“I think we did a pretty good job cleaning,” Rosie announced beside me as we made our way back to the apartment. “Sandro might not even notice anything.”
I looked both ways at the intersection, as I placed my hand on the small of her back before crossing. “Hopefully,” I answered, still a little lost in my head.
We had spent a good hour scrubbing that oven—after waiting for it to cool down so we wouldn’t burn ourselves. Ihopedwe’d removed every last black speck of charred dough from the oven. “Either way, I don’t think it’s about our cleaning skills. I think we just make a great team, Ro.”
Rosie’s mouth twitched, returning my smile. “I guess we do.”
“So.” I checked the time on my watch and threw the door of the building open for her. “It’s past midnight and I haven’t fed you yet. How hungry are you?”
“I’m okay,” she said climbing the stairs before me. “But I wouldn’t mind ordering something if you’re not too tired to wait for delivery.”
My eyes, which had been glued to the back of her head, traveled down her spine, reaching her backside. Her hips and ass swayed as she made her way up, and I found myself a little mesmerized by the motion. By her beautiful curves.
I felt my pace pick up, as if I was in a rush to get closer to her. Shaking my head, I made myself chill. Told myself that I couldn’t pant after her like a horny teenager. I was her friend. Her roommate.
Just look somewhere else, Lucas.
Rosie stopped in front of the apartment door, giving me a strange look. “So, what do you say?”
What do I say?“To… what?”
She frowned. “Should we get something delivered? I don’t thinkI want pizza after scraping burnt dough.” She paused. “How about Japanese?”
“Ah… I don’t know.” I pulled out my keys and turned the lock.
“Let me surprise you,” she insisted as I let her in first. “You’re always cooking for me. And I can’t really return the favor, so let me. It’s my turn to feed you.”
I liked that. I liked hearing that from her.
She walked to the coffee table, slipped off her boots, grabbed her laptop, and plopped herself onto the sofa. “You’ll love it, I promise.”
I joined her on the sofa, letting myself fall with a sigh. “I don’t know…”
She glanced at me over her laptop. “You don’t trust me?”
“What?” I said, but it came out as a grunt. I crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
I exhaled through my nose, confident I was pouting, too.
Her socked foot nudged my thigh. “What is it? Tell me.”
“I’m hungry, okay?” I grumbled. “I’m starving and I was very excited about those pizzas. But now, I’m not in the mood for pizza, either. I can’t get that smell out of my nostrils.”
“And?” She nudged me again with her foot, and because I couldn’t help myself, I grabbed it, wrapping my fingers around it and securing it in my hold.
I swept my thumb over her instep. “And you want Japanese, but sushi always leaves me… unsatisfied.” Hungry. Soon enough,hangry.
Rosie was taking her time answering, so I looked at her. She was staring at my hand, right as it massaged her foot.
Lines, Lucas. Lines. My fingers stopped but I didn’t release her.
“We’ll get something that’s not sushi. And you’ll love it, you’ll see.” She returned her gaze to her laptop. “I’m a little offended that you won’t trust my taste, though. So, if you want to make it up to me, you should continue with that foot massage.”
Keeping the sweet, delightful surprise to myself, I obeyed. Happy to be gifted with yet another green light tonight.
That, until she muttered under her breath, “Cheesy, bossy, and grumpy. Who would have thought?” And I stopped massaging her foot to tickle her instead.