out through clenched teeth. “I’m not a kid any more, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
His midnight-black eyes took a slow tour of her from the red ball cap on her head to her sneaker-clad feet. Heat surged through her as if he was undressing her with his eyes and she wanted to cross her arms over her chest.
“Oh, I noticed. Believe me. I’d say you’ve grown up a whole lot.” He actually had the audacity to wink. “So what are you doing here?”
Her jaw dropped. “What am I doing here? That’s a lot of nerve coming from you. I live here. What are you doing here?”
“You live here?” His eyes widened. “I thought you lived in New York.”
“I moved back about four months ago. Hank’s giving me house room while I take my time looking for a place of my own.”
“Well, damn.” He scratched his head. “Old Hank didn’t mention that when he said I could crash here for a few days.”
“Are you kidding me?” She was going to kill her brother the minute she laid eyes on him. “I can’t believe he did this. What’s wrong with a hotel?”
Joe frowned. “That’s not very hospitable of you. Hank told me to make myself at home. Much better than a hotel.”
Yes, killing was definitely on the agenda. Except she was torn between wanting to throw Joe out of the house or throw herself at him bodily. After all these years, at the very moment she’d decided to pack him into the memory closet and move forward, here he was. Control, she told herself. She had to stay in control and not get any wild ideas. The time for that was long past.
Anyway, why would he be interested in her? He had a gazillion women rotating in and out of his bed. He still saw her as a kid, so she’d better not get any wild ideas.
“Look.” Shay took a step backward. Joe had moved way too close into her personal space and his clean male scent was making her crazy. “Hank should have checked with me first. I’m sorry, this is just not going to work.”
“I don’t know why not.” He moved closer again. “You’ve got plenty of room here. Anyway, I have things to take care of so we’ll probably hardly see each other.”
“What kind of things?”
He shrugged. “Just business.”
“Fine. Whatever. It’s not as if I care.” Shay threw up her hands. “I’m going to my room to unpack. Do us both a favor and find a hotel room.” She turned to look at him. “And get your stuff out of my bathroom.”
One corner of his mouth turned up in a half grin. Shay did her best to ignore the dimple winking next to it.
“But isn’t this the bathroom for these two bedrooms to share?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then I’m sure this is what Hank meant for me to do. I promise I won’t get into your cosmetics. They probably aren’t my skin tone, anyway.”
“You’re trying to drive me crazy, right?”
His rich, low laugh made the pulse between her thighs throb like a drum. “Would I do that?”
She started to roll her suitcase out of the room as if everything was settled when strong male fingers closed over her arm.
“Hold on just a minute. That cap. I’ve seen that cap before.”
“My cap?” She frowned. “I doubt it. I’ll bet there’s a million red caps out there and this one is one of a kind.”
She tried to pull away but Joe’s grip on her was firm.
“But that’s a distinctive red.” He frowned. “Let’s see. You’re just getting home from out of town. You flew in from New York. Not too many flights from there to here landing at this time. I don’t have to be too bright to think you might be the idiot who tossed her drink all over me on the plane.”
Her stomach plummeted. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
He moved to block her path. “I don’t think so.” He reached behind her head and tugged on her ponytail. “I definitely think you’re the culprit. I should make you pay for my dry cleaning.”
“Fine. Whatever.” She had to get away from him. His nearness was driving her nuts and his touch sent threads of heat to various parts of her body. “Send me the bill.”
He tipped her chin up with one finger. When his eyes looked directly into hers, everything in her body went liquid. All her damn danger signs were flashing. He was just playing with her, nothing more. Just being Joe. She needed to remember that.
“I’d say it entitles me to guest privileges here, too. Don’t you agree?”
He wasn’t going to leave. That much was obvious.
“I said I’d pay for the damn dry cleaning. Just leave the stuff on the counter in the utility room.”
“I think that’s worth a lot more than just paying a bill,” he repeated. “Even more than house privileges. I should get special privileges. Like maybe having you cook my dinner, too.” Laughter lurked in his eyes.
“In your dreams,” she snapped. She knew he was yanking her chain, and he was doing a good job of it. Somehow she would find a way to get him out of the house while she still had her wits about her. Good thing she was more than over Joe Reilly. If only every one of her nerve endings didn’t sizzle when he was within two feet of her.
He chuckled, obviously enjoying himself. “Maybe I can think of a few more things to add to the list.”
“Forget it. Not happening.” She pushed past him, tugging her suitcase. “You clean up after yourself and don’t leave a mess in the kitchen.” At the door to her bedroom she looked back at him.
“Just be sure to stay out of my way. And if you insist on sharing the bathroom you’d damn well better keep it clean. House rules. I don’t even want to see a razor lying on the sink.”
“Wow. Stiff rules.” He laughed again. “I’ll do my best not to break any of them.”
Shay slammed the door to her bedroom and threw herself on her bed. Great. Just freaking great. She didn’t have enough stress in her life. Now she was forced to deal with Joe Reilly as a temporary housemate. Lying there with her arm over her eyes, something else occurred to her. She jumped up, yanked open the door, and stormed into the living room. Joe, unfortunately, was not there. She found him in the room he was using, pulling a shirt out of a suitcase.
Shay stopped, momentarily mesmerized by the sight of his solid chest with its dusting of dark hair. Again her pulse thrummed and the blood heated in her veins. She scrubbed at her cheeks that suddenly felt too hot.
Please don’t let him notice.
“Come right in,” he teased, slipping the soft, collared shirt over his head. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“How long?” she demanded.
