Chapter 7
Ican’t freaking believe this. Here I am, Noah Spencer, international rugby sensation—or, at least, that’s what the tabloids say—and I’m about to open my door to let in a complete stranger who’s been shoved into my life due to some sort of twisted cosmic prank.
A part of me is amused, because this is straight out of a spicy rom-com—you know, the kind where two people who can’t stand each other are forced to live together and end up tearing each other’s clothes off by the end of the movie? Yeah, right. That’s not happening with this chick.
To distract myself, I start preparing a protein shake. I lug a massive tub of whey protein from the pantry and thump it down on the counter, the silverware rattling from the impact.
“Careful,” snorts Jayden as he strolls into the room, wearing only a towel slung low over his hips. “You need to start being more gentle now that we have a… female roommate.”
I snort. We’re going to get a lot of mileage out of this one, presuming she has to stay with us for a while. “You should probably keep your dick in your pants seeing we have a female roommate,” I gesture at his loosely slung towel. “Wouldn’t want to poke anyone’s eye out.”
Sensing my amusement, Jayden quirks a brow. “How do you think she’s getting along at the housing office?”
“Well, she’s been out for a while, so I figure nothing has changed,” I shrug. “I don’t know if you’ve checked the message boards lately, but the housing inventory seems to be extra lean at the moment. So, my guess is she isn’t having much luck, and she’s going to be stuck with us for a while at least.”
Jayden shrugs and grins. “I mean, we’d have to up our game, wouldn’t we?” he teases, nudging me with his elbow.
“Oh, no doubt about it,” I agree. “We’d need a whole new routine, mate. Early morning workouts, less takeout, and maybe even remembering to do the dishes more than once in a blue moon.” I gesture at Jayden’s skimpy towel outfit. “Wearing more clothes around the apartment…”
We share a laugh, continuing to speculate about the return of our new surprise housemate. The doorbell rings, interrupting our conversation.
“Maybe that’s her… this could be the moment of truth, Jayd.”
Jayden feigns a shudder. “As long as she doesn’t steal all the hot water, we’ll be fine.”
I open the door, and my jaw nearly hits the floor.
Standing in the doorway is a vision in spandex and a sports bra, drenched in sweat and more gorgeous than I could’ve ever imagined.
It’s Dylan, but she looks different from yesterday. She’s refreshed, wearing a light slick of makeup, her hair framing her face in a way that accentuates her delicate features. I thought she was pretty even when she was exhausted, but damn, this woman is smoking.
“Uh, hi,” I manage to croak out, my brain scrambled by the sight before me. “I’m sorry you had to use the doorbell. Here,” I say, turning to head in the direction of our catch-all basket in the hallway. “Let me get you the spare key, at least for now. Usually you just need the code but sometimes we forget and lock the other latch…”
Dylan’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she dabs at her forehead with the back of her hand. “Oh yeah, thanks… I might be needing that for a little longer than any of us hoped.”
Jayden appears at my side, and his jaw drops slightly at the sight of her. He’s thunderstruck by this beauty, too. Normally not at a loss for words, Jayden is speechless as his eyes roam Dylan’s body. She’s curves and strength, and I can’t blame him.
Dylan’s eyes fly to Jayden and I swear her cheeks grow slightly pink as she surveys him in nothing but a towel, his tattooed, hard body on display. I can’t blame her. He’s a decent-looking guy.
I elbow him in the ribs, and his face flushes as he tries to regain his composure. “Right, well, come in, come in,” he stutters, ushering her inside. “We were just... uh, discussing... er, the... the situation.”
Dylan’s lips twitch into a half-smile, as if she can read our minds. “Look, I know this is awkward, but I don’t have anywhere else to go. The housing office has said it might take a while until I can move, and that it’s probably only going to happen based on some international player transitioning out partway through the season.”
Jayden and I exchange glances. “Well, okay then. It sounds like there’s not much we can do except try to make this work,” I say.
“So, this is going to be... interesting,” she says, her eyes dancing with amusement as she glances between us before scooting her way through and heading to the room that appears to officially be hers now, at least for a while.
“Can you believe this?” I ask, shaking my head in disbelief as I type out a message to our other roommate, Killian.
Noah:
Bet you’re sad to miss the drama here, Killian. Dylan’s mix-up has turned her into our newest roommate, at least for now. Oh, and she has a cat. Sorry, bud.
I send the text, a smirk playing on my lips.
Jayden types out his own response.
Jayden:
Yeah, imagine that. House meetings will never be the same again. The cat is cute, but the girl is hottttttt ??????
Jayden:
PS You’re not really deathly allergic, are you? ????
We both laugh as we wait for Killian’s response, which comes through moments later.
Killian:
Ha. I never thought this would be an apartment full of pussy. But yeah, I’m not actually allergic. I just said that to put off my psycho ex girlfriend from getting one. She was using the cat as a way to tie me down in some kind of a serious relationship. The gateway to a proposal or something.
I grin and shake my head. Killian’s taste in women has gotten him into a fair bit of trouble over the past couple of years.
Noah:
Good, no death by pussy for you. We’ll save you a front-row seat for the show.
Jayden:
Don’t hurry back now, Killian. You might walk into a fully domesticated household. In the meantime, we’ll be making sure our hot new roommate feels very comfortable. If you know what I mean (winking emoji)
I laugh and head to my room, the conversation with Dylan and the group chat still fresh in my mind as I wonder how this whole situation will pan out.
The thought of living with her, even for a short while, sends a thrill through me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this intrigued by a woman, let alone one as talented as Dylan.
Since she showed up, I’ve spent a fair amount of time perusing her stats online and she’s a solid player, an impressive hooker with a talent for developing new players.
I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I’m here to focus on rugby, after all. We all are.
Still, I can’t help but wonder how things will play out with the new addition to the team... and the house.
After a post-practice nap, I wake to the smell of coffee brewing.
I peek one eye open, blinking blearily. My memories of the previous night and this morning come flooding back, and I can’t help but smile as I remember the text exchange with Killian.
I swing my legs out of bed, yawning and stretching as I pad downstairs in search of the caffeine that calls to me like a siren’s song.
I’m not at all prepared for the sight that greets me in the kitchen.
Dylan, clad in nothing but a baggy T-shirt and short shorts, is bent over the counter, her heart-stoppingly toned ass on display as she searches the cupboards.
The longing that pools in my stomach takes me by surprise, and for a moment, all I can do is stare.
“Hi again, Noah,” she says, not turning around. “I was just about to make myself some toast. Want any?”
My brain short-circuits. Her voice is like honey, dripping over me like a drug I can’t get enough of. “Uh, yeah... thanks... I mean, yes, please,” I stutter, cursing my own ineloquence.
She straightens up as she turns, her cheeks flushing a charming shade of pink, and I realize I’ve been caught ogling. “Sorry, I didn’t... I mean, I thought you were... nevermind.”
Dylan laughs and hands me a mug of steaming coffee, which I gratefully accept. “You’re fine. I should probably put some pants on, huh?” she says, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
I choke on my coffee, barely managing to splutter a response. “Ah, no rush... I mean, you’re... you look... I mean, toast sounds great.”
Dylan laughs even louder, the surprisingly resonant sound like music to my ears. “I’ll be back in a second. Don’t spill the beans... or the coffee,” she adds over her shoulder as she saunters away.
As I wait for her return, I take a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead.
With Dylan in the picture, this season is going to be anything but boring.