I can’t hide in here forever. I’m hungry. No, I was right before. Hangry. And I need to be polite to the cop who is going to shadow me for God knows how long.
When I emerge from the bedroom, I’m marginally less pissy.
Colton is wandering slowly around my space, which unnerves me. He spins around as I enter. “Hey. I hope you don’t mind, I surveyed your beverage selection in the fridge and added a two-liter of soda to the pizza order.”
I wince inwardly. “Okay.”
“Do you not drink soda?” he asks tentatively.
“Not at home.” My little doesn’t drink it. She doesn’t drink caffeine. She wouldn’t be able to sleep if she drank it anyway.
“And coffee? I notice you don’t have a coffee pot.”
I force myself to breathe. “I do. It’s just not out. There’s a Keurig in the cabinet next to the stove.”
“You don’t drink coffee either?”
This inquisition needs to stop. “I do. Just not…here. Listen,” I rub my forehead. “Can you just not…ask me so many questions right now?”
He nods. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” He points at the sofa. “Sit. You’re exhausted. I’m cramping your style. The pizza will be here soon. We’ll eat and go over some things.”
I’m certainly happy to sit, so I choose my usual spot in the corner of the sofa and tuck my legs under me.
Luckily, a knock at the door prevents further chit-chat. I flinch, but then force myself to calm down. It’s the pizza for God’s sake.
Colt looks through the peephole, opens the door, and pays the delivery kid. He somehow manages to shut the door and lock it in two places while balancing the pizza box in one hand and the two-liter under his arm.
Colt sets both things on the coffee table. “Are you okay with eating in here? I can grab plates and get you a drink if you tell me where they are.”
I lick my lips and glance at my kitchen. He’s safe from shock if he only opens the top cabinets. “Glasses are up and to the right of the sink. Plates to the left.”
He heads that way and returns moments later with a glass of ice for himself and ice water for me. “This okay?”
Marginally. “Thank you.”
The plates are under his arm, and he opens the pizza box next.
I smile as I see half is cheese and half is supreme.
“I wasn’t sure if you were vegetarian or something. I hope you don’t mind if some meat touched your half.” He eases two slices of cheese onto a plate.
“I’m not vegetarian. It’s fine.” I take the plate from him and settle back in my corner, not hesitating to eat the first bite.
Colt fills his plate with several slices and pours himself a soda before sitting at an angle from me in the armchair.
For several minutes, we eat in silence, and I start to feel more human. Slightly.
“I’m sorry,” Colt says when he’s done. He leans back. “I know I’m imposing. It sucks. You didn’t intend to have a houseguest. I can see if there are any units available in your building tomorrow and rent one.”
I flinch and shake my head. “No. Don’t do that.” I look at my lap. Seriously, it would be worse if he weren’t here. When I meet his gaze again, he’s leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. He’s so comfortable in his skin. His sleeves are pushed up his arms a bit, revealing hard muscles. His thighs are straining against his jeans.
No matter how I slice it, the man is smoking hot. If I spotted him out at a bar or something, I would hit on him. Perhaps I would even go home with him. I bet he knows what to do between the sheets.
I shudder, shaking the unwelcome thought away. “I’d rather you stay here, if you don’t mind. How long do you think it will take to catch these people?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to make promises.”
I rub my forehead again. There is a dull throb behind my left temple.
“Headache?”
I nod.
“I’ll run through a few things with you, then give you your space. Maybe a bath and some aspirin.”
I stare at him. Does he know he’s a bit dominant? Hell, he sounds like a Daddy. It’s not intentional, of course. But it’s oddly unnerving. “I’ll do that.”
“So, tomorrow. What time do you normally leave?”
“Eight.”
“Okay. I’ll discreetly see that you get to your car and then follow you. Once you’re safely in your building, I’ll head to work myself. If you’d do me the favor of not leaving your office without telling me—”
“I won’t,” I interject. “I’ll bring my lunch or order in for now.”
“Good. We can exchange phone numbers. Just text me when you want to leave and I’ll follow you back here.”
“I’ll get you a guest pass so you can park your car in the parking garage here.”
He nods. “That will help. We can probably go a few days without anyone noticing me staying here. I know that’s hard to explain. Eventually, we might need to tell your neighbors I’m a cousin visiting from out of town or something.”
I smile for the first time all evening. “Sure. That doesn’t sound at all like a lie. The eighty-year-old man across the hall will buy that for sure,” I add sarcastically.
My breath hitches when he returns the smile. Damn, he’s even more attractive when the dimples come out. I’d like to feel that five-o’clock shadow rubbing against the inside of my thighs.
Great. Now I’m flushed.
Colt chuckles. “Okay, well, I’m more worried about imposing on your personal life. I know you’re dating Owen Karplus and—”
I cut him off again. “Dating is a strong word. We’re friends. We…scene together at the club. We’ve had coffee and a few drinks outside of the club.”
“Oh.” He looks a
