Empty Net

“How could I not?” She looked at him over her shoulder. “Yellow is an eye catcher,” he went on. “Your ass looks fine, by the way. Very fine. You’re okay?”


She blinked a few times, then turned back to see that she’d poured all the popcorn on the counter, totally missing the bowl. She let out a frustrated groan before muttering, “It’s just fine, friend.”

Audrey proceeded, angrily, throwing the popcorn in the bowl as Tate came around the island. The light green long-sleeve shirt he wore was tight around his shoulders and arms. Seeing every muscle and delectable line of his body through the thin fabric, she shook her head in disgust. How could she want to follow her selfish thoughts and give in to the undeniable attraction between them? It was wrong. It was selfish. Hello! She knew better. Maybe this friend stuff was a bad idea. She wasn’t sure she could restrain herself from ripping off his clothes and having her way with him.

“Oooh, cupcakes,” Tate said, pointing at her large cake stand. “Can I have one?”

“Sure,” Audrey said with a nod as he opened the top and took one. “They are cinnamon toast crunch cupcakes.”

“You had me at sure,” he said with a mouthful. “God, these are fantastic.”

Audrey giggled as she went to the fridge to get him a drink. “Do beer and cupcakes go together?” she asked.

Tate shrugged his shoulders. “They do in my book.”

“Mine too,” she said with a grin, handing him a beer.

“Thanks,” he mumbled around another mouthful. He reached for another cupcake and smiled at her. “I like sweets.”

Audrey giggled. “I know.”

“Did you have a nice day?” he asked, still stuffing his face.

“It was long, how about you?”

Tate nodded. “Lucas and I have been at practice since six this morning.”

“Sheesh, that’s crazy.”

“Yup,” he said with a nod, licking his lips free of frosting.

Looking away, she asked, “Wanna go watch TV while you stuff your face?”

Tate nodded, taking another cupcake and his beer as he followed her. Audrey sat down on the couch, bringing her legs under her bottom, the bowl of popcorn in her lap. Tate fell beside her, leaning against his knees as he devoured another cupcake. With a shake of her head, she turned on the DVR and the theme music to Storage Wars filled the room. But instead of singing along and watching the opening credits, she watched the muscles move in Tate’s back.

Her fingers had been there.

Audrey closed her eyes, willing herself to forget the image of him naked as Tate asked, “What’s this show about?”

Telling herself over and over again not to think about it, she opened her eyes to see him looking at her, his eyes and grin playful. Audrey smiled. How could she not? He was just so cute, and sweet! Frosting lined his lips and crumbs were all over his shirt. Even with the desire to lick every morsel of frosting off those succulent lips, she found a way to say, “It’s basically the best show ever.”

Tate nodded. “Is it? How is that?”

“Simple,” Audrey said. “You follow four sets of bidders at this storage auction through the mission of finding the perfect storage locker. It’s amazing, each bidder is hilarious, and I just love it. You will too, I know it.”

Tate laughed. “How do you know?”

“I just do,” she said, pushing into him with her shoulder. It wasn’t planned, and after she did it, Audrey regretted it. Her whole body sizzled from that simple touch, and with one look into his lust-filled eyes, she could tell Tate’s had too. What the hell was wrong with her? There needed to be rules when it came to him.

One being: no touching!

“Let’s watch the show,” Audrey groaned, leaning back against the couch and munching on popcorn. Tate leaned back also, his hand reaching over into the bowl as they watched.

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