Read Online His Five Night Stand by Emma Thorne - Free Book Online Page B

root around a bit until I could work it loose.
    Finally, I unlocked the door.
    “After you,” Theo said. He held open the door and then switched on the overhead light as we walked inside.
    “Not that one,” I said, quickly flipping the switch. It was too bright, I felt exposed. I wanted to hide in the shadows. “The lamp instead,” I said, eyes adjusting in the darkness. I walked across the room switching on a small lamp on my new antique table. It emitted a low warm yellow glow. Theo looked around my apartment and smiled. “I like what you’ve done with the place,” he said. “You have a lovely eye.”
    Even with his compliment I was self-conscious of my draped silk scarves, crooked table, unfinished bookshelf. “I haven’t really settled in yet,” I said, my eyes drifting from Theo’s gorgeous body to my futon in the corner of the room. Even though it was still set up like a couch, I was so aware of its functionality as a bed, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to fall onto the mattress with him. I realized I was staring. “I have more stuff, but I’m not sure if I want it anymore. Most of it’s at Henry’s, my stuff that is.”
    “Ah, Henry,” Theo said, walking towards me. He stood close enough for me to wonder if he would reach out and take me in his arms, but he didn’t. He just watched me with those beautiful blue eyes. “So, the foolish man who didn’t know what he had has a name.”
    “Of course he has a name,” I said, wishing we could stop talking about Henry. “He has a name and it should be asshole. He left me for his paralegal intern.” I laughed a little too loud; I could feel the alcohol racing through my veins. It made me feel bold and uninhibited.
    “You need water,” Theo said, smiling at me. He took my hand, his thumb moving across the top of it as he walked me across the room to the futon. “You sit. And then you can tell me all your sad stories.”
    “My kitchen is a mess,” I called, leaning back against the cushions. “And it’s not a sad story, it’s just something that happened. Something I let happen,” I muttered. “After years of letting things happen all around me.”
    Theo was back standing right in front of me.
    “Your water my dear.” He smiled holding a jam jar in his hand. “I couldn’t find a proper glass.”
    I was suddenly very thirsty and getting sleepier by the minute. He sat down next to me and I leaned my head against his shoulder without even thinking.
    “So, let me guess,” he said. “You told me earlier that you loved him for years. You thought it was the real thing. And he cheated on you?” He leaned me back to see if he was reading the situation right.
    “Am I that obvious,” my cheeks burned. “Or did Odessa tell you?”
    “No, but break ups usually include a betrayal of some sort.”
    Betrayal, the word sat on my tongue. Was this a betrayal of Odessa? Was I some drunk, horrible girl making the moves on another woman’s boyfriend? I wasn’t making the moves was I? We were just talking but he was holding my hand. Holding my hand and caressing it with those long gorgeous fingers.
    “Did Henry make you happy?” he asked. I broke out in chills as he stroked my skin.
    “I thought he did.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “I like that. I like how you touch me.”
    “I like touching you.”
    My eyes snapped open. This was definitely flirting. “I don’t think this is okay. I mean you and Odessa . . . I have heard you . . .”
    “You’ve heard us?”
    “I mean the walls are thin.”
    Theo laughed. “You heard someone else.”
    “Isn’t Odessa . . . don’t the two of you?”
    “No,” he said. “We tried to be lovers, a long time ago. It didn’t work out and I moved into the other bedroom. That was over a year ago.”
    “Oh, so you aren’t the one . . .” I said, my cheeks burning.
    “The one she’s been fucking lately,” he laughed. “No, Odessa and I have not thought about each other like that