In His Bed(6)

The sound of her laugh made his dick twitch. Jesus, he was going to have to figure this out. He couldn’t walk around with a hard-on every time her scent blew his way. “You leaving already?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound like a total pussy.

Several moments passed before her gaze lifted from her sandal covered feet. Her focus never quite reached his face. “Yes. I’ve got things to do at home.”

“Hey, wait, Lea,” Stacey said as she patted Colin on the leg. “I almost forgot. Lea has a room for rent.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, loving the way the plump curves of her cheeks flushed when he put her on the spot. “Have you started interviewing people yet?”

“I haven’t answered any emails or calls. The house is huge, and there’s no way I can use all the space. It seemed like a practical move, but I want to be careful choosing someone.”

Colin knew he was smiling like a jerk, but, damn, this would be the perfect opportunity to get to know her. “How about you interview me? I could use the room and you could rest knowing you’re safe with me there. I can move in tomorrow. If you’ve got a minute, we can discuss rent and requirements. You can ask me anything.”

She stepped back, almost toppling the sandwich off the paper plate. “Today? I have to…I have an article to get in to the paper by eight. I’m swamped today.”

Stacey got up and patted Lea on the shoulder, pulling her in for a sideways hug. “This would be the perfect arrangement. You two can sit down tomorrow and iron out all the details.”

He stood up, hoping not to intimidate her by standing so close. The crown of her silky auburn hair hit him right under his chin. The way they fit together, it would be easy to pull her in and wrap his arms around the curves of her waist. His hands clenched and released, attempting to dull the urge to press against her luscious hips.

She looked at Stacey then focused those sparkling chocolate irises on him. “I don’t know. I’ve had a couple of calls.”

“It’s only temporary until he gets established here,” she said. “Maybe he could have the room with the little balcony? Come on, Lea. It’s Colin. You’d be much safer with him than with a total stranger roaming around your house and, besides, he’s a cop now. What’s safer than that?”

The thought of a strange man staying with Lea made his blood boil. “Listen,” he said and stepped back, easing the space between them. “I know you don’t know me. I mean, not now. My mom’s right, though. It’s not safe to have a stranger move into your house. I have a couple of references.” He looked at his mom. “I think you can trust them. Maybe we could do a trial run? I can come by tomorrow. We can talk and feel things out.”

“Tomorrow?” she asked as her teeth came out to nibble on her bottom lip. She did the little move to drive him crazy, he gathered by the way her lidded gaze lifted. “I guess you can come by and see the house. I’m still on Franklin, the big green Victorian. I have two bedrooms open. One has furniture the other one is empty.”

His abdomen flexed, every muscle feeling strung out. “I’ll take the one with furniture. I’ll bring a few things with me tomorrow and, if everything works out, I’ll unload and we’ll see how it goes.”

Lea focused her warm gaze on everything but him. Their earlier conversation intrigued him, and he couldn’t recall a woman ever enticing him with her voice like she did, not even in college when the girls he dated called to have phone sex. The tease didn’t even compare to the way Lea’s gentle way melted his body.

And those tits. Jesus, what a fucking turn on.

She slipped a loose strand of hair behind her ear and with a quick sigh said, “You’re right. Renting to someone I know would be safer.”

“Lea, I’ll protect you and your home. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I promise you’ll have your privacy.” God, he hoped he could keep that promise. The thought of her walking around the house in a pair of panties and a bra made his dick press against his zipper. He might have to peek at least once.

She studied her feet, and he watched as she wiggled her toes in the bright-yellow sandals. When her gaze finally met his, he could see the hesitation through her gentle expression. Their earlier conversation had her confused. Hell, his nerves weren’t in any better shape. He’d never expected to arrive at his coming home party and be laid out by the sight of a beautiful woman.

He coaxed her with an easy grin. The last thing he wanted to do was put off the woman he’d fantasized about since he was seventeen because he couldn’t control his body’s desperate need to have her. He could be patient. Well...it would be a first for him, but she would be worth the effort.