Chapter 11

Lara had a problem on her hands. In fact, she had a few.

Not the least of which was stupid Zavien and his stupid handsome face that had been haunting her since the moment he had revealed it to her.

Now that her parents had gone home, Lara had little to distract herself with. She had been moping around all day, his face floating around in her head, taunting her.

What kind of stunt was that, anyway? Was it a ploy to throw her off? To endear himself to her? To charm her parents?

Whatever it was, he had succeeded.

He had lured her into a false sense of security with his strong jaw and perfect Cupid’s bow and then had dropped that lingerie bomb on her. Her face still burned at the memory of finding that with her dad looking over her shoulder.

She plopped facedown into one of her fluffy throw pillows, ready to stay there until nothing mattered anymore, when a loud, urgent knock sounded at her door. Rolling off the couch more than climbing, she hit the floor with a thud before scrambling to answer it.

“Fire? Is it a fire?” she asked, winded and frantic. Instead of imminent danger, she found Travis, wide-eyed and looking hysterically happy.

“Guess what I just saw?” He was practically vibrating.

“A ten-million-dollar check with your name on it?” Lara guessed, stepping aside when Travis nearly bowled into her on his way into her apartment.

He sat himself on the arm of the couch and took a deep breath, probably so he could get out his big news intelligibly. All Lara could think was that she hoped he wouldn’t pee on her furniture like an overexcited dog.

“Zavien’s in the lobby.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“I mean, I know it sucks, but he does live here.”

Travis rolled his eyes. “He’s down there with a woman. It’s obviously a date.”

“So, your big news is that an actual human being wants to spend quality time with Zavien,” Lara said slowly. “That is surprising, but I don’t see why I should care.”

Except, she sort of did care—not that she could understand why. Her sense of duty in womanhood, perhaps? How could she let some unsuspecting woman face the atrocity that was Zavien Crane’s personality?

Or—a horrible, dark thought occurred to her—maybe she was a tiny bit jealous?

Travis, unaware of her inner turmoil, seemed unbothered by her feigned indifference. “They’re on their way up here. Now’s the opportunity for a little sweet revenge.” He grinned, immovable in his excitement.

Lara hesitated. “I don’t know. I don’t want to make things worse…”

“We can make him jealous.” Travis leaned toward her, his eyes bright with mischief.

His suggestion did pique her curiosity—was it possible to make him jealous? Travis had already voiced his belief that Zavien might have an interest in Lara; it would be intriguing to put that theory to the test.

“Remember how embarrassing it was to find that lingerie in your mailbox?” Travis poked at her bruised ego. “Remember having to look your father in the eye after that?”

Lara nearly wailed in despair. “God, don’t remind me.” She regretted ever telling him about that.

“Come on, Lara,” he continued, “your dad thinks you left lingerie at some guy’s house. How many times are you gonna let him off the hook?” He was goading her, pushing all the right buttons, and despite her efforts to rise above it, his tactic worked.

“Fine!” she shouted. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” Travis jumped up and hollered, leaping forward to hug her before heading for the door. “Put on your shortest skirt, then meet me at my apartment in five. I have ideas.”

***

Lara had barely brushed her knuckles against Travis’s door before it opened, and he yanked her inside by her arm.

She had been wholly prepared to be annoyed with this whole scheme, but when she looked at Travis, any and all irritation flew right out of her. “Nice shirt,” she praised, not even ashamed to be caught staring at his broad chest.

He had opted for a short-sleeve button-down that was clearly meant to be loose-fitting, but because his body had been sculpted by the gods, he had to leave the top buttons undone to avoid popping them off.

When she had put her skirt on, she had been a little worried that it was a touch too slutty, but somehow Travis had her beat. And she was definitely not complaining.

“Eyes up here. I’m not a piece of meat,” he chided, but when she did look up, his grin told her he was more pleased than offended.

“Sorry. Your chest is bigger than mine. It’s a little distracting,” she confessed, her eyes roaming back down against her better judgment.

