STEAL (Right Men Series Book 2) Read online

  “Vaughn’s gay?” he asked, surprise clear in his voice as he leaned against the counter next to the coffee machine, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Did you think your masculine sexiness turned him to play for the other team last night?” I asked, and he coughed back a laugh.

  “You think my masculinity is sexy?” he asked, and I rolled my eyes, about to look away.

  It was too early for this. I needed coffee. Coffee would help me get through one more day of this long, pathetic work week.

  “Look, all I’m saying is that I don’t think your man Duncan would like you walking around half naked showing your…goodies to everyone.”

  “Goodies?” Wow. This guy was something else.

  “And FYI, I’m not gay.”

  “Right.” I rolled my eyes. I wanted to laugh. “You’re not gay? Yet you called my boobs ‘goodies’,” I remarked, pressing them up, and his eyes shot to my more than ample cleavage. I wasn’t wearing my glasses or contacts, but I almost thought I saw his stare darken. It made my skin warm up slightly, which was weird. I was never affected like that. “Anyhow, you know what they say, the truth sets you free. Lying to yourself is the worst thing you can—”

  “I’m not gay,” he repeated.

  “Okay, handsome, whatever helps you sleep at—”

  “If you want, I’ll prove to you how not gay I am, Blondie.”

  “Oh, and how is that? By making me scream your name out all night long?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, giving him a lot more attitude than I ever gave anyone. Something about this guy worked me up.

  Too bad he is gay.

  “And then some,” he whispered, his eyes still on my cleavage.

  Shaking my head, I stepped in closer. The hot guy was a tease. I placed my mug on the counter, but he didn’t move. Ass. I filled my mug, trying to ignore how my body was reacting around him, my free hand tightening over the towel, and I breathed in.

  Big. Damn. Mistake. He smelled good. Like really, really good.

  “Original,” I sassed looking from the mug, and from close up, I took notice of his eyes. They were the most beautiful pair of eyes I’d ever looked into.

  Not wearing my glasses or contacts, I’d seen him as a blurry-ish sight from afar, but I still knew he was a better-than-normal-looking guy when he’d walked in. But close up, holy crap, Vaughn had hit the man-candy jackpot with this guy last night; and for a moment, staring into his eyes, I was sad he was gay. Not that I would ever have a chance with a guy like him if he were straight. Not in my wildest dreams would I have a chance.

  I was too much of a ‘quiet one’ for him. No way in hell a guy like him would ever be interested in me. He’d date the tiny, delicate woman who was all bubbly and like rays of sunshine. Or the feisty ones who were social butterflies. He would be with someone who stood out and shined.

  I didn’t. Not even close.

  I was average and probably below that. It never bothered me. If I was honest, most of the time I embraced it. Letting it help me blend into the background of the world around me. But standing in front of him, I almost wished that for once in my life, I could stand out.

  “Duncan’s probably looking for you.” The hoarse tone of his voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I frowned.

  “I’m Duncan.”

  “What?” He scowled further.

  “I’m Duncan.”

  “No. Duncan is a guy.” The hot guy stood straighter, which only made him taller and his shoulders seem a mile-and-half wide instead of a measly mile.

  “No.” I cleared my way-too-raspy voice, trying to act like I wasn’t affected by Mr. Sexy Jerk Face. “Duncan is my last name,” I blabbed.

  “Wait, what?” He stepped away, and I missed the gentle heat his body seemed to naturally give off.

  “You slept with a guy named Duncan, and your last name is Duncan?”

  “No. I slept with myself. What’s wrong with you? Are you still hungover from last night? Is that why Vaughn brought you home?”

  “Vaughn’s not here.”

  “What?” My face scrunched up. Why would Vaughn leave his date behind?

  “He’s outta town,” he shared, and my stomach did a nose dive.

  “What do you mean, he’s outta town?” I asked, the hairs on the back of my neck starting to stand.

  “I’m subletting the place.” Four words, and my world shifted, making the foundation of it crack.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Look, honey, keep up. I’m subletting the house from Vaughn. He’s going to be outta town for a while.”

