6. Faith
CHAPTER 6
Faith
I looked up at the small rectangular hole in the wall. I could probably fit through there. Hell, I’d suck it all in and squeeze myself through if it meant getting away from the distraction with the cut pecs and amazing blue-green eyes.
“Fine. But you’re going to have to give me a boost. I’ll never be able to reach it on my own.”
Dante made a basket out of his hands. “Come on, let’s give it a shot.”
I put a hand on his shoulder. His muscles tensed under my touch. I could feel him flex, and my thoughts shot forward to consider what might happen if we didn’t get out of the storeroom. At the rate I was going, I might jump him if I couldn’t force myself through the window.
Placing my foot in his hands, I pushed myself up as he lifted. My fingers grasped at the lever on the window, desperate to unlatch it.
“Dammit, I’m not high enough.”
He lowered me back to the ground. “Time for Plan B. Here, get up on my shoulders.”
I hesitated.
“Come on, I’ll be a perfect gentleman.” He squatted down low so I could climb onto his back.
A gentleman… he didn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d ever done anything gentle. I threw a leg over each of his shoulders and grabbed his hands, sandwiching his neck right between my thighs.
Oooh. A pulsing sensation hummed through my core as I made contact through my jeans with the back of his neck. This was the closest I’d come to any kind of sexual interaction in well over a year, and my inner thighs clenched in anticipation.
“Whoa, easy there.” Dante grabbed onto my legs, his hands wrapping around my calves, before he stood up and moved toward the wall.
I squeezed his neck between my thighs like my life depended on it and fumbled with the lock.
“Got it!” I pushed the window open. A cool rush of air blew past me into the room. “Now I just need to get through.” I grabbed onto the window ledge and tried to hoist myself up.
Dante put his hands under my thighs in an effort to boost me higher.
“Just a little further.” I grunted with the effort as his hands roamed over my legs. Shivers cascaded through me, like a stampede of tingles that needed to be squelched pronto.
“Can you see anything yet? You don’t want to jump into the dumpster.”
I searched the ground. “Yeah, it’s right under the window, but I think I can avoid it. Can you lift me just a little higher?”
His hands scrambled under my legs. As I wriggled to get a foot up on his shoulder, he moved me closer to the window, and his palms slid to my butt. He pushed, one hand on my ass and the other making contact with the apex of my thighs.
“Oh, my god.” Heat pooled between my legs. His hand, oh crap, his fingers were applying pressure in exactly the wrong spot. Okay, it was the right spot, but definitely the wrong spot considering the company and the situation. “Get your hand off my?—”
“Sorry!” Dante yelled as I made it through the window.
I didn’t care where I landed. My top priority was to escape. A metallic thud sounded as something crunched underneath me. In my rush to relieve my thighs of the pressure of Dante’s fingers, I’d miscalculated my landing spot. I’d had to do something to get away from him. We’d just met, and already he’d touched me in places I’d been trying to ignore for over a year. Thanks to that boost, I wasn’t going to be able to ignore them anymore.
Stumbling to my feet, I trudged through the garbage bags to the edge of the dumpster. The scent of rancid grease mixed with decaying produce assaulted my nose. I hoisted a leg over the side and jumped down to the pavement. An unrecognizable layer of slime covered my lower half, and some sort of liquid smeared through my hair. I couldn’t go back in the bar looking like this.
I tried the handle of the back door. Thankfully, it opened with a loud creak. I crept down the empty hallway to the storeroom. As I turned the knob and pushed it open, Dante moved toward the door.
“Thanks.” He looked me up and down. “What the hell happened to you?”
“You sent me sailing into the freaking dumpster. I don’t know what this is on my pants, and there’s crap in my hair, too.”
“I told you to watch out.” Stepping back, he took in my matted hair, slimy jeans, and the grease spots dotting my shirt. As he walked in a slow circle around me, a giant smile spread across those damn kissable lips.
I pulled my shirt away from my skin. “There’s no way Jess is going to let me in her car like this.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way.” He crossed his arms over his expansive chest. “I live over the bar. Why don’t you come upstairs and wash off a little?”
“Seriously?” I focused on the tiny tic pulsing in my jaw. “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I just want to get home. Just because you had your hand up my?—”
“Hey!” He put his hands up, palms out, in an effort to stop the words from sailing out of my mouth. “I was just trying to be a nice guy.” He smiled. “By all means, go back to the bar and finish your beer. I’m sure your friends will enjoy the ambiance.”
As he turned around to head toward the door to the bar, I looked down at the goopy mess covering my clothes. I really couldn’t get in the car like this. Jess would kill me. The smell of grease would linger on the cloth seats for months.
“Fine. Yes, a shower would be good.”
He stopped and whipped around to face me. “I’m glad you’ve decided to prioritize your personal hygiene.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I have much of a choice. Can I make one thing clear?”
“What’s that, Stinkarella?” Dante cocked a hip, obviously waiting for me to make a slew of unreasonable demands. His gaze swept over me, warming me from the core like one of those molten chocolate lava cakes I loved. Liquid heat flowed through my veins as a smile settled on his lips.
“I’m showering alone.”
“If you’re sure that’s the way you want it, your wish is my command. Follow me.” He chuckled, then pushed through the back door and walked around the building to a set of stairs.
He led me up the wooden steps to the second story and opened the door. As I entered the apartment, I took in the exposed pipes and beams running across the tall, two-story ceiling. Red brick walls complemented the shiny wooden floors. For a moment, I forgot about the dumpster gunk covering my body and let myself absorb the warmth of his apartment.
“This is awesome.” I slowly turned around in the giant open living space.
“Yeah, the guy who owns the bar gave me cheap rent in exchange for pulling the late-night shifts no one else wants.”
“I bet you get tons of natural light.” I ran my hand over the rough brick wall. A tall bookshelf caught my attention, and my eyes skimmed over the titles on display. Hemingway, Keats, Faulkner. Hmmm, the hottie bartender likes to read.
“The bathroom’s back there.” He pointed to the only room with a door, then pulled a clean towel from a cabinet and handed it to me. “Make yourself at home.”
I made my way to the bathroom, taking in the details of his cozy personal space along the way. Tons of books, lots of comfy seating. The kind of space I’d like for myself. Too bad he wasn’t my type. I could get comfortable in a place like this.
I shook my head. Comfort ought to be the last thing on my mind. I was about to get naked in a stranger’s shower. The thought sent an army of nervous butterflies on a tirade through my stomach. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
“I’ll just be a sec.” I clasped the fluffy towel to my chest and disappeared behind the closed door before I could change my mind.