Free Maya And The Tough Guy by Carter Ashby Page A

knocked.
    A few seconds later, the door swung open and a shirtless, sweaty Jayce appeared before her. He was breathing hard.
    She took a step back. “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
    He was gaping at her. “No. No, of course not. Come on in.”
    Skeptical, she stepped in. She didn’t know why he was sweating, but if it had anything to do with activities involving her fellow barmaid, she didn’t want to know. Still, there didn’t appear to be anyone else in the apartment.  
    “What can I do for you, Maya?” he asked. The door clicked shut.
    She froze at the sound. She tried to force herself to be comfortable around him, but then she would inevitably remember that he was a man. A big man. An occasionally violent man. She bit her lip and stood still. He came around in front of her. She no longer had to wonder what was under his shirt. What she’d taken to be an abstract design along the length of his arm was actually the body and tail of a dragon whose head began over Jayce’s left pec. He also had the word “survive” intricately tattooed along his right obliques, as well as a few smaller tattoos.  
    “Maya? Everything okay?”
    She quickly, guiltily, forced her eyes up to his face. “Everything’s fine. I had come to ask a favor, but then I just realized how unreasonable it is. So I’ll just go.”
    She turned, but he asked, “What’s the favor?”
    “Well…”
    “Yes.”
    She turned back to face him. “Huh?”
    “Yes. To whatever the favor is.” He flashed a quick smile.
    She laughed. “Jayce, you really should hear the favor first.”
    “Doesn’t matter. Anything else?”
    She was baffled by his acquiescence, and then her eyes, of their own volition, dropped back down to his bare chest, slick and defined. Down to his abs, trim and chiseled. Down to his low-slung sweatpants, hanging almost too low, barely covering his—package. Anything else?  
    Something stirred low in her belly. A tingling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. It shocked her eyes back up. She hoped he didn’t notice the heat in her cheeks. But how could he not? “Kellen’s coming home today,” she blurted.
    “I know. Can I tell you something without you laughing?”
    She grinned, momentarily forgetting her intimidation and her misplaced desire. “Sure.”
    “Promise not to tell?”
    “Promise.”
    He lowered his voice and leaned in. “I’m glad he’s back. I always miss him when he’s gone.”
    She did laugh, but not because it was funny. She laughed because it was so utterly surprising and charming.  
    “What?” he asked in mock offense. “He’s my bff. If Zoey or Addy left for two weeks, you’d miss them, wouldn’t you?”
    “I didn’t know boys had bffs.”
    “Of course we do.”
    Her laughter faded as she found herself smiling up at him, adoring him for a moment. Maybe there was nothing here to be afraid of. Damon certainly never would have admitted to missing his best friend. Maybe that meant that Jayce was a good guy. A safe guy. “Anyway,” she said, still not able to take her eyes from his. “Kellen’s coming home, and I know all he and Zoey are going to want to do is be together.”
    “You don’t think he’ll come see me first?”
    He was joking. “Depends on if you can beat what Zoey’s offering.”
    “Definitely not.”
    “Didn’t think so. So I was wondering if my kids—”
    “I already said yes.”
    “To letting them stay up here this evening?”
    “Yeah. Not a problem.”
    “There will be a babysitter with them. A stranger in your home.”
    “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”
    Sweetheart. “Okay. So—thanks.”
    “Sure.”
    Once again her eyes dropped to his chest.
    “I was lifting weights,” he said.  
    “Oh.” She forced her eyes back up.  
    He grinned. “Been a while, huh?”
    She blushed. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned and opened the door, but he reached around her and pushed it shut. The gesture sent her heart pounding