“Well, what are they?” I asked.

“Ancient fly droppings!” Alfie exclaimed as though it was the most marvellous thing ever.

“Lovely,” Stu deadpanned and I gave a light chuckle.

“That’s kind of disgusting,” I said and Alfie frowned.

“Oh, you’re no fun. I wish Jamie could be in on this with us. I’m sure he’d be just as excited as I am.”

“Excited about fly poo. What is the world coming to?” I joked.

“Well, I for one am looking forward to figuring out a way to replicate them,” said Alfie, sticking out his tongue at me. I smiled and walked over to the fridge.

“I think I’ll make something to eat. Anybody hungry?”

“Oh yes, I’m starved,” said Alfie, rising from his seat and heading for the door. “Call me when it’s ready.”

Stu eyed his departing figure, a single brow raised. “He always treat you like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re his mum.”

I laughed. “You mean because he lets me cook for him? Believe me when I say nobody wants Alfie loose in the kitchen. He might be a genius with a paintbrush, but my cousin could manage to burn a ham sandwich.”

Stu let out a quiet chuckle and stood, crossing the room to stand before me. I swallowed, my throat dry at his proximity. I turned and opened the fridge to check what food we had in, trying to ignore the awareness he provoked.

“Are you staying to eat?” I asked shyly, not meeting his eyes. I could feel his heat as he approached again, this time standing behind me.

“I should get going,” he replied, voice low.

I nodded. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you in class then.”

“See you in class, Andrea,” Stu whispered right before he pressed a kiss to the back of my neck. I closed my eyes, the sensation overpowering even though it was only a kiss. By the time I turned around to face him he was already gone.

It was a shame his presence still lingered.

Fourteen

The rest of the week passed by and Shark Eyes never came back, probably because he didn’t want another encounter with Stu. But since I hadn’t managed to come up with the money I knew my interest rate had gone up. I just hoped this whole thing with the robbery worked out, because otherwise I was screwed. I could see myself having to move back in with Mum and Dad, selling my car and anything else I owned of worth.

Each day Alfie worked on his painting. Stu still attended class, which was odd. I didn’t get it, nor did I understand the kiss from the other day. He wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t attracted to me, right? But then, why had he been so distant ever since?

Aside from during class, he hadn’t spoken to me at all. Now it was Saturday and I was spending the morning in the back garden we shared with the two other flats above us. The sun had decided to make an appearance, so I was making the most of it by marking papers outside. There was knock at the front door, and I heard Jamie announce his presence when Alfie let him in.

Twenty minutes later, there was a second knock, and that had me puzzled. Admittedly, we didn’t really get guests aside from Jamie, but maybe my parents had decided to pay a visit. Smiling at the idea getting to see Mum and Dad after the week I’d had, I quickly set the papers under my sunhat so they wouldn’t blow away and headed inside.

I stopped in my tracks when I entered the hallway and saw Stu standing at the door with Jamie.

“Why, Andie, would you look at who decided to pay a visit? It’s Brad Pitt’s decidedly broodier younger brother,” he declared loudly and I winced a little.

Stu glanced at me, his expression perplexed. He looked nothing like Brad Pitt, but I suspected that was the only handsome male celebrity Jamie could recall off the top of his head. It went to show just how long it had been since he’d picked up a gossip rag.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” Jamie went on. “Come in.”

Stu stepped inside, and I grew conscious of the fact that I was wearing cut-off jean shorts and a blue string vest. Since I had longer legs than most, I felt a little bit too bare.

“I came to see how that, uh, thing is coming along,” said Stu, his gaze wandering over my aforementioned bare legs. His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

“No need to be cryptic,” said Jamie, waving his hand in the air. “Alfie’s told me all about your arrangement and my lips are sealed.”

Stu appeared agitated by the idea of Jamie, a virtual stranger, knowing about the robbery. He opened his mouth to say something, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway and into my bedroom before he could speak. I heard Jamie chuckling and muttering, “Well, that’s one way to get a man in your bed.”

I closed the door and turned to Stu, still clasping his hand. Our mouths were literally inches apart and a heady sensation washed over me. “He doesn’t know about the robbery,” I whispered and his expression instantly relaxed. “Alfie told him one of your brothers is a Rembrandt fanatic, and he’s painting the piece as a surprise birthday gift.”

Stu grinned at that and so did I. I’d met his brothers. They weren’t the sort of men who were into Rembrandt. After a second the mood changed. Our smiles fell but our eyes stayed connected. Stu’s gaze turned hot and needful and it made something flutter in my chest.

“How’ve you been?” he murmured, moving his thumb along the inside of my wrist. Neither one of us let go, and I wondered if he enjoyed the feeling of being skin to skin as much as I did. Sweat pebbled my forehead, both from the unseasonably hot day and Stu’s effect on me. My body responded to his on instinct.

“Good. Busy,” I croaked as he moved an inch closer. His eyes wandered to my lips, which suddenly felt dry so I licked them. Stu’s expression turned pained as he endeavoured to look away. Now his gaze was on my collarbone, studying my bare skin.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in so few clothes,” he said, a strain in his voice.

“It’s sunny,” I replied.

“You’ve got the most flawless skin,” he continued, his gaze moving to my chest. My boobs weren’t small. They weren’t gigantic, either. They were just sort of . . . medium. Though for some reason they felt bigger now as Stu ogled them, almost as if they were straining to break free.