My little daydream of a warm fire is interrupted when I hear a knock at the front door. My heart lifts and I rush out of the bedroom into the hallway. Maybe it’s the airport sending my bag. It hardly feels possible that I could have such great luck.
“I’ve got it, I’ve got it!” I call out as I run through the kitchen. I look back and see Deb and Lillian standing at the counter with cups of tea. Just as my hand reaches out to unlock the door, I hear a key in the lock and the door swings open. I startle, and then the smile that had been stretched across my face falls. My stomach sits in my throat and my heart beats like a snare drum in my chest. I realize right away that the man standing in front of me is not airport staff.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit!
That’s the only word that pops into my head and repeats itself like my new mantra. Instinctually, my hand flies up and pulls my robe closed at the neck, although I still feel totally vulnerable and self-conscious.
Towering before me is the very tall, very rugged, and extremely hot man whose cock I grabbed when fell on the plane. Recognition lights up his deep set eyes. His piercing gaze travels the length of my body then back to my face once again.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand, feeling completely naked. Damn this robe! And to make things worse, my freezing nipples are rock solid and point straight at him. I’m not sure which part of my body I should be covering. It’s all just there for him to ogle. And boy does he ogle. He doesn’t even have the decency to try to hide it. “And why are you just barging into our house?” I yell.
He looks just as shocked to see me as I am to see him. “Did you follow us?” I ask, feeling a slight hint of fear creep up my spine. Did he see me and my friends and peg us as unsuspecting tourists he could rob? I’ve watched enough true crime documentaries to know the deal. He probably marked us from the airport. Now it all makes sense. My bag! He surely stole my bag despite its obnoxious print. And inside that suitcase was the information about this house, including the code to the lockbox in front with the for sets of keys!
“Oh look,” he says, far too cheerily, “it’s the girl who molested me on the plane. If you wanted to grab my dick, all you had to do is ask.”
This can’t possibly be happening to me. I must have done something pretty damn horrible in another life to deserve this kind of luck. I quickly look around the room, trying to recall all the self-defense classes I’ve taken. I run over to the fireplace and grab the poker, wielding it like a sword. “Get the hell out!”
My friends run into the sitting room when they hear me yell. They freeze and take a step back when they see me swinging the poker at the large man in the doorway. I’m slightly aware that my robe has come loose at the top and my boobs are practically exposed, but I can’t bother to worry about that right now.
“What’s happening?” Deb says.
“This perverted piece of shit decided to break into our house. He’s been casing us since the plane,” I say, not taking my eyes off of him for a second. He could easily overpower me if he wanted, but I won’t make it easy for him.
His amused expression turns to irritation. “This is a joke, right?” he says.
I raise the poker higher to let him know it’s not.
He rolls his eyes. “First of all, I’m not a pervert, and second, I’m not breaking in.” He opens the door wider and I see a suitcase behind him. “I’m renting a room here while I’m in town for work. Call the host if you want. You should have the number.”
I feel my mouth hanging open and the skin on my face smoldering with embarrassment.
“Oh my God, I didn’t mean to …” I start to say, my eyes going wide when he walks past me, into the house, his rolling luggage trailing behind him.
“Wait.” I look around for my friends, hoping someone will come to my rescue and tell this crazy person to get out.
“Which one is my room?” he says. “The owner said the rooms are first come first serve. It took me a while to hail a cab. I’m guessing since you’re here first, you’ve chosen your rooms. So which one is mine?”
No. This can’t be happening.
I shake my head. “You must have the wrong house. This was supposed to be girls only, right?”
Deb nods. “That’s what we were told. My boyfriend would freak out if he knew I was staying in a house with another guy.”