  “Umm… no. He would have told me that, since I’m his roommate,” I shared, suddenly feeling more naked than I actually was.

  “Since when?”

  “Since Vaughn got the freakin’ place!” I shared tersely, and he squinted at me.

  “You mean out in the guesthouse?”

  “Guesthouse?” I asked, completely flabbergasted. Freaking Vaughn. Damn it! Damn him! Argh!

  “Yeah, he said he had a renter—“

  “That’s a garage, you idiot!” I shouted probably a little too loudly, my hands tightening around my towel.

  “Guess some shit never changes,” he muttered ominously.

  I watched his hands run through his short hair. It looked soft and silky, and for the first time in my twenty-eight years, my hands itched to touch a man. Not just any man. The one standing in front of me who was a big ole jerk. And if what he was saying was true, the big ole jerk was my new roommate.

  Freaking Vaughn!

  “I have to get dressed,” I whispered to myself, suddenly realizing my true state of undress in front of not only a complete stranger but my new roommate.

  “I get that, Blondie, but we need to talk.”

  “Once I’m wearing more than a towel, handsome, we can do that. But right now, you will have to excuse…” I started to walk out of the kitchen, but being me, I almost tripped over my own two feet.

  Visions of crashing face first onto the hardwood floors flashed through my mind right before two big, strong, and oddly warm arms caught me. Pulling me back from falling, pressing me tightly in a snug hold that felt vaguely familiar.

  Like some kind of déjà vu-like moment.

  “Shit! You okay?” his gruff voice whispered into my ear. Light brown scruff, a lot lighter than his hair, tickled my ear. That sensation mixed with the gruff tone of his sexy voice, my nipples and what felt like every nerve ending in my body went on high alert.

  “Blondie, are you okay?” he asked again, but this time his voice was a low whisper, and I melted further into the comforting heat of his body. I liked it there. The hospital I worked at was always too cold. Too sterile. And his body! God, his body was like this behemoth rock of molten lava and so damn virile.

  “I’m…” I swallowed hard, my eyes closed, taking in a deep breath. Even though he’d obviously just woken up, he smelled good. Really damn good. One hand still around my waist, he raised his other; his manly fingers skimmed my bare arm, and goose bumps flared up on my skin, shooting zings to my lady bits.

  “Baby, you need to tell me if you’re…” He stopped talking when he turned me around. Up close, his eyes…God, his eyes were a slate blue. The perfect mixture of grey and blue. My nipples hardened and rubbed deliciously against the terry cloth of the towel. The mix of that and being in his arms was quickly making me weak in the knees.

  “I… I’m fi-fine,” I stuttered, my eyes roaming down to his lips. I’d never thought a man could have luscious lips, but he did. I’d never wanted bite someone, but looking at those lips, the bottom one made me want to lick and nip and nibble.

  What’s wrong with me?

  “You shouldn’t look at me like that.” He finally broke the silence that had fallen between us with a hushed, deep tone that felt like velvet, his breath tickling my lips.

  “Like what?” I asked, knowing very well what he meant.

  “You know exactly like what, Blondie.”

>   “That’s not my name.” I frowned, reminding myself of what a jerk he could be.

  “I’m sure as hell not going to call you Duncan while you’re warm and”—I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, feeling his eyes rake over my shoulders—“almost naked beneath my hands.”

  “Val,” I shared, feeling like I was under a spell of some sort, letting myself get lost in the warmth of his body and the grey-blue of his eyes as he stared right back at me. Making me feel more exposed than I already was. He made me feel… seen.

  “What?” he asked, almost like he was in the same foggy bubble I found myself in.

  “Val. I mean, everyone usually calls me Val or Duncan. But it’s Valerie Duncan. That’s umm… my name,” I rambled nervously, my cheeks warming up. I could only imagine the embarrassingly shade of red I was.

  “Valerie?” he whispered in that sexy, hushed tone of his, and I couldn’t help but lick my lips.

