Hollywood Roommates

15

“I know. Trust me, I know.”

“Just be careful, Allie. I don’t want you getting your heart broken again. Getting involved with any one of them is a terrible idea. Having feelings for all of them is a total disaster.” Don’t I know it.

When I get home, her warning is still in my head. I park my beat-up old Ford Focus in the giant four-car garage, and as I gaze at the other three shining, expensive cars next to it, it’s a good reminder that I don’t belong here. Not with Shane and his Tesla Model X. Not with Luke and his Audi R8 Spyder. And not with Matt and his BMW 230 convertible either.

I head back to my room, but when I sit on my bed and slip off my shoes I hear laugher from outside. Through the window I spot Luke walking by the pool and my heart skips, which Brooke would definitely not approve of. He must have returned from his quick trip to London.

I make my way outside, irresistibly drawn toward the low male voices and the sound of splashing water. When I step onto the patio, I’m faced with something from one of my naughtiest fantasies. All three guys are in the pool, wearing nothing but swim trunks. My mouth falls open and my eyes widen, drinking in the sight of all that wet, muscular, tanned skin on display. I don’t even know where to look. All three of them are so delicious, there’s no way I can choose. It’s like a buffet of men and I want to sample each one. Repeatedly.

No! This is not a buffet, this is a window display at Tiffany’s. Strictly look-don’t-touch, and if you need to ask the price, you can’t afford it anyway.

“Hey guys,” I say, but my voice comes out a little husky. I clear my throat.

“Allie!” Matt says, bursting up from the water in front of me. “You should join us!”

I want to. I really want to. But getting in the pool with them sounds like a really dangerous idea. I can already picture their wet skin sliding against mine. So much temptation.

Also, if I’m honest with myself, I’m hesitant to get in a swimsuit around these three. I’m not usually shy about my body and I love my curves. I fully believe all bodies are swimsuit bodies. But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable showing mine off to three guys who are used to hanging out with the most beautiful women in the world, all of whom are a lot thinner than me.

“Maybe some other time.” I sit on one of the lounge chairs and stretch my feet out. Even if I can’t join them in the pool, I can enjoy the sun shining down on me and the breeze against my skin. And best of all, the sight of the three guys in front of me. “I wish I could i********: this. People would go crazy at the sight of all three of you in a pool together.”

Shane’s face darkens. “No social media pics.”

I roll my eyes. “I know, I know, the roommate contract. I’m just kidding. But seriously, think how many followers I would get!”

“Sorry, this sight is for your eyes only,” Luke says, as he flexes his muscles with a grin.

“Lucky me.” I swallow and tear my eyes away from his arms. “How was your trip?”

“Busy, but quick.” He flicks back his wet hair in one sexy maneuver. “How was your day?”

“Good. I went shopping with Brooke. Or I watched her shop, anyway.”

“How is my sister doing?” Shane asks, his tone stiff.

“She’s okay. She’s been super busy at work and she had a crappy date the other night, but nothing a little retail therapy can’t fix.”

“You sure you won’t come in with us?” Matt asks, with a flirty smile. “We won’t bite. Unless you’re into that, of course.”

I laugh, while Shane glares at him. “Very tempting, but I don’t think I could handle all three of you.”

“Oh, I bet you could,” Luke says, with a voice that promises all sorts of sinful things.

My mind heads straight to porn-land now as I imagine all three guys converging on me in the pool, their hands and mouths moving across my wet, naked skin. Bow chicka wow wow indeed. I’m getting all hot and sweaty thinking about it.

Yep, that’s definitely my cue to leave.

“I’ll see you guys later,” I say, as I stand up. I let my eyes take one last fill of their half-naked bodies to save in my memory for when I’m alone later, then make myself walk away. And then I really hate myself for having such self-restraint. Chapter Twelve

LUKE

As I run on the treadmill in our gym, my thoughts inevitably wander to Allie. Ever since she moved in, she’s been taking over my mind on a regular basis. Seeing her all sad and vulnerable at the bar the other week only made it worse because I related to what she was going through. It was torture being in London, knowing she was back here moping over her ex, and I rushed back to LA as quickly as I could.

It’s silly because I barely know her and I can’t have her anyway, but I haven’t felt like this about anyone in a long time. Not since Lana. The fact that Allie, with her sweet voice and bright smile and tempting curves, can make me forget the only woman I ever loved? That’s a goddamn miracle. I want to explore it. To see if my feelings for her are real, or if she’s just a delicious little temporary distraction.