“Anthony.”
“Oh!” She taps her forehead with her palm. “Sorry. Pregnancy brain.” I stand there for a second, wondering if I should actually answer looking like this. “Answer it!” She hisses. I again point to my less than sexy lewk, thinking that would be the end of it. But Eliana had other plans. “Coming!” She yells.
“What the hell?”
“Move.” She says, pushing me out of the way before opening the door wide. With a flushed face, I hide behind her so that I’m out of sight.
“Oh, hi.” Anthony says in that low, sexy voice of his. My whole body erupts in shivers just thinking about him on the other side of that door in his uniform. “Is Phoebe here?”
“Yep.” Eliana swings the door open wide enough to reveal me cowering behind her.
“Hi.” I cross my arms over my chest, knowing that I’m sporting a massive T.H.O. right now.
“Hi.” Anthony says, his blue eyes sparkling. God he looks amazing in his uniform. “Is it a bad time?”
“Not at all.” Eliana grabs her purse from the entry table and squeezes past Anthony, still standing on the porch. “I was just leaving. Love you, Pheebs.”
“Love you, too.” I say between gritted teeth. But bless her, I probably would’ve been too embarrassed to answer the door. My eyes flicker to Anthony. Could his uniform fit him any better? My panties drench. “What are you doing here?”
“Can I come in?”
“Oh, duh. Yeah.” I step aside, feeling discombobulated, but also elated to see him. “Can I get you something?”
“No.” He says, as I motion to the sofa. “I was going to call you first.” He sits. Even on my oversized sofa the man looks gigantic, his massive chest pressing against that short-sleeved black button down. “But, I was right here. I thought I’d swing by.”
“I’m glad you did.” A little giggle escapes my mouth. I’m like a teenager with a crush. “You sure you don’t want anything?” His eyes land on my chest, which bobs up and down as I sit.
“There is something I want.” He says, and my entire body erupts in tingles. “I want to take you out tonight.”
“That depends.” I say, playing hard to get.
“On what?”
“On why it took you three days to contact me.” I answer quickly, wishing to God I would’ve put on my one pair of sweatpants without the holes in them.
“I had to cover for a buddy whose kid is sick. This is the first chance I’ve had.” His blue eyes examine mine. “Did you think I was one of those guys who plays by the three day rule?”
“What’s the three day rule, again?” I tease. “Never heard of it.”
“So will you go out with me tonight or what?”
“That depends.”
“Always stipulations with you.” The corner of his mouth rises and I find myself mimicking his glorious smile. “I don’t know why I bother. Okay, try me. What does it depend on?”
“If you’ll give me fifteen minutes to get ready.”
“I’ll do you one better.” He says, standing. “I’ll give you an hour.”
“I don’t lookthatbad.” I tease.
“I need to get out of these clothes, take a shower.” The thought of Anthony Hunger soaped up under a hot shower head is almost too much to take. “Then, I’ll be back to pick you up.”
We both stand and I stumble slightly, just enough so that I’m standing too close to him. “Easy, there.” His strong arms steady me as the scent of Irish soap and cedar fills the air. He smells just fine to me, but who am I to turn down a freshly showered man.
“Well then,” I say, taking a step backward, impressed as hell that Anthony showed up here tonight. “I guess we have a date.”
5