“Let me in.” I blew past him. “I don’t want Granny to see me here. I told her I was going out with Toni.” The door slammed behind me. It made me jump, and I whirled around.
“Who’s Tony?” Nik’s black eyes narrowed and glided up and down my length, searing my skin with his fiery gaze. He looked angrier than a grizzly bear who had been disturbed in the middle of hibernation.
Somehow I needed to tame this bear.
“Oh jeez, my best friend, Toni…girlfriend. Who are you, my father?” I shivered with disgust at my choice of words. He couldn’t be my dad—or rather a sperm donor, as I referred to the man who knocked up my mom and destroyed her life and mine. After the dirty thoughts I’d had of Nik each night and morning, and hell, all day long, he definitely wasn’t my kin.
“First the preppy boy, whatever the fuck his name is, and now you mention a Toni. I’m just trying to figure out what kind of girl you are.”
I put my hands on my hips and tilted my head. “Obviously not your type. Now show me your kitchen.”
“What do you mean, not my type?”
I followed Nik to the back of his house, and I was without words. His kitchen was spotless. Not a spoon, cup, or dish was in the sink. Impressive.
“I just mean you and I are different.” I shrugged and took in the cleanliness around me. “Your kitchen is the cleanest I’ve ever seen in a dude’s house.”
“Don’t call me a dude.”
I snorted at his gritted reply. “Touchy. So what ingredients do you have for lasagna? I’ll make a list of what we need to buy.”
“I don’t have much. See for yourself.” He jerked his chin toward the fridge. “I only have beer and milk.”
I opened the door. Only beer and milk. “What do you eat?”
“I eat at work or grab something while I’m out.”
“What about your girlfriend?”
“My what? Oh, oh yeah, girlfriend. She eats before she comes over.”
What a weird relationship.
“Strange. You never eat together?”
“What’s with all the questions? Mind your own business.”
Touchy.
“I hope you treat her better than you do me.” Nix that, I didn’t want him treating anyone else better than me. Wishful thinking considering he had a girlfriend.
“Is that guy your boyfriend?”
I studied Nik. He was all hard lines and ridges with a square jaw and smelled good. I wanted to ask what cologne he was wearing so I could buy some and douse my pillow with it, but I refrained. That would be weird.
“Who? Julian?”
Nik hiked a thick black brow. “That’s his name?”
“Be nice. Julian didn’t name himself. And no, he’s not my boyfriend. Let’s go.”
“We’ll take my bike.” He led me to the garage.
I had hoped he’d say that. I’d never been on a motorcycle before. My dad had always touted that the back of his bike was for his old lady. It was a lie because my mom never got to ride either. Dear old Dad was just a selfish, unfaithful bastard.
But there was something sexy and dangerous about motorcycles, much like the owner of this Harley.
I sighed as if indifferent. “If we must.” I didn’t want Nik to think I liked him. Then I’d be the crazy, obsessed neighbor across the street. Maybe I was, but I’d never let him know.