  One of my hands lay over his chest, while my free one moved of its own accord. My fingertips slowly traced the side of his muscular torso. The tips of my fingers burned to memorize it. Emboss the feel of his body and the sound of his voice saying my name to memory. Which only made me melt further into his embrace.

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s pretty,” he mumbled to himself, and my eyes went to his lips. “Valerie,” he repeated. A soft gasp escaped my lips when his hands roamed higher, touching the bare skin of the back of my shoulder. “So soft,” he mumbled almost to himself again.

  My eyes fluttered shut as his face moved in closer to me. I could feel his lips hovering over mine, his breath minty and warm. I was about to close into the last centimeter between us when a loud knock came at the door, making us both jump.

  I looked toward the door, holding on to the towel at my chest with a death grip. My heart was racing in my chest. I almost kissed him! I didn’t do things like that!

  “Fuck it,” he growled, once again taking me by surprise, pulling me close.

  His lips landed on mine, and in the shock of it, I opened for him. Sure, that’s why I opened my mouth and peeked my tongue out looking for his. Heat quickly coursed through my body, making me feel so many different things. But the one that stood out was alive. I’d never felt that alive. Ever. I couldn’t help but moan as his hands wrapped around me.

  I wasn’t small by any means. Big hips and ass, decent size in the chest area, I was pear shaped. But the way his warm, strong arms wrapped around me made me feel like Tinkerbell. Tiny and safe. His teeth skimmed my bottom lip, but before I could return the favor, he pulled away.

  Dazed and really turned on, I looked at him. When I opened my mouth to ask why he’d stopped, a louder knock came at the door and he ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Go get dressed,” he ordered, his tone pissed. I took advantage of being this close to him. My vision clearer, I let my eyes skim down his body, trying not to whimper at the obvious and impressive tenting in the front of his gym shorts. “Get dressed, Duncan.” His tone was almost angry, making me look at him and roll my eyes.

  “Screw you….” And that’s when I realized I didn’t know his name. I’d kissed him and would have done a lot more than that if he hadn’t stopped us. All without knowing his damn name. What the hell was my problem?

  As if realizing it, he gave me a smirk that only added to his hotness. It added to the bad boy confident air that seemed to cling to him. And all I could think about was wanting to see if he really was that good at whatever he thought he was good at that made him give that air about him.

  “Soon.” He winked, and I rolled my eyes.

  “In your dreams, handsome,” I muttered over my shoulder as I stomped out of the kitchen and right to my bedroom.

  CHAPTER TWO

  VALERIE

  Towel drying my hair, I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and all I could think about was that damn kiss. A kiss with my new roommate, thanks to freaking Vaughn McGuire!

  He left. Just like that, and I didn’t have a good feeling about it. He had called and left me a message last night, but I hadn’t been able to make out what he’d said because of bad reception, and now I was left to wonder what the hell he had gotten himself into. If I was honest with myself, I’d suspected something was up with him, but I would have never thought that my only friend would up and leave out of nowhere without a word.

  He was gone and left me behind with a stranger. A man I’d freaking paraded around in front of half-naked, called gay, and kissed. All in less than fifteen minutes.

  Queen of First Impressions strikes again!

  Glancing over at my wall clock, I sighed and had no choice but to get my ass in gear. After plaiting my hair into a French braid, I rubbed lotion over my arms and legs before getting dressed into my deep purple scrubs. With one last glance at my dresser, I picked up my clear watermelon lip gloss and put some on my lips. I usually didn’t, but why not today? It was the last day before a couple of glorious days off. Sure, that’s why you put it on, a voice in my head chimed, and I bit my lip before grabbing my glasses and backpack.

  “Nice place, man,” I heard a deeper voice ring out in the living room and prayed this one wasn’t as much of a jerk as my new nameless roomie.

  “Thanks,” roomie’s voice sounded out as I stepped into the room.

  “Well, hello,” a deep voice said, and I looked out trying to school my expression, but I knew that by the way the new guy smirked he didn’t miss my reaction.

  He was hot.

  Almost as hot as my new roomie.

