Amery heard the shower shut off the same time “Wake up, sleepyhead” echoed up the stairs. “I brought you a cup of your favorite mocha java blend.”
She didn’t have time to straighten her hair, or put clothes on—she barely had time to clutch the sheet across her naked br**sts before Chaz bounded into her bedroom. She really needed to remember to lock the door between her work and living space.
“You must be tired this morning if you’re still lying in bed.” Chaz paused at the end of the bed. “Wait. Are you sick or something?”
“No. But this isn’t really—”
“‘Or something’ applies this morning,” Ronin said from the doorway.
Chaz gasped.
So did Amery, but not for the same reason. Ronin Black was a vision of male perfection: water beading on his well-defined chest, his wet hair falling around his unshaven face, giving him that dangerously sexy look. The small towel wrapped around his lean hips above his washboard abs left little to the imagination.
“Oh. Oh, damn. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you had company because you never have overnight guests.” Chaz cranked his head around quickly. “I apologize, Master Black, for barging in. I’ll just set this coffee down and go.”
Then Chaz was gone.
Amery sighed. “I believe that’s the first time I’ve ever seen Chaz flustered.”
“Why? Because you’re using your bed for something besides sleeping?”
She grabbed the coffee and took a big swig. “No. Because you’re half-naked and that’s enough to make anyone flustered, faced first thing in the morning with”—she gestured to his body—“all that.”
Ronin smiled. “Keep piling on the flattery, and I’ll have you pinned to the bed flustering you again.”
Amery poked him on his bare chest when he perched next to her. “No fair flashing that smile at me first thing this morning either.”
He swiped her coffee, swallowed a mouthful, and set the cup aside. Then he pounced on her.
“Ronin!” she shrieked.
“Ssh, you wouldn’t want the people downstairs to hear you screaming my name. They might get the wrong idea.”
She twined her arms around his neck. “Close enough to the truth of last night.”
“And what an amazing night it was.” He nipped her neck and then lifted his head to stare into her eyes. “I don’t care if your friends know we’re sleeping together, but I do care if you give them a play-by-play.”
“I won’t.”
“I have to go.” He kissed her. “My sweet, bold Amery . . . I’ll call you later tonight, okay?”
By the time she left the bathroom five minutes later, there wasn’t any sign of him.
• • •
CHAZ avoided Amery all day. Molly seemed chattier than usual. How much of that was due to their conversation after class last night?
God. Had that only been last night?
How much things could change in a few short hours.
She had a productive day, including a few new client calls.
At five o’clock, Chaz approached her desk. “It’s officially the weekend and we’re kicking it off with happy hour.”
“First drink is on me. I’ll grab my purse.”
After she’d locked the front door, she dropped the metal screens in front of the windows.
“They really don’t look too bad,” Chaz offered. He looped his arm through hers. “Let’s head to Tracks.”
She stopped. “No.”
“No?”
After the advice she’d given Molly, she stood her ground. “While I love hanging out with you, I’m tired of you and Emmylou only taking me to g*y bars.”
Chaz raised that imperious eyebrow. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Common sense maybe. In three years I haven’t once complained. I’m complaining now. I want to go someplace else. Someplace mainstream.”
“Oh, so you’ve finally got a man in your bed and you selfishly want to be the only one? I’d like a man in my bed too, Amery.”
“How can you throw that in my face?”
“Because you should’ve said something before now if you hated hanging out with me so much,” he sniped.
“I don’t hate it! For the last year you’ve harped on the fact that I don’t date.” She poked him in the chest. “Did it ever occur to you that the places you and Emmylou drag me to aren’t the right demographics for me?”
That shut down whatever smart retort he’d been about to make.
“Admit there are lots of awesome bars around here that we never go to and that’s just lazy on our part. I want to go someplace new. Be adventurous, Chaz.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why can’t you go to these bars with your straight friends?”
“I want to go with you. You’re my BFF,” she cooed.
“Girl. You are a totally different animal after you’ve gotten laid. Fine. We’ll both widen our horizons. I know just the place. I’ve heard their tapas are to die for.” They headed up the street, arm in arm. “I guess I should seize the chance to spend time with you because that’ll change soon enough.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Now that you’re doing the nasty with—omigod, could Ronin Black have a more banging body?—your free time will be at a premium. And the way he looked at you today?” Chaz sighed. “He wanted to karate chop me in the face for even being in the same room with you when you were naked.”
“Karate chop. Right. He’s a jujitsu master, not karate.”
He waved his hand. “Whatever. The point is, he didn’t even notice me drooling over his arms, his chest, and his abs. Most straight guys freak out about g*ys eyeing the goodies. He didn’t want me to get an eyeful of you.”
Amery rested her head on Chaz’s shoulder. “I love you. You make me feel better. Ronin is . . . enigmatic. I don’t know how long he’ll find me interesting.”
“Sugar cube, you’ve got enough baggage to keep him interested for a long time.”
“Oh, shut up. And for that, you’re buying the first round.”
• • •
PROBABLY a good thing she had a decent buzz when she got home and her cell rang. She needed a buffer for this call. “Hello, Mom.”
“Amery. How are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”