you kidding?” He slumped down in the chair next to her and crossed a tan ankle over his knee. “And miss all the excitement?” He grinned. “Besides, after spending most of the day helping you pick everything out, I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how it will look.”
He shifted, the action causing the leg of his khaki cargo shorts to hike up. Dang. Devon had sexy legs.
Her gaze traveled from his flip-flop-clad tanned feet up legs that were only lightly furred with soft-looking, dark hair. The tour stopped midthigh, spoiled by the leg of his shorts. Darn.
“Your shorts got a little dirty today. I don’t mind sharing my supplies, if you want to throw them in for a quick wash and dry.” At his widened gaze, she hurried on. “It’s not like you’d be naked or anything. I mean, face it, most bathing suits reveal more than, um, men’s underwear.” Boxers or briefs? It had been difficult to tell in the dark. She’d been wondering since the first time she saw him. Another one of her weird little mind games. In reality, she’d only found out, up close and personal, with about three or four guys in her entire life. Still, it was always fun to try to guess.
“That’s okay.” He looked at her like he was worried she might attack him or something and shifted away a little. “I probably have at least ten pair of shorts just like these. All clean, so it’s no problem.”
“Is it your manager’s uniform or something?”
He laughed, and she felt the warmth speed through her body.
“Francyne would say it is. She’s always accusing me of dressing like the Crocodile Hunter.” He glanced down at his shorts. “I always enjoyed watching him. Still can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I know,” she said softly.
They sat in silence for a while, watching the digital timer on the driers count down.
“So when are you going to let me read one of your books?”
“Right now, there’s only one available to read.”
“Are the others with your agent or publisher?”
Damn, he hated to lie. “Ah, something like that. So, Jamie, what do you do?”
What did she do? Nothing for the last year and a half, unless running from Fred could be considered a career. It felt more like a lifetime sentence.
She licked her lips, stalling for time. “Well, until a couple of years ago, I taught kindergarten.”
“Really? Wow. I sure never had a kindergarten teacher who looked like you.” His smile flashed white in the dwindling light from the window.
“Thanks.” Damn, she hated playing the dumb blonde. She plastered on a pleased smile as though she hadn’t heard that line a million times. Although, in truth, her students had not had a teacher who looked like her either. At least, not the way she looked now.
“So, what happened during the last couple of years?”
“Well…I was in a, um, less than healthy relationship.”
“But it’s over now, right?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s definitely over. At least, as far as I’m concerned.” Her shoulders slumped. “Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to think so.”
Alert, Devon sat up straighter. Maybe Francyne was right and the Neanderthal really had been looking for Jamie. “Has he been…bothering you?”
An unladylike snort escaped. “Oh, yeah, you could definitely say that.”
“Does he live around here?” Just what he needed. He had finally met someone he thought was a nice girl and she had issues.
“No! At least, I hope not.” She glanced nervously around the empty room as if expecting her ex to pop out of one of the driers. “I think I finally lost him in Tallahassee.” She leaned closer, bringing with her the sexy scent of fabric softener. Pretty pathetic when fabric softener turned him on. “That’s why I haven’t been working as a teacher.” Her words brought him back to their conversation. “I’ve been trying to get away from Fred.”
“Fred? Him again? What does ole Fred do, that he can travel around making your life miserable?”
“He’s rich. Independently wealthy.”
Of course he was. Just his luck, the first girl to interest him in ages not only had baggage, the baggage had deep pockets. Meanwhile, if he didn’t get free rent by managing the Surfside Villas, he’d have to make the choice between living indoors and eating.
Suffering for your art sucked.
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