Infinite Us(10)

"Shit." It was the only thing I could think to say. A glance at my microwave over the open kitchen's wide, marble island, told me how late it had gotten. Another hard knock and I dropped the ball, muting the stereo before I opened the front door.

"You're kidding, right?" Willow had braided her hair again, not seeming to care that the double braids gave her a redneck country girl vibe. "You cannot be serious with all this noise?"

"Noise?" My tone was harsh and just to annoy her, I stood in the door way, crossing my arms before I leaned against the frame. "Coltrane is poetry, not noise."

"I meant the bouncing ball." She made to push me aside, but I didn't budge. "Nash, let me in."

"Why?"

She watched me then, frown pushing away the calm, simple smile she'd worn seconds before. "Because I can help get you to sleep."

"Oh? How you plan on doing that?" My gaze was purposeful, as penetrating as the slow, wide smile I gave her. The look was intentionally hard, slipping to her mouth, then down her body just long and slow enough to be insulting. It got me the reaction I wanted.

"Is it impossible for you to not act like a horny teenager?"

"I'm not horny." My laugh came quick, got louder when Willow barged passed my door. "I'm just teasing you a little."

"You're shamelessly flirting."

"Would I do that, Will?"

I could tell by the way she cocked her head, and how she smiled at me that she liked that, the little nickname. It had come out of nowhere but felt right, and I'd been rewarded with a smile I'd not seen before. It looked good on her. "Absolutely."

I stayed in the doorway while Willow took inventory of my apartment, not judging, but probably recognizing how sparsely it was decorated, with a bunch of posters on my wall but little else. Tupac and Dizzy Gillespie, Einstein, and quotes from both Langston Hughes and Neil Gaiman designed by small time artists. But Willow wasn't checking out my art or posters; she was assessing.

One nod of her head, an agreement she made to herself, then she faced me, pulling off the loud yellow sweater she wore, stripped down to the sleeveless white tee underneath.

"Okay. The couch will do."

"Do for what?"

She pointed to it without answering, throwing a stare so serious I almost thought she was sincerely pissed that I'd flirted. Almost. "Lay down." And when I didn't move, Willow adopted the best drill sergeant tone and pointed at the brown leather of my couch. "Now."





Nash



"It's not gonna work."

"It'll work."

"Stubborn fucking woman … " I flinched when she smacked me, pretending that little slap hurt worse than it did. "Stop beating on me."

"Stop being an asshole."

The scent of jasmine was everywhere; it hung like a cloud in my apartment as Willow's hair slid against my face. She touched me softly, fingertips over my temples, hair tickling my face as she stroked and rubbed my forehead.



       
         
       
        

I tried to keep it light. "I don't let anybody talk to me like that, you know. Not even my twin sister."

She stopped moving and I opened my eyes, staring up at her as she gave me a stupid fake shocked expression with her mouth hanging open. I could sense the smartass comment before she made it. "Oh lord, there's two of you?"

"Yeah, but we're not both bad."

"So it's just you."

"That's it, I don't have to put up with this nonsense." I sat up, had nearly made it off her lap when she tugged me back down. I tried to make it light, but I was really starting to get annoyed.

"Stop it. You need at least four hours of sleep. You said it yourself when I asked what you were working on the other night." She glanced at my open laptop and the incomplete code and blinking cursor I'd left waiting for me. "You said you have a meeting this week. The big one?"

"I'll manage."

"I doubt that." She made more sense than I let on. Still wasn't sure what about this woman kept me weak, kept me sprung and stupid on a female I didn't even know. But still, I was immobilized, struck dumb and still by her commanding voice and the bossy way she made me get into shit I just couldn't believe in.

Like the temple rub. The aura cleanse hadn't worked. Now Willow was trying massage and meditation. But no way I was gonna let her try "sonic meditation." Beautiful girl or not, she was not going to touch my stereo-Hippie-Monk-Chanting mess would come through those speakers.

"I should have never opened the door."