Hollywood Roommates

16

real, or if she’s just a delicious little temporary distraction.

Too bad the other guys will kill me if I do anything with her. Oh, Shane tries to act like he isn’t interested, but he’s not fooling anyone. And while Matt is a flirt who sleeps with a new woman every other night, I sense something different in my brother when he’s around Allie. He likes her too, as more than a one night stand. I haven’t seen him bring home any women since she moved in either.

The three of us have been good friends for years and roommates for a few months. I worry that bringing Allie in might disrupt everything between us and ruin our friendship. If we all want her, it could tear us apart...because we can’t all have her.

Or can we?

I’m distracted from my thoughts when she walks into the gym, wearing a thin yellow dress that hugs her voluptuous body, with her wet hair hanging about her bare shoulders. I haven’t seen her since she vanished yesterday while we were in the pool, her cheeks flushed with heat like she was thinking all sorts of naughty thoughts. Probably the same ones I was thinking. I’d put money on it that the other guys shared the same fantasies as well.

“Hey, Luke,” she says, her voice cheerful as usual. She’s like a ray of sunshine in my otherwise dark life.

I hit pause on the treadmill and slow my steps. “Hey.”

I’m not wearing a shirt—clothes are overrated, in my opinion—and she tries really hard not to stare at my chest, but is having a difficult time keeping her eyes away. It’s adorable. She has such an open, honest face and those dimples only make it cuter. It’s obvious she’s attracted to me and the other guys, but wants to fight it. Just like it’s obvious when she’s thinking about her ex and is in pain. Like now.

“Um. Sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you have a hair dryer? I’d ask the other guys, but they’re out and I don’t want to riffle through their bathrooms without their permission.”

“I’m sure we’ve got one somewhere.” I step off the treadmill and grab a towel to wipe the sweat off my body. Her hungry eyes follow my every movement so I take my time, making sure she gets a nice long look. “What happened to yours?”

“I, uh...” She finally glances away, biting her lip. “I left it at my ex’s place.”

“We could get you a new one.” I sense she isn’t telling me something from the way she’s avoiding my eyes. “What’s wrong, Allie?”

She blows out a long breath. “I left a lot of stuff at my ex’s place, not just the blow dryer. I was so upset when he told me I had to leave that I grabbed whatever I could and threw it in my car and ran. But now I’m so annoyed at myself because I need some of those things and I don’t have the money to replace it all yet. But I will. It’s not a problem. I’ll be fine, I swear.”

Conflicting emotions war within me. Desire for her. Anger at her ex. And now, protectiveness and a need to take care of her. “I can buy you anything you want. I’m sure the other guys would be happy to help also.”

She stares down at the floor. “I don’t want your charity. I already owe you all so much.”

“You don’t owe us anything.” I slide my fingers under her chin, drawing her gaze back to me. “But you’re right. It’s better if you get back your old stuff anyway.”

Her eyes widen. “What? No!”

“Why not?”

“I can’t go back to the apartment. What if his new girlfriend is there? Oh god.” She shakes her head vigorously. “No way. I can’t face him again.”

“This is exactly what you need to do to get closure. Once you face him, you’ll finally be able to move on.”

She scrunches up her face. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so. Trust me on this. I’ve gone through it myself.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“You don’t have to do it alone either. I’ll go with you.”

Her eyes light up. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

I stroke her cheek with my fingers, thinking I’d do anything she asked of me right now. Any damn thing. “I would.”

“Thank you.” She wraps her arms around me and pulls me in for a tight hug. The feel of her soft body against my naked chest is enough to make my d**k rise to attention, especially as I breathe in her hair, which smells like coconut. I hold her close, not wanting to ever let her go.

I’m about to press my lips to her neck and say f**k it to the roommate contract, when Shane’s voice stops me cold.

“What’s going on in here?” he asks from the doorway.

Allie pulls out of my arms and turns toward him. “Luke’s going to help me get my things back from my ex.”

Shane’s scowl intensifies and he glares at me like he’s mad I got to hold her first. I grin back at him like the cocky bastard I am.

“I’m going with you,” Shane says.

“Where are we going?” Matt asks, joining us in the gym.

“We’re taking a trip to visit Allie’s ex to get her stuff back,” I say.

Matt cracks his knuckles with a devious grin. “Perfect. I was hoping for some excitement tonight.”

“You really don’t all need to come,” Allie says, glancing between us. A slight smile touches her lips. “Although I’m not saying no either. Parker won’t know what hit him if I show up with all three of you.”

“He will if he tries something,” I growl. “When my fist hits his face.”