  Broader and bearded. Damn, that is something that needs to be on a t-shirt.

  “Hi,” I mumbled, fixing my glasses and looking over to my roomie, who was now scowling as he looked back and forth between his guest and me.

  “Valerie Duncan, this is my oldest brother, Garrett. Garrett, this is Valerie.” Oldest brother? How many of them did he have? Were there more tall, dark, and handsome men wreaking havoc in southern California?

  “Oh.” I smiled at Garrett, who was looking at me with a curious look. “Has anyone ever told you, you kinda look like that one guy from those comic book movies?” His serious face softened and broke out into a huge smile, then a bark of laughter came from him, which was cute. If a guy that big and bearded could be labeled as cute.

  He stopped laughing and walked toward me. His hand extended, he spoke. “Once or twice. Though, I’m probably more distinguished.” He winked, and I gave up my fight of trying to stay unaffected and smiled at him. “That guy seems like he’d be a little whiney,” he observed, and I laughed as his big hand took mine.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry. I would offer you something to drink, but I have been working like crazy, so I’m not sure what’s in the kitchen.”

  “Are you Vaughn’s girlfriend?” My roomie coughed up some of his coffee, and I shook my head.

  “No, I live here.”

  “Live here?” he asked, his grin growing. “Bryan, you didn’t tell me you were going to have a roommate.” Thank you, big brother! His name was Bryan. It fit him.

  “Especially one so beautiful,” Garrett continued, and my cheeks reddened as I shook my head.

  “I’m not—”

  “You wanna start unloading the truck? Let me talk to my roomie here, or else she’s going to be late for work,” Bryan mumbled, not sounding a bit happy.

  “Shit. He’s right. Look, umm—“ I looked at my roommate, and as I stared at him with clear vision, my cheeks stayed warm. I’d kissed him! “Bryan, is it?”

  “You can keep calling me handsome.” He titled his head, his eyes glittering, and I rolled mine trying to keep my cool.

  “This is probably my cue to get his shit unloaded. Valerie, it was a pleasure.”

  “Call me Val, and you, too, Garrett.” I smiled, watching the behemoth of a man exit the house and walk what looked toward a moving truck. “How much stuff do you have?”

  “What?” He scowled.

  “This place
isn’t the Taj Mahal, Bryan.”

  “I know. Vaughn said I can take up some space in the garage.”

  “The garage?” I frowned, shaking my head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why not?” I asked, feeling my blood pressure start to rise. Freaking jerk Vaughn and his half-assed freaking plans and schemes! “Because I’m storing something in the garage.”

  “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can move things around in there.”

  “No… you can’t,” I snapped, grabbing my keys out of the small pocket of my backpack.

  “Why not?”

  “Because. You don’t just scoot over a Woody.”

  “What?” He laughed, looking like he thought I was crazy.

  Telling him to follow me, I led him to the front of the house. I stepped to the garage door, dropped my backpack on the driveway, about to lift the door, but he stepped in close, his body radiating off his scent and warmth.

  “Let me,” he said, and I shrugged trying to act like he didn’t affect me. Staring at his arms lift the old wooden garage door, I was distracted by everything him and watched as he reacted to my Woody.

  “Holy fuck,” he whispered in awe, and I smiled glancing over at my baby. “This… this…” He looked back and forth from me to Ruby. “This is yours?”

  “Yeah.” I proudly smiled, looking at my baby, “1951 Ford Woody. Now do you see why nothing can go in here?”

  “She’s a beauty, Blondie, but I don’t see the problem.” He frowned as he looked around. “There’s tons of space around the car.”

  “We live in California,” I told him and watched him blink slowly.

  “We do.”

  “If we have an earthquake, where do you think those boxes will fall?”

  “Baby, there’s an earthquake, that’s what insurance is for.”

  “Look, I pay—”

  “I do, too. I paid three month’s rent in advance.” Shit. That amount of money in Vaughn’s hands wasn’t good. Especially if he decided to do something stupid with it.

  “Look, I don’t have time to argue,” I clipped, and he tilted his head toward me.