It took Dave a whole day to talk Madison into transferring the lease over to him and Janie. He’d had to convince her that he wasn’t looking to seduce her friend. Which he wasn’t. That was a true statement. His interest in her was one of mutual respect and friendship, like always, teamed with the new desire to learn about the lady hidden beneath the iron walls.

After that, things moved quickly. He gave his notice at the other apartment and then moved his things (at least everything that would fit) over the weekend. The next Monday, he blinked his eyes open in the morning light cutting across the edge of his bed. The wall opposite him was way closer than he’d gotten used to. As were all the walls. Even the ceiling. It felt like he’d shoved himself into a clown car. But for all that, he felt more comfortable. Go figure.

He scratched his stomach and made use of the en suite bathroom, which would make things way easier. He could leave the seat up, or stink up the bathroom, without worrying. He knew women were sensitive to those types of things. The only problem was remembering about the toilet seat when he used the main bathroom, which was designated as hers. If she fell in, she might go crazy and stab him. She was surely capable of it.

Yawning, he adjusted his morning wood and made his way out, seeking out coffee. Janie had one of those timed deals, and she’d actually gone through the hassle of setting it up. That was rock star, right there. He’d never bothered.

Sure enough, the dark brew was waiting for him in the pot. He filled himself a big mug and dumped in some milk before heading to the couch. He flicked on the TV, only then remembering she didn’t have cable. He’d have to amend that situation later in the day.

Speaking of the day. He needed to check out his calendar.

He was on his second cup of coffee and organizing his schedule when Janie wandered out with wild hair and sleepy eyes. Her breasts bounced freely in her loose tank top, perky and just enough for a handful. Her stomach peeked out from between her top and her yoga pants, sporting a four-pack. Lean muscle coated her legs and arms, her body feminine and shapely and fit. It was a yoga or Pilates body, with the added sway of sensual hips belonging to a woman who enjoyed sex.

His morning wood had long since gone down, but seeing her in her element, sleepy and sexy, he hardened again, filling out his boxer briefs.

Sweats or pajama bottoms. That was what he needed going forward. Lesson learned.

Without glancing his way, she trudged into the kitchen. Porcelain clinked, the sound of her taking down a mug.

“What have you done?” Her voice was deep and low and filled with the horrible intent of violence.

He jumped up, not able to help a smile despite—or maybe because of—how supremely pissed off she sounded. Nor could he help his hard cock straining against his bright green skivvies. “What?”

She turned his way and braced her hands on the countertop. Crazy eyes stared him down. Perky breasts came to a bouncing stop. “Why have you done this to me?”

Chuckling surely wouldn’t help this situation. Nevertheless, it was happening. “What’d I do?”

She gestured toward the coffee pot, and her breasts gave another small bounce. He had the sudden urge to run a tongue across a taut nipple and hear her purr in delight. “You drank all the coffee and didn’t refill it. Do you want to get kicked out on your first day?”

He adjusted his cock, since she’d said that was a go in her presence. Her gaze followed the movement. It landed on his package, and then her eyes widened.

“Jesus…what do you have in there, a toddler?”

He glanced down at his straining cock. “You just made shit awkward.”

“I made shit awkward?” She pointed at his crotch. The direct attention made his cock twitch. “You are trying to hide a rocket launcher in your undies, without a towel or clothes or something to cover it up, and I’m making shit awkward? No. That wasn’t me. Do you know what else wasn’t me? The asshole who drank all the coffee. That also wasn’t me.”

His laughter wasn’t helping her foul mood.

“I suck,” he said quickly, putting up his hands in surrender. Because yes, he’d left nothing but the dregs and hadn’t even thought of refilling. He had slipped into his normal routine—sans SportsCenter because of the cable issue—and was thinking like he lived alone. “I’m really sorry. I won’t do it again. I’ll accept flogging, should it make you feel better.”

Spots of colors filled her cheeks. “That would probably make you feel better,” she mumbled before turning away.

“Sorry again,” he said. He wanted to ask her to make more next time, but thought that might be pushing things. So he just backed out of the room slowly, lest a knife find its way into his back.

He closed the door to his room and paused for a moment, feeling the rush of desire. Why had he never noticed how incredibly sexy she was?

The painting flashed through his memory.

Because he’d been treating her like a victim he wanted to help, and not like a woman. That painting had changed his perception. Flipped it. And now they were sharing a tiny apartment. This might not have been the best idea after all.

An hour later, he pushed through the doorway of Dick’s gym. Dick himself sat in the captain’s chair, staring at the laptop resting on the counter. Someone must’ve called in sick. A pretty usual situation with low-income employees’ lack of motivation.

“Hey,” Dave said, coming to a stop at the counter.

Dick glanced up. His brow lowered and he glanced at his screen. “You’re early for a Monday, right?”

“Yeah. I have that new roommate, remember? Do you never listen when I talk?”

“No.”

“Anyway, I don’t want to crowd her too early.” He leaned on the counter with his elbows. “Do you have any overnighters that need doing?”

“What are you blowing your money on that you need to get a new roommate and more gigs?” Dick braced his hand on his leg, not doing as Dave had asked.

