Page 137 of Illicit

I walk through the sliding doors into the hot, muggy day. “Me too. Thanks again.”

“We’ll talk soon.”

I disconnect the call and hit go on one of Rocco’s many missed calls. It barely rings once before he answers with a vengeance. “Fuck, baby. Why haven’t you answered my calls? Where are you?”

I walk across three parking lanes. “I was packing and decided I’d make a quick trip to the mall. Then I was on the phone with Cole again. Guess what? They’re keeping Mr. Hayes overnight, but he should be released tomorrow.”

“That’s great. But where are you?”

“I told you, I’m at the mall. What’s the emergency?”

“Come straight home,” he bites. “I got a call from Taylor. It’s about my father.”

There’s something about his tone that puts me on edge. I pick up my pace and beep the locks on my car. “What about him?”

“I don’t want to get into it now, other than to say he knows I’m in Miami. I have no idea where his mind is at, but I know he’s been looking for me. The whole thing has me on edge. And I don’t know if it’s him being out and knowing where I am or that you’ve hardly been out of my sight since New Orleans. I fucking hate that you’re not with me. Everything feels off.”

I open my car door, climb inside, and lock myself in. “I’m safe in my car. Doors are locked. Do you feel better?”

“I’ll feel better when you get home. If I weren’t on the opposite side of town, I’d come to you.”

I put him on Bluetooth and back out of my spot. “I can’t lie, your father knowing where you are freaks me out too. But I’m on my way home. And I have a surprise for you.”

His tone barely changes. “Oh yeah? Is it a rake or lawn mower? Because I’m going to need those.”

“I’ll keep the rake in mind, but you forgot I’m unemployed with no job prospects as of this morning. You’re going to have to buy your own lawnmower. It’s not in my budget.”

He finally sounds like he’s calming down. “Then I’ll just have to settle for whatever you got me. Are you going to tell me?”

“No.” I can’t keep the smile out of my voice. “But I’ll give you a hint. It’s small—very small—and shows a lot of skin.”

Rocco doesn’t have a smile in his voice. “Don’t tell me you bought a bikini. I’ll go mad when you wear it around other people.”

“First of all, I’ll wear whatever bikini I want to wear. But no, it’s not a bikini. You will be happy because it’s for your eyes only.”

“Damn. Will I get to see it tonight?”

“If you can manage to sneak into my room to have silent sex.”

“Silent sex … for my surprise, I can make that happen.”

I’m about to turn onto the ramp to go home before I switch lanes and change my mind. “Goodness, the highway is gridlocked. I’m taking the back way home. I forgot how miserable the traffic is here at this time. Maybe I should find a remote job so I don’t have to drive in this every day.”

“Find something that makes you happy, baby.”

“Do you realize how much we talk on the phone? My mom always complained that you weren’t a phone talker when you were at college.”

“I think we can agree that I can’t get enough of you. You’ve turned me into a talker. I’m more surprised than anyone. Don’t change the subject. I want to know what you got me. In fact, if you could describe it in great detail, even better.”

I take another turn. “Sorry, big guy. You’re going to have to wait. I told you too much. Maybe let your imagination run wild. Anticipation is everything, right?”

“I don’t need anything else to make me wild but you.”

“We just need to wait for everyone to go to sleep and hope that my newborn niece isn’t up all night?—”

But I can’t finish my thought.

A scream rings out inside the car at the same moment my entire dash explodes.

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