Page 21 of The Wreckage of Us
“I’m all ears.”
“We lock the door at night. The last thing I need is some Amber, Reese, or Sue sneaking into the house, looking to find you for a round of sexual escapades, then taking a wrong turn and ending up in my bed.”
A wicked smirk hit his lips. “That doesn’t sound so bad to me. I could always head over and join in on the party.”
I felt my face flush and tried my best to shake off the nerves. “I’m serious, Ian. I don’t want some random person walking in. That makes me nervous.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, still staring at me as if he was trying to dissect my mind. Then he moved away from my side and walked over to the front door and locked it.
A whispered breath left my lips. “Thank you. Do you want to show me which room is mine?” I asked, taking a step toward the hallway, but his hand landed on my shoulder.
“Now hold on there a minute. You’re not the only one with house rules. I got some of my own.”
“Oh? And they are?”
“You can’t judge me on the number of women I bring in and out of this household. We all got our hobbies, and mine happen to involve a lot of intimate moments with different women.”
“Ignore your manwhore ways. Got it. What else?”
“I’m more music than man. When I’m inspired, I might start playing or singing at odd hours of the night. If I don’t get it out, I’ll drown. I don’t want no noise complaints.”
“Makes sense. What else?”
“This is the most important one of all. I’ll stay out of your affairs, and you’ll stay out of mine, but if Big Paw asks you—you and me? We’re friends. Good ol’ pals.”
“Why would it matter if Big Paw thought we were ...” My words trailed off, and I arched an eyebrow. “Did he tell you to befriend me and to let me move in with you?”
His quietness told his truths.
“Unbelievable.” I sighed. But then again, was it really that unbelievable? Of course there was a reason Ian wanted me to crash at his place. I was well aware that he hadn’t liked me from the jump, so the complete one-eighty of him inviting me to stay with him made no sense whatsoever. “Why would Big Paw do that?”
“He found out you were staying in the shed and didn’t want you doing something like that, seeing as how it’s idiotic and unsafe.”
There was the Ian I knew and loved. Mr.Charming.
“So he told you to let me stay with you?”
“Yup.”
“And if you didn’t?”
“He’d sell the house, and I’d be living in a damn shed too. Look, I know this isn’t ideal for either of us, but we both got a dry place to put our heads at night. So let’s just make the most of it, and if Big Paw asks, we’re buddy-buddy. Okay?”
“Okay. I can handle that. How much do I owe for rent each month?”
“Free ninety-nine. I don’t pay rent, so half of that is nothing. I’m going to get ready for bed, but your room is down the hallway to the left. I left you some spare clothes if you need them.”
“Please don’t tell me they are the clothes other women have worn of yours.”
“Don’t worry; they are freshly cleaned. If you need anything else—don’t.”
He turned around on his heel and took his grumpy and somewhat sexy ol’ butt to bed.
“Good night, best friend,” I called out, tongue in cheek.
“Don’t push it, Hazel Stone.”
I couldn’t help it. Pushing Ian Parker was becoming one of my favorite pastimes.