “But don’t you worry; I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”
Roni rolled her eyes again and snorted.
“No danger of that happening.”
“Hey,” Kent said with authority. “You - turn off the charm,” he said pointing at Rich. Then turned his finger on his sister, “And I know you have better manners than that. Use ‘em.”
Rich just laughed and asked Kent what he needed help with, then the guys headed downstairs to unload.
“What was that about?” Nicole asked Roni quietly, once they were alone.
“What,” Roni asked.
“That thing between you and Rich?”
Roni