“And here we see that you were not kidding. You honestly do not listen when I talk.” Dave drummed his fingers on the counter. “I’ll speak slowly so you get it all. I do not have money problems. I moved in with Madison’s friend to help her out. I’ve got the master bedroom, which is a bit more expensive than Janie’s room, but the rent’s still only a quarter of what I was paying. It’s awesome. But I don’t want to crowd her, so being gone for a couple nights might help ease the transition.”

Dick stared at him for a moment. “That’s the kid that got beat up, right?”

“Yeah.”

Dick grunted and turned back. Dave’s reasoning clearly passed muster.

When they’d first started BD, Dick had been Dave’s guiding light, ensuring he didn’t blow through the gush of money that had come pouring in. He’d gotten away with the car and new apartment, but Dick had badgered him into pulling back on other frivolous expenses. Though Dave didn’t talk about his childhood much, Dick knew he’d been poor—and knew exactly what a poor kid would do after earning a lot of money, quick. He’d helped him slow his roll. Dave owed a large chunk of his retirement account to Dick.

“Has Colton mentioned how talented she is?” Dave asked, needing something to talk about and not able to think of anything else.

“A guy that hooks up with a new chick,” Dick answered dryly, “doesn’t go around telling other guys about that new chick’s friend, no matter how talented.”

“All you had to do was say no. It would’ve saved us both so much time.”

“Not asking stupid questions would save even more time. That doesn’t seem to stop you, though.”

Dave paused as an older guy came through the doors and held out his card for Dick to scan.

“It got a bit awkward this morning,” Dave said, looking out the window. “That was my bad.”

“Were you walking around naked?” Dick pounded the keyboard.

“No. Underwear. But that wasn’t the problem. Okay, it was kind of the problem. She’s hot. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“Birds of a feather.”

“Right, yeah. Because of Madison. I just— There was this painting…” He let the words trail away. It would be impossible to explain how that one painting had made him feel. How it had changed his perception of her.

Well, maybe not impossible, but he’d sound like a douche.

“Anyway,” Dave went on, dropping it. “She probably needs a second to get used to me. I certainly need a second to get used to her. I’ll take a few all-nighters and hope that clears the air a bit. That and pajama bottoms.”

Dick snorted and shook his head. “You got rocks for brains, kid.”

“You’re not helping. All-nighters. Stay focused.”

“Yeah, yeah, let me look and see what I got.”

Dave nodded and knocked on the counter, waiting for one of the other guys to get in. He could work out alone, but it wasn’t nearly as good for his motivation.

Dick looked up at him with raised eyebrows. “Do you need something else?”

“The company. Your conversation is stimulating. Where else would I get all the grunts and huffs?”

Proving Dave’s point, Dick huffed. “If having that chick as a roommate is going to mean you hanging around here annoying me, I hope you get kicked out.”

“That’s not very nice. You don’t have any friends, do you?”

The door opened up before Dick could retort. Noah strolled through in jeans and a T-shirt, carrying his gym bag. Upon seeing Dave, he checked his watch. “Am I late?”

“Nah. I’m early.” Dave pushed away from the counter.

“Good,” Dick said, looking back at his computer. “Go annoy Noah. I’ll most likely have something for you by the time you’re done.”

“You looking for more work?” Noah asked as they passed by the divider and headed toward the locker room.

“I want to give Janie a bit of time on her own before I’m there all the time.”

“Ah, right.” Noah and the guys had helped Dave move in, none of them saying a word about whether they thought it was a good idea. They probably figured Madison had that end of things covered. “How’s that going?”

“It’s day one…and I drank all the coffee…that she made.”

Noah sucked in a pained breath. “Not good. That is the wrong foot to start out on.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I never asked—did you find out where she was that week? Colton said that Madison couldn’t get it out of her. She only said that she was working.”

“Yeah.” Dave backed into the corner; Noah stopped in front of a wall of lockers. “I got it out of her. I was at the right place at the right time, like a creeper.” Dave ripped his gaze upward when a hairy, naked man walked through his line of sight. “Why do you change in here? There are naked people everywhere.”

“Says the guy who walks around his house in the buff.”

“That’s my space. Fat, hairy men aren’t strolling by me in my apartment, scratching their asses.”

“Why are you looking?”

“All this exposed man meat is not normal, dude. It’s gross.” Dave faced the lockers, turning his back to the rest of the locker room. “Anyway, it was for work. She’s okay. That’s all anyone need know.”

Noah nodded and slipped into sweats. “I hear ya.”

After a brief pause, Dave asked, “Hey, do you know any art agents?” He followed Noah out of the locker room. Finally.

“Why would I?”

“I don’t know. Janie needs one. I thought I’d start asking around. You’re the first person I saw when I thought of it. Which was two seconds ago.”

“Why don’t you head back into the locker room and start asking the fat, hairy guys? Maybe one of them will know. Just don’t look down.”

“Hilarious,” Dave said sarcastically. That one painting randomly flashed through his mind. Something stirred deep within him, followed by an image of her sexy, wild look from that morning. His cock stiffened.

Holy hell, that woman was something else. He couldn’t get her out of his head.

Dang it. The last thing he needed was a woman with hooks in him. Especially that woman. If anything happened between them, Madison would skin him alive. And that was if Janie didn’t kill him first after learning he had nothing to give anyone. He had enough baggage to break a horse’s back.

When it came to her, he needed to stay friends at all costs. No cupping one of those perfect breasts. No playing doctor. Strictly roommates.