“Heather! Open the fucking door right now!” Nicole’s voice raises in my ear.
“Shut up!” I yell at my jackass best friend.
“I didn’t say anything,” Eli answers.
I sigh and drop my head against the door again, making a thump noise. “I know. I . . . I . . . just.”
Nicole growls at me, “I swear that if you don’t open it right now, I’m coming over and giving him your spare key.”
There isn’t a single doubt that she’ll do exactly that. “Fine. Goodbye,” I say and disconnect the phone.
With no other options, I fix my hair the best I can and pull the door open. Eli is still standing with his arm resting on the frame and a huge smile on his face. “Hi.” His deep voice washes over me, making my toes curl a bit.
“Why are you here, and how did you know where I live?” I ask, trying to keep my heart from flying out of my throat.
He’s ridiculously sexy. Even more so than earlier today. Everything about him screams heartbreak, but every muscle in my body wants to be close to him.
Eli doesn’t say anything, he just stares into my eyes. “You going to let me in?”
“Are you going to answer my questions?” I counter.
“If you let me come in.”
There’s no way this is going to lead to anything good. Letting Eli any deeper into my life is not part of my plan. I can’t get mixed up with some playboy singer slash actor and his overly problematic existence. I have enough complications, I don’t need another.
I also don’t think he’s the kind of man to give up. If I send him away, he’ll be back tomorrow. Saying no to a man who probably has never heard the word will only be a challenge. It’s better to get this all out and over with now so I can move on.
“Fine, but you have five minutes.” I push the door open more, and he stands in my doorway so we’re chest to chest.
Eli’s eyes don’t stray from mine as his hand gently touches the side of my face. “We’ll see about that.”
I fight the impulse to crush my lips to his. To taste his kiss and feel his rough hands on my skin again. There’s nothing I’ve wanted more than to stop replaying it in my head, but I can’t.
It’s been so long since a man has made me crazy, driven me to the point of complete madness, but Eli pulled it off with ease.
I shake my head and pull his hand down. “Start talking before I get my Taser.”
“I’d rather you get the cuffs.” He winks and walks deeper into my living room.
For the first time since I can remember, I look around and feel a wave of embarrassment. I live a modest life, I can’t afford the repairs needed on my house, and I haven’t bought new furniture since my engagement to Matt nine years ago. Here’s a man who could buy the entire Pottery Barn catalogue, and I can’t even afford a blanket.
“Eli?” I ask, trying to get him to stop looking around. “You found out where I live, how?”
“Relax.” His smile is easy and warm. “I found something of yours. I figured you probably needed it.”
“What? Something of mine?”
He pulls out a card, and my jaw falls. “Need this?”
“Holy shit! I didn’t even know it was missing!” I walk over and take my license from his hand. “Thank you. I would be in deep shit if they did a paperwork check and I didn’t have it before shift.”
“I thought being the law-abiding citizen you are, it was important.”
Relief floods me which is quickly followed by confusion. “But wait . . . you saw me earlier today.”
“Yes, but I was in a rather precarious situation with a police officer who wanted to bust my balls, so I didn’t have a chance to give it back.”
My arms fold across my chest as I stare at him. “You had more than enough time.”
He shrugs and plops himself on my couch. “I thought it would be better now. Plus, I wouldn’t want to play all my cards on the first hand.”
“So, this is what?”
“This is us becoming friends.”
“Friends?” I ask.
His lazy smile grows, and he leans back. “Yup. I decided today we’re going to be friends.”
“Why is that?”
I’m not sure why I’m asking, but I can’t help but want to know why he feels this is going to happen. Since it’s totally not. I don’t need any more friends, especially not rich sex Gods who out of nowhere want to make my life even more of a mess.
“Because that’s what people do after they’ve slept together. Plus, I’m a good friend.”
I huff and move closer, “I don’t need any more—” Eli opens the pizza box and pulls a slice out. “Hey! That’s my pizza.”
“I’m starving.” He grins and then takes a bite. “Mmm.” Eli moans as he chews, and I would give anything to be what he’s eating.
My eyes widen, and my cheeks burn as I chastise myself for even thinking that. What is wrong with me? Why do I become some addled teenager when I’m around him? I’m definitely not some sex-crazed woman. Since Matt, I’ve had one guy in my bed.
One.
And he sucked.
Now, I’m standing here thinking about Eli and all he did to me.
“Listen, new friend that I didn’t particularly ask for, I appreciate you bringing my license back.” I motion toward the door, but he leans back and throws his leg over his knee. “Really, I do, but—”
Eli cuts me off. “You’re not going to eat?”
“No, I’m definitely going to eat, but you’re definitely not staying.”
“You can’t share some pizza with me? I mean, isn’t that what friends do and all? They break bread, have some fun, talk, hook up a little?” He wags his eyebrows with a grin.
I shake my head and sigh. “No hooking up, and while I love the idea of our newfound friendship, it’s been a really long day. I was planning to head to bed.”
“We can do that, too.” He takes another bite as if he didn’t offer to sleep with me again.
“What? No! I wasn’t offering that!”
He laughs and tosses the pizza down before brushing some crumbs off his hands. “Jesus, relax, Heather. I was joking. I’m here because I wanted to talk about what happened. You ran off without a word, and when I found your license on the ground, I figured it was a sign.”
“A sign?”
“Yes.” He stands and then walks closer to me. “A sign that we have unfinished business. You know, most girls like to leave something behind so I have to come return it. Is that what this was? A game so you could see me again?”
Each step that Eli takes makes my pulse quicken a bit more. I’m not sure what unfinished business he thinks we have and what girls he’s used to dealing with. I was pretty clear when I ran out that there was nothing more. I was half drunk, stupid, and pressured by my idiot best friend to do something outside my comfort zone.
“I don’t have time for games. I never planned on seeing you again. The only sign was that I dropped something and you happened to find it.”
Eli stands in front of me, and I have to tilt my head back to see his face. His gorgeous eyes hold me hostage, and his arm wraps around my waist. “I think we both know that’s not the truth. You can feel it right now. I can see your breathing accelerating, your eyes keep moving to my lips, and while you can keep fighting it, I know you want me.”