“Well, that’s…rude.” I sniffed then stood there awkwardly, wondering how he knew every single guy I dated by name.
And why?
Chapter Seven
Mark
I couldn’t fucking believe that I went from working at a used car dealership, getting fired, having sex with my enemy, to gecko sitting.
If I could even call it that.
The damn gecko even knew it was time for his walks when I put the minuscule leash around his collar; he even lifted his head like he could understand me.
At first, it freaked me out.
And then I realized he was a good listener, plus I was delirious from being up all night, and Olivia’s shift didn’t start for another hour.
I glanced at her sleeping form on the far couch. The blue fuzzy blanket had fallen partially off her body, exposing smooth legs that days ago had been wrapped around me.
I shuddered. Why the hell did the best sex of my life have to be with her of all people?
Maybe she saw me as a player, and maybe I was, but so was she. I just refused to get into serious relationships. Meanwhile, according to Ryker, that was all she did, and every single one ended in heartbreak. Ryker did the recon and asked Amelia when I texted him to let him know that I would be living with my greatest and hottest enemy.
Damn, was it weird that sometimes I just wanted her to slap me?
Kinky.
I could be into that.
I looked down at Little G. “You ever have girl problems, little bro?”
The Gecko’s mouth opened.
“Oh yeah? I bet you have all the ladies falling for your cuteness…it’s just…she’s just so…” I sighed. “She’s…annoyingly perfect and pretty and… hateful. She’s hateful, she looks down at any person who’s not at her level, and it’s annoying as hell.”
Little G yawned. “Me too, little buddy.”
I leaned down and took off his leash, then tossed it onto the counter. “All right man, let’s get you back into your—”
I stopped breathing.
“Little G?” I hissed. “Come out right now!”
How was he that fast?
It was like he just disappeared!
“Little G!” I said more forcefully this time, pulling my cell from my pocket and turning on the flashlight as I searched the kitchen and hallway.
I got on my hands and knees and looked under both couches, then realized I needed more help and the lights on if I had any hope of finding him.
“Olivia.” I tapped her shoulder. “Wake up.”
“Mmmmm.” She grabbed my hand and pulled. “That’s nice.”
Goosebumps erupted along my spine. “Olivia, be serious; I need your help.”
“I’ll help you, baby…” She tugged me harder, and I was seriously wondering if one more night with her and a dead gecko would be worth the risk when her eyes fluttered open, and she shoved me away. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I was trying to wake you up. You were trying to seduce my hand.”
“Was not!” Her cheeks blushed bright red.
“Um, yeah and you called me baby.”
“I was talking about…my, my nephew! He’s five months.”
“Sure, hope you don’t talk to your nephew like that, Olivia.” I rolled my eyes. “But we have a problem.”
She stretched her arms over her head, making her breasts swell beneath her tank.
My eyes were glued to her chest. “Mark? Up here.”
“Yup, sorry was, um saw, like a…fuzzy.”
“Good one,” she deadpanned. “Now, what’s the problem?”
“I can’t find Little G any—” I froze. “—Olivia, don’t move!”
Her eyes widened. “I think something’s in my shirt.”
I gave her a dirty chuckle earning a death glare. “Okay fine, sorry, I couldn’t help it. Yeah, I think Little G found his way inside your bed, the little rascal.”
“He’s climbing up my stomach,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m a bit freaked out. Oh wait, he stopped.”
“I see that.” I grinned, grabbing my phone and snapping a picture. “Seems our Little G’s a boob guy, aren’t you, buddy?” So this is what being a proud father feels like, huh? Gotta say I liked the feeling.
Little G nuzzled between her very perky breasts then poked his head out of the low V of her tank top as if to say, “What? They’re nice boobs!”
No arguments there.
I coughed and looked away. “As entertaining as this is, I’m exhausted, and it’s your turn for the walks. The corner by the fridge freaks him out because he can see his own reflection, almost had a gecko heart attack.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“And he likes it when…” I cleared my throat. “When you hum.”
“I’m sorry, what?” She drew back and stared, eyebrows raised.
“Humming.” I coughed. “He seems to respond to it well.”
“Totally curious.” She crossed her arms, making her breasts pop up in a fabulous sight of cleavage, distracting the shit out of me. “What did you hum?”
“Star Wars.”
“And how did that go again?”
“I’m not humming.”
“I really think you should.”
“No.”
“Little G’s getting distressed.” She pointed. “Come on, one little bar…I don’t want to let him down.”
“We speak of this never.” I jabbed a finger in her direction and earned a megawatt smile from her as she leaned in like I was going to whisper hum.
I cleared my throat and then started humming the Star Wars theme, and sure enough, Little G bobbed his head from his position between her breasts and seemed to smile at me.
Weirdest lizard ever.
“Aw, you like that little buddy,” She patted his head with one finger.
I stopped humming. “Any creature would be happy as shit sitting between two Double D’s and listening to Star Wars, just saying, all men are the same, apparently even across species.”
Olivia shot me an amused glare. “So you’re saying you’re jealous of a gecko?”
“One hundred percent.”
Her eyelashes lowered like she was embarrassed, and then she very carefully pulled Little G out from her top and held him on the palm of her hand. “I’ll wake you up if I need anything. The couch’s comfortable, you know.”
Damn, I was hard.
“Yeah,” I croaked. “And it looks like it’s wide enough for someone to spoon so, bonus points for that.”
What the hell was coming out of my mouth right now?
“Right, and we promised to test everything.” She agreed, standing and putting Little G back into his carrier, then closing the lid.
I stared at the spot she’d just vacated.
It looked inviting.
Warm.
And clearly, I was insane because I barely stopped myself from diving into the couch in an effort to feel the fleeting warmth of her body against the blanket.
“Mark?” She came up behind me.
I jumped a foot and turned. “Yeah?”
“You can go to sleep now.”