When I Need You (Need You #4)(23)

Yes, Jensen Lund was one hundred percent prime alpha male and one hundred thousand percent off-limits.

Although he'd slip in sexual innuendo given the chance, it caused me to roll my eyes, not feel creeped out like with some guys. He had no problem voicing his opinions or questioning mine. I liked his oddball sense of humor. Every once in a while I'd get a glimpse of his cockiness, but not as much as I'd expected from a man like him who literally had it all-and what he didn't have he could buy.

My level of comfort with him was such that I conked out during the movie.

Rough-skinned fingers caressing my cheek roused me. I awoke to see Jensen stretched out a mere foot away-not on the opposite side of the couch where he'd started the evening.



       
         
       
        

His lips curved into a sinful smile. "I hated to wake you, but woman, you snore like a bulldog. There's no way I could catch up on my beauty sleep with that racket, so I hafta toss your cute butt outta my crib."

I snickered. "Catch up on your beauty sleep? I oughta do womankind a favor and keep you up all damn night, because the last thing you need is to look better than you do right now." As soon as the words fell from my mouth, I chastised myself. I started to blame my lapse in judgment on sleep brain, but he reached out and gently placed his finger across my lips.

"Don't." His eyes had lost their teasing sparkle and burned with intensity. "Don't take it back or explain it away. Let me have that one thing from you tonight."

Not what I'd been expecting at all.

But Jensen didn't back away. Instead he feathered his thumb across my lips. "You'd better go before I give you a reason to stay."

He moved his hand when I started to speak. "Cocky much?"

"Only when it's warranted. I'm very good at two things that begin with the letter F, Ro. The first is football. The second . . . doesn't have a damn thing to do with being friends." He bestowed that dimpled grin on me. "I'll leave that one to your imagination." He rolled across the couch and did the one-armed dismount thing. Then he offered me his hand.

"Pass."

"Don't be suspicious of my motives, friend."

"You flatter yourself. My leg fell asleep and if I tried to stand right now I'd fall at your feet, and dude, I'd never live that one down."

Jensen laughed. "I never know what the hell is gonna come out of that sassy, sexy mouth of yours. That's why I had a great time hanging out with you this weekend, Coach."

The pins-and-needles feeling had subsided, allowing me to scramble over the edge of the couch. "Back atcha, Lund."

"So we'll do it again sometime?"

"Sure." I didn't know what else to say so I left it at that.

Jensen stood in the doorway and watched as I unlocked the door to my apartment.

I turned and said, "Good night, Jens."

"Sweet dreams, sweetheart. See you soon."





Seven



JENSEN



After spending two nights hanging out with Rowan Michaels, I knew exactly why Martin hadn't mentioned his sister.

She wasn't my type.

She was nothing like the easy chicks that vied for my attention.

Nothing.

I liked blondes.

She had fiery red hair.

I avoided confrontational women. 

Rowan slamming the door in my face the very first time we met should've irritated the piss out of me. Her dressing me down in front of my trainer-the very next day-should've reinforced the not-your-type mantra.

Instead of going with my usual response of blowing the whole thing off, I'd bought her an apology gift.

The next afternoon I'd shown up at her place of employment-in disguise, nothing stalkerish about that.

I'd given her a mini backrub. In public no less.

Then I'd demanded she have dinner with me. And stay to watch a movie.

The following night, I insisted we watch another movie together. She showed up late, bitched about my movie choice, complained about my microwave-popcorn-making skills. Which led to more arguing, more teasing, more laughing and a popcorn fight.

Then we both rather innocently fell asleep on my couch.

Not an innocent thing on my mind when I woke up and saw her lying next to me, softer, more beautiful than ever relaxed in slumber. She looked as if she belonged there.

I had no idea what was happening to me.

I liked-no, I loved-my solitude.

In the year I'd lived in the apartment, I'd had my sister over twice, my mom over three times and my sisters-in-law over once. Other women? Never.

In the four days I'd known Rowan? She'd been over to my house every single day.

Four times in four days.

I'd known her four days and I couldn't get her out of my mind. That curvy little body, that brusque attitude, that sneaky, sexy smile.