Travis laughed, snapping his fingers in front of her face. “Focus up. If we stay quiet, we’ll be able to hear them leave his apartment. We’ll go at the same time and casually bump into them.”

She nodded, already embarrassingly familiar with the practice of camping out at doors and lying in wait for signs of Zavien Crane.

“We’ll have to ham it up a bit.” His expression shifted to one of uncertainty as he studied her carefully.

“What, are you afraid to touch me?” She placed a hand on her cocked hip, her elbow jutting out, sharp and ready for action.

He raised his palms in surrender. “Just want to make sure you’re cool with that.”

“Fine by me.”

They may not have been soulmates, but Travis was hot, and she had been suffering a lengthy dry spell. Playing grab-ass in the elevator—even if just a ploy—would be the most action she would see in some time, and probably would be for a while.

Then, in the hall, a door closed, and someone released a girlish giggle.

Lara knew flirting when she heard it.

She and Travis nodded in agreement before he opened his door, and the two of them spilled into the hallway. His arm came around her waist, tugging her tight to his side as she let out her own flirty chuckle.

“Travis,” she said in a mock whine, playfully swiping at his chest and letting her hand linger on his exposed skin.

His grin was cheeky and infectious, not dimming in the least when he looked up and feigned surprise to see Zavien approaching with his date. “Hey, man,” Travis said, his hold on Lara’s waist not letting up.

She leaned into it, wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her body flush to his side.

“Hey,” Zavien said, eyeing the two of them warily.

His mask was in place, and it made Lara wonder if his date had seen his face yet. She couldn’t imagine going out with him without knowing what lay beneath that covering, but then again, she was biased.

“What a coincidence,” Lara said with her most sickly-sweet smile and extended a hand to the tall, leggy woman at Zavien’s side. “I’m Lara. Zavien’s neighbor. Love your shoes.”

The woman shook her hand with a pleasant enough smile, thanking her for the compliment.

Lara decided she liked this woman and was happy to save her from a date with Zavien; she and her beautiful shoes deserved better.

The four of them made their way to the elevators, but Zavien’s slow steps and sly glances in her direction suggested he was reluctant to do so. Lara was feeling reluctant too, though for entirely different reasons.

It was against her will that she found Zavien attractive in his dark jeans, fitted shirt, and clean boots—an outfit similar to one he had worn before. It was also not her choice to feel an angry flare of jealousy at the realization that he had probably gone on a date that night as well.

The only way to soothe her bruised ego was to bruise his back. She didn’t like being jealous, especially over him, but it would be made bearable if she knew the feeling was mutual.

Travis was on the same page. He played right along when she tilted her head back and pressed her lips to his jaw, letting them linger there. He leaned into her, his hand sliding down her back until it was resting dangerously low.

He huffed out a quiet, breathy laugh before crooking a finger beneath her chin and tilting her face up to his. His head lowered toward hers so slowly, so enticingly.

Her heart raced; she was nervous and unsure if he was really going to go through with kissing her. She was beginning to feel certain he would when his forehead touched hers, and their noses brushed—

Zavien loudly cleared his throat, startling Lara, and then someone’s keys clattered to the floor of the elevator.

“Oops,” Travis said, and backed away from her. “Do you mind…?” His gaze dropped pointedly to the keys below.

Lara shot him an understanding smile before she bent down, her already short skirt riding up as she did. If the breeze on her backside meant anything, it was that the two people directly behind her were getting an eyeful.

She rose and turned to find them looking tense and uncomfortable. Zavien’s beet-red face and wide eyes were locked on the doors in front of him while his date drilled holes into his profile with her glare.

It took every ounce of Lara’s willpower to keep her smile at bay.

When the doors finally opened, Zavien’s date fled without a word, not even checking to see if he was following. Zavien’s sigh was one of resignation as he stayed put.

Lara had expected a show of anger—or at the very least, irritation. Instead, when she glanced back at him after she and Travis had stepped out onto the ground floor, all she got were mirth-filled eyes as he looked her up and down shamelessly.

“You owe me dinner,” was all he said before the doors slid shut.